Looking For a Heavy Oil Ball-Help!

[Bunny]

Started bowling about a year ago. I bowled a little when I was a kid. I purchased a 14 lb Rising Star because at the time we were bowling on real wood, drier than dust lanes. The Rising Star was good for that. Now I'm bowling in leauges on freshly oiled synthetic lanes and the RS isn't so great.

I'm a tweener and can adjust my speed and wrist when needed. (Still, so much to learn!) I've been averaging between 165 and 185 with the occasional hi/low thrown in. I've been working on picking up my spares and purchased a Maxim for my spare ball which works great when I throw it right! (Love my Big Blue!)

Any suggestions for a heavy oil ball? My old coot bowling partner pulled out his 16 lb Sync for the third game last night and roled a 224 (210 average.) I was surprised because it was the last game. Where was that ball in the first and second game? Man, that ball just mows down the pins! It just kept going right to the pocket wherever it was on the lane.

I also like the the IQ Tourl Pearl! But not sure if that's what I need.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!


p.s. I'm always working with the proshop guy trying to get more out of the RS and my game. I asked him about a new ball and he said that ANYTHING I get will be better than the Rising Star. Thanks, but that doesn't help me narrow my choices down any. :confused:

[I suck at bowling]

Here are the best heavy oil balls on the market (in my opinion)

These balls I own:

Storm Sync (This ball is amazing, just amazing.)
DV8 Hell Raiser Revenge (I like it, but is too snappy for most conditions.)

These balls I don't own, but have seen/heard great things from.

Hammer First Blood
DV8 Nightmare
Brunswick Aura Paranormal
Motiv Raptor Talon

They all have different reactions, so you'll have to do more research on them.

[Bunny]

Thank You!! That helps a lot.

Definately leaning towards the Sync especially after watching it perform well in the third game last night. It seemed smooth and controlled. Not flippy or snappy at all, which was happening with his other balls.

Is the Sync your first out? Have you used when the lanes break down at all?

[I suck at bowling]

Thank You!! That helps a lot.

Definately leaning towards the Sync especially after watching it perform well in the third game last night. It seemed smooth and controlled. Not flippy or snappy at all, which was happening with his other balls.

Is the Sync your first out? Have you used when the lanes break down at all?

It depends on the pattern, but on a THS my Natural Pearl comes out first.

and yes when the lanes open up and my Natural loses carry, I will take out my Sync. I can wheel it easily and get a lot of miss room.

[TCJ]

I've not tested any newer heavy oil balls, but some that I've seen that I like are the Ebonite Mission: Complete (don't ask me where to find it because it's not even on Ebonite's website!), Brunswick Aura, and the Roto Grip Defiant Soul.

[Greenday]

I use a Sync as my heavy oil ball and I love it. Great reaction, hits like a beast. Why your teammate waited until the third game is beyond me. Usually I have mine put away by then.

[vdubtx]

I use Hammer First Blood as my heavy oil ball. I can also use on my house shot as well. Very nice aggressive back end reaction. I used it for just about every game at Nationals.

[billf]

Storm's Sync and IQ Tour Pearl are both good. Storm's bread and butter are skid/flip balls.
Motiv Raptor Talon. The beast of beasts. This baby craves oil and the more the better. Depending on your axis rotation and rev rate, may be too much ball.
DV8 Brutal Nightmare. Not as strong as the Nightmare but see same as Raptor Talon. I have yet to be able to keep this ball on the right side of the lane on a THS.
DV8 Nightmare. Biggest hooking ball I've ever seen or used.

Now for reality. If you're shooting a THS on a league, save some money and try the Hammer First Blood. Most THS are not truly heavy oil, just fresh oil. THS is usually 38-42' with around 28ml of oil. Not long and not heavy. The Motive Primal Scream is also a good ball for a THS. Roto-Grip Defiant Soul is a great medium to heavy ball also.

[Bunny]

Thank you for the input everyone! I agree about the heavy oil vs fresh. Although, I do bowl some saturdays where there is a sport pattern that is long and heavy.

I spoke with a more experienced pro shop guy who drilled my RS and we narrowed it down to the First Blood or the Enigma. (He has the Synch but said, his words not mine mind you, "It's crap. You won't see any of the pros using them. They sent them right back.") He's very closely connected to a couple of top PBA players on tour right now and had their new balls there for him to drill so I do trust his input.

I like both the FB and the Enigma and he said that I could polish up the Enigma a little if I was bowling at a center with drier lanes. (That could also be said about dulling the FB for wetter conditions I imagine.) Since my RS is polished I don't see the benefit in polishing the Enigma. I would just use my RS.

:confused:

[mikenoodle]

I will offer this tidbit:

This last spring when the Pro Tour was playing on heavy oil shots in both tournaments and at the PBA Legaue, the Roto Grip Defiant Soul was the ball that more reached for than the Storm Sync. And that was the Storm Staff!!!

It appears that for heavy oil the Defiant Soul was preferred by PDW, and if he's throwing it, I'd consider it for heavy oil.

[Bunny]

If it's good enough for PDW, it's good enough for me!

Thank you for all the input and tidbits!

Decisions, decisions.

[Bunny]

Thanks again for the input. I ended up with the First Blood. My husband bought it for me as a motivation to heal quickly and get back on the lanes after surgery. It worked. I looked at that purty new ball for two months just dreaming about bowling! I was about ready to go down to the local center and pull out the kiddie ramp. No joke!

I'm finally back on the lanes. Yay!! So happy just to be bowling!! I love it!! The first few games were a bit rusty for sure 120's-130's. We bowled all three days of the long weekend and my scores started creeping up 140s-150s. The First Blood is really nice. I practiced yesterday at lunch 148, 166, 169. It's starting to feel pretty good in my hand. It's a good looking ball too!

Now my husband wants one. His birthday is next month. I see a First Blood in his future! It'll be a big upgrade from his Freeze!!

[vdubtx]

Congrats on the First Blood and welcome back to bowling. :)

This ball is now my go to ball on my 2 leagues. Does well on house shots as well as heavier oil patterns.

[e-tank]

I dont own one but it looks awesome when i see people using it in league for many different styles and lines. Also being a hybrid is always a plus!

[striker12]

the first blood is a great ball i have seen alot of people throwing it at the bowling center i go too but not many enigmas but msotly everyone here only throws hammers,track,storm,rotogrip and brunswick.

im the only one throwing DV8 at my bowling center