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Author Topic: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...  (Read 6408 times)

On Fire

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If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« on: August 12, 2008, 09:35:44 AM »
whether on wood or synthetic, solid or pearl, what ball would you use?

For me, it would be a Sure Fire.


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charlest

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #31 on: August 12, 2008, 11:39:08 PM »
quote:
True, Jeff, but he asked for league and for a majority of people, it would be something that they normally bowl on. And for a lot of bowlers I know, there isn't much variance on their THS throughout the year. I think a benchmark ball for a THS is an oxymoron, because the THS more than often makes every ball look the same.

I did say for tournaments it would be something completely different and that is where you would need a arsenal piece that you describe.
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Marlene Sixkiller
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Understood.
Still, several people have mentioned a skid/flip pearl as a benchmark and that is not appropriate for a benchmark. The Ogre Pearl and possibly the Twisted Fury (if drilled properly) fit the definition well.  

I'm in a Summer league that varies so wildly from week to week, I really should have brought a benchmark mild solid to start every week off.
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strikestriketapped

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #32 on: August 12, 2008, 11:43:44 PM »
Charlest, would you say a Sidewinder would be a good benchmark? Yes it has pearl but also has particle. For me, the Sidewinder is very smooth with no snap whatsoever. Not saying it's my benchmark, but this is possibly the type of ball you are referring to.

Oh and that reminds me, I just bought an Ogre Pearl off of someone here. I hope I like it.

Edited on 8/12/2008 11:44 PM

BXTECH

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #33 on: August 12, 2008, 11:47:14 PM »
THE absolute inferno for league shots. for competitions a polished kinetic
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BigWillyStyle

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #34 on: August 12, 2008, 11:49:22 PM »
Columbia300 Flipside Wired. Been using that ball for years now (since it was brand new), and still first ball out of my bag.

Well, not on my PBAX league this summer. Between trying out my new Visionary equipment, and knowing that I won't bother the last 3 weeks on Shark, it's had some time to rest up for fall leagues!

Big Willy Style

PS...it's a Particle Pearl that isn't too aggressive off the break, but isn't just an ark motion either...more of a strong arc I suppose?!?
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stormed1

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #35 on: August 13, 2008, 12:27:02 AM »
My benchmark is an AMF Code
Current arsenal


Break Down 60x4.5x60 @3k+polish
coming soon X,Desert Ops,Special Ops, Shadow Ops., Truth Pearl ,Drift

BowlingWolf

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #36 on: August 13, 2008, 12:40:20 AM »
Hammer High Rev

With this ball I can gauge what the lanes are doing pretty well if it's not turning the corner (which is rare) even after making hand/foot/mark adjustments, then I know I need something stronger, like perhaps my good old dependable Roto Grip Odyssey, and if it's burning up too soon, then it's time to go to something a little tamer (or something with more length), like either an Up-Rising (length/backend), or a Hornet (length/tame).

Edited on 8/13/2008 0:41 AM

iamone78

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #37 on: August 13, 2008, 02:46:48 AM »
Would go with a solid, and something that is 'archy'. A Track Temper fits into this position. Mainly a ball that can be used to read the lanes and tell you if you need to move to more aggressive or go less aggressive. I see my benchmark as an all around good ball. Just how I use my benchmark ball.
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dizzyfugu

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #38 on: August 13, 2008, 03:14:17 AM »
My benchmark ball is a Frankie May Gryphon at 2.000 grit Abralon, pin at 4.5" stacked. A strong ball, with a very consistent reaction, and in my arsenal a very good all-purpose piece.
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Spike2112

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #39 on: August 13, 2008, 05:15:48 AM »
My benchmark ball is the Violet Gargoyle. Used it during our summer PBA league to gauge the conditions. Quickly becoming an all-time favorite!


Spike

Jock

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #40 on: August 13, 2008, 06:59:48 AM »
Benchmark for leagues????

I'm lucky.  In my home bowling alley (I hate caling them "centers") the condition is relatively stable.  I know which ball is first out of the bag for the normal condition and I can see by its reaction the subtle difference in the lane condition but it's certainly not my benchmark ball.

If I went to a "foreign" bowling alley for a tourney I would use my red zone as benchmark, but, as I said before, I don't need to do that for leagues at home.
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Edited on 8/13/2008 7:02 AM
Ive upped my average, so up yours!

Dan Belcher

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #41 on: August 13, 2008, 07:18:38 AM »
When I go to a house I've never seen, the best way for me to see what the oil pattern is like is to take a fairly skid/snap pearl and throw it on a couple parts of the lane.  It skids through oil, reacts strongly to dry.  This shows me in two or three balls exactly what kind of oil pattern I'm facing.  I'll then go to something smooth like my Cell for the opposite type of reaction and see how I like it, then pick a ball to use from there.

1MechEng

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #42 on: August 13, 2008, 08:07:12 AM »
Ebonite Show Time Sanded.

Solid sanded surface. Good, but not overly powerful, coverstock on it that shows the flare rings well. Nice medium length control drilling. OOB surface condition (but just ever so slightly shined due to the amount of use). Easy to roll it and see how a pattern is playing.

Plus, as a slightly older piece of equipment, I have enough games on it to be able to easily recognize the reactions I am getting from it.
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Dan
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Edited on 8/13/2008 8:08 AM
Dan

Lefty_bowler

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #43 on: August 13, 2008, 08:18:32 AM »
I would have to go with my old X-Caliber.

Danes07

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #44 on: August 13, 2008, 08:22:05 AM »
Solid...for me its my Storm Thunderstruck.  First ball out of my bag every week, and it lets me know pretty quickly how the lanes are.
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KDawg77

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Re: If you had to choose a benchmark ball for league...
« Reply #45 on: August 13, 2008, 08:30:45 AM »
For me, it's the Blue Vibe. Some are still available at bowlingball.com. It works on so many conditions.
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Ken