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Author Topic: MB Ratings  (Read 1521 times)

splendorlex

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MB Ratings
« on: March 13, 2007, 01:25:17 AM »
Historically, I have not had much success with Assymmetrical bowling balls.  I've only been bowling about four years, and carry a 177 average in leagues and about 170 in tournament conditions.  I am mildly speed dominant, and I like to play the track area and outside angles, though I can belly the ball a bit if the shot calls for it.  I've had the Big Deal, Big One and the Black Widow previously, and NONE of them worked very well for me.  Sure, I'd have a good game here and there with em, but overall not much success.  Recently, I picked up a used Mean Machine, and in the two weeks I've had it I shot 610 and 649 (I know it's not much, but look at my average!).  I believe part of it is that my release has been more consistent, but I was also thinking maybe it had to do with the MB rating on the ball.  Now, I believe, though I'm not sure, that the Mean Machine has a much lower MB rating than the other 3.  I seem to recall it being something like .012, where the other three are all in the .02 range.  So now, my long-winded question is, how do the different levels of mass bias change the affect on the ball?  Will higher MBs make the ball more "volatile?"  With the other higher MB balls I had, sometimes the ball just seemed to lope almost all the way down the lane without making a strong move.  So what's the skinny on different MB ratings, and what are the general characteristics and assym has over a sym?
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Mr. Lebowski, this is Bill Salnicker with the Southern Cal Bowling League, and I just got a, an informal report, that a member of your team, uh, Walter Sobchak, drew a firearm during league play. If this is true of course, it contravenes a number of the league's by-laws, and article 27 of the league...

The Rev Zone (blog) http://ryanfinley.bowlspace.com/blog/
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dizzyfugu

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Re: MB Ratings
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2007, 09:42:03 AM »
Personally, I find strong MB balls to be only useful when you have a stable game (so the ball can be set up for your needs), and if you want to have a certain lane reaction. The stronger the mass bias, the easier the ball/core will re-orientate on the lane and produce the desired reaction - if it is set up for you to do so and if you play accordingly. It also limits IMHO the ball's verstility, since the core "wants" to do the same with emphasis.

I have an ambiguous opinion towards strong MB balls, having used some MoRich equipment and an XXcel with a rather mild mass bias of only 0.012" and an SR300 with even less (0.009").
On the right conditions, the strong cores with 0.020" and more have an astonishing performance. Dramatic hook/break point, killer carry, breathtaking!
But if things are not going your way... mediocre, and it is hard to improve this with release tricks etc. Personally, I'd never build an arsenal of strong MB balls, I see them as an extra addition to a base line-up of symmetrical balls which are IMHO more versatile, since I found I can do a lot more with them on changing lanes.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
"Put some make-up on your face -  Make this world a better place!"
Kahimi Karie, 'Good morning world'
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DizzyFugu ~ Reporting from Germany

splendorlex

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Re: MB Ratings
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2007, 10:53:47 AM »
Dizzy--

I've found that with the inconsistencies in my release, strong MB balls can be just plain awful.  I'm glad I finally found out that until my release improves, I should stick with more symmetrical stuff or lower MB stuff.
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Mr. Lebowski, this is Bill Salnicker with the Southern Cal Bowling League, and I just got a, an informal report, that a member of your team, uh, Walter Sobchak, drew a firearm during league play. If this is true of course, it contravenes a number of the league's by-laws, and article 27 of the league...

The Rev Zone (blog) http://ryanfinley.bowlspace.com/blog/
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dizzyfugu

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Re: MB Ratings
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2007, 11:15:36 AM »
I had a similar experience with asymmetrical core balls when I started bowling. I got a TPC Player and Shooter through ebay, cheap, and thought "with last year's high end stuff I will make progress". Nope.
The balls hit/worked like crap for me in the beginning, very erratic results, and I just had a 150 average at that time. I sold the balls last year for newer replacements, but today I know that it was me, not the balls. They were just very sensitive to release changes - and also to inconsistencies.

High MB balls might not be the same, but your experience fits my impression that such cores/balls only make sense for experienced bowlers with a developed and stable game/release, and for a user who KNOWS what he or she wants the ball to do on the lane through the setup.
I would not call this negative, but the user should be aware that there might be more sensible and versatile solutions to the problems at hand. Science can be beneficial, or disastrous, depend on the human being to push the button

This is where a good pro shop should chime in. IMHO, anyone who sells/recommends a high MB ball to a beginner is not credible at all.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
"Put some make-up on your face -  Make this world a better place!"
Kahimi Karie, 'Good morning world'
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DizzyFugu ~ Reporting from Germany

shelley

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Re: MB Ratings
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2007, 11:45:00 AM »
Sort of the flip side to this, I had a Track Mutant that I really liked a lot.  Was my first real step up from an entry-level ball and I got it for dirt at Buddies.

While most asyms tend to be much more angular than symmetric counterparts, this ball was very smooth.  Had a fair bit of backend reaction for a smooth-finish particle ball, but I certainly wouldn't call it uncontrollable.  Might've been the cover and surface prep.  It's got a lower MB rating, so unlike newer super-strong asyms, the MB had a less pronounced influence.

Like you guys, though, I'm hesitant to try the new quick-spinning balls.  Maintaining axis rotation and tilt like they do, then unleashing it at the breakpoint makes for very strong, continuous reactions, more than I'm looking for now.  Dynothane makes (mostly) symmetric cores, so finding equipment I want isn't a big problem.

SH
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