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Author Topic: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions  (Read 10003 times)

revTrex

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Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« on: July 31, 2008, 02:35:40 AM »
Now that the PBA plastic ball tournament is a virtual lock to happen...

Which non-exempt pros would you want to put money on to do well?  Which exempt pros do you think have a shot? And, for a final (fun) question... which pros do you think have little to no chance?

I'll start:

Non-exempt:

1) Jim Pratt
2) Mike Houtz
3) One of the senior guys -- like a Tom Baker, David Ozio, etc.

Exempt (in order):

1) Norm Duke
2) Mike Machuga
3) PDW (though the Cheetah aspect of the event might hurt his chances)
4) WRW (though I personally think his game has benefitted from reactive stuff tremendously)
5) Danny Wiseman
6) SURPRISE: Mike Fagan (for some reason, I can see it happening)

Exempt (who will not do well, also in order):

1) Sean Rash (He's got the hand to carry a ton, but this is a guy whose area on the lanes is largely the result of modern equipment)
2) Ritchie Allen
3) SURPRISE/SHOCK: Chris Barnes or Tommy Jones (just because you know there is going to be a shocking finish for somebody)

Thoughts? Let's make a few predictions...



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ccrider

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #31 on: July 31, 2008, 08:01:21 PM »
Duke, Weber, Williams. whoever has the best carry. They can all stand right and accurately and consistently direct the ball to the pocket with very little hook if need be.
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Monster Pike

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #32 on: July 31, 2008, 08:07:36 PM »
Okay, I'll pick PDW w/the combo of his accuracy/hand/speed for the win.  Duke will be sniffing around the leader board along w/WRW.
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wulfpackbwlr

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #33 on: July 31, 2008, 10:02:33 PM »
According to some exempt pros posting on the pba forum, the bowlers will be given two plastic balls at the beginning of the tournament.  All will be manufactured by Ebonite with the PBA logo on it and no manufacturer logo.  The tournament will be bowled on Cheetah
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stpwned

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #34 on: July 31, 2008, 10:30:07 PM »
If the newly exempt players are allowed in I say Craig Tuholski.
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charlest

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #35 on: July 31, 2008, 10:33:15 PM »
Some thoughts:

  • On the Cheetah pattern PLUS plastic balls, I figure the best combination of ball speed, accuracy and revs will knock over the most pins.


  • Accuracy without revs is problematic DEPENDING just on how much oil they use.


  • Some rumors of the "new" Cheetah can make accuracy worthless, if the ball is without drive when it hits the pocket.


  • I'd have to bet on the likes of Tommy Jones and Jason Couch.


  • I wonder if anyone still remember the old leverage layouts for pancake cores?


  • I wonder if sanding will be allowed?
  •  

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AdrianS

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #36 on: August 01, 2008, 08:03:41 AM »
Hope Ballard takes a shot at this
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chitown

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #37 on: August 01, 2008, 04:15:25 PM »
WRW and Norm Duke will crush the field!  Accuracy is what's needed with plastic and those are the two most accurate players on tour!

djones

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #38 on: August 01, 2008, 04:47:13 PM »
The Angle was introduced in 1981. You can add a couple of years to that and since then, very few PBA tournaments have seen plastic being thrown except for spares. Who is still around from that time? WRW/PDW/Duke/Baker.

What were conditions like in the 70's (when plastic was the ball of choice)? Much higher friction surface (wood) with lower viscosity oil and lower volumes of oil. In the 80's, we saw the virtually the same conditions along with shorter oil to go along with it. Alot of league bowlers continued to use plastic in the 80's due the the free hook for better than half of the lane.

On the other hand, I would assume most pros have used plastic for practice just to work on accuracy and/or release issues. So they do have experience. But where has this experience come? I would guess on burnt out conditions where there is still free hook, even with plastic.

I have enough experience on the old Cheetah to figure that hardly anyone could bank the ditch with plastic, including Smith/Jones/Couch. Now if it is true that the new Cheetah is less forgiving, it's going to be harder to get much hook. If that's the case, I think the key, outside of the accuracy issue, is the ball roll. Based on that, I think there are 2 exempt players that have the ideal roll for success with plastic - Chris Barnes and WRW. Both have that high track and can stay behind the ball to get it into a good early roll. Oh yea, and both are pretty accurate. Between the 2, I would give the advantage to Barnes due to his rev rate.

One other think to remember, the lanes are not going to open up, in fact they are going to get tighter with the carrydown created by plastic.

Walking E

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #39 on: August 03, 2008, 07:56:10 PM »
quote:
According to some exempt pros posting on the pba forum, the bowlers will be given two plastic balls at the beginning of the tournament.  All will be manufactured by Ebonite with the PBA logo on it and no manufacturer logo.  The tournament will be bowled on Cheetah
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First off, I think the Plastic Ball Tournament is a great idea. I really hope they follow through with this idea and it doesn't fall by the wayside.

As for every bowler getting the same equipment, wouldn't that cause a nightmare at the ball return trying to figure out which ball(s) is yours each time?
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Rileybowler

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #40 on: August 03, 2008, 08:11:53 PM »
Walter Ray , Malotte and Jason Belmonte
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lsf_21

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #41 on: August 03, 2008, 08:21:45 PM »
quote:
Walter Ray , Malotte and Jason Belmonte
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Carl


i dont think belmonte is bowling in anything but the majors.
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Oskuposer

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #42 on: August 03, 2008, 08:54:19 PM »
I go for the young gun T Reeves.
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actsbowler21

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #43 on: August 04, 2008, 10:30:27 AM »
T is a monster with plastic on cheetah lol..he had practice with that on the regional stop in gastonia n.c.  According to some other players, if the new cheetah plays like that, then this plastic ball tournament isn't going to be much of anything special..

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bowlingnut07

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #44 on: August 04, 2008, 10:37:48 AM »
BIG NASTY !! i think will do well
and barnes too. ive seen him throw plastic on 45 foot of oil and string em
too bad bob benoit isnt back, he was the best plastic ball thrower ever
he could hook the ball on ICE.
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SVstar34

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Re: Plastic Ball Tournament Predictions
« Reply #45 on: August 04, 2008, 10:42:39 AM »
quote:
quote:
Walter Ray , Malotte and Jason Belmonte
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Carl


i dont think belmonte is bowling in anything but the majors.
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No, Belmonte is on the PBA Tour, he is no longer considered an amateur on the tour. He can compete in every event
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