Ebonite International introduces the Total NV. The NV stands for new veneer. Ebonite’s R&D team have managed to measure the traction in a coverstock. The ability to measure traction allows them to control it also. The result is a new coverstock called Traction 0.30. This coverstock is pearl based but with the reaction benefits of a solid. The core in the Total NV is the spike symmetrical mass bias core. This assymetrical core will produce more down lane motion and aggressive backend. You can use standard mass bias drillings for the Total NV.
The Total NV we received weighed in at 15lbs. 4 ozs with 3oz of top weight and a 3-4” pin. Bruce Heim of the National Bowling Store suggested a 4.5 X 4 Mass Bias drilling with a weight hole 4” on the midline. This drilling should get the ball down the lane and still save energy for the backend without being too angular. The Total NV comes out of the box polished at 4000Abralon. It’s been my experience with Ebonite’s balls, that 4000 Abralon polished goes too long for my game, so we took it down to 2000 Abralon. Not too shiny and not too dull. More of a sheen. Ebonite’s coverstocks are very user friendly so don’t be afraid to experiment with changing the surface of their balls. Satisfied that my new Total NV fit like a glove, I was off to the lanes.
The first center I bowled in was an Anvilane surface with a house pattern. The usual top hat type. The Total NV seemed to need a game or two to break in the coverstock before it started to really react like Ebonite intended. The Total NV revs up easily and you can see it start to rev up quicker in the midlane. This causes the ball to create better carry angles. I was very impressed with the carry of this ball. The carry is kind of hard to describe. Half pocket hits that should be weak 10 pins all carried. This ball makes a very loud sound when hitting the pins. Sending this ball out to the dry it wanted to recover from everywhere. I am still somewhat amazed at the carry of this ball. I found the best line on this pattern was to lay the ball down approx. 23, crossing the arrows at 17 and hitting a break point at approx. the 5th board. Shots that were pulled inside held in the oil and still managed to carry. After a number of games on this pattern the Total NV had to be put in the bag. Burnt patterns are not recommended for the Total NV.
The second pattern I bowled on was a tournament sport shot. This 2-1 ratio played flat and there was no free hook. This heavy volume forced me to play inside. This pattern wouldn’t allow me to use a ball with surface as it hooked too early. I pulled out the Total NV and was very pleased. The Total NV allowed me to get through the fronts clean while still maintaining friction. I was able to bump the ball slightly to the right and get it to recover. I was trying to not go right of 12. The Total NV made the turn and carried. A smaller pocket angle didn’t have any effect on the Total NV’s carry percentage.
Ebonite as evidenced by their stranglehold on winning PBA titles continues to push the envelope as far as R&D is concerned. They are definitely the front runners in coverstock technology. The Total NV should have a place in everyone’s arsenal. The word is apparently already out as you’d be hard pressed to not see multiple Total NV’s in every single league or tournament session. I can recall only a month ago bowling a tournament where the oil volumes were high. I saw at least 1 Total NV on every single ball rack. With all the new releases from manufacturers this was incredible. Many thanks to Ed Gallagher of Ebonite, Bruce Heim of the National Bowling Store and Bob Hodge of Parkway Lanes, St Catharines.