BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Brunswick => Topic started by: suhoney24 on October 13, 2014, 01:51:07 AM
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i found one just sitting in storage that i got from a friend about 3/4 years ago...what im wondering is if it would be worth taking to leagues just to try or even what type of reaction i would get on the lanes today since this is an older ball?
...thanks for any info/help
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This ball is my favorite ball of all time. I believe it is a great benchmark ball and can handle adjustments and surface changes very well. When I still had this ball I could play all but the most extreme of conditions as long as I adjusted my my shot and where I was playing. The Inferno line and the Activator Coverstock were my favorite from Big B and had that signature "rolly" reaction for me. Honestly if they brought them back I would probably put my other stuff on the shelf and go all in on this line, more specifically this ball.
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I just dropped to 14lb equipment, but I am keeping my 15lb Original Inferno, as I still love it. Could come in handy with a gap in my equipment.
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Inferno was a breakthrough ball from Brunswick with the activator cover, although it was just a slightly modified PK 18 cover. Three things made it a great ball. First, the rough buff finish which featured polish over the top of about an 800 grit surface made it the strongest pearl reactive on the market. Second, the ultra low rg core really matched up well with the shell. Finally, like the PK 18 shell, activator seemed almost indestructible compared to any other shell on the market. One note however. There were lots of inferno incarnations including those with the second generation activator plus cover. By far the most popular were the pearls with low rg cores. There were solids ( raging, ultimate, and others ), but most were much more condition specific for me. Vapor Zone with a mild asymmetric may have been the best of all.
A box condition Inferno would still be as good or better than any current pearl with a symmetric core on house conditions.
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Suhoney, a ball that worked well for you three or four years ago still has usefulness if it's properly maintained.
Case in point, I'd been away from from bowling for 18 years and upon my return this past January I'm still using four pieces that I bought back in 1995: my Blue Hammer, Burgundy Hammer, Track NRg, and Track Sensor II. It did take me a while to figure out how to use each of them on the lanes of today with heavier oil volume and viscosity and longer oiling distance(s).
Avabob, would you give any props for a Meanstreak original? At least for me, I find that ball to be versatile and it's quite strong on the back end.
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Bowling ball covers have not evolved in prolly the past 15+ yrs to make one less usefulness than another...the great feature of the activator cover was the life of the cover...we were able to keep the reaction up to 5000 games by merely maintaining the cover properly
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thanks for all the reply's guys....i have never throw it anywhere but messing around in practice because i simply didn't know how it would do on the lanes today since it was 7 years old at that time (now 11 years)
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The usefulness you will see out of a ball like that really depends on a lot of factors. One thing you have to keep in mind is that the bowling balls keep getting stronger and stronger, and the oils tend to get slicker and slicker. As such, something that was considered pretty strong 10 years ago may look pretty weak today. I know that since my center put in brand new lanes and switched conditioners, an OG Inferno would only be useful for going down and in or really, really late in a set. Now, if we still had the old lanes with the built-in friction, it would be a different story.
Long story short, just see what it does, and don't go in with expectations that it will be this or that. Use it, and then decide what it is and isn't. I'm guessing you will still find it to be a good, useful ball. It just may be good and useful on different conditions and in different situations than it would've been 10 years ago.
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The majority of bowling centers, lane topography/age of surface without good maintenance, lower volumes have not in my area kept up with ball strength and strength of cover stocks hence majority of players that have average revs and ball speed can not use medium strength to stronger balls at all unless they are high ball speed revless players.
Older equipment like an original Inferno if the cover is well kept work fine on the majority of house shots in my area. It really ticks off pro shops as they can not sell the majority of high total hook equipment because of what proprietors put down night in and night out.
If suhoney24 has this type of situation I say try the Inferno.
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The point about higher volume and higher viscosity oils is very valid, but primarily only and issue on flatter tournament patterns. On heavily walled house shots it makes little difference how heavy the oil is when there is relatively little outside of 10 board anyway. That is the big reason you are seeing so many guys rediscover urethane.
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well to update this thread....i used it tonight to pretty good success...it was actually out hooking my oob fusion :o....only problem was it didn't seem to hit as hard as some other stuff i have but it bailed me out and gave me a good solid game when i needed one...it's actually gonna stay in my bag for that late 2nd-3rd game...color me impressed and surprised at just how well it actually did
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The Activator cover is not a weak cover
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Amazing how everyone likes the older stuff. Original Inferno and Absolute Inferno are two balls I threw 300 with right out of box. Wish I never got rid of either one. Currently throwing the Cell Pearl and have two of them wishing I could find a NIB that someone has sitting around. Could possibly put the Columbia Pulse in this category of great too.
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Amazing how everyone likes the older stuff. Original Inferno and Absolute Inferno are two balls I threw 300 with right out of box. Wish I never got rid of either one. Currently throwing the Cell Pearl and have two of them wishing I could find a NIB that someone has sitting around. Could possibly put the Columbia Pulse in this category of great too.
Like the Pulse? Get the Blend10 OSW. Modified Pulse core with an updated cover -- same old school look people are describing in this thread. OSW actually stands for "Old School Works."
As for me, I still love my Gold and Teal Rhino Pros. And the Activator Plus cover on the Massive Damage was crazy good. That ball never got it's just rewards.
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Amazing how everyone likes the older stuff. Original Inferno and Absolute Inferno are two balls I threw 300 with right out of box. Wish I never got rid of either one. Currently throwing the Cell Pearl and have two of them wishing I could find a NIB that someone has sitting around. Could possibly put the Columbia Pulse in this category of great too.
I actually have a NIB 15# Cell Pearl with great specs. We might be able to work a deal, but honestly, it won't be cheap. LOL
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Amazing how everyone likes the older stuff. Original Inferno and Absolute Inferno are two balls I threw 300 with right out of box. Wish I never got rid of either one. Currently throwing the Cell Pearl and have two of them wishing I could find a NIB that someone has sitting around. Could possibly put the Columbia Pulse in this category of great too.
I actually have a NIB 15# Cell Pearl with great specs. We might be able to work a deal, but honestly, it won't be cheap. LOL
Fortunately for me then, it good that I throw 14lb. Have a 14lb Storm Paridigm Domination NIB that I am sure at some point I will get good $$$ for. Also have a NIB 14lb Rising Star that I am holding onto. I see some of these old NIB balls listed for high buck and I just say "good luck getting that out of it, good on you if you do."
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Amazing how everyone likes the older stuff. Original Inferno and Absolute Inferno are two balls I threw 300 with right out of box. Wish I never got rid of either one. Currently throwing the Cell Pearl and have two of them wishing I could find a NIB that someone has sitting around. Could possibly put the Columbia Pulse in this category of great too.
I actually have a NIB 15# Cell Pearl with great specs. We might be able to work a deal, but honestly, it won't be cheap. LOL
Fortunately for me then, it good that I throw 14lb. Have a 14lb Storm Paridigm Domination NIB that I am sure at some point I will get good $$$ for. Also have a NIB 14lb Rising Star that I am holding onto. I see some of these old NIB balls listed for high buck and I just say "good luck getting that out of it, good on you if you do."
I would sell it if the right price came along, but not really looking to sell it. I have a Rising Star I intended to drill but never did as well.
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I have both the Original Inferno and Ultimate Inferno 15lb NIB. 2 of my favorites of all time. Debating whether I want to sell or eventually drill.