- Bull Whip Special Edition

First Impressions
The AMF Bull Whip Special Edition comes in a striking Red/Bronze Pearl color scheme and belongs to the high-performance category of the AMF 300 lineup. It was conceived as a reissue of the legendary Bull Whip from 1997, pairing the original symmetric core with a modern cover. The technical specs list an RG of 2.529 and a differential of 0.051 at 15 lbs. Since this is a symmetric core, there is no intermediate differential. The cover is the reactive pearl F73, which AMF places in the upper midrange of its in-house rating system (F10 being the least aggressive, F90 the most aggressive). Out of the box the ball comes with a polished finish, which gives it a smooth motion through the heads. The combination of high RG and pearl cover means the Bull Whip SE gets through the heads quickly and saves its energy for the backend. The color and pearl finish give the ball a distinctive look that stands out clearly from the more subdued designs of other AMF models.
Comparison
Within the AMF product line, the Bull Whip Special Edition sits between the AMF Cobra Special Edition and the AMF Green Mamba in terms of overall hook strength. While the Cobra SE relies on its low-flare core and the stronger F74 surface for a different entry angle, the Bull Whip SE offers a somewhat stronger overall motion, but stays below the more aggressive models such as the AMF Incinerate. The comparison with the later AMF Encore is also interesting: it uses the same F73 pearl cover, but with the Mallet Symmetric core it has a higher RG and a lower differential, and therefore goes even longer and reacts weaker. The Bull Whip SE should operate in a similar segment to comparable pearl reactive balls from other manufacturers — somewhere around the Roto Grip Hustle Ink or the Storm Tropical Surge — though the specific combination of high RG and the F73 cover produces a somewhat more distinctive motion. The ball motion can be described as extended, with a semi-smooth but still angular direction change at the breakpoint. That sets it apart from balls with low RG and solid covers, which tend to grab earlier in the midlane and produce a rounder, more continuous arc.
On the Lanes
The AMF Bull Whip Special Edition reaches its full potential on medium oil conditions. On those patterns, the combination of high RG and pearl cover should deliver controlled length through the heads before the ball makes its move to the pocket on the backend. For tweeners who can adjust their angle at slightly higher speed, the ball should work particularly well. Strokers should be careful not to release the ball too far down the lane, since with insufficient rotation the recovery back to the pocket could become difficult. If you have a high rev rate, on the other hand, be careful not to overturn the ball, since the pearl surface combined with the stored energy could encourage overreaction. On dry conditions the Bull Whip SE can also produce good results after a surface adjustment to 4000 Abralon, especially if you want to play a tighter line. On heavy oil, however, an adjustment to around 2000 Abralon will likely be necessary to create enough friction in the midlane. For sport patterns a dull surface prep is also recommended, since the polished finish can create too much skid length in the oil and too strong a reaction to friction. All in all, the Bull Whip SE works as a solid mid-arsenal ball that can be brought in during transition on drying lanes when stronger balls grab too early. Its semi-smooth backend reaction offers a degree of forgiveness at the breakpoint without giving up all of the angle needed for carry in the pocket.