I have a general question for everybody......... I picked up league bowling again after about an 8 or so year vacation. I am wondering what your thoughts are on having a spare ball. I have personally never had one, I always used the ball I showed up with to strike with, to also spare with. I recently won a bowling.com monthly drawing for the Code Black. My current roller is the Snap Lock and also a lighter  weight phaze (which I wont use). My question is what would you do if you were in my position. Do you take and drill the code black for another strike ball, or do you sell it and get a spare ball? I really dont want/have a need for an arsenal of balls at the lanes other than, why not.

This is not a hidden brag post. Im just wondering what fellow bowlers thoughts would be. Thanks in advance

Quote from: pears on January 12, 2017, 07:30:01 PM

A lot of you are suggesting a plastic or urethane ball. In my original post I had mentioned that I have a Phaze also and that I wont use it. I say that because it is a pound lighter than my Snap Lock and I throw the ball rather than roll it. I have seen a few posts on here that the Phaze isn't that great of a ball. Rather than try to sell the Phaze, and since its drilled for me anyway, would it be stupid on my part to have it heavily polished and just use that as a spare ball?

I realize I can do whatever I want with my equipment, but I also value others opinions.

Sooner or later you are going to a hit a condition that is really fried or find yourself on a very short pattern. No amount of polish is not going to give you the length you need for the corner pin (even if the ball is a pound lighter). Why take the chance?  Plastic ball is cheap. It will help preserve your high end equipment. There are a lot of pros.

+1

I am speed dominant and found a way to hook polished-non-flaring urethane on a short sport pattern while shooting 7 pins - less than a week later I solved that problem and was using plastic.

Quote from: pears on January 12, 2017, 07:30:01 PM

A lot of you are suggesting a plastic or urethane ball. In my original post I had mentioned that I have a Phaze also and that I wont use it. I say that because it is a pound lighter than my Snap Lock and I throw the ball rather than roll it. I have seen a few posts on here that the Phaze isn't that great of a ball. Rather than try to sell the Phaze, and since its drilled for me anyway, would it be stupid on my part to have it heavily polished and just use that as a spare ball?

I realize I can do whatever I want with my equipment, but I also value others opinions.

Sooner or later you are going to a hit a condition that is really fried or find yourself on a very short pattern. No amount of polish is not going to give you the length you need for the corner pin (even if the ball is a pound lighter). Why take the chance?  Plastic ball is cheap. It will help preserve your high end equipment. There are a lot of pros.

It seems like you have made up your mind, so just polish the Phaze and use it as a spare. No problem.

I wouldn't go as far as saying that I've made my mind up. Just a question of why not use what I already have on hand. I have come to the conclusion though, that when it comes to the Phaze, I either let it collect dust in my basement or pretty much give it away.

 I will say that there is a lot of great feed back given in this thread, thank you. I need to get myself a proper spare ball and be done with it.

Take the Code Black, sell the Phaze, and get a spare ball.  Go with a Mix for your spare ball, will last longer than a plastic ball.  Even a minor upgrade like a Mix is still very cheap. 

Quote from: JPbowling151 on January 16, 2017, 05:18:24 PM

I'd go with a polished Storm Mix, pearl urethane with a pancake weight block. It'll hold up better than plastic though it'll cost a few more dollars.

The difference is around $10 between a Mix and a Maxim.  I would go the urethane route and call it a day.  For me, I can get several years from a urethane and maybe 2 from plastic.

Depending on the condition of the Phaze and the drilling, you may be able to get something in return for it at the pro shop.  Might help reduce the overall cost of the spare ball.

 
Good advice. There are bowler exceptions who use plastic and have it last forever. If you're not one of the lucky few, go with Urethane. I like the Mix because it reacts almost the same as plastic.