First Impressions
The Viking Conquest brings the top end ball back to the 900 Global lineup and it looks pretty good.
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Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 365 rpm
PAP: 5 1/8 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 4.5 x 45
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 5 x 50
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: 55 x 4.75 x 45
“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: 44ft, 25.8ml, 12:1 ratio
Sport: TBD
Specs
The 900 Global Viking Conquest uses the Strobe™ A.I. asymmetric core inside the new RB94 Solid Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.51, diff of .052, mb of .016
14 pound = RG of 2.52, diff of .051, mb of .014
Coverstock finish: 2000 Abralon
Tweener’s Take
I have to say out of the box, I felt like the Viking Conquest matched my game really nicely. Why? Well let’s discuss. The Conquest returns the Strobe AI core which honestly reminds me a lot of the Atomic core from the Physix. It sort of creates these 3 planes. Additionally, 900 Global says this is one of their strongest cover meant to really dig in the oil, you know, the snow tire analogy. It has a core that’s strong enough but a middling mass bias which doesn’t make it extremely forward for me. That amounted to a ball with awesome midlane control while still having really good energy and motion. It made me very comfortable. It always read the midlane so I never felt it was going too long. It has that awesome hit when you miss in on a house shot where the heavy oil is and that many times is a big benefit of big core balls for medium rev bowlers. For me, you can see how the stronger roll gives a more definitive bite and read with the Conquest compared to the Vengeance.
Power Player’s Perspective
Sean’s up next. We saw what looked like a similar roll but generally I’d say it did look a little more forward for him than it did for me. It wasn’t as good a match up for him on this pattern as it was for me. It’s probably a bit too strong in his case. It kind of prefers a more direct line but that also meant for Sean misses in didn’t hold. It sometimes bled a bit of energy in the friction. The ball’s dynamicism would be better put to use on a higher volume pattern where he can stay direct and take advantage of that heavy strong roll and hit. You do get a good idea of what the shape looks like. Here also is a quick comparison to the Vengeance and different from me, you can see the Vengeance being more dynamic for Sean as it is a better matchup to the pattern shape and volume.
Stroker’s Stance
The Viking Conquest was a bit of an odd one for Bryan. The pattern and this ball really didn’t match up well for him. We’ve seen this kind of thing happen, oddly enough I believe it happened with Bryan and the Physix, strange coincidence. There is something with the shape of the core and Bryan’s roll that may just not be a good match up. Either way, essentially you could feel the cover wants to read but it was a little hard to distinguish if the core was rolling out and dying or never getting in a roll. There is that heavy friction line around 7-8 and while I saw stronger motion of of it, Bryan saw motion death. When he brought the breakpoint in, it made more sense and got that strong roll through the pins.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the Viking Conquest is a smack dab strong defined ball for me. If this core shape matches up for you, I think you will see the dynamic motion you expect out of a big ball. Keep the angles a bit more closed and you will be rewarded with that heavy hit through the pins.
Thanks for watching.