First Impressions
Subjectively, the Sublime seemed to be just that for all testers.
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Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 330 rpm
PAP: 5 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 4.5 x 45
Bryan Hoffman (Righty)
Style: Stroker
RPM: 280 rpm
PAP: 4 1/2 & 1 1/2 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: high
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 4.5 x 50
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 450 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: med
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 5 x 50
“Keep in mind that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core creates the dynamic shape of the reaction. Your driller will alter the shape to suit your game.”
Pattern
THS: 42ft, 23ml
Sport: TBD
Specs
The 900 Global Sublime uses the Immersed Symmetric A.I. Core inside the Reserve Blend 802 Hybrid Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.47, diff of .056
14 pound = RG of 2.59, diff of .050
Coverstock finish: Reactagloss refinished to 1000 grit, Step 2 compound, 3000 light hand scuff
Overall
So I gave you an idea of our opinion but let’s get more into the objective info on the new 900 Global Sublime. There’s a brand new core but ultimately, it’s not the first time the hour glass shape has been used. I seem to recall the Vibe using this style and it just makes the point that generally speaking, some shapes work quite well from a physics standpoint. Not going to go any further on that but it is a lower RG higher diff type ball so a big hunkering core but put in a medium strength hybrid cover. This type of combination can be confusing in ball reaction but if done right can serve a spectacular purpose. The Zen actually had a similar formula conceptually despite being a pearl. And here I will continue the theme of comparing these 2 balls in the same breath because ultimately, I think they fit in the same part of the bag. The Sublime is sort of a Mid Control + or Mid Defined -. I will likely come back with a ball review directly comparing them but if I had to be more specific, I’d place the Zen in Mid Control + while the Sublime is Mid Defined -. The Sublime has good length as the Zen did. It makes a big rounded move like the Zen. But the Sublime slightly separates with the more angular move. So the Zen might feel a bit more like a benchmark but the control from the Sublime is so good, I can still see many bowlers replacing a tired Zen with a new Sublime. For me, I start direct and nothing left of the 3rd arrow made sense on this house shot. Once I got near and past the 3rd arrow, it all just came alive. To my eyes, I have a very reliable motion that while clean, relies on the heavy roll of the big core to create a consistently timed roll. It can be manipulated with releases but with a perfect sensitivity. So rather than a weaker core really just exacerbating release changes, you can actually use release changes to change the roll slightly to impart minor changes to facilitate carry if need be. Any time you can use a big core, you will have an advantage in hit. There’s no denying that. I love the fact that despite the clean cover, the big core allows misses in to still carry quite well. That’s a big deal to me and should be to any bowler on heavily walled house shots.
Power Player’s Perspective
I have to say with Tyler, it looked absolutely spectacular. He’s got a reasonable rev rate and the ball just seems to have the perfect characteristics for him and this house shot. So again, objectively, it’s about the clean medium cover with a heavy rolling core. The core has a clear impact on bringing control to the ball motion. Since it starts revving up before the ball reaches the end of the pattern, when it finally does, it is strong but not ridiculously sideways. I believe this is where the magic lies with bowling balls ultimately. Understanding when you want the core to roll vs the time the cover reacts. If both the core and cover turn over at the same time, you would get a pretty flippy mid late type ball that requires friction to do something. In this case, the core in the cleaner cover actually creates a pretty consistent easy to use reaction. That could mean getting too deep will see some softening of the reaction. SO there is a breaking point where that core start up means when the cover goes, there is no longer enough energy to hit. That’s when a Mid Late ball comes into play. However, the Sublime seems to have a big enough window of use to almost make it somewhere in the benchmark territory. It isn’t quite as usable as the Zen from more direct but it’s still extremely easy to use. Tyler just kept striking and really only saw the balls limitations when really pushing the envelope.
Stroker’s Stance
Again the subjective look for Bryan was a great one. The Sublime worked amazingly well for Bryan on this pattern. But again, getting to the objective portion we see the same concept in the ball motion. The key for the Sublime is the perfect blend of cover to core. The medium clean cover really allows the core to shine. Or is it the other way around? Well they compliment each other. For Bryan, this really allowed the ball to have good pop downlane which really showed in carry. The big core seemed to blend even mediocre releases very well. So the bowler might know they threw it bad but observers just saw a strike on lane. This goes back to the point I was making about release adjustments possible with the Sublime. You can make adjustments and it really takes them subtly because of the dominant rolly core. But it’s not dominant in the stand up forward kind of way we see with asyms. Bryan could make all kinds of adjustments and the ball responded with ease. He kept opening up the angles and the ball just kept doing the job. Deeper in, he just slowed it down a touch but it made the move and still drove very well. On the other end of things, he also found that it blended the heavy outside friction just right. Didn’t die and didn’t overreact. Bryan was overjoyed with the consistent continuation which was exceptional.
Final Thoughts
The 900 Global Sublime feels like a special ball. We don’t always get balls where every bowler sees the same motion or feels the same way about it. For me as a Tweener, it felt very easy to use and possibly strong enough I could slot in a Mid Defined slot. It’s a little too strong and shiny as a lefty to truly slot in the Mid Control. But wherever it fits, it’s a very attractive ball motion that’s a step up from angularity vs the Zen and a step up in terms of lane read from the TNT Infused. For Tyler, the Sublime was extremely easy to use and immediately felt like something that could fill an open slot in his bag since his Zen is now retired. He could get another but seemed to really like what he saw. Bryan had the same scenario. He is now on his second tired Zen and the Sublime made quite the impression to be high on the replacement list.
Thanks for watching.