The Black Diamond looks like it's going to be a nice release, but I'm hesitant to purchase another Legends/Lane Masters ball with the tall Dynasty Core. I have the original Black Pearl and have had very little success with it although it seems to get rave reviews as the most popular LM ball ever released. My problem might be that I had it drilled aggressive for maximum flare. This ball flares so much that it is difficult to produce good revs. When I roll it. it begins to show signs of reving then almost immediately transitions into more of a lope then a roll at the breakpoint turn. I'm thinking of having it redrilled for less flare. I would really like to make this ball work for me because I've wanted the Black Pearl Reactive for a long time, but as of now, I have doubts as to whether it will work for me. On the other hand, my LM Conquerer is a fast, high reving ball. It is rated as a heavy oil ball, but I have found that it works best on medium to maybe medium-heavy conditions. I rolled it on medium to medium-heavy Brunswick lanes on Sunday and could only get it into a roll and make it turn enough if I took a lot of pace off my roll. I tried it again yesterday on medium AMF lanes and it performed well as long as I kept my ball speed around medium speed. In both instances, I had to redue ball speed from my normal (fairly high speed) pace. My Black Pearl faired worse than my Conquerer at both houses. I would appreciate any layout suggestions for my Black Pearl that would give me smooth, easy reving with a strong backend move, basically a strong arc with backend or a semi skid/Flip move. More of a Skid/Flip reaction is what I was hoping to get if I purchased the Black Pearl Reactive.

Pattayabowler

PS. I'm still strongly considering the purchase of a Terminator. I think it may be the best overall (most versatile) medium/medium-heavy oil ball that LM has made to date. I think it would outperform my Conquerer. What do you guys think?

I don't have a Conquerer, but I do have a Terminator. And let me tell you, it's a beast on medium/medium heavy to heavy oil patterns. I rarely tap, in a house that's known for poor pin carry. They keep a good volume of oil down the lane for lower scores in most men's leagues. Even though I'm gonna pick up the Dynamic Power, as well as 2 new releases, I just might pick up another Terminator for the future.

i gave may lane 1 agent orange and LM black pearl reactive sun baths over the weekend. the lane one is about four months old, tons of oil came out of it. the black pearl reactive, which is 11 months old, didn't drip a drop of oil.

Lane Master balls just don't seem to absorb oil as the other balls. As a result, they hold their reaction much longer. I did have trouble with my Conqueror after a revivor treatment. But, then it woke up on heavier oil. Guess it was just rolling out on a house shot. Terminator gets its first treatment going into year 4. And my BRB still looks like new, and acts the same way going into year 2.

Course, wasn't there a study done by Ebonite, I believe, where they tried to say that absorbing oil was the right thing that a ball should do? It came out, and disappeared.

My Terminator is a little dirty, but it reacts the same as when I bought it. On a side note, what should I use to clean my Terminator, and by Rebellion? There both a tad dirty these days, and I'm not up on the different cleaning products.

Also, I should have a few pics of the (Black Diamond) on Thursday. Dennis do you intend to ad any new balls to your arsenal?

Assuming I get all of my thumbs redrilled the same, and my Terminator comes out of its treatment OK, I don't see another purchase this coming year. The lanes I bowl on are fairly heavily oiled. And, if the lane I planned to leave does in fact come up with a PBA League, I believe I am set.

For a house shot, I still have other balls that could come out, if I need them. Dry lanes really kill me, and I'm not usually equiped properly when I show up and find a desert. But, I know the Houses around here to avoid, or come prepared.

I'm with you on dry lanes, more often then not if I know you have dry lanes I'm not coming. However my Terminator Rebellion worked pretty well the 4 or 5 times I found the pocket on the Cheetah, it might give me a better look on dryer conditions.

OK, got my Terminator back. Thumb is really better. Put it through the revivor, and a lot of oil came out. This machine takes out the oil that a hot bath misses. It got refinished and re-polished. So, I went to another lane where they had the Shark Pattern laid out. They oil 16 lanes for league , with lanes 31 and 32 left open for lane break down. After the league, I bowled on the fresh oil of 31-32.

The Dynamic Power was the best performing ball by far. the Virtual Gravity got a little iffy with the carrydown but still finished OK. The Terminator needs to have a worn path in the polish, but seemed to get better the more I rolled it.

These 3 balls will be just great on heavy oil, Sport or PBA patterns. Now, I have to get more consistent. Not bowling weekly is hurting.

http://www.bowlsk.com/games/view-series.html?series=166292

Here's a few pics of the (Black Diamond), I hope they post!

Below is the tag for the 2009 catalog!

http://www.lanemastersbowling.com/index.html

Click on the 3rd one down, then click on resources.