- Poison

First Impressions
Released in October 2018, the DV8 Poison immediately catches the eye with its extremely loud "Halogen Yellow" color, which is impossible to miss on the lane. Technically, this ball marks an interesting step for DV8, since it uses the "Thick Shell Technology" previously known mainly from the Brunswick Quantum balls. This means the filler material in the outer core was left out, resulting in a thicker shell and a more direct transfer of energy. Inside works the symmetrical Toxicity core, which comes with an unusually high 2.564 RG and a strong 0.054 differential (at 15 lbs). Those numbers point to a ball that gets through the heads very easily despite its dull surface (500/1500 Siaair Micro Pad) and releases its energy late, but with force. The Toxin-R Solid Reactive coverstock provides the necessary traction in oil.
Comparison
Compared directly to the in-house DV8 Turmoil Solid, the Poison plays in a higher league, both in terms of overall potential and pin action. Where the Turmoil Solid rolls earlier and describes a classic, controlled curve, the Poison offers noticeably more length ("skid") thanks to its high RG, along with a more explosive move at the breakpoint. Looking outside the brand, the characteristics recall a Storm Hy-Road, but with a grabbier solid cover. Where a Storm Phaze II (a benchmark solid) reads the lane early and rolls smoothly, the Poison slides farther through the heads and generates an almost "pearl-like" angle in the backend without slipping in the oil. It combines the length of a high-RG core with the dependability of a solid surface.
On the Lanes
The DV8 Poison is made for medium to heavier oil patterns and solves a specific problem: when the heads are still oily but you still need a strong angle at the end of the lane ("pop"), this ball is ideal. The high RG lets it glide effortlessly over the front part of the lane without wasting valuable energy. As soon as it hits friction, the high differential produces massive flare and a sharp change of direction. It works excellently if you normally struggle to get solid balls far enough down the lane, or in situations where aggressive balls die out too early. The thick shell also delivers a full sound and above-average carry, since the pins are kept low.