- Kick

First Impressions
Introduced in 2001, the AMF Kick set AMF's standard in the entry-level segment for the new millennium. Visually, the ball usually showed up in attractive pearl designs (often blue/silver or black/pearl) that looked modern and approachable on the pro shop shelf. Technically, it was the direct successor to the popular "Bobcat" and "Force" series. It was designed to give bowlers an affordable way to move from a polyester house ball to their own reactive ball. Inside works a classic three-piece pancake weight block (high RG, low differential). This construction delivers extremely stable motion and minimal flare (track flare). The cover is a mild reactive resin blend, polished to a high gloss at the factory. The result is a ball that glides effortlessly through the heads and shows a very late but defined reaction to friction.
Comparison
Compared directly to AMF's high-performance balls of the era, such as the AMF XS or the late Ninja models, the Kick behaves absolutely tame. While the top-tier balls were built to grab in oil and make big hooks, the Kick was built to avoid overreaction. Its most direct competitor and benchmark at the time was the legendary Columbia 300 Scout Reactive. Both balls shared almost identical playing characteristics: lots of length, little drama in the midlane, and a controllable "snap" at the end. Against a modern entry-level ball like the Brunswick Rhino, the 2001 AMF Kick often comes across a touch weaker and smoother still, since the reactive chemistry of the early 2000s responds less aggressively to today's oils than modern covers do.
On the Lanes
These days the AMF Kick has a clearly defined role: it is the ultimate "burner" ball. It shines on extremely dry lanes, worn wood lanes, or when the oil pattern has been played off the fronts completely late in league. When modern balls already want to start rolling at the arrows, the Kick lets you hold your line and get the ball far down the lane. For beginners it remains a solid learning tool for mastering that first rotation without the frustration of the ball constantly turning into the gutter. It also works very well as a "spare ball with some bite" for advanced bowlers who don't want a pure plastic ball on corner pins but prefer a minimal safety curve.