- Blood Moon Rising Pearl

First Impressions
The Pyramid Blood Moon Rising Pearl continues the success story of the popular Blood Moon series and offers unbeatable value for the money. Visually it shows up in a striking "Crimson Red / Gold" pearl blend that looks very classy on the lane. Inside works the proven SG 19.5 Dual Density Asymmetric core. This core is unique in that it is asymmetric, yet delivers fairly moderate numbers with a 2.52 RG and a 0.043 differential (at 15 lbs). The 0.011 intermediate differential provides a defined but not overwhelming asymmetry. This is paired with the F80 Pearl Reactive coverstock and a factory polish. The result is a ball that glides through the heads extremely easily and shows a very sharp, almost "whipping" reaction at the breakpoint.
Comparison
Compared directly to the original Pyramid Blood Moon Rising (hybrid/solid), which was known for its smooth and rounded motion, the pearl version is noticeably more aggressive on the backend. It sacrifices traction in oil in favor of length and entry angle. Compared with well-known competitors such as the Hammer Black Widow Ghost Pearl, the Blood Moon Rising Pearl offers a similar skid-flip motion, but is overall a bit weaker and more controllable, since its core is less extreme (lower differential). In terms of length it plays more in the league of a Brunswick Melee Jab (even though that one is symmetric), but the asymmetry gives it a quicker change of direction once it hits friction.
On the Lanes
The Pyramid Blood Moon Rising Pearl is a fantastic ball for typical house shots and medium oil conditions. Its great strength lies in the transition phase: when the heads dry up and stronger balls lose energy too early, this ball is the perfect solution. It ignores the dry areas up front effortlessly and saves its power for the pins. It's especially suited to bowlers who like the look of an asymmetric ball but often find that the top-line balls (like a Gem or Reality) are too strong for their league lanes. It lets you open up the angles without losing control, and it delivers impressive carry for its price segment.