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Manufacturer:Ebonite- http://www.ebonite.com
Coverstock: Megabite Super Tack II reactive
Core: Low RG Wolf core
Color: Pine Green
Surface: Box: 600 grit sand Test: 1200 grit sand+1200 Degree Ball Polish
 

     The Timberwolf is the latest in the Wolf series by Ebonite. As with most agressive coverstocks, I had the TimberWolf polished to 1200 to increase it's length and cut down overall hook. 70% of ball reaction is determined by coverstock and surface preparation. Ebonite provides a comprehensive "Surface friction selection" chart with their balls, a good reminder that you should spend as much time in your pro-shop discussing and picking the right surface for your ball as you do drilling layouts and fitting.
     The Megabite Super Tack II reactive coverstock and the unique core design give this ball all the power you could ever want, with more control and predictabilty than you would expect from a ball this aggressive. More times than not, the latest and greatest reactive bowling balls become "condition balls", working great on condition "A" but poorly on condition "B". I rolled the TimberWolf on a variety of conditions, on synthetics and wood. On almost every condition, I was able to find a line and a roll that would score. The exception, as you might expect, dry. All Wolves (except clear ones) like oil in their diet, and the TimberWolf is no exception.
     Almost redefining skid-flip, the TimberWolf suprised me with it's length. The first few times I threw it, I thought I might be sending it too long. The TimberWolf revs up quickly, skids very long, and then makes it's move. This Wolf bites. Hard. The TimberWolf will hook as much as any ball on the market today, and move strong through the pocket, without deflection. If I ever need more total hook, the surface can be sanded. I haven't tried the TImberwolf sanded, though I am pretty sure I would need a much wider lane, I cross a lot of boards with it polished. I also liked that I was never dissapointed with an early break to the pocket, or an excessive float in oil. Some of the benchmark balls I used on the test conditions exhibited these tendencies, not holding the line when tugged a little, or sailing by the pocket when pushed outside. The TimberWolf rolled consistently. Consistently enough in fact for me to put up eleven X's during one game in a tournament this past weekend.
     Now for the technical stuff. When you first look at a TimberWolf, you will notice 2 pins. The first pin is a regular pin, at the top of the core. The core of the TimberWolf is the same low RG core found in the Red Wolf. The second pin shows where the "BOMB" is, an internal offset millable ceramic mass. This is essentially a small dense core on the side of the larger center core. Drilling a TimberWolf is a little more complicated than a ball with just one pin, but the instructions and layouts Ebonite provides are comprehensive and easy to follow.
     The drilling for the test ball will probably be dramatically different than most people are used to seeing, because I am a full roller. For those of you who don't know what that means, when I roll a ball, the ball tracks between the finger holes and thumb hole. On the test ball, the "BOMB" was located 6.75" from the pin. The "BOMB" was placed 3.375" from the centerline of the grip, at a 45 degree angle, placing it in the positive finger quadrant. This placed the pin in the thumb negative quadrant, also at 45 degrees. A weight hole was required, 6.75" from the middle of the grip, also in the thumb negative quadrant. Final weights for the ball were: .5 oz. positive side, .5 oz. finger, and 1.5 oz. top.
     This ball is a top performer. It's got great length and power, but remains under control. If you purchase a TimberWolf, put the right drill and surface on it, it can become your number one ball, the ball you roll first everytime you bowl, as long as you have at least medium oil. It's no suprise to me that Jason Couch made the finals with a TimberWolf at the Brentwood Classic last week, and I am sure we will spot a lot more TimberWolves in bowling centers everywhere.

Phil Pennington - Email

To see more Ebonite products, please visit your local pro-shop, or Ebonite's website, http://www.ebonite.com