SWAG Executioner Solid Bowling Ball

Most hooking ball in my arsenal! Being a one handed no thumb bowler I put my typical 5x4x3 1/2 2LS layout on this ball. I left it at box surface to start and I immediately had to move left on the house shot to keep this ball right of the head pin. Even going through the oil in the middle of the lane it had more than enough to turn the corner and explode to the pocket. This ball hooks a ton for me and still is very continuous. It never overreacted which was a good thing. It allowed me to be confident that it wouldn't be too erratic if I missed a little into the friction. After getting some lane shine on it it was still very controllable despite getting down the lane a little farther. Decided to add a dull the surface a little to see what it would do. Obviously it made it pick up a little earlier and it blended the pattern a little bit. It never seemed to lose energy which can sometimes be an issue with a stronger ball. I was kinda surprised at the versatility of this ball. I could see all kids of styles being able to be successful with it which is a huge selling point.

The SWAG Executioner is an absolute beast. This is the ball you pull out when the lanes have oil and you need something that is going to pick up the lane and keep driving through the pins. Right away, the Executioner gives you a strong read through the mid-lane without feeling lazy. The asymmetric core and aggressive cover create a ton of traction, allowing you to get the ball into the oil and still see it make a strong move toward the pocket. The ball is very angular. What really stands out is the continuation. A lot of strong balls can read early and lose energy before they get to the pins, but the Executioner keeps driving. The house I bowl at has a lot of oil to begin with but then it all gets moved down-lane. I am able to just keep moving left and let the ball do the work and cut through it all. For me, this is the definition of a heavy-oil hitter. When the lanes demand your strongest ball, the Executioner answers the call. Big traction. Strong mid-lane. Relentless continuation.

This was a really difficult review to write because it meant putting the ball down. I love this ball. Drilled 60 x 5” x 30, the Executioner is the strongest ball from SWAG that I have thrown. It is a couple of boards stronger and a little earlier than the Black Dragon Hybrid, shape is rounded and not sharp, which is to be expected from a heavier oil volume monster. It is very much a control ball with a strong midlane read and powerful continuation through the pins. My favorite ball from this set of releases so far, I love the strength and predictability it provides on fresh and heavier oil patterns. I have found I can make adjustments and continue playing this ball as the lanes start to transition without it losing energy or carry. This will likely be the first ball out of the bag at Nationals, replacing my Judge. The core looks to be a modified Graffiti core and the coverstock with AP26 is a great match to what the SWAG Development team was looking to create. This is a must for any bowler wanting to try SWAG or that already loves the SWAG brand. Really strong release. I’mma go back to throwing it now.

The SWAG Executioner feels like a ball that takes control of the lane the second it leaves your hand. There’s no fighting it, no wondering if it’s going to pick up, and no feeling like you have to help it get to the pocket. Just get it off your hand clean and let the Executioner go to work. What really stands out to me is how smooth it looks traveling through the oil. You can actually watch the ball flow through the front, start grabbing the lane in the middle and gradually build into its move. It doesn’t look like it’s panicking to hook. It looks like it knows exactly where it’s going. Then comes the finish. Once the Executioner turns toward the pocket, it keeps coming. That smooth motion suddenly becomes power, and you see the ball drive through the rack instead of just bouncing off the pocket. On heavier conditions, that’s exactly what I want to see. I want to throw the shot and feel like I’m controlling the pattern instead of the pattern controlling me. The Executioner doesn’t just handle the oil. It takes command of it. Smooth through the oil. In control through the mids. Then it finishes the job like an Executioner should.