- Maverick Pearl

First Impressions
Released in March 2017, the Ebonite Maverick Pearl is the polished companion to the original Maverick Solid and is aimed at generating maximum backend motion. Visually the ball is an absolute eye-catcher: the gold and silver pearl cover gives it an extremely classy, almost jewelry-like look. In the engine room sits the high-performance asymmetric Maverick core. At 15 pounds this core puts up very aggressive numbers: a low 2.48 RG, a massive 0.056 differential and a 0.016 intermediate differential. Those figures point to a quick rev-up and enormous flare potential. Wrapping all of that is the GB 14.0 Pearl Reactive coverstock. The Game Breaker (GB) series is known for its reliability, and version 14.0 is one of the strongest chemical formulations in the Ebonite arsenal. Out of the box the ball is sanded with 500/1000 Abralon and then brought to a high gloss with Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish. This combination of a strong core, strong chemistry and polish promises length with a huge kick at the end.
Comparison Compared directly to the Ebonite Maverick (Solid), which was known for reading the lane early and for strong midlane traction, the Pearl acts as the perfect partner for later games. Where the Solid "plows" through the oil, the Pearl skids over the played-in areas and saves all of its energy for the breakpoint. Set against the Hammer Black Widow Gold (also a gold asymmetric pearl ball from that era), the Maverick Pearl often shows a somewhat stronger tendency to pick up the midlane, since the GB covers are chemically more aggressive than Hammer's Semtex covers. The Black Widow Gold often looks even "longer," while the Maverick Pearl grabs a bit earlier but still turns extremely angular into the pocket. Against a symmetric pearl ball like the Ebonite Game Breaker 2 Pearl, the Maverick plays in a completely different league: it covers far more boards, handles considerably more oil, and thanks to the asymmetry generates far more torque at the pin deck.
On the Lanes The Ebonite Maverick Pearl is made for medium to heavy oil conditions, once the lane starts to break down (transition). It is not a ball for bone-dry lanes, since the strong core and the potent GB 14.0 cover would react too early there. Its specialty is playing from the inside out ("deep inside"). When dull balls like the Maverick Solid or the Warrior start losing energy and hitting flat into the pins, the Maverick Pearl brings back the necessary angle and the "snap." It lets you move your zone well left (for right-handers) and throw the ball well right, with the confidence that it will come back reliably thanks to the asymmetric core. It is a "big block" ball for situations where you have to overcome the pins with pure kinetic force and steep entry angles.