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Author Topic: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?  (Read 2066 times)

Strider

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BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« on: February 13, 2009, 11:30:34 AM »
I've had my Bite for a while.  Bought it over the summer for my PBA experience league.  Between that (used roughly 1/3 of the time) and off and on when my regular leagues are slicker or have carry down, I probably have 40-50 games on it.  I was originally a little disappointed in the ball.  It was a good ball, but didn't fit where I wanted it to.  I wanted something for oilier lanes, but cleaner through the heads with more back end than my oiler (MoRich WMB).  It worked very well for the shorter PBA shots because it controlled the back end so well.  Again, I liked it, but didn't have the recovery I wanted/expected.  Now that I have some games on it, it "seems" that the cover has woken up.  Still pretty clean through the heads, but a much more defined move at the break point.  Many people (including myself) believe Ebonite poured covers to be oil sucking sponges that quickly absorb oil and need hot water baths that are usually effective, but sometimes not.  I know plenty of people are happy with Ebonite poured covers, but has anyone had one that definitely got stronger with use?
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SVstar34

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2009, 07:37:47 PM »
There are so many different factors that can affect how a ball performs
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hammermark

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2009, 08:53:32 AM »
Strider,
Ebonite does have certain balls with soaker coverstock.  I have an old Ebonite Red Predator particle which drank oil like you wouldnt believe.  You could literally which the strands of oil disappear on that ball as it sat on the return while you waited for your next shot.  I also have a BW bite which seems to draw up oil as well.  I dont know if its me but it did seem and does seem after I hot water bath both of those balls that they appear stronger and even somewhat stronger than they were before but again it could also be the oil thats being put down, the temperature in the house being different.  I will also put my soaker type bowling balls in the dishwasher and fill the soap dispenser with Dawn liquid and run a short cycle and after I do that, the ball seems a lot livelier but again it could be a variety of things but the ball seems to have more life as you mention.

HM
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mrbowlingnut

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2009, 09:34:20 AM »
A Birdie told me the Arch Rival has the same cover, so if you want even more control try one of them.
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Strider

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2009, 10:04:59 AM »
Thanks for the info, but I think you misunderstand to an extent.  All balls soak up oil, that's a good part of what makes the new balls hook so much.  Ebonite balls in particular are known for soaking up lots of oil, which may or may not have to do with the death or reduction of reaction that some people see.

I should have been more specific.  I was referring to the Dynothane brand "Soaker" covers that have a break in period of 20 or so games.  After the 20 games, the ball "wakes up" and gets stronger than it was out of the box.  That's what I'm seeing from my Bite recently.  It hooks more and definitely has more back end than when it was new.  I take good care of my equipment, so it's not because the ball has gradually made it to 600 grit by throwing it a bunch of games without renewing the surface.  Now my ball looks like all of the original Black Widows that made me want to try a Bite.
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Gazoo

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2009, 10:06:27 AM »
All balls after a period of use(non polished) end up at about 600 grit. Could be that this grit level and the ball match up well with the condition being bowled on.
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Strider

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2009, 10:22:35 AM »
No, that's why I typed my last few sentences.  I periodically touch up the surface.  Plus, if it was getting rougher, it wouldn't be clean through the front part of the lane with a big back end.  It would be early and arcing.  It could be other things that my "Soaker" theory, but I don't think cover maintenance is the issue.  The Bite used to be only a few boards stronger than my other reference ball, now it is quite a bit stronger.  The ball could match up better as you said, but it's hard to explain the sudden appearance of back end.
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Strider

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2009, 03:26:01 PM »
No comments?
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rockerbowler18

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2009, 03:28:43 PM »
My Radical Inferno and my Complete NV both got better with time (Radical isn't Ebo poured, I know...but point still stands).

Other than that, I can't think of anything that got better with time.
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Foppe

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Re: BW Bite - Soaker "like" cover?
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2009, 09:43:48 AM »
I own a Bite myself, and the last thing I would say is that it got stronger
I got the ball for a year now, on the same pattern with same release speed/revs it even isn't a shadow off what it used to be.
(I don't have an exact count of games on it, but it's a bunch, I would say about 300 could be accurate)
Overall reaction has cut +- in half , it used to pick up fast with a strong move to the pocket. (drilled pin under ring, mb in strong position, box finish)
Now it still picks up fast but it's much much smoother. Not flying off the dry anymore and struggling a tad more in the oil.
Don't get me wrong, I still love this ball and throw it about 90% off the time on our League shot, but it's not the reaction I bought it for.
It's a very predicitable ball for me now, and I like that.

I didn't gave it a hot water bath or other reviving-things but I just may pass on that because I'm so used to this ball right now. (well apart from a retouch to box finish by my local pro-shop owner, but that changed close to 0)

Other ball I throw sometimes on this pattern is a Sure Strike (LM) and it's about 2 boards stronger in general now, when both were new, it was the Bite that was about 5 boards stronger, so ....
stronger with use -> no
better ? -> debatable, for me ... it is.
I'm not a big hook-guy, I'm the powerstroker on the left !
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