Post by: Coolerman on July 20, 2011, 04:50:09 AM
Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?
I don't know how many of you read Bowling This Month,but there was a
article that could cause somewhat of a uproar.I'm not agreeing or disagreeing
with the authors point of view.I don't need or use urethane.But I know many people do.
The article appeared in the July 2011 edition.The article is titled Bowling Balls
For Pinheads a Primer:Layouts Part II.The Author is Rob Mautner,a silver
level coach who lives in Vegas.He has written for BTM for a number of years.
He is talking about building an arsenal.When he goes on to state.
"Another arsenal killer is trying to buy a ball that will allow you to play in your
comfort zone longer.This has become quite common place in the last couple
of years since ball manufacturers have begun to offer urethane balls with
modern cores.Unless you have a pretty high rev rate,or are bowling on lanes
that are totally fried,urethane balls are most probably of little use to you.That
is unless,of course,that you are under the misguided impression that they will
allow you to carry on your love affair with the second arrow for yet a few
more frames."
It seems like he may have opened up a can of worms.
__________________
Post by: mdevore19 on July 20, 2011, 01:04:07 PM
Michael DeVore II
Brunswick Advisory Staff
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Post by: Urethane Game on July 20, 2011, 01:12:23 PM
As my screen name suggests, I still love Urethane. Unfortunately, I don't get to throw it much anymore. If I were bowling on a high friction surface, I might be able to use Urethane. While the control is nice, Urethanes don't react well to the higher down lane volume on harder synthetic surfaces. As much as I'm itching to throw one of my four remaining Urethane Balls, I'd say they are highly conditional at this point.
As for players who want to stand on the big dot and play 10 no matter what, I am in agreement there as well.
Classic Rock and Blues Net Radio
Post by: DukeHarding on July 20, 2011, 02:00:12 PM
I bought a RG Grenade to use as a spare ball. As a lefthander, I don't see a need to use one as a strike ball....of course I persuaded myself to buy the New Blue Hammer, and I found the same thing...I never see lanes that are that dry.
I now carry 2 reactive and one urethane for shooting 7 pins...every once in a while, like last year, when the lane machine machine was broken, and the lanes were bone dry, it will save me.
If I was RH, I imagine it would/could be useful?
Duke Harding
Post by: on July 20, 2011, 02:24:17 PM
It depends on what you are seeing. We bowl a 2nd shift league every year and my Urethane Avalanche has been very valuable. I can also use it on the fresh house shot playing straighter up the boards and it smoothes out the last few feet of lane for me.
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.
Post by: charlest on July 20, 2011, 02:26:52 PM
I'm afraid I don't live in Rob Mautner's world. He sees situations there that I just don't see in my bowling world. Some of them are:
- Every bowler has 18 mph ball speed or greater.
- Every bowling alley owner or manager put down medium oil or better 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, on every lane in their house.
- Every bowler's ball speed matches or is greater than their rev rate, in every house, all the time
Therefore, in the houses I see and the ones I bowl in, there is a need for urethane and dry lanes resin balls for many people, enough to warrant their sale and use on a regular basis. Not every one, nor in every house all the time, but very often for some people and sometimes for many people. Such is real bowling life.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Post by: Steven on July 20, 2011, 04:03:43 PM
And I don't live in Charlest's world.
I rarely see conditions that would merit using Urethane, so it's not worth the effort to lug one around 'just in case'. I don't disagree that Urethane friendly conditions exist, but I normally don't see it, even on my second shift leagues. When the heads start to fry, I can almost always effectively move in and use a weaker high RG polished reactive. But to each his own. Post by: guffnuh on July 20, 2011, 06:07:32 PM
The only things that are truly permanent are death and Sharpies.
I believe when you lower your expectations, you only increase your chances xD
youtube.com/guffnuh
WATCH MY BOWLING VIDEOS!!!!!
Post by: APheLion on July 20, 2011, 06:26:02 PM
on house shots i say definitely i dont need it, even tho im a rev dominant
on sport shots and very demanding shot conditions, its definitely a must, specially if u cant wheel the whole lane or ur name isnt norm duke
When a house bowler misses the mark, misses the break point and strike, for many ppl its called a wallshot. When a pro does that its call adjustment
When a house bowler gets his finger stuck in the ball and fall on the lanes, for many ppl its called lame bowler. When a pro does that its called the Machuga flop! ha i like this one.
Post by: r534me on July 20, 2011, 06:48:04 PM
I read that article too and for some people using urethane will only end up with them in tears. For others, it's a godsend. From my personal experience, I like urethane and I use it all of the time because it provides me a bit more control than reactive equipment on THS. And it's a great training tool because if I throw a bad ball the coverstock and core are not going to help me get a strike. It's made me much more accurate and consistent.
Post by: Walking E on July 29, 2011, 05:05:40 PM
I don't ever see conditions where I would need both a urethane ball and a plastic ball. As such, I will only carry one or the other for my spares, depending on which one suits me at the moment.
Official Member of the BrunsTrackColumStormHammEboRotoBuzzAMF Nation!
Also a member of ROB STONE NATION
Post by: avabob on July 30, 2011, 05:24:25 PM
Wouldn't go so far as to say anyone "needs" anything in their arsenal. Personally I find urethane a nice addition to mine because it is a condition ball ( good on broken down house shots, and short tournament patterns ) that doubles as a great spare ball. Examples, threw 40 clean using it as a spare ball at the BJ in 2010, and made $1000 with it in a high roller tuneup this spring playing the corner.
Post by: kidlost2000 on July 30, 2011, 06:16:56 PM
"Get out of bowling what you want because that is all there is."
Post by: Big Jake on July 30, 2011, 09:26:44 PM
@OP, YES!!!
Summer arsenal: Jigsaw Corner - Swagga - Burn - Cherry Vibe
my other Hammer gear: Taboo - BW Pearl - BW Venom - Jigsaw
Post by: r534me on July 30, 2011, 09:52:13 PM
deleted my last post..strange things popped up afterwards.
I agreed with Kidlost about urethane on dry lanes. I don't use my blue hammer on the dry boards. The heads have to have some oil to be effective. If it were a pearl urethane ball I would play the dry with it. As far as urethane standing up early it's suppose to be that way. Reactives just go longer and snaps.
The short patterns will allow urethanes to shine. However, I do think they are more suited for higher rev players on fresher patterns.
Post by: mainzer on August 02, 2011, 09:13:38 PM
IS urethane needed? No, you can do so much with drill patterns, that you can take even an aggresive solid reactive and make it go pretty straight even on drier/shorter patterns. However Urethane on shorter/drier sport patterns adds a different dimension than a weak drilled reactive. With the Urethane piece you can get a little straighter, the reaction is smoother and easier to read, fewer adjustments are needed and you can play the outside part of the lane longer.
Just my thoughts
"Complexity lay within the artistry of execution"
+++Henry Zou+++
Founding FatherBR Inquisition
MainzerPower
Post by: dizzyfugu on August 03, 2011, 12:05:27 AM
IMHO, a urethane piece is today a special purpose ball - one for short patterns or burnt heads, or as a ball that reads the lane smoothly for rev-dominant players. It can also be used as a spare ball, esp. when you have low revs - but a polyester spare ball is cheaper.
I would not say "you have to have one in the bag", it is rather a sensible addition for ambitious players who play longer formats, or for league when you have to play on a cost-cut THS and anything reactive would jump. It is an option, but IMO not a benchmark or must-have.
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Post by: r534me on August 03, 2011, 12:06:07 AM
I would add that urethane balls do not suck oil off the lanes the reactive balls do. The older low flaring urethane balls do not carry the oil down as fast as the higher flaring ones do. That's an observation I arrived at by comparing my blue hammer against my natural.
I like using the blue hammer on THS because it has trained me to roll the shot well(speed matching revs). If I don't I will leave a nasty pocket split especially on the 40-41 feet THS shots.
Post by: laddog54 on August 03, 2011, 01:47:22 PM
With my ball speed to rev ratio a urethane ball in my arsenal can be very useful.
ROTO GRIP - King of Them All
Post by: Norm3v on August 03, 2011, 06:07:51 PM
For my game, I don't have a reason to have a urethane in my bag at all times, nor do I need to have a plastic spare ball either. I'm a little under 300 revs so a 6.5 pin to pap above bridge Tropical Heat Pearl is enough of a dry lane ball for me. However, there are still times that I wish I could just stay close to that second arrow a while longer when everyone else has moved in. Also, I throw my strike ball as my spare ball because I can throw the ball end over end straight, which has almost zero chance of hooking away from me. However, I have the Vise IT installed in all of my balls and I hear it hit the lane when throwing it end over end and I'm convinced that I'm going to crack some part of it one day.
Soooo, today I ordered a Natural Pearl from my pro shop to be drilled long and strong with a thumb slug instead of the IT. I don't have enough of a rev rate to have it drilled it weaker or more controlled, and I like to work my arsenal around coverstock/coverstock prep so I don't lose anything on the backend and lose pin action. Thanks to this article which says I don't need one for convincing me to get one 
.
.Post by: Polish_Hammer on August 10, 2011, 08:35:04 AM
Like everything it depends. Average joe on the average THS doesn't need urethane unless maybe he bowls 2nd shift. But like many folks have echoed. it comes in handy on the short sport pattern or cheetah. I have used urethane at a couple of regionals on both the cheetah and even on the chameleon so I could stay in a certain zone longer. I gave up carry for control in a low scoring environment.