Arsenal #2 (2015-2016)
Brunswick Lethal Revolver, Columbia300 Dark Encounter, Rotogrip Asylum, Brunswick Melee Jab*, Brunswick Loaded Revolver
This arsenal was created based on specs...but the progression was chosen by my coach. While the actual decision of which balls to put in the Arsenal was greatly influenced by what was in the "closet of destiny"...it also included some newer balls like the Asylum that I won in a weekly giveaway.
* The Melee Jab was given to me by Rob...so it wasn't part of the original arsenal selection process.
The driving factor in creating this arsenal was the belief that cover trumps all other specs. Ball manufacturer differences...RG...all that stuff is irrelevant compared to the cover on the ball. This decision was not only echoed by my coach...but I saw it first had when my hybrid, high RG Bullet Train hooked noticeably sooner than my solid, lower RG Rhythm from Arsenal #1. So I figured...if I lined it up Solid, Solid, Hybrid, Pearl, Pearl....and then tweaked it a little based on manufacturer tendencies (which both my coaches agreed on) and surface prep....I should be "good to go".
Pros:
1) If surface trumps specs, then cover should trump specs.
2) Takes into account manufacturer differences inherent to one manufacturer versus another.
3) Given that PerfectScale was the best indicator in the last arsenal, this arsenal/progression was also based on PerfectScale rating.
4) By selecting the arsenal and drilling all of the balls at once...it allowed me two things:
- First, I could change weights without mixing weights. That allowed me to go from 16lbs to 15lbs.
- Second, it allowed my coach to select drilling layouts based on where in the progression I intended to use each ball.
Negatives:
1) It really underestimated the effect of RG and the other specs. While it took specs into account...it was still a "hodge podge" collection of balls.
2) Since all of the balls were essentially OOB finish...it relied on there being a noticeable difference between coverstocks (solid, hybrid, pearl)...and that never really developed the way I had planned and leads me to sort of agree with what Rob discovered in his testing of coverstocks.
3) By drilling the balls to fit in a pre-determined progression...there's a risk (i.e. Asylum) that you could cause an otherwise effective ball to be ineffective.
4) The Melee Jab caused all kinds of "issues". It was newer technology...it was visibly the strongest ball in my bag, it had a lower RG, it was a sooner hooking Brunswick....YET....it didn't work well in the #4 slot...and worked better in the #5 slot. I'm still not sure why...but the 'theory' I gathered from my coach...is that when the breakpoint is drier and clean...the Jab was reacting unpredictably...because my release wasn't super-consistent. The Jab needed oil so not to over-react. And, by Game #3...when ball #5 usually came out on an easier THS...there was enough carry-down (to the breakpoint) that the Jab didn't over-react.
LESSONS LEARNED:
1) I think I need to consider all elements of the specs...not just coverstock and PerfectScale. Throwing high RG equipment ahead of low RG equipment just because it's a solid vs a hybrid is not ideal.
2) Try to use RG more and coverstock less. You can always tweek surface later.
3) There is a 'place' for a stronger, skid/flip ball...at the END of the progression. In other words...it's not as simple as "strong, medium, weak, weakest". You still need a ball that goes long in the dry...but still has enough power left to carry. So...rather than use a Track300A or a Strike King or a Columbia Freeze as Ball #4 (4-ball progression)...it might be better to use a Fortera Exile or something like that...a polished pearl that can give you length....but still have the power to make a turn in the carry-down (oil) and carry corner-pins.
So, that's where I am now. I don't have a 4-ball progression right now...I'm gonna try and make a 3-ball progression and then if my coach thinks I need to slot in another ball somewhere...I can do that...either from the 'closet of destiny' or through purchasing one. The new arsenal/progression is still dependent on PerfectScale and coverstocks...but I tweaked the RG and differential numbers to weight them more than I did before. And I use manufacturer tendencies less...really just as a tiebreaker.
I don't have the spreadsheet in front of me, but it essentially creates 4 slots by color (red, purple, green, dark grey).
- Red ideally would be a low RG solid...Brunswick/Radical...> 0.052 diff (high flare), dull or sanded surface, PerfectScale > 220. It's purpose is to be the first ball out of the bag on fresh oil...probably not THS...but harder patterns, wider patterns, longer patterns, sport patterns, tournament play.
- Purple would be a ball that isn't as strong as #1...maybe a first ball out of the bag on a THS...0.050-0.054 differential, > 210 PerfectScale, maybe a Storm/Rotogrip or Hammer, RG > 2.49...but more in the 2.50-2.51 kind of area, a hybrid cover, maybe a 1000-2000 OOB surface.
- Green is your ball-down option when your THS starts to transition. It's also you "go to ball" on shorter, drier, more narrow patterns...especially if you have slower speed and 300 or higher rev rate. Generally it's going to be a Pearl, polished, 2000-4000 abralon OOB, a > 2.51 RG, 0.020-0.049 differential, PerfectScale < 210, and generally you're looking at a 900Global or Ebonite International (non-Hammer) ball.
- Grey is the slot where you have two options. A strong skid/flip ball like a Pro level Pearl Rotogrip/Storm ball OR...you can use this slot for a dry lane/practice very weak ball like a entry level ball such as a Boost or a Strike King or a Freeze or a really polished Tropical Breeze...maybe even a urethane ball. The ideal specs here are different depending on which of those options you choose. It NEEDS to be a Pearl and it NEEDS to be polished to go in this spot. But if it's skid/flip...the RG is less important and you want a high differential and high PerfectScale value. But if it's just a long, dry lane, practice ball...then you want a lower PerfectScale number, RG > 2.51, differential <0.048, etc...
BUT...and this is important before you start tearing this idea to pieces...it is almost NEVER...the case that a ball is "all Red" or "all Green". Usually there is going to be some spec that doesn't quite fit. That's when you have to sort of "average". Like, lets say you have 6 variables...3 Red and 3 Green. That ball would get slotted as a Purple #2 ball. IDEALLY, you'd select a ball that is "all purple" for the #2 slot....but I presently 'closet of destiny' restrictions...so I have to slot balls that aren't 'perfect'.
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