The Tactix Turns the Corner…

First Impressions
Wow this thing turns the corner. Corners and then drives hard.

Our Testers:
Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 375 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: 65 x 5 x 40
Intent: Medium/long roll with a medium transition at the breakpoint

James Kasee (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP 4 1/2 & 1/4 down
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: 19 degrees
Axis rotation: 60 degrees
Test Equipment: 15 Pounds
Layout: 65 x 5 x 40
Intent: Medium/long roll with a medium transition at the breakpoint

Bryan Hoffman (Righty)
Style: Higher Tilt Stroker
RPM: 280 rpm
PAP: 4 1/4 & 1/8 down
Average Speed: 17.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: high
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 65 x 4.5 x 35
Intent: Medium roll with a slow transition at the breakpoint

Thanks to Jeff Smith and Pure It Bowling for drilling our equipment.
Buy the Track Tactix Hybrid at PureItBowling.com.
Thanks to Limerick Bowl in Limerick, PA.

“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.”

Test Pattern:
THS: 40ft, 23ml
Sport: Abbey Road: 40ft, 24.2 ml, 3.7:1 ratio

Value
B+
This is the same score we gave the original Tactix. It still offers great bang for the buck while being versatile.

Specs
The Tactix uses the new Starship (Asymmetric) core inside the QR-9 hybrid coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.49, diff of .051, mb of .010
14 pound = RG of 2.50, diff of .053, mb of .010
Coverstock finish: 500/1000 powerhouse factory finish polish

Overall
THS: A-
Sport: B
The quick story is the Tactix Hybrid was easy for every tester on the house shot. The ball is obviously designed to be clean and get easy length in stark contrast to the solid. Additionally, this cover really allows the core to store energy and wheel downlane. The Starship core seems to be a versatile one allowing both type of shapes and I’ve liked it from day one. For me I found it angular but not quick off the dry. It’s bit of a contradiction but what I saw was I could miss in and have a better chance to hold than missing out and having it drive back. It was so easy to strike from the track so I started experimenting to see what it can do. I kept moving in but for me it got soft to make the corner relatively quickly. So ultimately I would stay in the balls wheel house which for me was relatively defined zone. Granted house shots sometimes set you up that way but this one out of box is slightly allergic to the heavier oil in the middle for me.

James was next and the truth is just about all he did with the Tactix Hybrid was strike. He started going 13 through the arrows and again it gets down lane easily, rounds itself out and just drives through the pins. Once it jumped he made a 2 and 1 move and instantly back in business. He was striking a lot so fast forward to where it finally gives up when he’s going about 18 through the arrows. For him, it looked like if the lanes dried up he would be able to generate angle with the Tactix Hybrid. Nevertheless, this ball was extremely easy for James to strike with.

For Bryan, his look was very close to James in terms of being able to strike with the Tactix Hybrid. He was going through 10-11-12 at the arrows to 8 or 9 at the breakpoint. The ball got downlane fairly easily but still allowed the core to read and angle through the pins. He really enjoyed the look on house. Asyms work well for Bryan but the right cover formulation is important to match his game. He found this one a match. If you watch back closely, his misses were very small but when he hit 7 at the breakpoint, the ball was that touch too soft to drive. For all of us, misses out just had a soft look and didn’t make up the hill.

Sport Shot
We tested on the 40ft Kegel Abbey Road pattern. I struggled with getting to the pocket at all let alone with any consistency. I had pretty extreme over/under. That clean look made it easy to blow through the breakpoint making me tight. But of course missing in and you can forget it. Clean angular reactions are not ideal for fresh sport shots. I never felt settled.
For James it wasn’t nearly as hard. Surprisingly to me, he was relatively comfortable going about 17 to 6. Missing in also had no chance to hold but he had a smooth motion that seemed to sync relatively well for him so he wasn’t uncomfortable like I was.
For Bryan, again the Tactix Hybrid wasn’t nearly as hard to strike with as it was for me. He still had a clean look but even more angular shape gave him some play from a bit wider area from out. Missing in was the same as for everyone else. Bryan definitely had more room than I did and it looked good going through the pins.

Final Thoughts
Ultimately, this ball seemed easily suited to hit the house shot for all of our styles. The Tactix Hybrid offers control angle shape which made it not only easy to control the pocket but carry as well. On the sport shot it was more mixed, at least out of box. For me, I felt like it was near impossible but I’m on the left side and the ball was too angular to play straight and too difficult to open up. The righties regardless of style enjoyed it. All in all, this is a nice addition for Track.