Author Topic: Who is leading the way in making the best covers? (Read 1940 times)

Metal_rules · « **on:** May 29, 2011, 07:34:55 AM »

in your opinion - who do you think is producing the best cover stocks, and why? i am liking Columbia, Track and Ebonite. i feel their covers can be easily adjusted, and i like the results im getting.

sevenpin63 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2011, 04:07:58 PM »

Storm all the way.

DON'T TEMPT THE BOWLING GODS

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2011, 04:12:02 PM »

Every company has "the best"coverstocks HOWEVER you WILL NOT find them in their newest high performance balls.

The best coverstocks on the market are "yesterday's" coverstocks..Brunswick's PowerKoil 18, Storm's R series, Hammer's Violent Flip and Max Hook.....

In my eyes longevity is one of the top attributes to consider a coverstock "one of the best"....Storm's AccuTred and Brunswick's PowerKoil 18 lead the way in that department.

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop

Turbo XTreme Dealer

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Chumley · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2011, 04:39:12 PM »

Yes, I would have to agree with that. Storm is the standard setter in cover stocks at the moment.

sevenpin63 wrote on 5/29/2011 4:07 PM:Storm all the way.

DON'T TEMPT THE BOWLING GODS

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2011, 04:51:30 PM »

I don't think there are many bad companies right now, or covers. The biggest problem with todays "hook monsters" and some other bowling balls is they require a lot more maintenance and up keep to stay closer to the original reaction, and many bowlers and proshops fail to do this.

For me my personal favorite is Brunswick. I have had a lot of success with their equipment and it is easy to keep the OOB finish if desired for the majority of the bowling balls they make. I have never had an issue with the ball dieing on me or other ball issues. Plus there bowling scale for ball comparison has been very accurate in helping see were a new ball should fit in with the other equipment I own from them.

The only company I have had an issue with, and more so have seen others have issues with is Ebonite. Strangle though not the Ebonite family as much as just the brand Ebonite. I have used a lot of Hammer equipment and experienced the same results as I do my Brunswick stuff in terms of long lasting great use covers.

Be good, or be good at it.

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2011, 06:59:30 PM »

I agree with kidlost here....the new high end balls require far too much maintenance for the average bowler to keep up with. The subsequent performance loss makes the pro shop look bad for selling the ball and the manufacturer for making a ball that doesn't last.

Like it or not....the majority of today's bowlers will not maintain their equipment to get the most out of their equipment.

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop

Turbo XTreme Dealer

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BackToBasics · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2011, 08:13:43 PM »

Couldn't agree more.

Doug Sterner wrote on 5/29/2011 4:12 PM: Every company has "the best"coverstocks HOWEVER you WILL NOT find them in their newest high performance balls.

The best coverstocks on the market are "yesterday's" coverstocks..Brunswick's PowerKoil 18, Storm's R series, Hammer's Violent Flip and Max Hook.....

In my eyes longevity is one of the top attributes to consider a coverstock "one of the best"....Storm's AccuTred and Brunswick's PowerKoil 18 lead the way in that department.

Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
RotoGrip Star Pro Shop
Turbo XTreme Dealer

http://www.bowlingchat.net/banner.png" alt="BowlingChat.net Forum" />

djones · « **Reply #7 on:** May 29, 2011, 09:21:44 PM »

Agree with with Doug Sterner's comments on PK18, a long proven performer. Brunswick still uses this cover after 15-16 years. Don't forget Activator in this conversation; although Brunswick seems to have gotten away from using this cover in their current line. Doug's mention of Accu-tread is good as it was the cover used on the Trauma and X-Factor lines. Unfortunately, this cover has not been used for quite some time. I still carry a Trauma ER that performs great after 10 years of use.

I think Storm missed the boat using Reactor on their new Solid Tropical Heat. Should have been accu-tread in my opinion.

JessN16 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2011, 09:36:18 PM »

I'll vote 900 Global. Longevity hasn't been an issue, and I get great performance.

Jess

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2011, 03:49:59 AM »

Another vote for the coverstock generation around 5-10 years ago. PK18 and Accu-Tread would also be favorites of mine, becasue they were and are durable, easy to tune and maintain, and they offer a rather steady traction which I prefer a lot to the more aggressive/sharply reacting more modern offers. Personally, I do not see much progress in this - except for the marketing department and those who think that a sharp or big hook makes a "man bowler"?

Anotheer thing to mention is ball integrity due to the ball construction. Shells have become thinner, coverstocks more porous, ball cracking has a become a major issue after PK18 and their kin were retired to mid-priced balls and even less.

To be positive, though, I am a big fan of VBP balls, because they appear to me much like those "old school" balls from a couple of years ago. Solid performers, durable, IMHO very good value for the money.

djones wrote on 29.05.2011 9:21 PM:
Agree with with Doug Sterner's comments on PK18, a long proven performer. Brunswick still uses this cover after 15-16 years. Don't forget Activator in this conversation; although Brunswick seems to have gotten away from using this cover in their current line. Doug's mention of Accu-tread is good as it was the cover used on the Trauma and X-Factor lines. Unfortunately, this cover has not been used for quite some time. I still carry a Trauma ER that performs great after 10 years of use.

I think Storm missed the boat using Reactor on their new Solid Tropical Heat. Should have been accu-tread in my opinion.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

Schwanstuker · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2011, 06:46:21 AM »

I think because most bowler's know nothing more than to wipe a ball after a shot, the longest lasting cover's with the best recovery after 200 games goes to Lane Masters/Legends and Visionary, these 2 companies strive for hook through core & cover combination versus the "Sponge" affect the other companies that require absorption to get the short 70 game burst of Hooking Power. "300" in a box for the rest of the industry, consistent 230's for Lane Masters/Legends & Visionary, which would you pick?

Props to Afflac for dumping Gilbert!

Juggernaut · « **Reply #11 on:** May 30, 2011, 10:13:49 AM »

*

"Leading the way, making the best covers" is a misnomer within itsself. It assumes that the covers being produced now are, in some way, better than those produced in the past.

What do you call "good" coverstocks? Those that hook at tremendous rates by only lasting 50-60 games, or those that give dependable, reliable performance for 100's of games?

In every example I can imagine with other products (Cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, houses, appliances, etc etc etc.), we (the public at large) tend to desire items with proven durability, dependability, and reliability for extended periods. If the dealer gave me a choice between two vehicles, one that would run 200mph but only last a year and another that would run 75mph for 7 years, Im buying the slower, more reliable model that will meet my requirements.

Technology is neat, but once you get to a certain point, anything else is really unnecessary and only serves development for developments sake. Bowling ball technology reached that stage in the late 1990's to early 2000's. Since that time, bowling balls HAVE gotten stronger, but that wasn't needed. The balls of the earlier times could overpower the shots we had then, just like the newest balls can overpower the shots we have today. Only thing is, the older balls lasted much longer because the shots weren't nearly as "oily".

So, how do you define "best covers"? By sheer performance, or by durability and proven performance levels over time?

Author Topic: Who is leading the way in making the best covers? (Read 1940 times)

Metal_rules

Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

sevenpin63

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

Doug Sterner

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

Chumley

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

kidlost2000

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

Doug Sterner

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

BackToBasics

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

djones

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

JessN16

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

dizzyfugu

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

Schwanstuker

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?

Juggernaut

Re: Who is leading the way in making the best covers?