DV8 Thug Bowling Ball

DV8 describes the Thug as a ball that “Featuring the new Class 13F Hybrid Reative coverstock wrapped around the Thug core, the Thug skids easily through the front and mid-lane flipping on the backend for the most breakpoint potential of any DV8 ever on medium to oily lane conditions.”Understanding the intent of the Thug, I felt that I did not need to put a layout in the Thug that would help the ball get down the lane, as the ball was already designed to do that. So I choose to put a 45x4 1/2x35 layout in the Thug. I have used this layout in the past to get the ball to read the lane and make an angular move on the backend.I cannot express enough how impressed I am with the Thug. The motion I get out of it is like no other ball I have ever thrown. Usually with a high end asymmetric ball I usually get the ball to roll early and somewhat die on the backend. The Thug on the other hand still reads the lane, however it is more angular than any asymmetric ball I have ever thrown.I first used the Thug on the 43 ft 2.89:1 ratio Kegel Dead Man’s Curve. I had been struggling on this pattern with my Ruckus Feud. It was either too strong playing down the boards, but would burn up and roll out if I started to move left. But not the Thug! The Thug was clean enough through the front to play square, and once I started to move in, it never quit. I was able to move all the way into 25 and get the ball to recover with ease. The Thug is able to handle a very significant volume oil, while still reading the lane properly and retaining all energy for a down lane move.I also tried using the Thug on a medium volume house pattern, and it was by far too strong for my rev rate. This proved to me that the Thug needs oil. I was able to get a decent motion out of the Thug playing very deep around 25 board. But as I moved left from there the Thug started to lose energy. It simply needed more volume.The Thug is the perfect option for someone looking for a ball for heavy volume patterns once the heads start to break down, or for a high rev player on heavy volume patterns. Speed dominant players would also be able to use this ball on medium oil patterns. The motion is something very special that many people will be seeking. Get yours now!

I'm a Lefty, speed dominant ( 18 to 20 mph), Stroker. PAP is 5- 5/16 over, 1/2 in. up. I drilled this ball, pin up, kicked out, 45 X 5 X 30. First three games, on a fresh THS, with the out of box finish were, 187-245-243. This is the most forgiving, strongest continuation, hardest hitting ball, that I have EVER thrown. Just drop it on the lane, and it somehow finds the pocket. It took me the first game to learn to just throw it and let it do the work. I seriously felt like I couldn't miss with this ball. I think I only missed the pocket three times in three games. Most of my leaves were either the 4 pin, or flat 10's. No splits, and No 7 pins, which is highly unusual for me. Either a little to heavy, or a little to light in the pocket, but always IN THE POCKET. There were about 10 guys 4 or 5 lanes down from me, practicing for Nationals, and they came down and asked me what ball I was throwing, they said it sounded like a cannon going off, when it hit the pocket. I also didn't have to move more then two boards with my feet, in all three games. The cover stock picks up almost No oil what so ever, and it seemed to ignore carry down very well too. With the right layout, and a little speed control, this ball will fit in ANYONE'S arsenal very nicely. I HIGHLY recommend this ball to anyone, and especially to the guys who aren't high revs with a lot of hand players. Not that this ball won't work for them also, just with a different layout. A GREAT BALL. Great Job DV8. Tonight We Bowl.

Length: 38"Volume: MediumType (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THSLikes:This ball performs as advertised...while that may not seem like a "like", it gives credibility to the information about the ball that DV8 elaborated in their original specifications.The ball's motion is reliable and predictable shot after shot, allowing confidence when making moves in transition. Normally I am not a fan of balls that move so much off the break point on the THS due to my rev rate creating enough backends, but this ball doesn't lose all of its energy making the turn...rather it is still driving equally flying pins (corner pins have been rare thus far).Out of the box the ball is ready to go...while DV8 balls have proven to have tunable coverstocks, all I have seen throw this ball have kept the factory finish (keeping it's shine with Royal Compound). The Thug clears the heads very well and doesn't create too large of a groove on the Medium THS. I have thrown this ball for multiple games with less than three boards of movement and witnessed the same of a two-handed (very high rev) bowler.Dislikes:none noted

My Thug was drilled 50 x 5 x 35. I was looking for a ball that had a stronger midlane than my Ruckus Schizo, so I went with the shorter drill angle.On our house pattern, the Thug had a much stronger read in the 25'-35' range, but still had the strong, angular backend that I liked about the Schizo. This ball is more of a medium-heavy oil ball, where the Ruckus Schizo is more of a medium oil ball.. The Thug has a stronger coverstock, so it can handle oil better than the Schizo. It makes a great compliment to the Ruckus Feud, as that is a great ball for heavy oil.On Sport Patterns, the backend was too strong for a shorter pattern. A smoother ball is definitely a better option. On a longer sport pattern, the length/flip combination isn't ideal when the lanes are fresh, but as they break down, this ball shines!This is a great ball for when you want to open up the lane and use the dry spot to make your ball drive hard through the pins.