Expert: - 12/17/2009

Question
Warren,

Much respect for what you have done and continue to do for the game of bowling.  I wanted to know an un-biased opinion of the Black Widow Pearl, as I am considering buying one.  

I am mainly a stroker with medium ball speed and rev rate, but I am learning to utilize more of the lane - becoming more versatile in my play.  I typically play on house shots, but I have been entering more tournaments where there's a bit more oil to swim in.  

I'm currently throwing a Copperhead giving me a 190 average that's drilled to roll early and pushes through midlane, while finishing strong for me on the backend.  Depending on how I had it drilled, would the Widow Pearl provide me some length and still be aggressive enough on the back?  Is it really a good ball, or was it just a bridge between the Original Widow and the Bite?  If I haven't provided you enough information, please let me know!

Thanks,
Regi  

Answer
Regi,
Strong ball, but asymmetrical (strong dynamic core), so the core does contribute to overall ball reaction, where the Copperhead is a combination of core and cover to create the effects you get. The different looks might be difficult to get used to.

The Black Widow Pearl surface is very smooth, so it will give you more push downlane. The Widow Pearl is a very nice ball, but a smooth surface and strong reaction demands consistency of release and ball speed to make it a good choice for a tougher lane condition.

The Brunswick Python compliments the Copperhead. What kind of conditions do you bowl on that a pearl is in your future? A pearl for tournaments needs to compliment your game. Thanks for the questions. Bowl well and happy holidays.