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Author Topic: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?  (Read 17666 times)

BowlingForDonuts

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Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« on: December 05, 2018, 01:57:50 PM »
Long story short the only reactive ball I had that survived my last long bowling layoff was a BVP Rampage that I still use and absolutely love (put up zip codes with it).  Still oh so viable on modern conditions with some surface.  Love that Powerkoil 18 cover inverted bell core combo so much that I picked up a used BVP Nemesis to pair with it.  I know the BVPs were basically entry level balls and aren't spoken in reverent tones like the Infernos but curious which people like more as far as Powerkoil vs activator back in the day.  Went with what I know and like but see some old Infernos on ebay.  I can say from experience that the Powerkoil 18 is fairly low maintenance, and doesn't fade with use and is built like a tank (Storm Shift I had to next to it in bag cracked all the way around in the years the two stored to together in garage).  Do the infernos hold up well as well?  Thanks.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2018, 02:10:47 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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Impending Doom

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #16 on: December 21, 2018, 09:20:40 AM »
Way back in the day, I threw 1 Zone. The Speed Zone. Ball was the nut. Fast forward to the Ultimate Inferno, I hated both the ultimate and intense. Literally gave away every Brunswick ball I had, except for a Power Groove.

Yeah, PK was the bomb.

avabob

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #17 on: December 26, 2018, 02:38:34 PM »
Lots of infernos, but most of the solids were not great for me.   Original Inferno, absolute,  and later the Vapor Zone were the most successful of the Activator shells.  Pearl with low rg core was a better matchup than solid for a lot of us.

Brunswick also reintroduced the Absolute as the Anaconda later.

  I also always suspicioned that the pearl Fury was little more than a Vapor Zone.  All of the other Furys were total busts for most bowlers, so many never tried the pearl, but it was a nice piece of equipment.   Nothing like the original solid that died rapidly
« Last Edit: December 26, 2018, 02:48:19 PM by avabob »

BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #18 on: December 26, 2018, 02:41:39 PM »
Just so everyone has it correct...PowerKoil18 is a stronger cover than Activator and both were very durable
BVP was not entry level it was more of a mid level versatile line, multiple reaction pieces 
Activator was Brunswick’s attempt at a quicker/faster cover similar to a Utah reaction but was also known for its durability....1000’s of game before cracking and easily recoverable as far as reaction through baking in a Rejuvenator type oven
Surprisingly neither are currently being used

"Surprisingly neither are currently being used "

-- isn't that the truth.... they haven't had anything come close in reaction since they quit using them.  The PK18 and Activator balls were some of the best I have ever owned.  I would still be throwing them if I wasn't forced to go to 15# from an injury.

Well after getting to throw both the OG Inferno and the BVP Nemesis I ordered I can kind of answer that.  They just aren't strong enough on today's oil for much more than medium volume unless you have a ton of hand.  Have to use more surface with them than my more modern stuff.  They still read the pattern better than just about anything else (R2S only thing comparable imo) but so far still like the BVP Rampage the best.  Haven't gotten to throw 2nd generation DZ as being plugged but for whatever reason with my game the Rampage's core and cover just match up perfectly on THS.  Even then still need to keep more surface than usual to use it.  Just putting this caveat out there in case someone goes out and buys PK18 balls and then throws hate my way.  Still grateful to pick up those balls but they are going to be more towards the bottom of most people's bags imo.
« Last Edit: December 26, 2018, 02:43:42 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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avabob

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #19 on: December 26, 2018, 02:52:33 PM »
90 % of bowlers would be better off if the went with tamer stuff anyway on house shots. 

JustRico

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #20 on: December 26, 2018, 03:01:32 PM »
Sorry to contradict you but they are not that outdated as one may think...cover stock technology has not advanced to much more than marketing and surface grit...but too many buy into due to the misconceptions the companies produce in customers
The game suffers from dummying down of the masses instead of actually educating them
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #21 on: December 26, 2018, 03:08:57 PM »
90 % of bowlers would be better off if the went with tamer stuff anyway on house shots.

+1 and pk18 is darn good for THS. Plus to be fair being a speed dominant spinner I tend to need stronger coverstocks than most and all of them are still more usable and stronger on THS than say my Pyramid Path Rising. I hesitate to compare but strength wise in same ball park as my Cyclops at least.
« Last Edit: December 26, 2018, 03:21:55 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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JustRico

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #22 on: December 26, 2018, 03:23:13 PM »
PK18 is one of Brunswick’s strongest covers
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BeerLeague

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #23 on: December 27, 2018, 12:01:45 PM »
PK18 is one of Brunswick’s strongest covers

I'd love to find a 15# Avalanche Solid.  That ball was awesome. 

SVstar34

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #24 on: December 27, 2018, 12:18:17 PM »
PK18 is one of Brunswick’s strongest covers

I'd love to find a 15# Avalanche Solid.  That ball was awesome. 

I'd like one too. Pair it with my Melee Cross.

avabob

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #25 on: December 27, 2018, 03:52:39 PM »
Brunswick was making the bedt tourney stuff for me until about 10 years ago.  Danger Zone, Impact Zone, Raging Red Fuze, Deep Violet,  Riot Zone, Inferno,  Vapor Zone.  All made me lots of money.   

BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #26 on: December 29, 2018, 10:13:23 PM »
Finally got the to throw the 2nd generation Danger Zone today and wow yeah that is plenty of ball even for modern THS.  That ball must have been a monster back in the day.  Crap ton of recovery for a solid.  Also to complete my retro big B bag found a single drill vapor zone on Ebay.  Been surprisingly easy to find made in the USA Brunswick stuff in great shape.  Lot less work than chasing down Visionary stuff in 15# for sure.  Love throwing both and edge to being a THS warrior is both are viable scoring options even today.
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BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #27 on: January 22, 2019, 08:13:35 PM »
I take back what I said earlier in the thread about these older covers strength.  Finally got to throw the last retro ball I picked up the OG Vapor Zone and quickly found even 2500 grit compound was too much surface for house shot I was on.  Didn't expect to see a retro ball burning up especially one as long as this piece but it was definitely reading a ton of friction at the end of the pattern.  Activator plus even pearlized is for real on modern conditions.  Driller said I was smart to get the old version as well as people were complaining the new vintage version is too strong.  Considering ended up having to polish crap out of the older one plenty strong for me so probably right.  Might compare it side by side to my Creed at some point just for kicks.

(btw asked earlier in thread if there is a high RG powerkoil.  Damage is the answer, not 2 piece I think but higher RG, very tempting as well as those Avalanche (lower diff) balls,  so many gems so little storage space)   
« Last Edit: January 22, 2019, 09:39:02 PM by BowlingForDonuts »
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BeerLeague

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #28 on: January 23, 2019, 07:09:11 AM »
I just pulled the trigger on the Vapor Zone re-issue .. the original was so good that I had to try it.  NOw if they would just re-issue the Ultimate Inferno.

Brandon Riley

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #29 on: January 24, 2019, 12:59:58 PM »
Avalanche Solid brings back some great memories as does the Karma Solid.  I have always loved Brunswick's lower end equipment.  Legit covers with proper cores. 
Brandon Riley
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avabob

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Re: Activator vs Powerkoil (old school versions)?
« Reply #30 on: January 26, 2019, 09:01:54 AM »
Best thing about those old covers was their durability.  Activator seemed to last fir hundreds of games eith little up keep.  PK 18 revived well with hot eater bath.