- Desperado

First Impressions
The Seismic Desperado, originally released in January 2010, is a bowling ball that occupies a fascinating niche within the urethane category. Visually it comes in an unmistakable color blend of midnight blue and gold pearl, which gives it a striking look. The technical foundation of this ball is the asymmetric Insignia core. With a relatively high RG of 2.55, this core tends to keep the ball on a straight axis for a long time and only sets it into rotation in the back part of the lane. The 0.034 differential should generate a moderate track flare of about three inches, while the 0.011 intermediate differential keeps the asymmetric character rather subtle. This asymmetric engine is wrapped in a highly unusual cover, the Cruise Control Pearl Urethane coverstock. What makes this material special is the addition of silicone, which in combination with the factory 4000 Abralon polished finish should reduce friction to an absolute minimum. This construction aims at letting the Desperado glide remarkably easily and cleanly through the heads without going into roll too early. The hard combination of high RG and an extremely smooth, silicone-infused urethane cover means the ball develops hardly any hook potential in heavy oil and was primarily designed for conditions where extreme control and a gentle forward motion are essential.
Comparison To illustrate the extremely controlled ball motion of the Seismic Desperado, a comparison with classic urethane balls such as the Storm Pitch Black makes sense. The Storm Pitch Black uses a pure, solid urethane cover with a symmetric core and a rough, dull surface. As a result, it builds traction very early on the lane and creates a smooth but steadily gripping move to the pocket. The Seismic Desperado takes a completely different route. Thanks to its pearl cover with silicone content and the glossy polish, it retains significantly more length in the heads than the Pitch Black and also glides much more gently over dried-up boards. If a modern asymmetric solid ball such as the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 is taken as a further reference point, the contrasts become even more dramatic. While the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 accelerates extremely hard and angularly toward the pins upon contact with friction at the breakpoint, the Desperado shows a highly restrained reaction. Even with massive friction, the asymmetric Insignia core does not produce a brutal change of direction, but merely translates its asymmetric nature into a slightly arcing, unshakably even forward motion. The Desperado generates considerably less hook than conventional reactive balls and even less than many traditional urethane models, which makes it a highly specialized alternative when even weak reactive balls react too unpredictably.
On the Lanes In practical use, the Seismic Desperado is a highly specialized tool for extremely dry lane conditions or very short sport patterns. Its range of use begins exactly where reactive equipment reacts too aggressively to the friction and a reliable line becomes impossible. If you have a high to very high rev rate, this ball offers an excellent way to play the lane direct and close to the gutter over the outside boards without having to fear that a minimal miss to the outside will send the ball uncontrollably through the nose of the pin formation. On patterns with high oil volume or on fresh, medium-length house shots, however, the Desperado will have massive trouble finding its way to the pocket, since the chemical composition of the cover can build practically no traction in oil. But when the transition sets in strongly over the course of a longer tournament and the front part of the lane has dried up massively, this construction can shine. The ball largely ignores the burned-up areas, preserves its energy, and should still deliver adequate carry as long as you play it precisely and at a consistent speed. Reduced ball speed or unclean releases quickly lead to deflection and a loss of power at the pins. Ultimately, the Seismic Desperado is primarily a ball for athletes who can do without excessive hook and instead are looking for the ultimate degree of predictability and control in order to perform successfully on difficult, heavily dried-up patterns.