Ebonite Smash Time Pearl Reviewed by: proshoptraining.com review by Jeff Ussery 12/11/2006 00:00

Click Layout Image to Enlarge

Pin to PAP Distance: 5"
10 Degree Layout
Balance Hole: 25/32" Hole x 2" Deep on my Positive Axis Point
Surface Preparation: Box Condition

What I Was Looking For in this Ball and Layout:

Many of my shiny Ebonite balls get down the lane really clean and have a very quick transition at the spot. Some of this is due to ball selection, and some of it is due to layout selection. Balls like my Big Time Pearl, polished Overtime, and my second Whirlwind all seem to get through the front of the lane very easy and then have a fast breakpoint. With the SmashTime Pearl, I was hoping to create a pearlized polished ball that didn't read the spot as quickly, and was smoother throughout the lane.

What I Ended Up With in this Ball and Layout:

The front of the lane is no problem for the SmashTime Pearl. This ball goes to show what a polished pearlized coverstock can do for you. In the same rg and differential and a solid coverstock (SmashTime solid), this ball would hook very early and have trouble getting through heads that don't have sufficient oil on them. But with the pearlized and polished coverstock, the SmashTime Pearl has no difficulty whatsoever. You can view a video of me throwing the SmashTime Pearl on some Guardian lane surface heads that tend to hook early. The SmashTime Pearl handles these easily.

Breakpoint was the key that I was trying to zone in on. Remember that I wanted a smoother look downlane, with a ball that didn't squirt through the oil too much. I was able to get exactly what I wanted by doing two things with this layout. First, I used a 10 degree layout, moving the preferred spin axis of the ball near my positive axis point. This gets the ball to lose axis rotation more quickly and gives it a smoother breakpoint. I combined that with the very low pin position, just 1/2" above my midline. This makes the ball roll earlier or closer to me at the foul line.

It is important to realize that not everybody can use pins in lower positions like this. People who track very high and close to their gripping holes are definitely in danger of flaring over the middle finger hole with this type of pin height. If you are considering this type of pin height and layout for yourself or a customer, be sure to examine their track closely and make sure that they are not going to roll or flare over the gripping holes. Airborne bowling balls don't tend to hit the pins real effectively.

In overall hook, the SmashTime Pearl is a solid contender for the upper-tier of the mid-level hooking balls. It's not going to bend like a One series ball. But it's definitely going to outhook everything in the Elements series, such as the Whirlwind and Ice balls. My SmashTime Pearl is very close in total hook to the new RXS300 that I drilled earlier.
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Other Products Reviewed by proshoptraining.com review by Jeff Ussery

• Ebonite The One - Original
• Ebonite The Big One
• Ebonite Over Time
• Ebonite Big Time
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• Ebonite Black Ice
• Ebonite SR300
• Ebonite Infinite One
• Ebonite No Limit
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• Ebonite Smash Time
• Ebonite Angular One
• Ebonite RXS300
• Ebonite Total NV

Ebonite Smash Time Pearl Reviewed by: BJI Reviews By Joe Cerar Jr. 02/14/2007 00:00

Core Design:
Both the new pearl and original Smash Time use the same symmetric low RG core. The RG value is 2.44 and the Diff reading is .054. This is the lowest RG core in Ebonite's entire line.

Coverstock:
The Smash Time Pearl's cover is sanded with 1000 abralon and polished with Ebonite's Factory Powerhouse. The coloring is red, purple and silver pearl. The base used is a modified Big Bang reactive.

Manufacturer's Intent:
Ed Gallagher of Ebonite's design team had this to say:
"The Smash Time Pearl was designed using a stronger version of our Big Bang Reactive and a new pearl, with the Smash Time Core. The results are a ball that revs very quickly out of the bowler's hand and reads the mid-lane extremely well. This version of Smash Time is quite cleaner through the front part of the lane when compared to the original solid..."

Test Results:
The pearl Smash Time's breakpoint motion reminded us of the original Smash Time, but with an easy two feet more length and a touch more attitude. Some of you may think two feet is not much when it comes to breakpoint length. Those who are in-the-know realize how important just six inches of added length can be for pin carry. The pearlized polished cover had no trouble getting down the lane, even on our dry or broken-down patterns. The modified Big Bang reactive cover helps temper the response off the friction, thus creating a smooth, easy-to-read arc. This will make an excellent read (of the pattern) or control ball for many, especially on medium to drier wet/dry patterns.

When to Use:
Power players could find success on heavy oil down to lighter oil with minor surface adjustments on the slop. Average or less-handed players will use the Smash Time with box finish on mediums and lighter. Heavier patterns will be better served by a more aggressive piece, in my opinion. Down-and-inners can play near the track area and simply bump the dry for added entry angle. The fast-revving nature (low RG) of the core aids in pin carry and control for all release types on all but the driest of patterns.
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