- Armor

First Impressions
The Jet Armor from Jet Bowling, which first saw the light of the bowling world in the summer of 2011, presents itself as a versatile high-performance bowling ball in an attractive color combination of royal blue, aqua and black. At the heart of this model's technological construction, a classic symmetrical two-piece weight block does the work. With a moderate RG of 2.507 and a solid differential of 0.045, this core delivers balanced flare potential and reliable rotation without provoking extremely jumpy or hard-to-control reactions. Wrapped around this dynamic centerpiece is the Reactive Nano Durastock NF-1 Solid coverstock. Although this material is a high-performance solid cover infused with nanoparticles, the ball leaves the factory at 2000 grit with a heavily polished finish. This deliberate combination of a grabby base material and a smooth outer skin should let the Armor glide through the heads with absolutely no resistance and conserve kinetic energy. At the same time, the fine nanoparticles in the cover provide steady chemical traction as soon as the oil thins out through the midlane. The stated goal of this interplay is outstanding forgiveness at release and a smooth, continuous, predictable motion that consistently carries the ball deep into the pocket.
Comparison
Viewed objectively and in comparison, the Jet Armor takes on a clear role as a controllable benchmark ball. Put it up against a very dominant, dull solid ball like the Storm Phaze II and the significant influence of the factory polish becomes immediately visible. While the Phaze II from Storm builds up an enormous amount of traction early with its rough shell and forces a very heavy, early-rolling motion, the Armor from Jet Bowling stores its energy considerably longer and moves more smoothly through the front third of the lane. Using the Motiv Venom Shock as a reference, which also excels on medium oil volumes, the Armor shows comparable predictability but offers slightly more generous forgiveness when the ball is accidentally projected too far outside onto drier boards. The comparison with a typical pearl ball such as the Roto Grip Idol Pearl is also interesting. Both balls have a shiny surface and get through the heads easily, but the Idol Pearl from Roto Grip reacts far more aggressively and more angularly at the breakpoint. The Jet Armor, on the other hand, uses its massive solid material beneath the polish to round off the motion at the end of the lane noticeably more smoothly, which makes it far less prone to sudden overreactions on uneven oil distribution.
On the Lanes
On the lane, the Jet Armor shows itself to be an extremely reliable and forgiving tool that unfolds its full potential primarily on medium conditions and freshly laid house patterns. Its greatest strength lies in the harmonious, smooth reaction, which makes it an excellent choice for a variety of player types. Classic strokers benefit greatly from the even arc, which allows them to play a direct line over the outside boards without the ball turning too aggressively or unpredictably. When the heads dry up more and more over the course of a league session and the inevitable transition sets in, the polished finish helps enormously in preserving the length you need. At the same time, the nano solid material ensures that the ball doesn't dart off aggressively when it hits sudden friction, but instead responds with a controlled, continuous hook. This predictable shape should deliver outstanding carry, since the ball bundles its energy very efficiently and hits the pin deck at an optimal angle. For crankers with very high rev rates, the Armor is an excellent option for staying in control on drier lanes, since the symmetrical construction consistently prevents an overly abrupt change of direction. On extremely heavy sport patterns, however, the ball in its polished factory finish lacks the necessary traction in the front part of the lane, which would make a ball change or manually sanding the surface unavoidable here. Under normal, moderate conditions, though, it impresses with a maximum of consistency.