Post by: TDC57 on March 06, 2011, 01:43:12 PM
Hammer Onyx Vibe as a good choice for a versatile ball on a number of conditions? I'm dropping to 14lbs. and have cut my choices down to those two.
Post by: elky57 on March 06, 2011, 10:21:43 PM
i spoke to ritchie allen about the vital sign... he suggested the vital energy instead. he says its the ball to have. for what thats worth.
what conditions are you looking for this ball to cover?
Post by: TDC57 on March 06, 2011, 10:58:11 PM
As this is going to be a ball for times I can't throw my 15lb. stuff as hard as I'd like due to a sore arm I've been battling, I was looking to cover medium to a little heavier with soft backends.
Post by: Brickguy221 on March 07, 2011, 07:50:47 AM
I've heard nothing but good about the Vital Energy. I almost bought one, but ended up getting the Game On because I am trying to cut to a 2 ball arsenal plus a plastic for certain spares as I am only bowling on THS at the moment and felt the Game On offered more seperation from my Mission than the Vital Energy would. Had I stayed with a 3 ball arsenal plus a plastic, I would definitely bought the Vital Energy.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Brick
Post by: qstick777 on March 07, 2011, 08:17:00 AM
Post by: Sasch on March 07, 2011, 08:26:53 AM
The Vital Energy is a great ball. Many people (incl. me) around me are playing this ball. Very versatile, benchmark ball. This ball got a "hook-guarantee" for many styles of players.
Sascha - live from Munich-Germany
Post by: al_g on March 07, 2011, 01:41:03 PM
Has it been discontinued?
Post by: Brickguy221 on March 07, 2011, 02:11:03 PM
Selling for $85, I would suspect it has been discontinued.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Brick
Post by: qstick777 on March 08, 2011, 08:01:51 AM
Not sure, would have to find somebody with access to a distributor to find out, but it sure does sound like it. At $85 I'll take a chance, especially since the Vital Energy is $135.
I read some good things about the ball in the thread about the coverstock (Flexol) from a few days ago. Plus, I tend to match up better with solid covers than I do with pearls.
Post by: Brickguy221 on March 08, 2011, 08:28:12 AM
Those that have the Vital Sign say it is an under-rated ball and that it's performance is really great. In Buddies ball review demonstrations, one video shows and compares 8 balls and in this video, the Vital Sign and Mission have identical looks so close that it is hard to tell the difference.
To find this video, you will have to click on the Curve ball....then go to the second video where they compare the lines of 8 balls, then go to approx the 2:50 time and you will see first the Mission and then the Vital sign and you will see they are almost identical.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Brick
Post by: qstick777 on March 08, 2011, 09:22:59 AM
Nice catch! I did a screen capture from both (2:24 for the Vital Sign and 2:44 for the Mission). Line is pretty much identical. Mission might be 1/2 to 1 board deeper at the line.....or could just be a difference in where I stopped the video. Still, rest of the drawn line matched up identically. Not bad considering the drilling is also identical.
Of course Chris' style (or those lane conditions) tend to make a lot of balls look the same. I watched his video for the Lane Breaker and the line is pretty close.
Still, discontinued for $85 is better than the discontinued price of the Mission ($125). If the performance is close it will be a bargain.
Post by: Balldoctor on March 09, 2011, 07:01:45 AM
Remember, ALL BOWLING IS LOCAL!
Post by: TDC57 on March 09, 2011, 12:33:47 PM
I think there may be some crack smoking going on unless you can show me where it says the Vital Sign is a pearl.
Edited by TDC57 on 3/9/2011 at 1:45 PM
Post by: Brickguy221 on March 09, 2011, 01:51:01 PM
+1 ..............
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Brick
Post by: Balldoctor on March 09, 2011, 08:45:30 PM
Ron, Sr said Vital Sign is a Pearl. Could you be a lil less positive in your post.
Besides, we went thru all this when the Vital Sign first came out, way back in May.
Remember, ALL BOWLING IS LOCAL!
Post by: azguy on March 10, 2011, 03:09:44 AM
Vital Sign, at least the one that came in the shop yesterday, is not a pearl. Polished, so the site says but not a pearl. Yes, it is being discontinued, so my distributor has informed me anyway.
Post by: Brickguy221 on March 10, 2011, 07:10:10 AM
Ditto for the ones I have seen locally. In fact they aren't even polished and their cover is as dull as concrete and not even close to looking like a pearl.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Brick
Post by: TDC57 on March 10, 2011, 01:13:27 PM
Balldoctor, I guess my scintillating sense of humor was lost on you and golly gee maybe I never saw this topic being hashed over in May since I wasn't interested in the ball then!
Post by: cappy718 on March 10, 2011, 02:15:16 PM
I'm interested in this ball (Vital Sign), but I've heard that all recent ebonite releases have died after about 50 games. I know that's just bowling house talk, but it has actually stopped me from looking at some of their pieces. Can anyone speak to longevity of the reaction seen out of this ball?
~Scott
"Celebrate we will, cuz life is short but sweet for certain"
Edited by cappy718 on 3/10/2011 at 3:16 PM
Post by: Balldoctor on March 10, 2011, 09:47:41 PM
Remember, ALL BOWLING IS LOCAL!
Post by: TDC57 on March 10, 2011, 10:03:54 PM
Easy Doc. Here's the prescription. Show any of us where there's something saying it's a pearl. I've seen the ball in person, I know I've only been bowling for 38 years but it just doesn't look like a pearl. If you can just tell us where to look we'll all have the medicine it takes to agree. Don't get high blood pressure over this though as it's just not that important!
Post by: Balldoctor on March 10, 2011, 10:29:36 PM
Tough club, but have been in tougher. Only posted because some one said they wanted the Vital Sign
because they preferred solids to pearls.
WELL, Ron, Jr. Ebonite's ball Guru and his Father, Ron, Sr. have both told me that there is Pearl in
the Vital Sign. Jr in a message, Sr. in a voice mail.
Come to think of it, what was Ebonite's last solid?
Good night girls.
Remember, ALL BOWLING IS LOCAL!
Post by: kidlost2000 on March 10, 2011, 11:08:15 PM
Is a pearl a pearl?
Remember with EBI they may list it as having pearl additive but not be a pearl ball. It appears for many it is easy to understand that a ball is pearl or solid, but for others not so much or it may be seen as a negative.
There are many bowling balls out today that the company may say is pearlized that by no means looks it because it doesn't have the color swirl once associated with a pearlized ball. There have been others just the opposite that have the old look of a pearlized ball and are solids.
Some companies are taking a different approach of going off of the bowling balls description VS just saying pearl or solid, or pearl additive ect. So you focus less on the cover and more on the suggested characteristics. This also helps with many that wouldn't think of changing the OOB surface of a pearlized ball which would limit you chances of getting the bowling balls full potential.
So keep that in mind when comparing many of the newer bowling balls.
As far as bowling ball choice, I think you could get more use out of either Vital with medium drill pattern and surface prep to match your condition. The Onyx Vibe is no slouch but wouldn't handle the same amount of oil as either Vital. My only fear is coverstock life on the Vital.
I use very little Ebonite stuff, but recently had a friend with a Vital Sign come to me and ask for help because the ball stopped hooking all together, even after trying some resurface work. Haven't been able ask if having the oil extracted worked out or not.
If your not seeing a heavy oiled shot where your at, the Onyx on a medium or stronger pattern will also work out really well.
Your style may play a big part as well. My preference would be the Onyx because I like the look the ball has given me, and enables me to stay more up the boards longer and have to make smaller adjustments through the course of a night or tournament.
Be good, or be good at it.
Edited by kidlost2000 on 3/11/2011 at 0:20 AM
Post by: qstick777 on March 11, 2011, 11:27:59 AM
That was me. Honestly if it performs well, I don't care if it is a solid or pearl. Historically I just don't match up well with pearl balls. One example: Break S70 was a great ball for me. Break Pearl S70, not so good. Maybe that has something to do with the lane conditions, but never really saw any conditions where a pearl worked better for me than a solid, so given a choice on the same ball in a solid or pearl, I'm going to take the solid. That isn't to say that I would not buy a pearl ball, just that given a choice I'lll take the solid.
The Vital Energy has the color listed as: Red/Orange/Silver Pearl, and coverstock: Flexol Super Charge Reactive™
The Vital Sign has the color listed as: Black/Red/Orange, and coverstock: FLEXOL SUPER PLUS REACTIVE™
Solid or pearl? Don't know, don't really care. I only care if it gives me a good look on the lanes....and I'll find that in the next week or two.
Post by: Balldoctor on March 11, 2011, 11:56:51 AM
Remember, ALL BOWLING IS LOCAL!
Edited by Balldoctor on 3/11/2011 at 1:00 PM
Post by: TDC57 on March 11, 2011, 12:42:15 PM
Thanks kidlost very informative. the ball death does worry me but I don't plan to make it a ball I use all the time. It's my first 14lb. ball and I'm planning on using it if I'm feeling a little run down and tired or need more speed. Our lanes are not oily but have a longer pattern.
Balldoc, many arguments have been made on here about this subject. I don't think some pearl additive makes a ball a pearl. It makes it more of a hybrid. Since Ebonite doesn't always say if a ball is pearl or solid you may be right. I think when you look at the Sign or Energy in person you would definitely say the Energy is a pearl. the Sign looks solid and it would make sense it was since companies more often than not follow a solid with a pearl. I also agree that I don't care. I just hope it works for me!
Post by: Balldoctor on March 11, 2011, 12:47:23 PM
Remember, ALL BOWLING IS LOCAL!
Post by: TDC57 on March 11, 2011, 07:46:17 PM
Just to set the record straight I e-mailed Ebonite today and Ed Gallagher of Ebonite said that the ball is indeed a hybrid with pearls mixed in with the solids. Whew! I'm glad that's over.
Post by: carlos on March 13, 2011, 04:54:45 AM
I have had my VS since late fall and its still going strong. It comes back if I miss right and gives me a look that would compare to any high end ball. I use it mainly for the first game and score quite well with it. I may pick up another and drill it weaker. Not sure if the Vital Energy is the answer since the cover is a upgrade to the VS. Great ball overall.
Post by: LuckyLefty on April 01, 2011, 07:15:10 PM
SO....I don't care if it solid or Pearl.
BUT, what is the knock on the Vital Sign that it was discontinued so quickly?
Now I've seen it on the lanes and it looked real good. I've seen it on videos next to the mission and like stated above it moved very well, a similar but slightly later move than the Mission!
Great ball or short erm great ball then DUD?
Regards,
Luckylefty
It takes Courage to have Faith, and Faith to have Courage.
James M. McCurley, New Orleans, Louisiana
Post by: Brickguy221 on April 01, 2011, 08:38:54 PM
It appears that it was underated. Kind of like the way the Track Havoc was way underated. Why, I have no idea. Maybe because it was too similar to the Mission, I don't know. I almost bought one on the recommendation of those that had it, but opted for the Mission because it had been around longer with proven performance over a long period of time. Those that have the VS, seem to really love it. In viewing a video from Buddies Pro Shop where they compared it to the Mission, they were almost identical in performance. Only about 1 board difference playing the same line.
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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."
Brick
Brick
Post by: Krumpy300 on April 02, 2011, 06:34:41 AM
VS has a different motion then the Mission does. Lopes more through the midlane and has more backend recovery then the Mission does. The Vital is a great house shot ball, will open the lane up very well. I find the Mission better on sport shots because of the tamer backend move.
As far as ball death, this cover was meant to last. Have about 120+ games on mine and it shows no sign of dying. Clean it before it goes in the bag, but have yet to use Clean N Dull on it or extract it. Don't see the need.
Repetition is everything..
BOWL TO WIN