Storm Matchmaker
Posted: March 1st, 2018, 7:24 am
Hello group. I have been away from bowling for 2 1/2 years because of work, except for going to Nationals. I had been struggling for a while. I decided to go to strictly symmetrical balls because it seemed to me the assyms were burning up too soon. I was told on these forums that I was wrong, but I had to try something. A week before Nationals last year, I had a Dare Devil Trick, a Wreckem, and 2 new switch-grips drilled. I never got a chance to practice with them. The thumbs were fine rolling on the floor. When I got to the lanes to bowl, my thumbs weren't close to fitting. I had to use a slug that was oversized which I adjusted as good as possible with tape. Before practice was over, I already had a blister and tore the skin off. OUCH! I Bowled descent and made a little money.
My shift changed at work, so I was able to go back to my team. I started with a 192 average and had it up to 206 by Christmas. I got fed up with the tape not sticking to my thumb so I quit using it. I was able to finally use one of my new thumb slugs and started coming more up the back of the ball. When I did this, I was able to throw the Trick for the time. Ever since, I have raised my average to 211.
I have struggled a little the last couple weeks. In league I needed to be able to move in. These two balls didn't have the backend strength to play in. This last weekend I Bowled in the State tournament. We had a reverse block and I was unable to get a ball to roll correctly. I did have 2 descent games at the first house. The second house I had no reaction. I had the highest rev rate on the pair by far and was the only one that couldn't get the ball to move. I decided I probably need something stronger on the backend or overall.
I did win a Jackal Ghost and need suggestions for that. I went to a Storm Matchmaker today. It was at a house I have practiced at a few times and bowled a tournament a few weeks ago. It has wood lanes so the reaction is probably different than what I would normally see. I threw my Trick to get a read. It was as in my normal house, 12 to 8 even arcing. What they had were the Code X, Idol, Hy-road Nano, Soniq, Drive, Dare Devil Danger, Hyper Cell Fused, and Hot Cell. What I liked were the Nano, Code X, Idol, and Drive. The Nano was exactly the reaction I have been looking for for a long time. It was clean down the lane, read the mids great, reacted very strong without jumping, and blew racks. The Code X was too skid floppy at first, but after the lanes burnt out and other balls were quitting, it was like the Nano with a lot sharper breakpoint. The Drive was long and strong. I liked the Nano better but I'm sure there is a condition where the Drive would be better. The Idol was a big arcing ball that was kind of oil sensitive. When the lanes burnt up, OH MY GOD! This ball was a beast. It covered the most boards and exploded the racks!
The Soniq and Fused were good balls, but I already had the same reaction. I could see using them over my Trick and Wreckem though. I did not like the Danger or the Hot Cell. The Hot Cell is a urethane with a strong core. With the right layout and condition it could be useful, but not here. The Danger was like throwing a very week reactive. I couldn't get it to roll even bouncing off the dry. My old Blade Pearl rolled better than that. I would have to try it on some really dry lanes to maybe find a use for it.
What I have been looking for for a long time is balls I can relax and throw and let them do what they want to do. I have been having to force everything and try to shape the reactions. Every ball here except the Danger and Hot Cell I was able to relax and watch. With every ball having the same layout, I could've walked out with 6 balls with 6 different reactions. That in my mind is awesome and takes a lot of thought out of how to lay them out. If you haven't been to a Matchmaker, you have to attend one just to try the Code X and Idol that come out March 9th.
My shift changed at work, so I was able to go back to my team. I started with a 192 average and had it up to 206 by Christmas. I got fed up with the tape not sticking to my thumb so I quit using it. I was able to finally use one of my new thumb slugs and started coming more up the back of the ball. When I did this, I was able to throw the Trick for the time. Ever since, I have raised my average to 211.
I have struggled a little the last couple weeks. In league I needed to be able to move in. These two balls didn't have the backend strength to play in. This last weekend I Bowled in the State tournament. We had a reverse block and I was unable to get a ball to roll correctly. I did have 2 descent games at the first house. The second house I had no reaction. I had the highest rev rate on the pair by far and was the only one that couldn't get the ball to move. I decided I probably need something stronger on the backend or overall.
I did win a Jackal Ghost and need suggestions for that. I went to a Storm Matchmaker today. It was at a house I have practiced at a few times and bowled a tournament a few weeks ago. It has wood lanes so the reaction is probably different than what I would normally see. I threw my Trick to get a read. It was as in my normal house, 12 to 8 even arcing. What they had were the Code X, Idol, Hy-road Nano, Soniq, Drive, Dare Devil Danger, Hyper Cell Fused, and Hot Cell. What I liked were the Nano, Code X, Idol, and Drive. The Nano was exactly the reaction I have been looking for for a long time. It was clean down the lane, read the mids great, reacted very strong without jumping, and blew racks. The Code X was too skid floppy at first, but after the lanes burnt out and other balls were quitting, it was like the Nano with a lot sharper breakpoint. The Drive was long and strong. I liked the Nano better but I'm sure there is a condition where the Drive would be better. The Idol was a big arcing ball that was kind of oil sensitive. When the lanes burnt up, OH MY GOD! This ball was a beast. It covered the most boards and exploded the racks!
The Soniq and Fused were good balls, but I already had the same reaction. I could see using them over my Trick and Wreckem though. I did not like the Danger or the Hot Cell. The Hot Cell is a urethane with a strong core. With the right layout and condition it could be useful, but not here. The Danger was like throwing a very week reactive. I couldn't get it to roll even bouncing off the dry. My old Blade Pearl rolled better than that. I would have to try it on some really dry lanes to maybe find a use for it.
What I have been looking for for a long time is balls I can relax and throw and let them do what they want to do. I have been having to force everything and try to shape the reactions. Every ball here except the Danger and Hot Cell I was able to relax and watch. With every ball having the same layout, I could've walked out with 6 balls with 6 different reactions. That in my mind is awesome and takes a lot of thought out of how to lay them out. If you haven't been to a Matchmaker, you have to attend one just to try the Code X and Idol that come out March 9th.