BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Helluvahobbybowler on January 06, 2017, 12:08:46 PM
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Why does it seem as though the strongest covers die the fastest regardless of maintenance? Then, just like clockwork, as soon as something dies after 40-50 games then the next "strongest ball on the market" comes out. It almost makes me want to stick with the midlevel stuff and just direct it on heavy oil conditions. These bowling ball companies remind me of Apple. The Iphone 6 is the BEST until the 6S comes out a few weeks later.
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Welcome to reality. Nice to see I'm not the only one here.
I've said it for a long time, the ball companies DO NOT care about bowlers or bowling, only about how much money they can make off it.
They absolutely flood the market (an artficial market they helped create) with more and more stuff, all the while playing to the people out there with the "Man, if you'd only had this ball" spiel.
Bowling balls used to be high quality and durable, lasting for years.
Now they wear out, burn up, and crack open, all while costing 2-3 times what they did back then.
It didn't have to be this way. Sadly, that horse is out of the barn now. :(
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Strong covers are sponges. At a certain point they become too saturated that even with maintenance they cannot absorb anymore oil and therefore lose hook...
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Why does it seem as though the strongest covers die the fastest regardless of maintenance? Then, just like clockwork, as soon as something dies after 40-50 games then the next "strongest ball on the market" comes out. It almost makes me want to stick with the midlevel stuff and just direct it on heavy oil conditions. These bowling ball companies remind me of Apple. The Iphone 6 is the BEST until the 6S comes out a few weeks later.
I understand your frustration. I think it has more to do with bowlers have become accustomed to the "norm" in regards to releases that companies will continue to release balls at that frequency because there are always individuals that show up and spend the cash. I can guarantee you that even though the Scandal is still available; people are going to spend the money on the Gauntlet when it releases.
On my end where I help manage a distribution center; I can already tell you the Timeless when it releases is going to sell like crazy.
Here is another thing. We have a pretty decent size closeout list. People want newest. However; how much worse is a GB2 Gold compared to a GB 2 Phenom Pearl, its replacement? We have a decent handful of Golds in our warehouse here yet people will spend the extra cash to get a Phenom when the Gold is on closeout. We have a bunch of Sky Rockets and Optimus Solids yet people will spend the extra money on the Daredevil, No Rules Pearl, and other "newer" balls at that price point. Both Scandals sold extremely well and the Code Black flew out of here when they released. It wasnt that long ago when internet price on high end was less than $130. Now we are up to $160 and bowlers are still spending.
I believe ball death isnt as bad as it was around 10 years ago. I just believe there is always a market for the latest and greatest and when we see the balls in action on TV; it gets our juices flowing and wanting to make a purchase based on what we see.
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What most people confuse is the fact that a true heavy oil ball (strong) doesn't typically have a very angular move late on the lane, which is easier to see. They want the hockey stick reaction, but buy the wrong ball looking for it.
For example, both my new Quantums have the exact same layout, and for me I play very close to the same line with both. The pearl goes longer and more angular, while the solid is much more controlled and can be my friend when the pearl is less predictable.
Most truly strong covered balls will be less than impressive when bowling on the typical house shots that we face 90% of the time. Where they seem to excel is on the flatter and higher volume patterns. I have more honor scores with balls that retailed under $190 than the others because I mostly bowl on THS.
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This is very true. I had to learn the difference between strong/traction and strong/angular. However, I did have the same end result or opposite reaction with most of my strong high end balls such as Guru, Scandal, etc. I don't want to hook the entire lane but I do want some kind of reaction.
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Think of your car. Those really grippy, expensive performance tires do not last as long as a decent set of All Season tires.
It's a trade off between performance and durability for most things, not just bowling balls.
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Welcome to reality. Nice to see I'm not the only one here.
I've said it for a long time, the ball companies DO NOT care about bowlers or bowling, only about how much money they can make off it.
They absolutely flood the market (an artficial market they helped create) with more and more stuff, all the while playing to the people out there with the "Man, if you'd only had this ball" spiel.
Bowling balls used to be high quality and durable, lasting for years.
Now they wear out, burn up, and crack open, all while costing 2-3 times what they did back then.
It didn't have to be this way. Sadly, that horse is out of the barn now. :(
Isn't the intent of a business to make money? So why are people surprised they cater to the people spending the money. I like to make up statistics, so I would guess for every person that complains about a saturated market, there are 50 other people texting their pro shop guy asking for the "next best thing". There's nothing wrong with people who want to throw the latest stuff, its personal satisfaction, no different than buying a new car, albeit a lot cheaper. Bowling is a sport for some, a hobby for others, and equipment is a part of it, and people choose equipment for all sorts of reasons, and many times it has nothing to do with achieving a higher score. And the best part is, the people who don't want a new ball are still allowed to bowl with the people who do. What a concept!
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Think of your car. Those really grippy, expensive performance tires do not last as long as a decent set of All Season tires.
It's a trade off between performance and durability for most things, not just bowling balls.
Youre a sharp guy. (no sarcasm)
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I am glad they bring out balls every other month.I drill my own stuff.Means I just wait buy it on clearance for next to nothing.Problem is when is enough enough.Bottom has to fall out sometime.I notice last two years more and more really good balls on clearance.Anybody who buys a ball at 169.00 before drilling needs to really look around.You will find something just as strong for around 80 to 90$.Plus most are using high end stuff on toasty houseshots when a Boost or Rhino is plenty.
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Why does it seem as though the strongest covers die the fastest regardless of maintenance?
The strongest covers require more maintenance. The problem is that most bowlers who buy the beasts don't have a clue.
The RA values of aggressive covers degrade rapidly. After 20+ games, the microscopic peaks and valleys that give the balls teeth in heavier oil wear down. Reaction suffers. No amount of cleaning by itself is going to fix this.
The maintenance that most bowlers don't understand is that aggressive covers have to be refreshed frequently. That means knowing how to use a spinner with the correct abrasives. I have an Ebonite Pivot that when new a few years ago, was their signature hook monster. With through cleaning after each set and a complete refresh on the spinner every 20 games or so, the ball is still money. That's after 150+ games of mileage.
Balls in this category shouldn't be sold unless the buyer shows proof of owning a personal spinner and a rudimentary knowledge of how to use it. Otherwise, it's like owning a car without understanding the concept of periodic oil changes. The results usually aren't pretty.
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I totally agree, I also purchase discounted equipment, and I'm totally as satisfied as the newest stuff (and much cheaper 😉)
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Strong covers create their friction as much through abrasive reaction as chemical ( resin ) reaction. Abrasiveness is impossible to retain at a high level because the lane polishes the ball in addition to oil absorption. I always take my solids up to 4000 before I even throw them. Makes the transition of the surface less and you dont really need a lump of coal blowing up the heads anyway
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Strong covers create their friction as much through abrasive reaction as chemical ( resin ) reaction. Abrasiveness is impossible to retain at a high level because the lane polishes the ball in addition to oil absorption. I always take my solids up to 4000 before I even throw them. Makes the transition of the surface less and you dont really need a lump of coal blowing up the heads anyway
Might try that going forward.
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The rate at which the ball manufacturers release new equipment is alarming. The average product lifecycle these days for a high performance, top tier bowling ball seems to be 9-12 months. Bowling ball technology does not change that fast despite what the ball companies tell you.
The upcoming Storm Timeless is the perfect example. A blatant cash grab. "Dual Drive" core within a core? Please. It doesn't matter what that core is, the dynamic numbers still have to be within USBC guidelines. Naming a ball Timeless basically means it will be in their line-up forever. If it is ever retired or discontinued, then it wasn't truly "Timeless". Buy the Hy-Road and save yourself $60!
All the companies do the same thing. Their claims of "latest and greatest" would be more meaningful if done every 18 months or so...not every 6-8 months. It's crazy. The closeout models are definitely a bowler's best friend!
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The public seems to demand it. Before a ball has it's release date there are people asking what's next? You can't blame the companies for trying to be profitable because that's why they exist.
Sometimes a new release is a great match for me, and while others aren't bad, they may not be as good a match. I have some old "tried and true" balls that I may never part with.
My advice is to find out which balls seem to give you your best results, and stick with your best layouts on them. Replace a ball when it needs replacing, and not before. The "latest and greatest" isn't as important as you staying on top of your game, in my opinion, because if you're "off" and throwing it like crap, any ball can look like a turd.
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^^ this ^^
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I'm strictly a league bowler. I will buy a new ball on occasion, but mostly stick to the stuff I already have. For me, a low speed, medium rev bowler, most of the new stuff is way to strong for the house shot. I've been screwed to many times with balls needing a WD-40 bath prior to use. I now stick to only high RG low differential balls and adjust the covers.
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I am honestly confused - what does "used-up" and "Ball death" mean to ya'll? I'm asking from a place of honesty - because, despite the likely 700+ games on several of my higher-performance balls, I have seen no degradation in usability or performance.
Granted, I also take the time to do proper ball maintenance - wiping the ball off after a shot, cleaning them at the end of the day/session, de-oiling with a space heater every so often, cover adjustments on the regular.
My experience - and the experience of many folks I know - is that "ball death" is a non-phenomenon.
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I am honestly confused - what does "used-up" and "Ball death" mean to ya'll? I'm asking from a place of honesty - because, despite the likely 700+ games on several of my higher-performance balls, I have seen no degradation in usability or performance.
Granted, I also take the time to do proper ball maintenance - wiping the ball off after a shot, cleaning them at the end of the day/session, de-oiling with a space heater every so often, cover adjustments on the regular.
My experience - and the experience of many folks I know - is that "ball death" is a non-phenomenon.
Oh, ball death is a real thing. It mostly happens to one or more of your current balls when a shiny new ball is release and you need an excuse as to why you just have to buy it. :o ;D
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I've experienced ball death a few times. Even with continuous maintenance, some balls just loose their luster. It's not something I see often, but it has happened a few times. Sometimes people just need a resurface and others a detox. My Wipe Out has too many games to count. Going for detox number 6 this week. If it doesn't return back to what it was, so be it. The ball has paid for itself already. Had a Hy-Road that finally could not carry anymore after around 1200 games (noticeable loss of drive downlane and started hitting like urethane when you try to cover a ton of boards).
The strong covers argument is something I agree with as well. People suggest balls that aren't truly made for the condition described. Most low end balls are just thrown together so they can they they have an entry level ball. Wish there more balls comparable to the old reactive and not a vintage remake.
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Milo, your so comical, but sadly so true.... ;D :-\
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I believe ball death is primarily a myth as well. Sure, maybe after hundreds of games, but not 50 or less. These oil soakers need a lot of maintenance. Wipe down after every shot. Clean after every set. Refresh the surface often - especially if they are a low grit. And de-oil more often than other balls. Using them on the wrong conditions can also fool you into thinking they are dead. They may just be burning up too much energy.