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Author Topic: old AMF balls  (Read 13428 times)

BrianBoo

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old AMF balls
« on: August 20, 2012, 07:22:33 AM »
Not trying to be cheap, but I have 2 old AMF balls that my kids used 20 years ago but still in good condition.  Is it worth plugging and re-drilling for my grandson who is now taking up bowling or are the cores in those old balls not worth it moving forward.  In other words, drop the dime and buy him a new ball?

 

charlest

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2012, 07:41:52 AM »
If he just started bowling, it probably better he start with a used one, but it depends on what they are. 20 years ago, most balls were urethane and plastic and many had pancake cores. Which balls do you have?
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BrianBoo

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2012, 10:43:30 AM »
If he just started bowling, it probably better he start with a used one, but it depends on what they are. 20 years ago, most balls were urethane and plastic and many had pancake cores. Which balls do you have?

Thanks for the quick reply.  One says "Angle" on it.  The other I'd have to look again.  I think it has 3 white dots on it.

Track_Fanatic

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2012, 11:18:08 AM »
well, depending on the cost to plug and redril it may not be worth it.  May i suggest one of the 900 Global hook balls. Same company that makes the AMF equipment now.  Good performance at an affordable price point.

charlest

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2012, 12:18:12 PM »
If he just started bowling, it probably better he start with a used one, but it depends on what they are. 20 years ago, most balls were urethane and plastic and many had pancake cores. Which balls do you have?

Thanks for the quick reply.  One says "Angle" on it.  The other I'd have to look again.  I think it has 3 white dots on it.

There were several Angle balls 20 years ago, but all were urethanes with pancake core, except for one called the ultra Angle which had a dynamic core, somewhat similar to most cores today. There some more modern Angles made in the late 1990s, early 2000s, but if your balls are 20 years old, more than likely they're the urethanes. I believe almost all were solid colors, with maybe a couple of pearls here and there. You can check under the AMF brand name on this web site:
http://www.123bowl.com

If all your balls are older urethanes with pancake cores, they'd make a good spare ball or very dry lane strike ball. I'd suggest buying your son an inexpensive starter's resin ball.

The one with 3 dots on it is probably an AMF 3 Dot Classic, a very old rubber ball. It will hardly hook at all. Plus many drillers refuse to plug and redrill them because of the material they are made from - kind of unhealthy to be in the presence of that dust.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BrianBoo

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2012, 08:12:32 PM »
Thanks Charles and thanks TrackFan.  Appreciate the input.

900DJ

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2012, 12:37:19 PM »
Search around your local center for some newer used balls.  There are several at my center that are newer releases for 20-40 bucks since your counting on plugging anyway he could be bowling for less than 80 bucks total.

BrianBoo

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2012, 08:24:08 AM »
Search around your local center for some newer used balls.  There are several at my center that are newer releases for 20-40 bucks since your counting on plugging anyway he could be bowling for less than 80 bucks total.

Thanks.  I did just that the other day, and our center showed us an old Columbia 300, but it appeared as old as the AMF's I already have.  My grandson liked it because it was blue....what do you expect from a kid his age?  But I think it was a little too heavy for his age, although he's a strong kid.  But they were about willing to give it away.  Were asking $20.

Impending Doom

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Re: old AMF balls
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2012, 09:01:48 AM »
I'm sorry, I don't know if this was addressed already, but what weight does your grandson need?