BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: mr300ny on December 28, 2008, 08:50:51 AM

Title: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: mr300ny on December 28, 2008, 08:50:51 AM
I was on bowlersparadise.com and under beginner balls, they have two rubber balls made by hi skore and i was wondering if rubber balls are legal under usbc regulations? Also, if they are, are they worth getting for extremely dry lanes or just use plastic or some really low hooking resin ball?
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: J_Mac on December 28, 2008, 04:54:11 PM
They are legal, but a lot of shops HATE drilling them because of the strong burnt rubber odor.

Some bowling centers don't like them being used due to the black marks they sometimes leave behind on the lane, or the issues they can cause with certain types of ball return systems.
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Whiskey 1966 on December 28, 2008, 05:28:37 PM
Those High Skore bowling balls are 40 years old too. They came out in the 1960's and were Japanese bowling balls poured by Columbia 300 who made the plastic ones, and Brunswick made the rubber ones.

Don't waste your time, and since they have wooden cores, you can hardly get your thumb out of them and they are like concrete to drill. THAT IS WHY I HATED RUBBER BOWLING BALLS, THEY WERE CHEAP!

There are a few rubber bowling balls that had a rubber core, but companies like Brunswick, AMF, Ripley, Ace, Jubilere' also made bowling pins and lane beds, so they used the left over sawdust mixed with epoxy glue to form a core. It was cheaper and did not cost as much as injection molding for making polyester/plastic bowling balls.

I had 6 rubber bowling balls, all given to me. They were honestly garbage IMHO and honestly once the Yellow Dot came out, there was no reason to throw a rubber bowling ball. The smell J Mac mentioned was the sulfur in the rubber, very toxic.

The LT 48 was only popular because Johnny Petraglia had his name on it. The Dave Davis model was a flop. It was the same ball.
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: tfav44 on December 28, 2008, 05:38:53 PM
I recommend the plastic with a core, lane 1 xxxl starburst or the urethane  lane 1 liberator, on the resin side try the ebonite bash.
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 28, 2008, 05:56:14 PM
quote:
Those High Skore bowling balls are 40 years old too. They came out in the 1960's and were Japanese bowling balls poured by Columbia 300 who made the plastic ones, and Brunswick made the rubber ones.

Don't waste your time, and since they have wooden cores, you can hardly get your thumb out of them and they are like concrete to drill. THAT IS WHY I HATED RUBBER BOWLING BALLS, THEY WERE CHEAP!

There are a few rubber bowling balls that had a rubber core, but companies like Brunswick, AMF, Ripley, Ace, Jubilere' also made bowling pins and lane beds, so they used the left over sawdust mixed with epoxy glue to form a core. It was cheaper and did not cost as much as injection molding for making polyester/plastic bowling balls.

I had 6 rubber bowling balls, all given to me. They were honestly garbage IMHO and honestly once the Yellow Dot came out, there was no reason to throw a rubber bowling ball. The smell J Mac mentioned was the sulfur in the rubber, very toxic.

The LT 48 was only popular because Johnny Petraglia had his name on it. The Dave Davis model was a flop. It was the same ball.


Wow, where did you get your shotty information from???
I use a Hi Skore bowling rubber ball for a spare ball. Actually there are quite a few of us in our area that use them too!

#1) yes they do stink when you drill and or polish them. Smells just like someone burning out in the parking lot.
#2) Use a freaking thumb slug or thumb insert to clear the ball. I use no grips just a thumb mold and have no problem.
#3) Ball will do pretty much what you want it to do! We use it as a spare ball or when the lanes are fried!
There has been a couple 3's shot with them, there has been 7's shot with them all in my area.
If the ball is really polished that thing will go straight as an arrow! Plus some that go into the channel, where your precious plastic spare ball will come back with lane damage, my rubber ball is fine!
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 28, 2008, 05:56:52 PM
quote:
I recommend the plastic with a core, lane 1 xxxl starburst or the urethane  lane 1 liberator, on the resin side try the ebonite bash.


For spares or dry lanes or both??
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: noturcuzin on December 28, 2008, 06:03:22 PM
I use a Dr. Jekyll for my spares. But i'm the worst spare shooter in the world, mainly because it is drilled conventional. Matt suggested a rubber ball for my next purchase and watching him and Jay throw theirs, i'm considering it.
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 28, 2008, 06:09:43 PM
Well after this post we are hitting the lanes tonight. Video to follow...
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 28, 2008, 06:20:43 PM
oh and by the way skybolt, I bet you are turquoise or one of his previous screen names. You are pulling the same garbage! Been a member since 12/15/2008 with 15 posts, asking about your favorite companies and stuff like that. Same stuff as in the past...
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 28, 2008, 07:30:06 PM
I guess I was right turquoise, I mean F%@ you, I mean Imsosorry, I mean Skybolt900, I mean Whisky 1966.


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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: stpwned on December 28, 2008, 10:39:22 PM
Please don't get one. The pro shop guy will hate you, and it's got less of a lifetime than a typical plastic ball.
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: bltbyj on December 28, 2008, 11:24:30 PM
stpwned,
"it's got less of a lifetime than a typical plastic ball." And you know this how? Mine is from 1968 and seems to work fine. Here are some shots from tonight.

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/BLTBYJ/?action=view¤t=M2U01193.flv

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/BLTBYJ/?action=view¤t=M2U01195.flv

http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii260/BLTBYJ/?action=view¤t=M2U01194.flv

Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 29, 2008, 11:47:31 AM
quote:
Please don't get one. The pro shop guy will hate you, and it's got less of a lifetime than a typical plastic ball.
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The left hand is the right hand.


Wow, have you ever owned one? Its funny, my pro shop guy sells them and recommends them!
--------------------
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Looking for the following...
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: mainzer on December 29, 2008, 12:11:19 PM
I just got a rubber ball for Christmas, I haven't drilled it yet though, but I can't wait the rubber used in the ball I got is 90 on the durometer some as the Blue Dot. 90 is harder than most plastic balls so how could rubber have a shorter life than plastic?
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: scotts33 on December 29, 2008, 12:19:12 PM
Huh shorter than poly?  Best look at all your house racks littered with old time rubber.
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: laddog54 on December 29, 2008, 03:11:05 PM
I have a Roto Star XR rubber ball that I use for spares and fried lanes from 1966. It sat in the backyard holding a tarp down for 15 years at my dad's house before I redrilled. Ball doesn't ever come back with a mark on it. It will last as long as I live. That can't be said for my white and blue dots.
My brother shot 805 with his Black Diamond last year so rubber is not junk.
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: Nor Cal Bowler on December 29, 2008, 05:45:45 PM
quote:
Please don't get one. The pro shop guy will hate you, and it's got less of a lifetime than a typical plastic ball.
--------------------
The left hand is the right hand.



Oh yeah, I must have missed the "Lifetime" remark. My buddy's rubber ball is over 4 years old, and looks better then some polys less then a year old...
--------------------
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: mrbowlingnut on December 29, 2008, 06:16:42 PM
I Bowl with old timers still using the LT-48 and older stuff, these things are built like Tanks. Many have chunks out of them but still work well for spares, a few geezers actually throw so slow that the ball still hooks for a strike ball.

Plastic to me is worth two years tops, I am on year two of chunked up Crystal diamond it actually needs a total resurface but since I use it for spares only I leave looking like crap instead.
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: LuckyLefty on January 04, 2009, 04:56:26 PM
I bowl at times in a bone dry center.  So dry that sometimes the ball actually jups sideways when it contacts the lane.

I tried plastic(an XXXL) and my plastic spare ball.  In general they didn't work for strikes.

One weekend a lefty came in and threw on our non oiled side(saves money and no bowlers) and he tore it up with an old Ebonite Earl Anthony rubber I believe!

Whatever I found one and punched and every weekend this thing was sweet....smooth predictable and it hit...and better than plastic on this extreme shot!  Once the league week came they put out a head shot and had a little carrydown and then it was not enough.

REgards,

Luckylefty
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Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: nord on August 23, 2015, 11:27:52 PM
I have a Century 21 Rubber bowling ball.
I am a Full Roller and my Rubber ball is drilled with the aggressive Full Roller drilling for pancake weight block.
This layout uses a balance hole that is 4 1/2" deep and 1 1/8" in diameter.
My ball balances with zero top and zero side weight.
The balance hole allows the ball to get about 3-4 inches of flare.
This layout was designed by Ron Machniak of Precision Bowling.
http://www.precisionbowlingproshop.com/

Having said that, this rubber ball can have a stronger reaction that my urethane bowling balls. If the lane is not too oily or has a good dry backend then this ball will grab nicely and carry very well.

The filler of this ball actually looks like a combination of cork or particle board and rubber bits.

Here is a video showing how it reacts on a lane that has a fair amount of oil in the middle but drier sides and backkend.

Who says rubber can't carry?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYdfF4m_Kxs
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: michelle on August 24, 2015, 09:38:20 AM
Holy Thread Necro!
Title: Re: Rubber Bowling Balls
Post by: okfoz on March 11, 2016, 02:55:54 PM
I still use an old Rubber 1980's Black Beauty for my Spare ball... It is all dull, and with normal shot it will hook only a few boards the entire length, very predictable unless the lanes are super burned up or just dry.   I did have it hooking really good a few weeks back when everything was just too much.    I use a fingertip just like every other ball in my bag, as when I had a conventional grip on it.      For the first time ever I got a white dot Columbia 300 to eventually replace it on lanes that are super burned up.