Track Tour X Bowling Ball Review

The Track Tour X uses the only symmetrical core in the current Track line up, the DNA core that was also found in the 300C Solid and 400A Special Edition. The 400A SE and the Tour X both have a pearl coverstocks, but the Tour X gave us more total hook.

The Tour X was best for us on our medium test pattern. All three testers wanted to get a direct comparison with their 400A SE with the specifications of these balls being close to each other. Each tester got lined up with the Tour X, and when they changed to the 400A SE playing the same shot, all three went light. The Tour X picked up the lane slightly sooner, and as a result, the testers saw more total hook than the 400A SE. As the pattern started to break down, the Tour X had no problem recovering when the testers started moving their feet left.

Moving to the slicker test pattern, the test team had to make a significant move right with their feet and they also had to slow down their ball speeds. We hit all three test balls with a 3000 Abralon pad to remove the polish to give us a bit more miss room on this pattern. We were still farther right than on the medium pattern, but all the testers were comfortable with their reaction.

Stroker had the best reaction on our sport pattern. Playing more direct with his lower rev rate allowed the Tour X to clear the front of the lane and use the back end recovery to get the ball to the pocket. Cranker had to start with his feet farther left and go around the lane a little more, making sure to avoid sending the Tour X to the OB on this pattern. Tweener was stuck in the middle of these two reactions. Once he removed the polish with a 2000 Abralon pad, his reaction got much better.

We had minimal success on our dry pattern. All three testers saw their ball wanting to hook too hard when it got out of the oil pattern, forcing them to really try to open up the lane. This gave them angles into the pocket that made it difficult to carry the corner pin. There are better options in the Track lineup for navigating short and dry oil patterns.

Strengths

Traction in the oil from a pearlized ball is always a huge benefit. Pearl balls that can tear through oil eliminate over/under reactions as conditions start to transition.

Weaknesses

Only massive loads of oil, or bowling on desert-like conditions can keep the Tour X from success. We even found success on our heavy pattern by removing the polish.

Overall Summary

The Tour X provides bowlers with one of the most user-friendly Track products in recent history. All types of styles will enjoy the combination of control and power that the Tour X offers.