Hammer Arson, Arson Hybrid, Taboo Black or First Blood?

[SnipingWaste]

Hi ArtVandelay

I see your in the Dallas area. My league is at Showplace lanes in Garland. Ill try to get some video on the ball on the lanes. I had it drilled for length because im a cranker with a rev around 450 to 550 and bowl on the left side of the lane as a right handier. Normal THS there is around 40ft to 42ft. Ill have practice on Sunday for 2 hours and the house will put fresh oil down for us. This will be a good time to really see what this ball can do.

[ArtVandelay]

Cool. I'd appreciate it. I'm kind of in the Denton area. I bowl at either University Lanes or an AMF in Lewisville. University is drier, and that's kind of why I'm looking for something weaker than the Lane 1 Droid.

[Ptnomore]

Cool. I'd appreciate it. I'm kind of in the Denton area. I bowl at either University Lanes or an AMF in Lewisville. University is drier, and that's kind of why I'm looking for something weaker than the Lane 1 Droid.

I have the Arson Hybrid as of last night, and the Taboo Jet Black. I got the Hybrid because I needed to fill a gap between the Jet Black and my Freeze. I can tell you that the Hybrid is one helluva strong ball. I love it. But once the fronts started to go away, I couldn't keep it on the lane, with "out of the box" surface anyway. I'm a 185 average bowler. 15mph, with what I'd say is a med rev rate. Nothing spectacular. I'm still learning. Only been at this for about 3 seasons, 42 years old. And Im addicted.

The Taboo Jet Black needs oil to store some energy. When the lanes dry out, it still gets down the lane, but has nothing left when it gets to the pins. That ball you really need a wet/dry condition for it to work up to it's full potential. Second game in my league is where that ball shines.

You already have a Crossroad which is close to the Hybrid in strength/lane condition already. if you have decent or high revs, the Hybrid could be too much ball, in my opinion, on drier conditions. That like always depends on your definition of dry also. I've seen on the forums where folks are playing with the surface finish and polish on the Hybrid with DRASTIC results, so it could be a good fit if you like to experiment a bit. But have you considered a Nail, or something in the Freeze line, or as another suggested, a Vibe? I absolutely LOVE my Nail on dryer conditions.

I threw the Hybrid last night for the first time. 1st and second game was awesome. 3rd game went away fast. I couldn't keep it on the lane without adding so much speed, my accuracy suffered. I had to put it away and pick up the Freeze.

The Hybrid is definitely going to be the first ball out of the bag from now on, but I can easily see it's limits...something that I'm still working on. 1st game was a 202 (had a 46 in the 4th before I started throwing the Hybrid), second game was a 247, my 3rd highest game ever (268, 248, 247...).

I'll be watching this post. I'm curious to see what you wind up with after you submit your video, and what the new ball does for you, what ever you wind up with.

[ArtVandelay]

I have the Arson Hybrid as of last night, and the Taboo Jet Black. I got the Hybrid because I needed to fill a gap between the Jet Black and my Freeze. I can tell you that the Hybrid is one helluva strong ball. I love it. But once the fronts started to go away, I couldn't keep it on the lane, with "out of the box" surface anyway. I'm a 185 average bowler. 15mph, with what I'd say is a med rev rate. Nothing spectacular. I'm still learning. Only been at this for about 3 seasons, 42 years old. And Im addicted.

The Taboo Jet Black needs oil to store some energy. When the lanes dry out, it still gets down the lane, but has nothing left when it gets to the pins. That ball you really need a wet/dry condition for it to work up to it's full potential. Second game in my league is where that ball shines.

You already have a Crossroad which is close to the Hybrid in strength/lane condition already. if you have decent or high revs, the Hybrid could be too much ball, in my opinion, on drier conditions. That like always depends on your definition of dry also. I've seen on the forums where folks are playing with the surface finish and polish on the Hybrid with DRASTIC results, so it could be a good fit if you like to experiment a bit. But have you considered a Nail, or something in the Freeze line, or as another suggested, a Vibe? I absolutely LOVE my Nail on dryer conditions.

I threw the Hybrid last night for the first time. 1st and second game was awesome. 3rd game went away fast. I couldn't keep it on the lane without adding so much speed, my accuracy suffered. I had to put it away and pick up the Freeze.

The Hybrid is definitely going to be the first ball out of the bag from now on, but I can easily see it's limits...something that I'm still working on. 1st game was a 202 (had a 46 in the 4th before I started throwing the Hybrid), second game was a 247, my 3rd highest game ever (268, 248, 247...).

I'll be watching this post. I'm curious to see what you wind up with after you submit your video, and what the new ball does for you, what ever you wind up with.

Thank you, so much for your reply and input! After much thought, I ended up going to a local alley and having the pro shop owner (also a USBC Gold Coach) watch me throw for a while and suggest a ball. That's how I ended up with the Crossroad (or as we call it: The Clapton Ball).

I think I've decided I'm not talented enough to decide on a ball by myself. hahahahaha. That's a problem because it can get expensive having pro shop people suggest bowling balls. But when it's all said and done, I ended up saving a little money doing it this way rather than buying it online, and the ball seems to fit me better. My biggest problem is that my old ball was about 6/7 years old, so even though the crossroad is rated as LESS of a hook potential than the No Mercy (back when it came out) it moves a lot more than the No Mercy ever did so it's been a bit of an adjustment.

Thank you, again. I really appreciate your input. One thing's for sure: I think I'm going to have to go back to Hammer next time I have to buy a ball... Call me crazy, but I don't think, "Nothing hits like a Hammer," is as much as slogan as it is the truth. Despite being a lighter ball than the Crossroad and Droid I bought, I still think it hit the pins harder.

[mxjosh]

Crossroad is a really good ball. Definitely a good choice. Only negative is the smell.