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Author Topic: Need a new spare ball  (Read 1880 times)

alex

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Need a new spare ball
« on: November 03, 2009, 02:53:16 AM »
I have had my Blue Dot for over twelve years now and have had many chips and crackes fixed on it.Last nite it finaly cracked so bad around the fingers and thumb i can not use it any longer.So my question is since they don't make the real Blue Dot anymore,Columbia calls it a Blue Dot but its its not,What is the hardest ball on the market right now?
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Photoc

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2009, 02:39:54 PM »
Get a White Dot.
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J_w73

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2009, 05:12:24 PM »
I think the Storm ICE Storm is the hardest ball out there now.
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375 RPM, 17-18 MPH, 45+ DEG AXIS ROTATION, 17 DEG TILT

Randy T

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2009, 05:36:06 PM »
+1 on the Ice Storm being the hardest ball
The Blue Dot is still available
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J_w73

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2009, 05:44:39 PM »
quote:
+1 on the Ice Storm being the hardest ball
The Blue Dot is still available


But I think the OP is correct.. they sell the blue dot but it isn't like the original blue dot where it wouldn't hook..
the blud dots now are just the same as white dots..
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16-17 mph,350 rpm,PAP 5 1/2 x 3/8up, HighGame 300 x 3, High Series 808
Book Average 205,PBA Xperience ave180

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375 RPM, 17-18 MPH, 45+ DEG AXIS ROTATION, 17 DEG TILT

charlest

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2009, 07:27:01 PM »
As I understand it, the new Blue Dots are NOT just like the White Dots. More like the relationship between pearls and solids, the pearls being less elastic, not harder, a Blue Dot is designed to also skid further than the White Dot, although they are the same hardness.
(NOTE: the information in the above paragraph was learned from Columbia300 when they were in SanAntonio, TX, before Ebonite bought them. I cannot say the situation remains the same with the acquisition.)

That said, I also use an original Blue Dot. When it deteriorates to the same point as yours, I fully intend to buy a Storm Ice Storm. It is not expensive and it is hard and it is good looking.

FYI Viz-a-Balls are also very hard, if a trifle expensive. A friend has had a Coca-Cola viz-a-ball for 5+ years now. Someone gave it to him. It looks terrible with all the use it gets, but skids a country-mile. I suspect they are 90 hardness but don''t know for sure. I DO know you can''t sand them. It takes the color off them completely. They turn white or they are white under the color pattern. If you find one cheap, it might be a good spare ball.

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Edited on 11/3/2009 8:53 PM
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rustylegacy

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2009, 08:40:02 PM »
I switched to a vis-a-ball from a maxim, definately moves less. Not that the maxim was a hook monster, but it did move enough if the lanes got real dry to hook past the 10.
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alex

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #7 on: November 03, 2009, 08:40:21 PM »
Thanks for all of your help.
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2009, 02:01:59 AM »
AFAIK the current Blue Dots have the same hardness rating as any other polyester ball - not sure whether the material would make any difference in less hook.

I have an Ice Storm, and am very happy with it. I compared it with my Target Zone, and it definitively hooks less. Not much, but it glides better through the oily lane parts and also does not build up traction as easy as the T-Zone. I also put mine on the spinner and hit it with a boat hull polish (a fine rubbing compound that contains wax), and now it is straight as an arrow - but it takes some maintenance because this slick shine does not last long (I'd say 3 months of frequent use).

Only drawback is that the hard material is more brittle. My Ice Storm already has lots of hair cracks around the fingers - nothing damaged yet, but the Target Zone was much more durable in this area.

As a side note: the solid Team Storm ball is also pretty hard (82-82), and the older Aqua Spare from Storm is even better (84-86). Lanemasters' Arrow (a clear ball) was also marketed as very hard.
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DizzyFugu ~ Reporting from Germany

tc300

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2009, 05:14:22 AM »
yeah the ice storm is like throw'n a marble down the lane..
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tc300

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2009, 05:18:15 AM »
quote:
- but it takes some maintenance because this slick shine does not last long (I'd say 3 months of frequent use).


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sounds like your not strike'n very much...  LMFAO.
my spare ball is the very very least "maintenance" ball i have, i try not to get it out and use it more than 5times a night...  lol
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2009, 05:37:46 AM »
quote:
sounds like your not strike'n very much...  LMFAO.
my spare ball is the very very least "maintenance" ball i have, i try not to get it out and use it more than 5times a night...  lol


Maybe... but you do more than just 1 game, I suppose?
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tc300

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2009, 07:58:42 AM »
quote:


Maybe... but you do more than just 1 game, I suppose?

]


not sure how leauges are 1 game or even 2...
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charlest

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2009, 09:55:26 AM »
quote:
I have an Ice Storm, and am very happy with it. I compared it with my Target Zone, ...

Only drawback is that the hard material is more brittle. My Ice Storm already has lots of hair cracks around the fingers - nothing damaged yet, but the Target Zone was much more durable in this area.

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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Dizzy,

Odd about your Target Zone. I use finger inserts and mine started cracking around the fingers and between the bridge. In less than a year, it was all but unusable. A new White Dot also started tracking out very quickly. I'm back using my original Blue Dot, prepped with a Trizact White pad and Finesse-iT II polish. It hooks just a little when I want it to.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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CPA

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Re: Need a new spare ball
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2009, 10:22:02 AM »
In the past year I have thrown the Target Zone, Maxim and Ice Storm.  The Ice Storm was definitely the straightest of the three.  My teammate ran the pro shop and gave me the Ice Storm when he switched ball weights.  The Target Zone is the oldest of the three (7 years) and shows no sign of wearing out and has not cracked.  

My spare ball of choice right now is the Maxim.  The fit feels better than the others.
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