- Raging Bull Stampede

First Impressions
The Seismic Raging Bull Stampede, released in October 2012, presents itself as a powerful asymmetric option for demanding oil conditions. Visually, the ball stands out with a striking color blend of various red and burgundy tones, finished at the factory with a dull 2000 Abralon surface. In combination with the SF-79s solid reactive cover, this rough surface already gives the first important clue about the ball motion: the ball is designed to build traction early in the oil and to move very securely through the heads without skidding too far. At the heart of the Raging Bull Stampede works the asymmetric HORNcore, one of the strongest cores in the manufacturer's lineup. With an RG value of 2.49, the core starts rotating relatively early and quickly establishes a stable axis in the midlane. The high differential of 0.054 produces maximum track flare, meaning that fresh surface seeks contact with the lane on every revolution. The decisive feature, however, is the intermediate differential of 0.020. This pronounced asymmetric property should ensure that the ball accelerates significantly once it leaves the oil pattern and makes a very strong change of direction toward the pocket. The combination of a rough solid cover and an asymmetric core aims to provide both control through the midlane and an explosive reaction at the breakpoint.
Comparison To better place the ball motion of the Seismic Raging Bull Stampede, a comparison with the established Storm Phaze II, which is considered a benchmark for strong solid balls, is useful. The Storm Phaze II uses a symmetric core that delivers a very smooth, continuous and strongly arcing motion. The Raging Bull Stampede reads the midlane similarly early and securely, but its asymmetric HORNcore produces a noticeably sharper and more angular reaction at the breakpoint. Where the Phaze II rolls softly into the pins, the Stampede generates considerably more torque and reacts perceptibly more aggressively to the friction at the end of the oil pattern. Bringing in the Roto Grip Cell as a further comparison, which is also asymmetric and dull, similarities in raw power become apparent. Both balls need plenty of oil in the front part of the lane. The Seismic Raging Bull Stampede, however, tends to release its stored energy somewhat more abruptly, which gives it a more pronounced motion in direct comparison and creates an overall more massive hook. When symmetric balls lose their energy too early on long or heavy oil patterns and hit the pins flat, the asymmetric Stampede offers the reserve strength needed to maintain the angle to the pocket.
On the Lanes In practical use, the Seismic Raging Bull Stampede is a highly specialized tool for medium to heavy lane conditions and longer oil patterns. Its entire architecture is geared toward handling large amounts of oil in the heads and still generating a massive hook on the backend. If you have a lower ball speed or a weaker rev rate, this ball is an excellent choice, since the extremely rev-happy core and the rough surface help to proactively compensate for the missing momentum and still achieve good carry through the pins. On fresh, long sport patterns, the Stampede makes it possible to play deep inside lines where the ball is sent far out over the boards and comes back energetically. Once the lane starts to dry up and the transition fully sets in, however, the rough surface meets friction too early. This causes the ball to read the midlane prematurely, lose a lot of energy and become unpredictable. In such moments control is often lost and the ball unintentionally breaks through the nose. The Raging Bull Stampede is therefore primarily conceived as the first ball out of the bag when maximum traction and an aggressive change of direction are required on freshly oiled lanes in order to confidently carve a path to the pocket.