Tester:        Jesse James

Rev Rate:    High

Surface:      Box

Layout:       85 x 5 3/4 x 45

I drilled my Jet Black to compliment the Taboo Blue/Silver for when lanes begin to dry out or I need some extra backend motion. After throwing this ball, I have found it to be exactly what I was looking for, a total beast! This ball excels when you need to create some skid through the front part of the lane, but a strong backend motion that is very continous. Definately a ball shape that should be in everyone's bag!

Tester:      Jesse James

Rev Rate:  High

Surface:    Box & 3000 Abrlaon scuff

Layout:     80 x 5 3/4 x 40

I didn't know what to expect with this ball. Brunswick bills it as a ball with good skid, and strong backend motion, but usually with this type of Brunswick ball, I get long with no hook and terrible ball motion. I am pleased to report that this ball bucks this trend of poor ball motion out of "long and strong" Brunswick balls. Although on the fresh this ball is a little weak and creates to much over/under for it to be useful, once the lane pattern breaks down a little or if you are on a high friction surface, this ball is clean through the fronts and a very strong backend motion! It is a nice combo of skid/flip with that good old school Brunswick heavy roll.

Just for fun, I scuffed the ball with 3000 Abralon to play the fresh and WOW! Due to this ball's clean nature through the fronts, I was able to square up to the pattern (move right) and have a controllable, backend motion that gave me a lot of room. This ball will be useful for all styles on multiple lane patterns, but the surface must be adjusted to give the player the optimal ball motion on the given lane condition. Stop by In the Zone Pro Shop to check out this great piece when it is released on 11/11/11!

Hammer Taboo Blue/Silver

Tester:     Jesse James

Rev Rate: High

Surface:   Box (3000 Abralon)

Layout:    84 x 5 5/8 x 44

Typically my game does not match up with cores as strong as the Gas Mask core that is used in this ball; however, with the combination of the layout and coverstock, this ball matches up great for me on slicker, flatter patterns. The Taboo Blue/Silver is clean through the fronts, with a strong midlane read, and a powerful backend motion on slick lane conditions. This is truly one of those heavy oil balls that will be liked by every style. It will give crankers enough length to be useful, and it will give strokers/tweeners enough overall hook and backend for great carry. For crankers, I would recommend using this ball on tougher patterns that are "flat" in nature, for strokers/tweeners, use it anytime you would like as long as there is a little oil through the front part of the lane. For more information, or to pick up one of these great pieces, stop by your local In the Zone Pro Shop!



Ebonite Mission X

Tester:     Jesse James

Rev Rate: High

Surface:   Box (3000 Abralon)

Layout:    80 x 5 3/4 x 50

Early, early, and early pretty much sums up this ball. The coverstock/core combination on the Mission X gives the player early roll and predictablilty at the breakpoint. This ball will be great for players who are trying to control the pocket from an outside line. Once the line moves in, this ball began to loose some carry as the launch angles used to hit the pocket became to big to create dynamic pin carry. On the fresh however, carry was great but once we moved inside of 20, single pins became an issue. Overall, a great ball for shorter patterns or Strokers/Tweeners, or crankers who have a lot of speed to eliminate the early hook e.g. Tommy Jones. To determine if this ball fits your game, consult one of our experts at yoru local In the Zone Pro Shop!