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Author Topic: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?  (Read 10683 times)

thedjs

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Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« on: November 29, 2015, 03:01:02 PM »
Say you have two balls with the same specs. but one is a pearl polished and the other is solid polished, which would you prefer?  Would the pearl give you more back end (snap) but also have an over/under potential?  I'm thinking about the Hammer Red Legend  Solid and the Hammer Red Legend Pearl.  Or maybe the two Ebonite Warriors.  Would also change the base to 1000 before polish on the solids.
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lilpossum1

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #16 on: November 30, 2015, 10:47:24 AM »
What if I said that that the marketing both does and doesn't matter? In my opinion, a company can make a "pearl" react like a "solid," and a "solid" react like a "pearl." But in general, they keep everything having their stereotypical reactions to help marketing. I believe that additives can change a reaction. Look at the rocket and sky rocket. They both come at the same surface, but the change in additives make the sky rocket a little longer with more in the backend. They gave it the pearl look and BAM! Market it as a pearl and it fits the stereotype. But because of balls like the tag which someone else stated, you have to look at the intention of a ball too. It is a ton in the back end, but it is also a polished ball, even if it is a solid
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spmcgivern

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #17 on: November 30, 2015, 12:35:09 PM »
Quote from: lilpossum1 on November 30, 2015, 10:47:24 AM
What if I said that that the marketing both does and doesn't matter? In my opinion, a company can make a "pearl" react like a "solid," and a "solid" react like a "pearl." But in general, they keep everything having their stereotypical reactions to help marketing. I believe that additives can change a reaction. Look at the rocket and sky rocket. They both come at the same surface, but the change in additives make the sky rocket a little longer with more in the backend. They gave it the pearl look and BAM! Market it as a pearl and it fits the stereotype. But because of balls like the tag which someone else stated, you have to look at the intention of a ball too. It is a ton in the back end, but it is also a polished ball, even if it is a solid

Agree.  The difference is intent.  A manufacturer can make a ball fit an intent with any of the coverstocks (pearl, hybrid, solid).  Within a line of balls, most manufacturers will name the earlier one solid, later one pearl and the middle hybrid.  This might be further marketed by adding something to the covers to give each ball its stereotypical look.

But in reality, all three balls can look the same and still accomplish the three different reactions.  It is marketing but also necessary for ease of identification.
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Steven

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #18 on: November 30, 2015, 12:38:37 PM »
Quote from: spmcgivern on November 30, 2015, 12:35:09 PM

But in reality, all three balls can look the same and still accomplish the three different reactions.  It is marketing but also necessary for ease of identification.

If slip agents are added to the "pearl" version to give it a different look, how can it react the same as the solid with the same cover prep? 
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BeerLeague

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2015, 12:44:58 PM »
Pearl covers contain mica -- that is what makes them pearl.  It makes the covers stiffer, resulting in a smaller footprint on lane and less overall traction.

It's been my experience that you can polish up a solid and get close to a pearl reaction.
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spmcgivern

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #20 on: November 30, 2015, 02:32:59 PM »
Additives put into "pearl" balls for reaction purposes are not the same as additives for "pearl" appearances.
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Rileybowler

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #21 on: November 30, 2015, 02:39:23 PM »
I would rather use a reactive over pearl because of the versatility being able to change  cover, I also like the hybrid cover stock
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Carl
Bless the LORD o my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name

six pack

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #22 on: November 30, 2015, 08:14:47 PM »
what about the Hammer Plague? Looks like a pearl ball but Hammer claimed that it's a solid. And I don't find the Tag to be flippy at all.
I'm to the point that I can't tell what I think the reaction is going to be as expected these days.
Sooo on that note I find solids are more to my expectations, not that's what I want all the time though.
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WOWZERS

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #23 on: December 01, 2015, 04:07:44 AM »
Six Pack

Back a decade, Track came out with a ball called the "Animal" and "Sheer Havoc". Balls both look pearl but Track denied either had any pearl and were solids. Been going on for a long time.

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tuckinfenpin

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Re: Which do you prefer, pearl or solid?
« Reply #24 on: December 01, 2015, 07:16:06 AM »
I have no preferences. When choosing a ball, I refer to feedback from other bowlers with similar styles. I've had 'winners' and 'losers' in all coverstock combinations. 
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