Author Topic: Straightest Spare Ball Currently On The Market??? (Read 7162 times)

Sir Bowl-A-Lot · « **on:** October 26, 2003, 08:28:00 PM »

I am curious what ball currently on the market is the straightest for shooting those pesky 10 pins (right-hander). My old Blue Dot was great, but it is pretty tore up and I would like to replace it. I have heard that Columbia 300 now uses the same cover on both the White Dots and Blue Dot which has hurt the Blue Dot's reputation a little. Is this true?

I was looking at the Spare Storm and the hardness of that ball is a whopping 84-86! Check it out: http://www.stormbowling.com/ball/ball.asp?ballid=79&ballname=SPARE+STORM%99 Would this be a better choice now that the Blue Dot's original coverstock is no more?

The hardness of the Blue Dot's cover is 75-78. Here check it out: http://www.columbia300.com/gear/balls.cfm?bid=76

So in summary, should I go with another Blue Dot, or the Spare Storm?
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Edited on 10/27/2003 12:38 PM

Sir Bowl-A-Lot · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2003, 11:33:34 AM »

I heard that rumor from a few Ballreviews members actually, hopefully they will chime in and explain where they got that info. about the Blue Dot's cover. I checked Columbia's website again, and the White Dot has the same hardness and cover. However, the track flare and hook ratings are exactly double than that of the Blue Dot's. Strange...

Look: http://www.columbia300.com/gear/balls.cfm?bid=75
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Edited on 10/27/2003 12:45 PM

NoNeed4Revs · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2003, 12:20:36 PM »

I can't explain why, but my Viz-A-Ball moved less than anything I've ever thrown. Made my other plastic stuff like flippy.
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Undoubtedly the best bowler to ever come out of Sequoia Lanes. Maybe that's why they tore it down.

DP3 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2003, 12:35:48 PM »

No matter how hard I whack on my Vis-A-Ball it doesn't hook. It'll square up but won't cover any boards. You can get the miscellaneous ones really cheap off ebay. I just got a random collegiate Vis-A-Ball off ebay for $33 with shipping included.
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louie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2003, 01:43:57 PM »

I use hard rubber for spares. It goes really straight. There are new ones on ebay for $20 or pick one up off the ball rack.
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louie

HamPster · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2003, 01:51:10 PM »

I'll have to third the viz-a-ball suggestion, they go really straight. Lol, I did see Mike Haugen pull out a Cow ball in a 3-3 match for the last game and win with it. But for the most part, they go a lot straighter than White Dots.
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card79 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2003, 02:25:56 PM »

I actually have to respectfully disagree. I have a storm football. If they get too dry the football will hook a fair amount.
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Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2003, 02:35:16 PM »

The Blue Dot used to be harder, it is now just another white dot. Both move too much. The Storm "sport" balls were very hard in comparison to most plastic balls, as are the vis-a-balls, so they go longer. Right now, the ball that is the best pure straight spare ball is the "Spare Storm". (I currently have a vis-a-ball, a maxim, soccer ball, white dot and "Spare".)
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scotts33 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2003, 02:45:37 PM »

Anybody hear Del Ballard say on the Round of 8 Strike Pass telecast that he thought the new plastic spare balls were hooking? How many single pin spares did they miss this weeekend? Del said he has never missed so many spares as the last few weeks.

Scott

solid9 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:07:39 PM »

Just my .02 my football hooks and has since the day I got it(hardness88-90), my Storm spare ball that I just got hooks more than my old Storm spare ball.
The surface on my Ebonite plastic is when new slick as snot but wears off fast and I hav not been able to get the surface back to that same slickness.
I have a few WD laying around and all of the new ones hook.

Sir Bowl-A-Lot · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:12:55 PM »

I'm so confused. LOL
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Edited on 10/27/2003 4:21 PM

Belgarion · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:25:49 PM »

honestly...take any of the mass marketed plastic ball and just add more polish to the factory finish. I had my white dot with enough shine to be used as a mirror, and it didnt more a board. Of course that wears off every few weeks and could get pricy (unless you have access to free polish and a spinner)

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:39:12 PM »

quote:
quote:
(I currently have a vis-a-ball, a maxim, soccer ball, white dot and "Spare".)

Gee, Phil, that's a lot of spare balls for someone who I thought struck a lot.
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My typical game is double, spare, double, spare, spare off the sheet for 2-teen. And I do leave LOTS of backrow pins, no matter what ball I use. LOTS.
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seadrive · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2003, 03:39:15 PM »

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bigfoot · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2003, 05:34:06 PM »

Bob - you're right on there. If you don't throw straight at spares (especially 7, or 10 pins or 4-7 or 6-10 shots in my case!) you're going to be somewhat subject to the mercy of the lane condition. My spare ball of choice is a Brunswick Groove urethane pearl which also doubles as my dry lane ball, but I can throw pretty much any ball straight at the right side spares (I'm a righty), but I'm still working on the left side spares. Right now, I end up throwing a hook at the left side side because I haven't come up with a straight ball line/target I can throw consistently. The end result is my 10 pins shot is much more consistent than my 7 ping shot. I'm curious as to what the rest of you who throw straight use for feet position and target on the left side spares. Using the 7 pin as a baseline would be fine. Thanks!