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Author Topic: Ascent Apex  (Read 7819 times)

BowlingforSoup

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Ascent Apex
« on: July 14, 2014, 06:30:17 PM »
I see this is listed as a dry lane ball.I have watched videos and ball looks much stronger than a dry lane ball.Here in my town we have 3 bowling alleys owned by same owner he owns 14 across the south.They will not put out much oil hes milking the houses for all he can.I have to throw weaker equipment.I bought a strike king says for dry.Thats a joke.We have lots of side to side and front to back dry light in the middle.I just don't get why ball companys cant make a dry lane ball.Tropical breeze is almost to strong here.My question is Is the apex really a dry lane ball.Just wanting to try another brand.And Yes I have tried urethane and its hard to compete with no handers playing the dirt with strong stuff.Carry sucks.Even dry lane stuff says quick response to friction.I think that's not what a dry lane ball needs it needs control.Let the comments fly this ought to be interesting.

 

nextbowler

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2014, 06:48:02 PM »
From my experience, the Ascent Apex is far from a dry lane ball.  When it hits the dry
it just jumps and hooks as much as any other Motive ball.  It is not worth the expense for looking for something for dry lanes.

BowlingforSoup

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2014, 06:52:38 PM »
That's what I thought.Thanks for the info

SVstar34

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2014, 07:59:09 PM »
I ordered one that I'm drilling tomorrow, I'll let you know what I see

charlest

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2014, 08:56:13 PM »
I feel your discomfit.

The Apex is not for dry; it uses too strong a coverstock. FWIW the other Ascent Pearls are actually weaker and more appropriate for dry; but like the Tropical Breeze, there are limits as to how much dry they will handle.

Until you start using urethanes like the Hammer Blue Hammer and the Storm SuperNatural (they are the next level under these weak resins), these resin pearls are as weak a resin as you will find. The next step below these resins are the plastic/polyester balls (Hammer True Blood, Track Spare+ which have strong dynamic cores.

I suspect you are rev dominant or just don't have the ball speed to compete with many of the other people in your area. Unless you cut down on your revs or increase your ball speed or find some very old super weak resins from 10 - 15 years ago or so, you're going to have to look for ways to reduce the power of any ball you use or drill  on these dry conditions.

FYI there are polishes which contain what are called slip agents, which not only reduce the overall hook but also reduce the backend. You can try these also. Some are Valentino's UFO, Powerhouse's Delayed Reaction and Neo-Tac's Control-It. The polish the ball and clog the pores to prevent oil absorption, which is one of the main reason's balls hook today. Control-It and Delayed Reaction use small doses of silicone to clog the pores. They need to be sanded with 500 -1000 grit abrasive to remove them. UFO uses an organic agent and it lasts about 25 games and is much easier to remove; maybe a 4000 grit pad will do the job.
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bsmooth737

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2014, 11:00:24 PM »
I made the mistake of buying this ball for dry lanes and its too strong. It carries very well, but its more suited for medium oil conditions. In my opinion, it has a similar reaction as the storm hy-road pearl.

spmcgivern

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2014, 08:58:41 AM »
I agree with what charlest has stated.  The original Ascents are better for dry but even then they are stronger than the Tropical Breezes.  Some people don't like going to urethanes because of the earlier roll but I fear that is your best option.  The Super Natural may be the most "resin-like" of the urethanes since it has a small amount in it.  Experimenting with slip agents on your current equipment is probably the best starting point.

JazlarVonSteich

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2014, 10:38:15 AM »
I agree that urethane is the best bet. I disagree that urethanes (especially some of the newer ones) don't carry - especially if you are truly on dry lanes. I tried all the Storm Natural balls and they all carried well. I had a (new) Blue Hammer and it carried well. And I now own a Motiv Tank and that ball truly does hit like a tank. The key is to change your line to match the roll of urethane. Once you do that, your carry will go way up.

charlest

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2014, 12:11:16 PM »
I agree with what charlest has stated.  The original Ascents are better for dry but even then they are stronger than the Tropical Breezes.  Some people don't like going to urethanes because of the earlier roll but I fear that is your best option.  The Super Natural may be the most "resin-like" of the urethanes since it has a small amount in it.  Experimenting with slip agents on your current equipment is probably the best starting point.

Neither the Blue Hammer nor the SuperNatural are true urethane-like, early rolling balls. The SuperNatural gets more length, but because it's so highly polished, it needs significant and wide bands of dry to move consistently. Unlike resin, the more you polish urethane the longer it goes AND the less it hooks AND the more dry it needs to see.

That's why I kept the Blue Hammer and sold my SN. The BH seems more versatile to me and it's easy to switch between polished and 3000 or 4000 grit dull and still get length AND hitting power.

Most balls termed urethane today have varying amounts of resin in them. The only three that I feel do not have resin were the AMF Hype, the Lane#1 Liberator and the Columbia Classic U2.
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spmcgivern

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2014, 03:37:52 PM »
I agree charlest, that's what happens when I generalize.  The Columbia Classic U2 is what I would get if I wanted TRUE urethane (and I didn't have my Slate U-Dot).  I have some interest in the stronger "urethanes" like the tank, but am not serious enough to really want it.

BowlingforSoup

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2014, 06:51:38 PM »
Thanks for the comments guys.I am rev dominant 16.5 off the hand with 400rr and 53 years old.Only been bowling for 43 years.Was just wondering if the apex was a dry lane ball.

SVstar34

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2014, 08:10:36 PM »
Well I just had it drilled and was only able to toss a couple games as I had family waiting on me.

The Apex is definitely a little stronger than advertised. I bowled on a lane that had 11 games by guys that all play around the 10 board. I had to make sure I kept my ball speed up. It never over reacted but it was strong and smooth downlane. I think I'll be using it for all 3 games in league when fall starts

70 x 5 x 40 layout
15.5-16 mph at the deck, medium revs in the low-mid 300s
« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 09:50:47 PM by SVstar34 »

SVstar34

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #12 on: July 16, 2014, 06:07:02 PM »
Put 10 games on the ball today. After working on a couple distant things for 6 games, I rolled the last 4 for score. Shot 226, 236, 229, 245.

I really like the ball, its already becoming one of my favorites. It's definitely not a weak ball and it's pretty versatile. I was able to play the twig and hook it from the inside

Armourboy

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2014, 03:21:52 AM »
Glad for the updates, had been thinking about grabbing one of these, but I was afraid it would be a bit more than a dry lane ball. Seems I was right.

SVstar34

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Re: Ascent Apex
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2014, 10:59:54 AM »
We switched to a short pattern in our scratch league last night. I had a great look all 4 games playing outside, just had to make sure I kept my ball speed up. I really love this ball even though it's stronger than what I was hoping