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Author Topic: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...  (Read 17867 times)

MSC2471

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Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« on: September 29, 2004, 05:06:03 PM »
Thinking through the years of all the bowling balls you've owned, if you had the chance to decide what bowling balls have been the best through the decades that you've been bowling, what would make the list and why?

Well since I started in the 70's but really didn't start bowling well until the 80's, here is what I would say makes the list.

1980's: Columbia Yellow Dot. My father would not let me bowl with any other type of ball from the time I turned 12 until I was in college and discovered the urethane world. I worked my way up to a 185 average with this ball, shot quite a few high 600's with it, I think my high game back then would have been in the 260's.

1990's: Blue Hammer for a urethane ball. I remember when you didn't see anyone without one for the first 2 years of this decade (remember this was just before the resin explosion). My high game is still a 290 thanks to this ball, as well as high series with a 794, but both were shot at different times. A close second for me in the 1990's would be a Storm El Nino Wrath. I still have the ball in my arsenal, I've shot probably 35 700 series with it, just had a 280 game in a summer league with the ball as well.

Current decade: I would have to go with the Eraser Pearl Particle. Only for the fact that I've hit at least 10 different houses with it in various medium/heavy, medium and medium/light conditions and the ball still performed well on all 3. Brought me my highest league average of 222 over this past summer, and still hits strong 250 games after receiving the ball last February. A close second would be the Animal, but I haven't gotten enough games in to truly push it past the EPP.

Matt

 

MSC2471

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2004, 01:40:35 AM »
Inverted 1: I forgot about the old Manhattan Rubber bowling ball. One year my local center when they had the lanes screened really messed up the surface, almost producing more of a glass like finish that normal resin and urethane were having trouble gripping the lane. My best friend pulled out an old Manhattan Rubber ball, was the only one in the center to average over 200 that year (I think he was around 209) and shot a 300 with that ball one night in the same league I was bowling in.

Good choices with the Hammer line as well, I've seen a couple of guys throw 300's with the Purple Hammer during the 90's.

Matt

michelle

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2004, 04:43:56 PM »
Make sure to toss the Black U-dot into the 80's discussion...seemed like if you didn't have a Blue Hammer, then you were tossing a Black U-dot.

Can't tell you a thing about the early resin since I walked away from bowling for most all of the 90's.




Aristotle

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2004, 05:10:22 PM »
70's - I was too young

80's - Well, there was the Black U-Dot, T-Bolt, Black Angle, Black Hammer, and Black Rhino. All monster releases as far as I am concerned. I always remember seeing a wide variety of these balls being on the racks and in pro's hands.

90's - During the resin only period, I really became a fan of Columbia 300 products, and I tended to only use the Ti Boss Pearl, Aftershock, and Power Torq. I really didn't get into new equipment after those three for a LONG time.

Current - Wow. With as many balls that come out on a regular basis, it's hard to pick. I've ended up sticking with one company (Track) so my views are a little biased on good equipment, but my Code Red SE and Freak have been my two favorites up until now. The AU might get up in there somewhere soon.

mumzie

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2004, 05:28:42 PM »
1970s - Yellow dot, original Roto Grip SD 73, LT-48

1980s - Only bowled till 1983 - but definitely the Black Hammer

1990s - started back to bowling 1995 - from that point on, Danger Zone, Firestorm, Speed Zone, El Nino

2000s - so far, I like my Inferno, Deuce, and Black Cherry Bomb. Not necessarily in that order.
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JohnP

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2004, 10:59:27 PM »
Best balls FOR ME:

60's -- AMF three Dot
70's -- Brunswick Black Diamond (My only 300 game and best series, 784) and Roto Star X-2
80's -- Black Hammer
90's -- Black Hammer (and I still use it for spares and if the lanes are dry)
00's (so far) -- Visionary Slate Blue Gargoyle

JohnP

Brickguy221

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2004, 11:50:32 PM »
60's....Manhattan Rubber
70's....Didn't bowl
80's....Excaliber
90's....Quantums (Forest Green and Fire Quantum)
00's....Depth Charge & Triple X Extreme

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Smash49

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2004, 12:26:44 AM »
60's Brunswick Crown Label Black Diamond
70's Brunswick LT-48 (Black)
80's Brunswick Black Rhino  80's best ball sleeper was the Tank ask the ladies tour what dominated!
90's Storm Black Thunder
00's Hammer Original Vicious

Overall best ball of all time!  The Columbia White Dot with over 40 years in production.  

Smash49
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Jeff The Chef

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Re: Best bowling balls decade by decade in your opinion...
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2004, 10:54:54 AM »
Well, I've only been bowling over two decades (1990's/2000's) but here goes:

80's - Black Hammer(only ball I've ever thrown made earlier than the 90's)
90's - Teal Rhino Pro/Gold Rhino Pro (great on spotty heads/wet dry's for me)
00's - Fuze Detonator (shot my high game of 290 with it, love that Fuze core!)
Current - Killer Instinct Pearl (reacts similar to my Teal Rhino)


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