I was at my Pro Shop the other day getting my GF's first finger tip ball (Playmaker) and saw the Venom. It was the first day of release but none in stock. I don't know what came over me but I ordered a 16lb on the spot, great looking ball easily the nicest of the 4 (5 if you count the spare ball). I just hope it performs like the others. I get it next Thurs, has anyone drilled one up yet? How do you like it?

Mike you like me when i go to Pro Shop. A kid in candy store LOL. I havent seen one but i what i heard it suppose to go longer than the other BW in the series.

Looking at videoballreviews.com, the Venom looked slightly longer and stronger than the Pearl. The review in BTM concluded that it was longer and slightly less backend than the Pearl. Consensus on longer, but conflicting findings on the back end. Definitely a nice looking ball though, I agree.

Should be interesting, I entered to win a free Venom. We shall see what happens I guess. Let us know what you think for sure!

I just read the review for it in Bolwers Journal International and they say it goes longer, and does have a stronger move on the backend but only if the backends are dry. Without that friction they say the ball skids too much, so it sounds like a very strong medium oil / medium to short pattern ball, and if there is carry down you will probably want to throw something else.

But isn't that most solid reactive balls, grab on dry backends and skid with carrydown on the backends. So what's that big deal?

We've sold a handful of these already. To me it looks like it hooks up a bit earlier then the Pearl and turns/changes direction more drastically. One customer says it fits between the Bite and the Pearl as far as length. Our house shot is fairly heavy and long though.

Lets face it folks. Brunswick did this years ago with their Zone series and is still doing it. Slight changes and a new ball is born. The reaction is maybe a bit different from one to the other depending on the bowler's skill level. You can't really blame Brunswick and Hammer. If something works and is as popular as those two series are I'd milk them for all these are worth.

Erin

No you can't really blame Brunswick and Hammer, they're in it to make money, and tweaking things here and there is a great way to do it.

That aside, your observation and the guys description of the Venom seem to make it sound like a very good ball, especially a good benchmark ball.

Storm does the same thing. They have a few different cores and a few different coverstocks. They mix and match them to make different balls. As long as we keep buying them, they will keep on making them.

kind of like the Storm rapid fire and rapid fire pearl. just make one pearl and one solid and tell you its new. but i'll still buy it just to see what it does bad habit. i do that with guitars and other things. so yeah they'll keep on doing it. makes it fun