win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Problem with Pyramid Curse  (Read 10500 times)

lefty50

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1821
Problem with Pyramid Curse
« on: March 16, 2017, 05:21:11 PM »
I am admittedly the proverbial death on wheels when it comes to using a spinner. Having said that, I can get somewhere close to where I want to be on everything eventually. However, the day I touched my beloved Pyramid Curse, it was all over. I have tried every combination I can think of by hand, spinner, pressure changes, kind words and soft lights, I've tried it all. This is a ball where I can actually see a really good core inside struggling to get out, but this ball just will not do anything once the coverstock was touched initially. My first reaction of course is that there is a problem in the way I'm doing it, but my luck isn't that bad with any others. Self-deprecating comments aside, this is far worse than any I've ever seen, plus it feels and acts different. The cover seems to be made of, only half jokingly, self-healing granite. Actually, that's a great description. In other words, I can barely scratch the surface, it reacts like a rock, much more so than other cover stock, and any life I get out the ball seems to heal, and after four or five shots maximum it's back to a solid shiny rock.

I'm going to dig out the support address for bowling ball.com and will send them a note in case it was a bad batch, but otherwise the ball is a paperweight, a real shame since it was great when I bought it, absolutely a pleasant surprise. However, after eight or 10 modifications, there comes a point where the ball is simply not worth any more time.

I know the normal response will be that it's my fault, but no, that's not it this time, especially when compared to 10-15 other balls. This coverstock is different.

Any feedback or experience with the Curse is greatly appreciated as always. I'm hoping someone else has had this problem and knows a solution or reason.

Thanks
« Last Edit: March 16, 2017, 05:24:13 PM by lefty50 »

 

BowlingforSoup

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 391
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2017, 07:49:29 PM »
With a name like Curse.Maybe it is cursed to be a shiny rock. ;D

badbeard

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 527
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2017, 10:56:02 AM »
I have one and I changed the surface to 1000 and black magic polish and it works great. you did not say what you did it it. 

itsallaboutme

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2001
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2017, 01:42:36 PM »
Is this a Pyramid ball made in China?

The covers for performance balls from China are very weak, they need surface and friction. 

lefty50

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1821
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2017, 02:45:05 PM »
Based on the horrible packaging that it came in, I'm certainly thinking China. The box was so cheap it almost fell apart in the parking lot as I was walking over to the Pro shop. As for what I did to it, you're right, I should have mentioned, but it's basically what did I not do to it? I went to 600 sanded 2 sides, 1000 sanded 4 sides, 1000/2000 sanded, then 1000/2000 with factory compound polish. I tried Motive Gel Scuff and almost everything you can do below 4000 sanded. I need to re-locate their address, but I also sent to notes to bowling ball.com support, with admonitions given to change from the recommended polish and skip a step, then another email that said not to skip a step. A lot of time and energy, that has been so far wasted. But I really think this ball has tremendous potential. I've never seen the ball so obviously struggling to make a decent move but being stuck on a slick cover stock. I'll try one more time with surface, and the 1000/black magic and report back... Still hoping...

itsallaboutme

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2001
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2017, 03:14:35 PM »
Skip the polish.  The last thing those covers need is polish.  They need surface.  Surface and friction.  And preferably a short pattern.  If you are looking for something that is going to make a big move in the back you are looking in the wrong place.

These covers are comparable to about the weakest covers from the big companies and from my experience were very sensitive from batch to batch.  And I've probably tested as many of the China balls as anyone.

lefty50

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1821
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2017, 03:50:32 PM »
I will say that OOB it was great, and I was happy with the back end move at first, but as with any ball, there comes a time to freshen the surface.. That was the death knell in this case. Sensitive from batch to batch makes perfect sense to me, thanks for the feedback. I've never seen such an odd coverstock that won't respond to surface changes. Almost hard as diamond....

I'll get out the chisel and see what I can do....

badbeard

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 527
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #7 on: March 18, 2017, 09:34:59 AM »
I have 8 pyramid balls and I drill them most of the covers are softer than other companies.
So maybe that is why you need to keep the surface fresh. I bowl 3 leagues weekly and 2 travel leagues so mine are used a lot. I do not have any of them that have died. My curse works just fine. Here in east Texas most houses use a light oil pattern. I added surface to my Curse and re polished it and the change worked just fine.

lefty50

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1821
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #8 on: March 18, 2017, 10:44:08 AM »
Thanks beard, but that's just not happening for me. Let me ask you a follow-up. What surface and what exact polish did you put on your Curse?

badbeard

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 527
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2017, 08:27:45 PM »
surface is now 1000 and Black Magic polish if that did not do it for me I would have tried 800 and polish Of the balls I have from this company all take surface change,. I do have a haus machine fir changng surface. If I do it by hand I do all six sides then polish

badbeard

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 527
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2017, 10:43:57 PM »
Just to add I used my Curse on the 3rd game to day shot 248 left 1-7 1-10 and 1-9
the rest were strikes Ball works very well and hooks just fine.

lefty50

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1821
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2017, 08:47:15 AM »
Sounds great Beard... I am a bit concerned about how much you're banging the Pyramid drum, but appreciate the feedback. Again however... I think the ball started great, the core has real potential, but at least in my case, the batch I have, the cover isn't responding. I'll keep trying, and hope I can find the successful combination... I'm leaning towards the bad batch scenario though... I'm certainly no expert, but I've had about 30 balls on the spinner so far, a modest number, and this cover's far different than anything I've seen. Will report back....

badbeard

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 527
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2017, 03:52:29 PM »
have you sent a note to Toney at bowlingball .com I would like to know what he has to say
also if you are a lefty you may see much more oil than we do as we have lots of traffic on our side. A few years ago I had this same problem with a Motiv ball when I called them and talked to them it was pretty much I needed to become a better bowler hurt my feelings but it was true.  keep in touch. 

Speedfreak

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2017, 12:33:38 AM »
I know this thread hasn't moved recently, but I felt obligated to chime in lol... I had the Beard guy here drill my new arsenal yesterday and i got to bowl with it tonight, to say the least the curse and the chosen one were not an issue with movement. Both are oob covers and forced me to play a line I've never had to play. My black widow assassin, elite cringe and ebonite the one can be played off the 5 board any given night at our house. Little to say both the chosen one and curse off the 5 would have a vendetta against the 2 pin. Not sure if it's your layout or what, but if you cannot get this ball to move you're doing something wrong.

lefty50

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1821
Re: Problem with Pyramid Curse
« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2017, 01:35:31 AM »
If you had read the first line, you'd know it's something to do with surface that began after I tried to adjust it, brother. It was fine until then.... As you yourself mentioned, yours is brand new. I loved mine then too. I hope to play with it over the summer and find the answer, if it's a weak piece right now....