Prerelease forecasts about the DARE DEVIL told me to expect ball motion in between what we experienced from the much loved MARVEL PEARL and the popular !Q TOUR PEARL.  The tech specs bear that out.  The RG at 15 lbs. is within one one-hundredth for all three.  The variance is in the differential: 0.041 on the DARE DEVIL compared to 0.050 (more flare potential) on the MARVEL PEARL and the uniquely low 0.029 (less flare potential) on the GOLD BALL.

 Due to schedule restraints this fall I am only bowling league these days and that means typical STL wet/dry house shots.  Unfortunately, some weeks it also means less than optimal mechanics from this old guy’s body.  Nonetheless, given the DARE DEVIL’s target performance setting of medium volume conditions, I anticipated good things.  Before I had a chance to send mine down the lane, I saw great motion from the DARE DEVIL in the hands of local fellow STL Roto Grip staffer and higher rev player, Shea Bittenbender.  Overall, I think the DARE DEVIL is going to prove a more versatile piece for bowlers with more hand.

 What I have seen for myself has also been really good ball motion when I get it rolling off my hand well.   This makes sense given the moderate flare potential, or as national tour Roto Grip Staffer, John Szczerbinski put it “medium friction and medium/quick response time.”    Medium response time means that the ball needs to see dry in order to perform optimally, but when it does see dry it doesn’t jerk left quickly off the spot.  Instead the motion off the spot is more medium-range in volatility.   To my eye, oftentimes that means more of what I would call forward motion off the spot rather than sideways.  The way this has played out for me has been pretty consistently the same in league outings.  Typically targeting from about 5 or 6 boards inside the oil line at the laydown point, across it the oil line past the arrows, and out to the dry down lane I’ve had solidly good games in the 240 to 250 range the first game each week.  When I’ve had to start migrating left the second game, the result has also been the same each week – a clean game with four to six ringing ten pins for 200 to 220.  And I’ve had to put the DARE DEVIL away the third game in favor of something more angular down lane as I get deeper into the heavier, longer part of STL house patterns.

 I anticipate the DARE DEVIL being really useful for me on flatter, medium volume and medium length patterns once they start to transition.  As mentioned, I think bowlers with more hand will be able to stay with the DARE DEVIL longer as lanes transition because they’ll be able to get it to corner harder than I can.  Similarly, bowlers with less hand or more ball speed will probably find the DARE DEVIL a great go-to ball that will let them stay direct up the lane through a pattern when what they’ve started with starts to check up too soon.   Mine will probably spend more time in my tournament bag than my league bag.