BallReviews

General Category => Coverstock Preparation => Topic started by: Doug Sterner on November 21, 2010, 12:49:10 AM

Title: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Doug Sterner on November 21, 2010, 12:49:10 AM
For those of you who are big on making coverstock changes, when do you call it quits?

I am talking about you have a new ball and you know you like the reaction shape you are getting but just cannot get the ball to go at the right time...

How much will you do before you give up on the ball?
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Doug Sterner
Doug''s Pro Shop
Owego, NY

http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop
Turbo XTreme Dealer
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: scotts33 on November 21, 2010, 08:54:11 AM
For one type of lane condition Doug or multiple conditions?  The ball may work on one type of condition but not another at a specific surface.
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Scott

Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Doug Sterner on November 21, 2010, 09:11:18 AM
I am talking about when you drill a ball and you just cannot get the ball to do what you want it to do....

How long before you just give up and say it's just not going to work?
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY

http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop
Turbo XTreme Dealer
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: scotts33 on November 21, 2010, 09:14:01 AM
I have balls that ONLY work on a specific lane condition so I don''t give up on them when they can''t be used for say a average THS lane condition.  Maybe you haven''t found the right usage for the ball?
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Scott



Edited on 11/21/2010 10:14 AM
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Doug Sterner on November 21, 2010, 09:46:25 AM
just a generic question scotts my friend....granted I have had some issues with surface in the past but I was just curious for the majority of the people out there...when do you just flat out give up on the ball?

My Lane 1 Chainsaw and Chainsaw Massacre were just total enigmas in my mind...polish, no polish, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and I just could not make either of them work.

However I sold the Chainsaw to ImBackInTheGame and he fell in love with the ball.

As I said...not fishing for anything in particular just asking how long most people "fish around" to find the right combination.
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug''s Pro Shop
Owego, NY

http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop
Turbo XTreme Dealer


Edited on 11/21/2010 11:59 AM
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Brickguy221 on November 21, 2010, 10:14:36 AM
quote:
My Lane 1 CHainsaw and Chainsaw Massacre were just total enigmas in my mind...polish, no polish, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and I just could not make either of them work.

 


Doug, I had a similar experience with my Dynamo. I did what you mention here plus even completely plugged and redrilled it to a different layout and it still didn't work for me. Ditto on the Agent Orange.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick  
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: renoatpikeville on November 21, 2010, 10:41:20 AM
quote:

My Lane 1 CHainsaw and Chainsaw Massacre were just total enigmas in my mind...polish, no polish, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and I just could not make either of them work.

However I sold the Chainsaw to ImBackInTheGame and he fell in love with the ball.

As I said...not fishing for anything in particular just asking how long most people "fish around" to find the right combination.
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY


http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop
Turbo XTreme Dealer




I had the same experience with the Ultra and Blast Zones...never could match up with those two balls. Changed surfaces, even put weight holes in them. I gave them 2-3 weeks. About 40 games. I attribute the non-matchup to my game and the core in those balls.  I never was sold on the reaction shape of the balls, didn't like the moves off the breakpoint, and even with the surface changes never could get a consistent reaction with them.

That being said, I've enjoyed the MACE core in the Siege lineup...somehow that core suits my game better and I love the cover on the Original Siege and the Evil Siege. For me these balls hit and carry very well. Others may disagree but I match up well with them.
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Juggernaut on November 21, 2010, 10:52:13 AM
Three drillings and several surfaces on each drilling.

 THEN, I gave up on my Lev-RG.

 Probably waited too long. Should've quit on it earlier.

 GAVE it away to a woman bowler. She kills with it just like it was.

 Oh well............
--------------------
Good transactions list in my profile

Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Doug Sterner on November 21, 2010, 11:03:38 AM
reno....I loved the Blast Zone but then again it's been the only ball I have had drilled label in YEARS......old school technology. Brunswick was way ahead of the times with the Phantom line....
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY

http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop
Turbo XTreme Dealer
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: charlest on November 21, 2010, 11:31:15 AM
If I think the ball has real possibilities, I'll do 2 drillings and 4 surfaces on each: 2 with a matte or dull finish and 2 with polish.

2 with matte/dull will be either 1000, 1500 or 2000 and 2000, 3000 or 4000.
2 with (non-abrasive polish) will be either 1000 or 1500 under the polish and either 2000 or 4000 under the polish.

The testing of each drilling/surface combo should be thorough, and compared with at least 2 other similar balls to understand the differences between each.

This can be difficult unless your leagues or practice sessions are oiled consistently. I find this to be more and more difficult as the economy nose-dives and managers are less and less concerned with the maintenance of their establishments.

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
BowlingChat.net (http://"http://www.bowlingchat.net")
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: JOE FALCO on November 21, 2010, 11:33:02 AM
quote:
How much will you do before you give up on the ball?
 
I usually try the ball on the condition recommended .. if it works .. great .. if it doesn't I'll try another condition till I get one that fits the ball. Usually when I don't find the condition the ball sits on the rack. I'm not big on changing surface (mainly cause I don't fully understand). That's one of the reasons I end up with a lot of balls on my racks
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Get Motivated .. get Motiv

J O E - F A L C O

RIP Thong Princess/Sawbones
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: Shaggy on November 21, 2010, 11:40:45 AM
Doug,

I will go through about 6 coverstock variations before I call it quits:

4000 Abralon dull
4000 Abralon polished
2000 Abralon dull
2000 Abralon polished
1000 Abralon dull
1000 Abralon polished

I will use the ball at a minumum of 2 houses with different lane conditions to try and find a good reaction.  If the ball does not work for me then I will sell it.

Shaggy
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You will not see me on the PBA Tour, but I love the game!!!
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: dizzyfugu on November 22, 2010, 05:46:57 AM
My limit has been 4 different surfaces with my Smash Zone I had (incl. initial OOB). While I was able to change the ball's reaction, I could not make it work properly - it always lacked control, ecept for rare occasions when the ball would mystically match up with the lane.
This ball and the weeks of trying to "tame" it actually gave me the feeling that we'd not match up, whatever I'd try, so I sold it. I do not think that even plugging re-drilling it would have made me happier - the mismatch felt very fundamental.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: on November 22, 2010, 07:01:34 AM

I can only think of one time when I gave up on a ball. The rest I can usually get tuned in within a few tries. There are limitless options with surface adjustments nowadays.


--------------------
Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: T C 300 on November 22, 2010, 07:47:42 AM
quote:
I am talking about when you drill a ball and you just cannot get the ball to do what you want it to do....

How long before you just give up and say it's just not going to work?



i can tell by the first few times i throw it if im gona like it.... if i dont like it, 9 outa 10 times its the wrong drilling not the surface.
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: ValentinoBowling on November 22, 2010, 10:57:55 AM
25 Games...If I cannot get that ball to work for me, I am done. In those 25 games I try at least 5 surfaces 800, 1200, 2000, Snake Oil, UFO. Sometimes it was just a bad drill or the ball was a dud.

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www.ValentinoBowling.com
makers of Snake Oil, Remedy RX, Resurrection & UFO
Premium Maintenance Products
Title: Re: When do you call it quits?
Post by: dark_rising76 on December 02, 2010, 12:28:08 PM
quote:
Doug,

I will go through about 6 coverstock variations before I call it quits:

4000 Abralon dull
4000 Abralon polished
2000 Abralon dull
2000 Abralon polished
1000 Abralon dull
1000 Abralon polished

I will use the ball at a minumum of 2 houses with different lane conditions to try and find a good reaction. If the ball does not work for me then I will sell it.

Shaggy
--------------------
You will not see me on the PBA Tour, but I love the game!!!



It's better to try all the available surfaces like Shaggy mentioned before giving up on a ball. If you have a ball that works good in league but not so well in tournament conditions (or vise versa), I would still keep itat least. That way you can still work around it or find a ball that can be a step up or down from what your needing rather than being out a hundred bucks or two on a new ball that only works part-time. I've had balls in the past that worked well whenever I practiced but was d.o.a. in league and tournaments. Last year, I gave myself this philosophy when it comes to judging a bowling ball that I buy: If you can at least hit your average with the ball more than 50% the time, then there's still hope for it.