BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Juggernaut on May 25, 2017, 12:46:20 PM
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I've had pretty good looks this last year quite often using my old Faball stuff along with an old Ebonite Nitro. Averaged well over 200 (except for a 5 week period where the lane guy quit and the shot got "screwy") with the old stuff.
Going into the next season, I was trying to find an original 15lb black Ebonite Turbo to add to my stuff, but was also wondering what some of you guys verdict was as far as old stuff from the 80's and 90's vs the new generation?
Incidentally, if you have any insight into where one of the old Turbos could be procured, I would appreciate the help.
Meanwhile, can anyone give me a "real world" comparison? The new Tank Rampage looks interesting, as does the Visionary Crow.
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Well as far as the new stuff have a new blue hammer coming so will give review of that later but also have the new Burgundy hammer and though its not true urethane and considered somewhat entry it is my first out of bag benchmark ball and sees significantly more use than my twice the price Scandal Pearl. One of the most versatile early and smooth rolling reactives (think urethane motion but on steroids) ever made. Can't say enough good about it. It is in a whole other league strength wise compared to any of the true urethanes though. It actually hooks almost as much as the Scandal Pearl but it just does it much smoother and earlier.
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I love my Booyah. I get serious over under at my main house and can use the Booyah on the fresh as long as I can get it to the friction. It actually allows me to get in a bit and get it to tip. A little bit. So it works well due to not being too even, but the older stuff is great because you usually don't get too many bad cover core matchups.
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Chances are you like the old stuff because it doesn't flare and you are able to play "on top of it". You'd probably be better off trying to find some mid 90 reactive balls instead of new urethane. Newer urethane balls are probably going to force you out of the zone you want to play.
Good luck on the 15lb Turbo. That's a rare bird considering how few 15's we sold in those days.
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Older urethane is a lot straighter through the front than newer urethane. Even the "true" new urethanes cover way more boards than the older ones in my opinion.
The Blue Hammer and Burgundy "remakes" are not urethane. The blue is a super mild resin and the burgundy is a reactive cover that has urethane like traits. Hooks a ton more.
If you want a video comparison of my idea, watch Brandon Biondo throw the Black Hammer remake compared to the OG Black Hammer.
Edit: Couldn't find it unfortunately. If I pick up a Black Urethane, I'll shoot a video comparing it to the original along with the Blue Hammer.
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Thanks for the replies guys, you've kind of confirmed what I had been thinking, but you know how that "new ball" bug can be.
I have several of the old timers, but got rid of my Turbo years ago. 🙄😔
Thanks also for the advice. I know a couple of "old" bowling alleys that still have old used stuff for house balls. I think I'll be visiting them and see what I can come up with, maybe I can talk them out of something if I can't find it anywhere else.
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As you probably know a lot of the Faball crew are over at Visionary now and honestly their stuff looks more old school than Hammer does these days. The new blue burgundy hammer combo is imho one of the best for the money combos out there for modern lane conditions but Faball they are not.
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I have essentially an old school urethane arsenal of the original Faball blue (1994), burgundy (1994), and black Hammer (1991). I also have a Columbia black U-dot (1987) and pearl gold dot (1989). Of these pieces, the blue Hammer is most useful, followed by the burgundy Hammer, and black U-dot.
The challenge with old school urethane on 21st century lane conditions (particularly on tournament shots) is that these pieces don't carry as effectively when it calls for playing inside the 10-board. It can be done but you have to be perfect in accuracy -- the ball has to hit high, high flush -- and you can't miss hitting it at the point of release.
I also have a Track Sensor II (1995, reactive, .023 differential). Back in the day, that ball could very well be the first one out of the bag (especially on wood lanes). There was a distinct difference in the sound of the pins falling using that reactive piece versus an original urethane piece.
I find now my Sensor II is more effective late in a block on tournament shots shorter than 39 feet.
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Lots of opportunity for urethane on house shots. However as the previous poster said, you are giving up way too much carry to effectively compete on tournament patterns of any length padtvabout 38 feet.
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Lots of opportunity for urethane on house shots. However as the previous poster said, you are giving up way too much carry to effectively compete on tournament patterns of any length padtvabout 38 feet.
I quit most of my "serious" bowling several years ago.
My job changed three years ago to a graveyard shift Sun-Thurs schedule also, so I only bowl a recreational league once a week anymore. In essence, I have become the quintessential "house hack, lol.
Urethane works much/most of the time where I bowl IF you play it correctly, which many modern players do not do. I grew up with that type motion and laneplay, so it makes sense to me. As long as they don't flood them, or the machine doesn't malfunction, I usually have a good shot out around the eighth board to the first arrow, even though the shot is supposed to be a 40ft long pattern. Depends on the backends.
There is one drawback though, the people who try to accuse me of messing up the shot by using urethane. I'm averaging well over 200, they're averaging 175-180, yet they tell me I'm only doing it to mess them up?
Not saying that it might not be altering the shot a bit, but I'm way outside of their line and beating them much of the time, so I am not just throwing it to "mess them up". I actually prefer the more stable reaction I get.
The challenge for me is to get it off my hand well enough to get it to read the pattern, "hit", and carry.
I like that challenge most of the time.
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Just tell them they are blowing up your shot with their oil eating sponges. On a house shot the length of the pattern is not important since you can get outside the oil as early or late as you want.
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Accuse them of not having enough CRANK, then flex.
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Accuse them of not having enough CRANK, then flex.
Fat don't flex well. 😳 😉 😊
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;D
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I think the old school urethane works, at least for me. Maybe that's wrong with my game. I looked at my ball averages over the last 8yrs and noticed a downward spiral when I went from urethane to the "high tech" equipment. Most people bowl with the hybrids well, but I guess for us, urethane is our thang, Lol. Urethane is just predictable. With the hybrids, I have to watch my ball speed, read the oil off the lane to make sure I am playing the wet/dry. I guess, my urethane ball was forgiving. I don't have enough money to find a hybrid that is forgiving.
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I still recommend the new Burgundy hammer and the new Blue hammer for the very strong and much weaker alternatives to the old Urethane if you are looking for that controlled hybrid (between urethane and reactive) feel. Both are under $100 new and can probably be gotten off Ebay for second hand for significantly less. The problem with the old urethane from what I hear is mostly due to the arms race between the ball makers and the lane guy. Modern lanes are much harder and slicker(more oil as modern soakers deplete heads bad otherwise) than a couple decades ago. Lot to be said to going back to basics and bowling in say a plastic ball only league (vaguely remember seeing that mentioned on a league flyer recently). More about skill than whose good with the ball spinner and has deep pockets.
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Accuse them of not having enough CRANK, then flex.
Fat don't flex well. 😳 😉 😊
Then threaten to sit on them? :P
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More about skill than whose good with the ball spinner and has deep pockets.
It's more about skill regardless. Good maintenance and constant new equipment is nice, but actual good bowling still comes out on top. Having the tools to succeed =/= having the skills to succeed. Don't fall into the trap of thinking those that have and spend the money on a bunch of new stuff have a big advantage. That's a bad place to be.
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I love the "fake urethane" in the blue hammer lol.... I think I'll try the burgundy one for winter leagues. I've seen it in action and I was liking what I saw, really easy length and smooth backend.
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Then threaten to sit on them? :P
Now THAT might get their attention! 😈
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I actually had to polish my Burgundy as it will hook at your feet sometimes and polish reduces having to worry about it crossing the head pin and balling down for most THS. Plus it is easy to knock the polish off if you hit heavier oil which the Burgundy can handle remarkably well if scuffed (super versatile ball). About the only conditions the Burgundy can't handle (granted I haven't thrown on many sport patterns) are what the Blue Hammer is perfect for. I guess some of the storm pieces (hy-road, IQ tour, etc) have more miss room than the Burgundy but they also have the more traditional reactive/hybrid/pearl shapes too. As for spending money gives you an advantage now I am a bit older and more secure financially but getting back in game after a long lay off trust me its remarkably easy to throw a 120 with a $200 ball (scandal pearl and THS not match made in heaven sometimes) lol. I also bowled with plastic in the late 80s/early 90s as a teen/college kid (and had more than a few 200s) and I remember conditions back then being far more of crap shoot (and the damn machines breaking down a lot more) so not all was milk and honey. Was nice to see people into bowling as more than just an excuse to drink though.
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To complete what I said earlier my blue hammer finally came and I got it drilled and rolled my first open farting around series with it tonight. All I can say is perfect compliment to Burgundy hammer. The conditions were drier than usual (fancy that with lots of open free summer pass bowling at AMF/Brunswick in the area) and I found my Burgundy was crossing over so after about 2 or 3 frames I put it away and switched to my blue hammer the rest of the night and was greatly impressed. It carries as well as the Burgundy just tamed down with zero worries about the dry. Was weird to only have one ball on the approach though. Actually the only negative is whether I will be able to replace my plastic spare ball with it. I want to throw on more conditions with it to see but afraid it might not be straight enough. Its definitely stronger than my plastic but thinking about it there was not one spare where I hit my usual target and it missed. Maybe just takes a bit more time and confidence and won't be a problem (with my back, 3 balls are all I can carry except perhaps to tournaments). I am starting to regret less and less becoming more of a Hammer man than a Stormer lol especially as a stroker who generally prefers down and in track bowling as long as I can get away with it.