- Wicked Collision

First Impressions
The DV8 Wicked Collision arrives in July 2024 as the newest addition to the highly respected Collision series, in an eye-catching color design of Royal Blue, Purple and Teal. The ball's cover is the revolutionary HK22C – Havoc Solid coverstock, a solid reactive formulation that for the first time in the DV8 lineup combines the Cohesion additive with the proven Havoc additives. This material combination should deliver noticeably increased oil displacement and a more intense response to friction. Underneath, the asymmetric Collision core works with a low RG of 2.462 (15 lbs), a differential of 0.052 and an intermediate differential of 0.019. The factory surface is 500/1000/1500 Siaair with Crown Factory Compound, which gives the ball a polished finish despite its solid cover construction. In addition, both DynamiCore technology for improved durability and pin carry and DOT (Durability Optimization Technology) are used to reduce cracking.
Comparison The Wicked Collision positions itself as the strongest and most angular ball within the Collision line. Compared to the DV8 Brutal Collision, the Wicked Collision gets more length through the heads thanks to its polished finish, but reacts noticeably sharper and more explosively off the backend. While the Brutal Collision starts reading earlier with its duller surface, the Wicked Collision develops a stronger backend reaction through the Cohesion infusion. Against the DV8 Violent Collision, the Wicked Collision shows earlier traction in the midlane and generates more hook overall, which in practice shows up as a starting point roughly three boards further left on fresh lane conditions. The DV8 Hellcat XLR8 has similarities, since both balls are high-performance solids with a 1500-grit finish, but the Wicked Collision reads minimally earlier due to its core design while offering a somewhat smoother reaction. Within comparable product classes from other manufacturers, the Wicked Collision could be considered an alternative to other strong asymmetric solid balls designed for medium to heavy oil conditions.
On the Lanes The Wicked Collision is primarily suited to medium to heavy oil conditions and typically establishes itself as the first ball out of the bag for many bowlers. The ball's strength lies in its ability to build strong traction in the midlane even with a polished surface, without hooking too early. This characteristic should provide a consistent and predictable move at the end of the oil pattern that reliably brings the ball back to the pocket. The ball shows its optimal performance on medium oil patterns, where it can cover a large number of boards. As the transition progresses, players have typically moved their laydown point left to find more oil and preserve the ball's length without being forced too far into extreme angles. The factory polished surface allows considerable length through the heads, while the HK22C formulation initiates an aggressive yet controlled change of direction on contact with friction. If you need a less aggressive option, alternatives such as the Violent Collision or the Chill Pearl from DV8 would be worth a look, as they allow more room on the right side. Surface adjustments are possible and have been done in practice — for example by removing the compound or taking the ball to 800/2000 grit — to strengthen the midlane reaction or fine-tune the ball shape. The Wicked Collision is aimed at advanced bowlers and tournament players looking for a strong asymmetric ball for demanding lane conditions who value a combination of length and explosive backend performance.