BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Ragnar on August 23, 2016, 08:55:41 AM
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I just moved about 2000 miles and every bowling center in my new town (Evansville, IN.) has pretty much the same shot. Dry lanes, anything to the right of 11 board will end up missing left. Not sure there is any oil at all out there. My ball line up is set up for what used to be the shot at my old home. I played out around 5-7 board. Any suggestions for a ball I can use on this new shot? The only thing I have that comes close is a Blue Hammer.
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What about plastic with a core? Track Spare+ or the Hammer plastic Widow?
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To be honest, it has been a long time since 5-7 wasn't bone dry. Plastic and urethane and Tropical Breezes will be suggested, but I would venture you would get more mileage from simply practicing a different line. Look for other bowlers who have a similar style and see where they play and with what type of equipment.
It may suck to have to change, but you might find something better than what you had before.
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You might want to make sure that the shots you've practiced on are the actual patterns/oil they put out for league and not just the fodder they throw out there during the summer. There's a pretty big difference between the two in my experience. They might even sear up and down that it's the same but you should see it before you beleive it.
If it does end up actually being that dry then something like the Fanatic BTU is what you should be looking at. Pitch Black, Pitch Blue, and Rebel Tank are others that come to mind. Lots of people seem to like the new Rhinos for that too.
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You might want to make sure that the shots you've practiced on are the actual patterns/oil they put out for league and not just the fodder they throw out there during the summer. There's a pretty big difference between the two in my experience. They might even swear up and down that it's the same but you should see it before you believe it.
I'll double on that. It's happened to me before and the difference can be shocking.
If it does end up actually being that dry then something like the Fanatic BTU is what you should be looking at. Pitch Black, Pitch Blue, and Rebel Tank are others that come to mind. Lots of people seem to like the new Rhinos for that too.
In addition to some balls out there that are very hard to make flip (Lane Masters has one called the Power Strike that has been impossible for me to have anything but a gentle arc.), you might also want to consider some drillings that you might not have tried before, like 1.5-2" pin-PAP and Rico drillings.
The hard part with any smooth rolling ball is to make sure it still retains energy and can hit when it gets to the pocket, no matter what the drilling. Your ball speed/rev rate ratio has a lot to do with this.
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I have moved in to around 3d arrow (aka nosebleed country). The problem is all of my current line up is drilled strong and (most of) my stuff is inherently strong (yes, I have a Primal Rage). I've done some looking and am thinking maybe the new rhino Black Pearl or a Storm Ride. I do have an old Lane 1 Purple pro with a rico layout but I'm pretty sure it would be way too strong.
As to style, from what I see I am alone here. I see a lot of weak releases or bombs thrown up the middle with plastic. I worked a long time to develop a strong release - now I don't need it.
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IT is my opinion that the 3rd arrow is not nosebleed country. That is as far right as I ever play on a house shot. When you get to the 5th or 6th arrow then you are getting far left.
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Rags, what about a Storm Ride? High RG / Low Diff.......put a P1 weight hole in there if you need it to lay off the spot even more. That or a Tropical Breeze with a 5" pin-to-pap......along with moving left and getting away from the OB.
I will say, that's a weird house pattern to lay down.
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IT is my opinion that the 3rd arrow is not nosebleed country.
^^^^
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I have a Joy Ride, and the ball jumps pretty hard off the spot. I'm not sure the Rides will fit the bill if it's as dry as you're suggesting.
Plastic with a core might be your best bet if you want to square up in the grunge. That new Brunswick BTU also looks interesting, although all I've seen is video review.
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Unless they are pretty toasty in the middle, or you have a lot of hand, a Ride is going to be pretty anemic for hitting power inside. You need to first find where the oil buildup starts then decide whether you want to try to play the oil or stay outside. If you want to stay out, then I would look at tamer urethane, or then maybe a ride. I have only been able to use plastic on very short sport patterns, and even then its use is limited. If you decide you want to try to play in, go with something polished but not necessarily a weak core. Maybe something in your current arsenal would work. If not, just about everyone has a mid line pearl that will give you more hit than a Ride from inside.
Also as someone else said, you may find a lot more oil when fall leagues start, although you still might not find much oil outside second arrow.
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Unless they are pretty toasty in the middle, or you have a lot of hand, a Ride is going to be pretty anemic for hitting power inside. You need to first find where the oil buildup starts then decide whether you want to try to play the oil or stay outside. If you want to stay out, then I would look at tamer urethane, or then maybe a ride. I have only been able to use plastic on very short sport patterns, and even then its use is limited. If you decide you want to try to play in, go with something polished but not necessarily a weak core. Maybe something in your current arsenal would work. If not, just about everyone has a mid line pearl that will give you more hit than a Ride from inside.
Also as someone else said, you may find a lot more oil when fall leagues start, although you still might not find much oil outside second arrow.
Bob, good to hear from you. This is Bob Freeburn. League has started. I ordered a Ride today and I might try polishing my old Purple Pro and moving deep.
Phoneman, I have played 6th arrow once or twice. Thing is, in college the shot was pretty much the one board. I just got so used to playing way out that in feels weird.
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HI ya Rags! My daughter almost went to U of Evansville. That was her 2nd choice, almost her 1st choice. They have a good health sciences program down there. Anyway, good luck w/your new rock & your new digs.
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Unless they are pretty toasty in the middle, or you have a lot of hand, a Ride is going to be pretty anemic for hitting power inside. You need to first find where the oil buildup starts then decide whether you want to try to play the oil or stay outside. If you want to stay out, then I would look at tamer urethane, or then maybe a ride. I have only been able to use plastic on very short sport patterns, and even then its use is limited. If you decide you want to try to play in, go with something polished but not necessarily a weak core. Maybe something in your current arsenal would work. If not, just about everyone has a mid line pearl that will give you more hit than a Ride from inside.
Also as someone else said, you may find a lot more oil when fall leagues start, although you still might not find much oil outside second arrow.
Bob, good to hear from you. This is Bob Freeburn. League has started. I ordered a Ride today and I might try polishing my old Purple Pro and moving deep.
Phoneman, I have played 6th arrow once or twice. Thing is, in college the shot was pretty much the one board. I just got so used to playing way out that in feels weird.
Don't forget, back when you were in college the balls were stone!
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adjust surfaces before buying anything
wait until league actually starts to see league pattern
was on old dry wood lanes for years, ended up with a Hammer Taboo spare for the whole last season there, shot 803 with it, weird looking motion and carry, but it did
spare ball with core will work if they are desert like
another possibility is the Hammer Black urethane, also good for desert conditions