@Luke Rosdahl I might have just glossed over it the first time through. My thought process at the time of this video's release was that I'd NEVER own a Nova. Alas, I was wrong lol. I'll be dropping it off with my PSO later this week to get plugged and redrilled
I love the Absolute! This ball definitely matches up with my game. My style being slightly rev-dominant and ball speed around 15-16 mph, this ball is very clean and easy through the front part of the lane. I actually like the Reacta gloss prep. I bowl on a very high friction 20 year old Brunswick pro-anvilane lane surface. I was so impressed with the ball that I drilled up a second Absolute. The first Absolute that I drilled is pin down, 4 1/2 × 6 1/2 × 4 1/4. The second Absolute that I drilled up less than a week ago is pin up, 4 1/2 × 6 3/4 × 2 3/4.
@@UncleDale_ I use longer PSA to PAP distances for a little more push down lane because my ball speed is softer and I do not want the ball to lock up and roll forward too early. I also have high axis tilt. Therefore I use more medium to longer pin buffers for control and more of a continuous ball motion.
It'd definitely be a ball down from the Gem, but kind of sideways from the Infinite. Even though the P2 is symmetric and the Infinite is an asym, the Infinite is longer and sharper, the P2 is earlier and smoother, but the traction or overall hook amounts are similar enough to make them more of shape compliments than a step up or down from each other.
Hey Luke, this is a great review on the Absolute! with your knowledge of bowling balls, Can you tell me what a good comparison would be to the Roto grip Hyper Cell Fused? That ball was great for me when I was throwing 15 pounds, but I have moved down to 14 so looking for something similar because I can’t find a hyper cell in stock anywhere. Thank you, Jim
Finding something comparable in 14 to what the Fused was in 15 is going to be really tough. The Eternity is really close though, that's probably the closest by a long shot
@@JSBowling2011 Yeah I know, that's what I meant. Trying to find a ball in 14 pounds to replace what the Fused was in 15 is going to be tricky. The Absolute isn't close, definitely much cleaner and sharper than the Fused.
@Luke Rosdahl Very interesting about the Absolute and watching your video,. I think though if I changed the surface and had it at two thousand I think it might be pretty good. Sure liked how it worked for 😇 Angel
@@LukeRosdahl intense fire is my favorite ball. I like transitioning to the Zen from it in our league on our THS. Bowling my first USBC in Reno this year. From the research I've done, I'll need a few more balls. Enjoy your video's, thank you.
After a grip change I had a need for a quicker response ball that I could count on to get back from steep angles when I have to jump left and bank it off the burn spot from other people’s traffic (my go-to for this years ago was the Unhinged if that helps). I was planning on getting a UC2 before an injury knocked me out for a while. Upon my return my PSO is suggesting I go with an Absolute or Eternity instead. Any suggestion on how either of these match up with the UC2? I did have both an Alert and an Altered before trading them in, if that helps.
The Absolute is very similar to the UC2, and like a longer and sharper Alert. The Absolute shapes like the Altered, just a handful of boards weaker. The Eternity is like an earlier and smoother Altered.
Thanks, Luke. My Altered actually wasn’t as angular as it seems like it was for most people. I liked it well enough, but it definitely could have been quicker and I’d have been ok with it.
Yep, talked about it on our year end rescue fundraising stream a couple weeks ago, but I'm going to do a stream ranking stuff from 2022 here in the next few days
Actually have that video coming soon, I'm drilling a Check and shooting for it tomorrow. Fresh new footage for the Absolute also. The Check has a lot stronger cover though, so I'm expecting it to be a fair amount stronger.
Would put the Absolute as having less response to friction compared to something like a hy-road or does the asymmetric core make up for the cover strength
They're fairly similar, the Absolute more just hooks more and is more dynamic because it's got a much stronger core. The cover on the Absolute is only marginally weaker than the Hyroad cover.
10:54 some what it looks has a P5 move to the pocket? 12:32 I was waiting for you comment on the faith after 20 games, now I will get one. So what did you put on the ball (not reactive gloss) 14:56 I love my infinite physics.
Storm needs to do something about this Reacta gloss finish, this is becoming a huge issue and I am now telling my Pro Shop guy to resurface all of my balls before I even get them to 1500 grit polished because every ball is getting slimy and losing down lane reaction.
@@LukeRosdahl I'm thinking chase it left, longer and sharper. Just not sure that's the best move. Any ball 2 suggestions from proton? I use hyroad max as of now. Thanks as always
@@spencercasson4604 Reality Check or Infinite PhysiX might be the happy medium where you want to be, maybe the new Eternity. Not as super strong as the Exotic Gem, but not as weak and long as the Absolute
So basically an Absolute is very close to the old Code Red. Nice! I never knew you could get a 3000-grit by going 500-1000-Storm Step 2. I'll make that note and try that on more of my stuff. Thanks for recommending that surface adjustment!
Yeah the Absolute is pretty close to the Code Red, or at least the closest thing we have now. I didn't say you got to 3000 grit by following that process though, I said that once I followed that process, the ball acted a lot like it did when I took it to 3000 from the Gloss, but without sliming up again.
Fantastic job, keep it up. Looking for a transition ball after P2 (my strongest) or if P2 is too strong for the conditions. Have a Hy Road Pearl so quite a gap between them. PSO said Absolute or Nova, I prefer straighter so Nova seems like the option but never thrown an asymm before and my other balls are pin down which is all I've ever thrown, 330-360rev rate 0-7 tilt and 40 rotation. On the right track?
Yep, definitely on the right track. Fate is a really nice half step down, P5 is a nice step down, Absolute or Nova are too, but Nova is definitely the straighter option, so it depends on what you're after.
@@LukeRosdahl Great, thank you Luke. Building out the arsenal to start up with sport shot tourny and of course league so your wisdom is top on YT. Rivals Ian Fraser in golf who owns TXG. You’re both technical and in the details but translate for the gen pop. Easy to learn from.
With the new reacta gloss if you wanted to knock the shine of by hand, maybe even make it like a 3000 cosmos is it best to hit it w a 500 pad then 3000, or just hand it w a 3000?
You've gotta go all the way down because of how stacked that surface is. Just knocking the shine off isn't going to get anything done, that's why I showed me using a 3k pad, Angel using reacta skuff, and then doing the full resurface to show all the options.
I'm having trouble with my RST X-2 that came at 4k fast. I was planning to take it down to 3k Abralon and then add XtraShine, but after watching this video and the one you did of the Revenant, I know now what my first order of business with the X-2 will be: 500, 1000, Step 2.
Is this core kind of small? I would think a dumbbell shape like this would give a higher overall RG due to moving mass away from the center, and I was hoping to see that.
@@LukeRosdahl It kinda stumps me that the purple hammer's core is shaped somewhat like a light bulb yet its RG is a whopping 2.65, as though the cover is almost as dense as the core
Really considering this one or a Nova to fit between a Dark Code and Phaze 2. I've also got a question about equipment maintenance. This probably has an obvious answer but that side of things is a bit foreign to me, is there a practical difference between a resurface and baking/detox?
Great video as always. I know that the X-2 is discontinued now, but given how recent that is, I'd love to see a comparison between the X-2 and the Absolute. I know for myself the X-2 is a personal favorite.
Currently have the Reality check, Exotic Jem, Zen , Hyped Solid, HyRoad, Dark Code . How does this ball relate to the Dark Code. Haven’t had much luck even with surface changes . All my lay outs are 4x4x2 which works well for me. Your videos are always informative. Keep it up
Definitely reminds me of the Code Red!!! When it’s good, it’s good!! But certainly lazy at times!!! I’ve never moved left with my Code Red, because it always puked down lane when playing somewhat straighter angles…… After a break from bowling, I more so accidentally left the ball in the oil a good ways down the lane, before letting the ball leak out to about 10….. Super aggressive, but round shape on the backend!!! Something I’ve never seen from that ball!!!!! Learned that the ball isn’t necessarily lazy, I just didn’t trust it to do what it wanted to do!! Excited to see your review of the Revenant next!!
I threw both of them in league tonight and actually liked the Absolute quite a bit more than I expected. The Revenant needs a little more use to settle it down and I'll probably like it, but the Fate is so good that anything remotely close to that zone is just not going to get thrown.
I love and appreciate your surface adjustment commentary. Would you please comment on my current situation? Altered Reality, love the ball on dryer conditions, as I am speed dominant senior bowler & it hooks great on dry. But on our house fresh which is kind of higher than average oil, I was not getting the reaction I wanted. I know what you mean by slick and slimy. I had my pro shop re-do the surface ending up with the new reacta-gloss, as I wanted to see if that new product would help. He used 500, 1500, and the shine. It's a no go, with no drive thru the pins. You mentioned re-do, with going down to 1000 before Reacta-scuff. Do you feel I should try that exact (I'm willing to experiment) or take it down to 500 first? Any comments appreciated. Our house just seems so slick and slimy even though they are stating approx 25 mils with typical dryer boards at both ends. I could just go back to step 2, as I think I still have some, not sure which way to turn, unless you feel reacta-scuff is superior.
What happens when you finish with a grit and don't add any compound? Luke often recommends 3000 as an 'all around' surface; not too early and smooth, nor too long and jerky or squirty on carry down.
@@coopergates9680 Thanks for your input. I was just wondering about his thoughts on Reacta-scuff for my situation, as I have never tried it. Seems like that would possibly take it to approx 3000 also.
@@frankschmidt8001 In his case, with the absolute on Chromium in that center, apparently step 2 had a more stable finish than 3000 grit, but I wouldn't count on that always being true
A little late to comment but how’s Angel digging the absolute? Does she like it more than her Nova? Also don’t you have influence w/Storm to make the next ball using the NEX for a cover? This Absolute would be a monster (NEX) you can tell how clean it is when she’s rolling it, seems she rolling it @ 17 speed. I’m glad you said it has amount of attraction on the lane but is very clean down. Like I believe bowlersMart has it down as a Heavy ball? I finally ordered the reacted shine. When I get the ball from pre/O might do a 500,1000 then a reactive gloss?
@@LukeRosdahl yeah bro I know you don’t have any influence with Storm I was joking lol, but your the only source I have that’s worth the info, heart, and has changed my bowling to a higher level. Keep rocking your videos
Love how the pour on this! In someways it looks like the Virtual Energy (not all the way though). I’m just not a fan of anything R2S anymore. And does anyone else think the scent should have been watermelon not orange cream soda?
Ah yes, I see the Nova/Absolute comparison now 😅 Thank you, Luke! Very informative as always!
Cool, glad you found it! I should probably put the comparisons in the review title, otherwise you have to go digging or just think it isn't there.
@Luke Rosdahl I might have just glossed over it the first time through. My thought process at the time of this video's release was that I'd NEVER own a Nova. Alas, I was wrong lol. I'll be dropping it off with my PSO later this week to get plugged and redrilled
Thank you for making this video
Great video Luke!
I love the Absolute! This ball definitely matches up with my game. My style being slightly rev-dominant and ball speed around 15-16 mph, this ball is very clean and easy through the front part of the lane. I actually like the Reacta gloss prep. I bowl on a very high friction 20 year old Brunswick pro-anvilane lane surface. I was so impressed with the ball that I drilled up a second Absolute. The first Absolute that I drilled is pin down, 4 1/2 × 6 1/2 × 4 1/4. The second Absolute that I drilled up less than a week ago is pin up, 4 1/2 × 6 3/4 × 2 3/4.
Low rotation angle and tilt? Is that your reasoning for long PSA to pap?
@@UncleDale_ I use longer PSA to PAP distances for a little more push down lane because my ball speed is softer and I do not want the ball to lock up and roll forward too early. I also have high axis tilt. Therefore I use more medium to longer pin buffers for control and more of a continuous ball motion.
Well, I just drilled up a 3rd Absolute. This time I used a super short pin layout of 3/4 x 7 1/8 x 3/4!
This ball's color scheme reminds me of Namek when Goku and Frieza were fighting on it
Fuck yeah it does. It reminds me mostly of the Storm Frantic, being a RS2 Hybrid and also being orange and green
Can’t decide between getting a 12 pound or 14 pound
I'd go for the 14, under that they have a different core and the numbers get really wonky. I'd keep it 14 or higher
Where does the Phaze 2 fit in the bag compared to the Infinite and say a Gem?
It'd definitely be a ball down from the Gem, but kind of sideways from the Infinite. Even though the P2 is symmetric and the Infinite is an asym, the Infinite is longer and sharper, the P2 is earlier and smoother, but the traction or overall hook amounts are similar enough to make them more of shape compliments than a step up or down from each other.
Another great review! 👍🏾
Pure Gold! Thanks
Hey Luke, this is a great review on the Absolute! with your knowledge of bowling balls, Can you tell me what a good comparison would be to the Roto grip Hyper Cell Fused? That ball was great for me when I was throwing 15 pounds, but I have moved down to 14 so looking for something similar because I can’t find a hyper cell in stock anywhere. Thank you, Jim
Finding something comparable in 14 to what the Fused was in 15 is going to be really tough. The Eternity is really close though, that's probably the closest by a long shot
@Luke Rosdahl Actually I'm looking for 14 pounds cause that's what I'm throwing now. , what do you think about the Absolute is that close also
@@LukeRosdahl I need to look at your review of the eternity I haven’t seen it yet, thanks
@@JSBowling2011 Yeah I know, that's what I meant. Trying to find a ball in 14 pounds to replace what the Fused was in 15 is going to be tricky. The Absolute isn't close, definitely much cleaner and sharper than the Fused.
@Luke Rosdahl Very interesting about the Absolute and watching your video,. I think though if I changed the surface and had it at two thousand I think it might be pretty good. Sure liked how it worked for 😇 Angel
How does it compare to the intense fire?
The shape is identical, but the Fire was several boards stronger
@@LukeRosdahl intense fire is my favorite ball. I like transitioning to the Zen from it in our league on our THS. Bowling my first USBC in Reno this year. From the research I've done, I'll need a few more balls. Enjoy your video's, thank you.
I think the nice Hipps help
god you are right on man. keep up the great work.
Would the Absolute be a good step down from the Supernova? If not what Storm, RotoGrip, 900 Global ball would be?
It might be closer to two steps down from what I’ve seen. You could probably fit something like an Infinite PhysiX in between that gap
Yep, like H47 said, it's more like two steps down. Infinite PhysiX, Dark Code, and Reality Check would all be good steps down from the big stuff.
After a grip change I had a need for a quicker response ball that I could count on to get back from steep angles when I have to jump left and bank it off the burn spot from other people’s traffic (my go-to for this years ago was the Unhinged if that helps). I was planning on getting a UC2 before an injury knocked me out for a while. Upon my return my PSO is suggesting I go with an Absolute or Eternity instead. Any suggestion on how either of these match up with the UC2?
I did have both an Alert and an Altered before trading them in, if that helps.
The Absolute is very similar to the UC2, and like a longer and sharper Alert. The Absolute shapes like the Altered, just a handful of boards weaker. The Eternity is like an earlier and smoother Altered.
Thanks, Luke. My Altered actually wasn’t as angular as it seems like it was for most people. I liked it well enough, but it definitely could have been quicker and I’d have been ok with it.
Have your list of top 5 or 6 balls for 2022?
Yep, talked about it on our year end rescue fundraising stream a couple weeks ago, but I'm going to do a stream ranking stuff from 2022 here in the next few days
Reality check vs absolute? What's your take?
Actually have that video coming soon, I'm drilling a Check and shooting for it tomorrow. Fresh new footage for the Absolute also. The Check has a lot stronger cover though, so I'm expecting it to be a fair amount stronger.
Would put the Absolute as having less response to friction compared to something like a hy-road or does the asymmetric core make up for the cover strength
They're fairly similar, the Absolute more just hooks more and is more dynamic because it's got a much stronger core. The cover on the Absolute is only marginally weaker than the Hyroad cover.
Is this the SPI replacement for the UFO Alert since they had to get rid of that one? Looking forward to seeing that comparison
Not really, they're in the same general space but aren't similar enough for me.
how about comparing it with the ufo alert
Yep, mentioned at the end of the video that the comparison is coming, and today is the day!
The surface adjustment was night and day. Good review!
10:54 some what it looks has a P5 move to the pocket? 12:32 I was waiting for you comment on the faith after 20 games, now I will get one. So what did you put on the ball (not reactive gloss) 14:56 I love my infinite physics.
I missed what your ball of the year was. If the Infinite was # 2, what was #1?
Idol Cosmos!
@@LukeRosdahl Thanks
Storm needs to do something about this Reacta gloss finish, this is becoming a huge issue and I am now telling my Pro Shop guy to resurface all of my balls before I even get them to 1500 grit polished because every ball is getting slimy and losing down lane reaction.
Yeah everything I get now is just going to go straight to the resurfacing machine out of the box, just not messing with it any more.
Exotic gem or Absolute? I'm rolling a proton, I also love my iq tour.
Depends on if you want something similar to the proton, just longer and sharper, or a step down from that
@@LukeRosdahl I'm thinking chase it left, longer and sharper. Just not sure that's the best move. Any ball 2 suggestions from proton? I use hyroad max as of now. Thanks as always
@@spencercasson4604 Reality Check or Infinite PhysiX might be the happy medium where you want to be, maybe the new Eternity. Not as super strong as the Exotic Gem, but not as weak and long as the Absolute
@@LukeRosdahlthank you!
So basically an Absolute is very close to the old Code Red. Nice!
I never knew you could get a 3000-grit by going 500-1000-Storm Step 2. I'll make that note and try that on more of my stuff. Thanks for recommending that surface adjustment!
Yeah the Absolute is pretty close to the Code Red, or at least the closest thing we have now.
I didn't say you got to 3000 grit by following that process though, I said that once I followed that process, the ball acted a lot like it did when I took it to 3000 from the Gloss, but without sliming up again.
Would you compare this too the old hyper cell fused?
Actually yes, I don't have a Fused to ACTUALLY show lol, but while I think the Fused was a bit stronger, very similar balls overall
Fantastic job, keep it up. Looking for a transition ball after P2 (my strongest) or if P2 is too strong for the conditions. Have a Hy Road Pearl so quite a gap between them. PSO said Absolute or Nova, I prefer straighter so Nova seems like the option but never thrown an asymm before and my other balls are pin down which is all I've ever thrown, 330-360rev rate 0-7 tilt and 40 rotation. On the right track?
Yep, definitely on the right track. Fate is a really nice half step down, P5 is a nice step down, Absolute or Nova are too, but Nova is definitely the straighter option, so it depends on what you're after.
@@LukeRosdahl Great, thank you Luke. Building out the arsenal to start up with sport shot tourny and of course league so your wisdom is top on YT. Rivals Ian Fraser in golf who owns TXG. You’re both technical and in the details but translate for the gen pop. Easy to learn from.
About to order some jayhawk diamond pads 😂
With the new reacta gloss if you wanted to knock the shine of by hand, maybe even make it like a 3000 cosmos is it best to hit it w a 500 pad then 3000, or just hand it w a 3000?
You've gotta go all the way down because of how stacked that surface is. Just knocking the shine off isn't going to get anything done, that's why I showed me using a 3k pad, Angel using reacta skuff, and then doing the full resurface to show all the options.
I'm having trouble with my RST X-2 that came at 4k fast. I was planning to take it down to 3k Abralon and then add XtraShine, but after watching this video and the one you did of the Revenant, I know now what my first order of business with the X-2 will be: 500, 1000, Step 2.
Is this core kind of small? I would think a dumbbell shape like this would give a higher overall RG due to moving mass away from the center, and I was hoping to see that.
I'd think it'd have to be, you have a point.
@@LukeRosdahl It kinda stumps me that the purple hammer's core is shaped somewhat like a light bulb yet its RG is a whopping 2.65, as though the cover is almost as dense as the core
@@coopergates9680 Yeah they play with densities a lot too, so like the Zen/U core is the same shape as the Zen, they just really dropped the density.
@@LukeRosdahl Have they made a lower density core that would have an illegally high diff if it were denser?
@@coopergates9680 It's likely, but depending on the core, it'd probably bottom out on RG before it would go too high on diff.
Really considering this one or a Nova to fit between a Dark Code and Phaze 2. I've also got a question about equipment maintenance. This probably has an obvious answer but that side of things is a bit foreign to me, is there a practical difference between a resurface and baking/detox?
Yep, a resurface changes the surface of course, but the baking or detox is to extract oil from balls that have soaked up too much.
Thanks, appreciate it!
Great video as always. I know that the X-2 is discontinued now, but given how recent that is, I'd love to see a comparison between the X-2 and the Absolute. I know for myself the X-2 is a personal favorite.
Currently have the Reality check, Exotic Jem, Zen , Hyped Solid, HyRoad, Dark Code . How does this ball relate to the Dark Code. Haven’t had much luck even with surface changes . All my lay outs are 4x4x2 which works well for me. Your videos are always informative. Keep it up
Absolute isn't close to the Dark Code, the Dark Code has a muuuuch stronger coverstock.
Definitely reminds me of the Code Red!!! When it’s good, it’s good!! But certainly lazy at times!!! I’ve never moved left with my Code Red, because it always puked down lane when playing somewhat straighter angles…… After a break from bowling, I more so accidentally left the ball in the oil a good ways down the lane, before letting the ball leak out to about 10….. Super aggressive, but round shape on the backend!!! Something I’ve never seen from that ball!!!!! Learned that the ball isn’t necessarily lazy, I just didn’t trust it to do what it wanted to do!!
Excited to see your review of the Revenant next!!
It's already available!
You don't seem to be in love with either this or the Revenant.
I threw both of them in league tonight and actually liked the Absolute quite a bit more than I expected. The Revenant needs a little more use to settle it down and I'll probably like it, but the Fate is so good that anything remotely close to that zone is just not going to get thrown.
@@LukeRosdahl I was gathering that sense about the Fate too. You almost are talking me out of a Rev and into a Fate.😅
I love and appreciate your surface adjustment commentary. Would you please comment on my current situation? Altered Reality, love the ball on dryer conditions, as I am speed dominant senior bowler & it hooks great on dry. But on our house fresh which is kind of higher than average oil, I was not getting the reaction I wanted. I know what you mean by slick and slimy. I had my pro shop re-do the surface ending up with the new reacta-gloss, as I wanted to see if that new product would help. He used 500, 1500, and the shine. It's a no go, with no drive thru the pins. You mentioned re-do, with going down to 1000 before Reacta-scuff. Do you feel I should try that exact (I'm willing to experiment) or take it down to 500 first? Any comments appreciated. Our house just seems so slick and slimy even though they are stating approx 25 mils with typical dryer boards at both ends. I could just go back to step 2, as I think I still have some, not sure which way to turn, unless you feel reacta-scuff is superior.
What happens when you finish with a grit and don't add any compound? Luke often recommends 3000 as an 'all around' surface; not too early and smooth, nor too long and jerky or squirty on carry down.
@@coopergates9680 Thanks for your input. I was just wondering about his thoughts on Reacta-scuff for my situation, as I have never tried it. Seems like that would possibly take it to approx 3000 also.
@@frankschmidt8001 In his case, with the absolute on Chromium in that center, apparently step 2 had a more stable finish than 3000 grit, but I wouldn't count on that always being true
@@coopergates9680 10-4
@@frankschmidt8001 Is that the radio short hand? lolz
I would be pretty concerned if the ball felt slimy or slick. It is very difficult to throw as a two hander.
A little late to comment but how’s Angel digging the absolute? Does she like it more than her Nova? Also don’t you have influence w/Storm to make the next ball using the NEX for a cover? This Absolute would be a monster (NEX) you can tell how clean it is when she’s rolling it, seems she rolling it @ 17 speed. I’m glad you said it has amount of attraction on the lane but is very clean down. Like I believe bowlersMart has it down as a Heavy ball? I finally ordered the reacted shine. When I get the ball from pre/O might do a 500,1000 then a reactive gloss?
Lol I have zero influence with Storm, but yeah she likes it a lot, about even with her Nova so far.
@@LukeRosdahl yeah bro I know you don’t have any influence with Storm I was joking lol, but your the only source I have that’s worth the info, heart, and has changed my bowling to a higher level. Keep rocking your videos
Would like to see absolute compared to revenant if possible. Basically V2 versus V3 of reactor pearl, but V2 has bigger engine lol.
Yep, will probably do that eventually.
That’s bullspit if someone isn’t going to change the cover’ it benefits them. If they don’t know how have a pro shop to do it for you.
Nice video have the Infinite and Reality Check ✔️ I might pass or do the Phase 5 even though I got the 4. I'll take the Fire Physix 🔥. 😁😆😅🤣😂
God ball for 2 hander's
Love how the pour on this! In someways it looks like the Virtual Energy (not all the way though). I’m just not a fan of anything R2S anymore. And does anyone else think the scent should have been watermelon not orange cream soda?
Performance aside, that is one seriously ugly bowling ball...
Could be worse like any motiv ball lol but yeah by Storm standards, shes a butterface ;)
Interesting, I love the way it looks.