General Info
| Brand: | AMF |
| Name: | Black Mamba |
| Reviewed: | April 2012 |
| Empty | |
| Coverstock Specs | |
|---|---|
| Name: | F74 |
| Type: | Reactive Solid |
| Box Finish: | nEat |
| Color: | Purple / Yellow |
| Empty | |
| Core Specs | |
| Name: | NA |
| Type: | Symmetrical |
| RG: | 2.542 |
| Diff: | 0.055 |
| Int. Diff: | 0.000 |
For details on our standard test layouts, please click here.
The Black Mamba is the newest high performance release from AMF. They used the core from the OMG! Pearl with slight modifications. By using this core with a super aggressive coverstock in the form of their F74 formula, the ball offers a lot of traction without using everything in the first 20 feet of the lane. This core and cover combination makes the Black Mamba a no brainer for oilier lane conditions.
The box finish limited us to our heavy oil test pattern. Each tester was right in their comfort zone on this pattern. Cranker was able to throw some pins around on the fresh. As the oil carried down he needed to square up some in order to keep the same hitting power. Both Tweener and Stroker were able to stay in the same part of the lane even during transition. We never altered the surface of any of the test balls on this pattern.
The medium pattern forced each tester a good five to six boards deeper than they were playing on the oily pattern. The box finish was simply too much for both this and the dry pattern. We smoothed out the finish for the medium pattern with the neaT pad on all three tester’s balls. This adjustment got the Black Mamba to clear the front of the lane and go through the pins at a much better angle.
Moving to the dry test pattern, we applied polish to all the test balls after Stroker’s first shot barely clipped the headpin on the left. Even with the polished finish, the aggressiveness of the cover was too much to control on this short oil pattern.
All three testers preferred the Black Mamba at the box finish on our sport pattern and used the strength of the Mamba’s coverstock to overpower this condition. Stroker was able to stay right and get it out of what usually is OB. Tweener and Cranker were further inside and had recovery on shots missed a few boards right.
Strengths
The Black Mamba will handle large amounts of oil and provide an arc shape hook at the back end. Heavy handed players will have an option for the heavy oil. They can keep throwing this ball without getting too angular as the lanes dry out.
Weaknesses
Hook in the front of the lane will spell disaster for the Black Mamba. The ball has enough overall hook built in that it does not need it from the lane.
Overall Summary
The Black Mamba combines the core from the OMG! Pearl with a solid sanded cover. The result is a smooth reaction throughout the entire lane.
