Author Topic: Durable Spare Ball (Read 8103 times)

bannachb · « **on:** November 16, 2011, 12:07:49 AM »

I am looking for a durable spare ball. I go through on average 2 spare balls a year due to cracking around the thumb. I throw my spare ball hard and straight at all spares that do not involve a sleeper. When I throw it, even though I am throwing plastic, I come completely up the back to take away any possible hook. This causes the ball to roll over the left side of the thumb hole, thus causing cracking over time.

What plastic ball would tend to hold up the longest to this issue? I have tried TZone from Brunswick, 2 different clear balls (thinking the thicker cover would help), and Multiple White Dots. I have been sticking with White Dots because they tend to hold up longer than the others. But I am willing to try something new if there is a more durable option. Color matters none.

Edited by bannachb on 11/16/2011 at 9:08 AM

StickZ · « **Reply #16 on:** November 17, 2011, 08:40:10 AM »

i had a blue ice from storm as well, that thing had the spider web around the thumb after 3 years but never had a surface crack...ball was golden until someone stole my bowling equipment.

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Impending Doom · « **Reply #17 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:05:52 AM »

I've got a 900 Global Bam, and after 3 years, nothing around the fingers (which have no bevel) and nothing around.s the slug. Don't know the hardness, but hit any ball with a coat of turtle wax, and it will go straight enough.

*Inventor of the FIBJAM*

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themagician · « **Reply #18 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:06:47 AM »

I have been in the same boat as you bannachb over the last few years. This past season i drilled a T-Zone with no thumb slug (i had always used on in plastic before this one) and its made it a little over a year with zero signs of cracking, maybe coincidence, maybe not, but it is holding up for me.

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:07:52 AM »

Go on ebay and buy a rubber ball. About $40 shipped.

"1 of 1."

Bigmike · « **Reply #20 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:21:23 AM »

Found out the hard way what Charlest is saying. I had the Black Team Storm spare and it chipped around the thumb and fingers badly. I plugged the areas up and gave it to one of the kids on the high school team. His span is putting him right back in the plugged areas and he has no chips.

I lined the fingers on an Blue Ice Storm earlier this year for a pitch change. I still have no cracking or even spider-webbing around the fingers on that ball. This is Blue Ice number two as the first one hit the back of the pin deck and egg-shelled above the fingers. I was bagging it in front of our PBA regional manager at the end of the block and was "advised" to get a new spare ball.

As inexpensive as plastic is, I have resigned myself to the fact that I will probably have to change one out every 2 seasons. If fact I have a blank Black Ice Storm sitting on the shelf waiting.......

charlest wrote on 11/16/2011 12:35 PM:This could be the Polyester ball solution. I used an Ice Storm to replace my Blue Dot after about 6 years of service. It cracked around the fingers but it was after throwing it and I'm pretty sure it happened when it hit something in the back of the machine. Storm refused to honor the warranty so my driller plugged the finger area and redrilled it for $15. Now, here's the solution, as such. Plug material is urethane. He did a good job with the colore matching and it even looks like pearl urethane although the cover is polyester.

I if it will crack again because the finger area is not made of urethane not polyester. The thumb shows no indication, so far, in cracking. Had it a little over a year since that happened.

So if it cracks have your driller plug and redrill the thumb or the fingers which is the usual location of any crack, as that is the susceptible area.

Just a thought ....

xrayjay wrote on 11/16/2011 10:51 AM:I've had this issue for years. The only spare ball that lasted the longest for me, was the clear Roto Grip Tire spare ball. But, that last only 4 yrs. only. Then I got the Ice Storm because of the advertised "hardness" of the ball. This ball only lasted a little over two years. Well, I am still using it and the thumb hole is about to go pretty soon.

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JohnP · « **Reply #21 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:59:35 AM »

Storm has just announced a new urethane Storm Ice, designed to break less than the Natural. That may be your answer. -- JohnP

scotts33 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2011, 10:24:25 AM »

I use an Ogre Urethane for spares but it does hook a few boards so I have to flat hand it or it will move. No cracking issues. I also have a RG Golden Globe cracking around middle finger and thumb as I have IT installed.

Scott

MTFD24 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2011, 10:40:26 AM »

I took an old origional hammer that I had lying around. Put a nice heavy couple of coats of Control It on the ball, and it goes dead straight if I stay behind and up the back of the ball. But it still allows a couple of boards when I need it to carry out double wood.

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Author Topic: Durable Spare Ball (Read 8103 times)

bannachb

Durable Spare Ball

StickZ

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Impending Doom

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themagician

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kidlost2000

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Bigmike

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JohnP

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scotts33

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MTFD24

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