Post by: JessN16 on July 12, 2006, 05:35:00 PM
I usually bowl on THC but this summer I'm in a PBA Regional shot league, where the patterns rotate every three weeks. We just got finished with week two of Pattern 3.
Before I go any further, I would like to take the time to say the following to whoever designed Pattern 2: **** you.
Now that that's been taken care of, on to the subject of the post...
I used to be really into buying the latest ball that came out, whatever the cost. Before I was married, this was not only possible, it was fun. After you get married, you quickly find that your wife doesn't exactly see $200/month or more for bowling equipment as a necessary expense. Not to mention that you can't really afford it.
Over the past few months, though, I've managed to get my hands on a Thunder, a La Nina, an X-Factor Mission 35 (overseas, apparently an original X-Factor given the specs), a Deuce and a Depth Charge. I'm probably a week away from getting a ReLoaded.
I've always been a big fan of the Thunder and X-Factor lines. What I've found with some of these "last-generation" balls is that the performance on THC is more predictable. As a bonus, they're more versatile on the PBA shots we've played on, too.
I'm fortunate that I don't need rev or speed help, so for me it's more a matter of matching up the ball to the condition and the line I can play (I'm inaccurate once I have to go 4th arrow or left of it). This past week, I had a great look from the Deuce and the Depth Charge. Others on my pair and on lanes around me were using latest-and-greatest stuff and really having a hard time of it.
I haven't abandoned new stuff altogether. I got a pro-pin Paradigm and a Dark Thunder this year, too. They're great balls, and I hope by the end of the calendar year to add the two Thunderstruck balls.
My point, if there is one, is that I think people put too much emphasis on having to have the latest thing, when something a year or two old but still in good shape can perform just as well -- or better, depending on how aggressive the ball is and how tricky the conditions you're facing are. I also happen to own a Track Machine -- absolutely one of the strongest balls I've ever thrown, incredible move at the breakpoint, but really touchy on our PBA shots. It's nice to have in the bag, but at least the last couple of weeks, some ol' X-Factors were the way to go.
Jess
Post by: dizzyfugu on July 13, 2006, 04:41:37 AM
If you take care of your equipment, a ball keeps its performance for a very long time. Take care of your stuff, and it pays back. I do not see a need for the newest ball on the market to be competitive. Knowing the equipment, what it does and what you can do with it is much more important than the latest hype.
--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Team "X" website & more about me: http://web.mac.com/timlinked/iWeb/X/Thomas.html
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe
Post by: yeahright on July 13, 2006, 10:35:27 AM
If that's your definition of old, my equipment is ancient, lol... I'm only throwing the following:
Eraser Boost
RazorWire
XXX Factor
Thunder Road SE
Hot Shot
Hell, the newest one in there is the XXX Factor.
I do agree that older equipment can give an advantage at times, though. Very predictable, mainly because we've used it so long, we know what it's going to do.
Post by: Fluff E Bunnie on July 13, 2006, 10:42:59 AM
You have your Dark Thunder at 600. I tried that out also and it seemed kind of strong for what I wanted. Maybe take it back up to the OOB? After tweaking it around, I found the OOB was the best for me.
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Geddy Lee
Living in their pools they soon forget about the sea...
Post by: Ragnar on July 13, 2006, 10:48:24 AM
--------------------
"I do desire that we may be better strangers." Willie the Shake, As You Like it(III,ii)
"aroyskrikn zoln dir di oygn fun kop"
Post by: RSalas on July 13, 2006, 10:58:35 AM
quote:
I usually bowl on THC
Is that *legal* in your state? If so, I'm moving there for sure.
--------------------
...formerly "The Curse of Dusty," and "Poöter Boöf" before that...
Post by: JessN16 on July 13, 2006, 11:09:25 AM
quote:
Wow... when you said old, I expected to hear about a FireStorm or Bolt Pro or Chaos or something...
If that's your definition of old, my equipment is ancient, lol... I'm only throwing the following:
Eraser Boost
RazorWire
XXX Factor
Thunder Road SE
Hot Shot
Hell, the newest one in there is the XXX Factor.
I do agree that older equipment can give an advantage at times, though. Very predictable, mainly because we've used it so long, we know what it's going to do.
I've got a pair of original Thunders, one pin up and one pin down that I like to use, and a couple of original X-Factors. If I was Storm, I'd re-release the original Thunder every year and twice in leap years. What a great ball that was.
Jess
Post by: JessN16 on July 13, 2006, 11:12:28 AM
quote:
Also Jess,
You have your Dark Thunder at 600. I tried that out also and it seemed kind of strong for what I wanted. Maybe take it back up to the OOB? After tweaking it around, I found the OOB was the best for me.
--------------------
Current Arsenal:
Geddy Lee
Living in their pools they soon forget about the sea...
OOB would probably work best for me, too, but I had too many balls that reacted too closely together, so I took the Dark Thunder down. I don't bowl on floods often but I wanted a Thunder-cored ball for when I do see a flood, and the Dark Thunder fits the bill nicely. That's one of Storm's biggest selling points to me -- their coverstocks are almost infinitely adjustable and are really hard to kill unless you just do something dumb.
Jess
Post by: stormed1 on July 14, 2006, 11:16:35 PM
Post by: mumzie on July 14, 2006, 11:20:47 PM
I have a Deuce still undrilled in the closet.
The vertigo IS my "new" ball.
--------------------
--------
For all your embroidery, apparel printing, and apparel purchases - check us out!
www.strikinggraphics.com
NOTE - custom bowling towels coming very, very soon!
Post by: chitown on July 16, 2006, 01:59:16 AM
quote:
I've gotten on a kick recently where I'm into buying/trading for older stuff, redrilling/resurfacing it and using it in league, almost as much to experiment as anything else.
I usually bowl on THC but this summer I'm in a PBA Regional shot league, where the patterns rotate every three weeks. We just got finished with week two of Pattern 3.
Before I go any further, I would like to take the time to say the following to whoever designed Pattern 2: **** you.
Now that that's been taken care of, on to the subject of the post...
I used to be really into buying the latest ball that came out, whatever the cost. Before I was married, this was not only possible, it was fun. After you get married, you quickly find that your wife doesn't exactly see $200/month or more for bowling equipment as a necessary expense. Not to mention that you can't really afford it.
Over the past few months, though, I've managed to get my hands on a Thunder, a La Nina, an X-Factor Mission 35 (overseas, apparently an original X-Factor given the specs), a Deuce and a Depth Charge. I'm probably a week away from getting a ReLoaded.
I've always been a big fan of the Thunder and X-Factor lines. What I've found with some of these "last-generation" balls is that the performance on THC is more predictable. As a bonus, they're more versatile on the PBA shots we've played on, too.
I'm fortunate that I don't need rev or speed help, so for me it's more a matter of matching up the ball to the condition and the line I can play (I'm inaccurate once I have to go 4th arrow or left of it). This past week, I had a great look from the Deuce and the Depth Charge. Others on my pair and on lanes around me were using latest-and-greatest stuff and really having a hard time of it.
I haven't abandoned new stuff altogether. I got a pro-pin Paradigm and a Dark Thunder this year, too. They're great balls, and I hope by the end of the calendar year to add the two Thunderstruck balls.
My point, if there is one, is that I think people put too much emphasis on having to have the latest thing, when something a year or two old but still in good shape can perform just as well -- or better, depending on how aggressive the ball is and how tricky the conditions you're facing are. I also happen to own a Track Machine -- absolutely one of the strongest balls I've ever thrown, incredible move at the breakpoint, but really touchy on our PBA shots. It's nice to have in the bag, but at least the last couple of weeks, some ol' X-Factors were the way to go.
Jess
Great post!
Post by: kmanestor22 on July 16, 2006, 01:56:51 PM
--------------------
Where is the bait? I'm goin' to jail!!! - Chocolate GAYzer
Post by: Juggernaut on July 18, 2006, 04:38:43 PM
I know these aren't storm balls, but my pink hammer and my Nitro/R were sure kicking butt last week. ( before the pink hammer came along, I was using a 1946 brunswick starliner for spares)
I too have been caught up in the latest, greatest trend, but lately have gone back to my old tried and true balls, and with great results.
P.S. I have an old storm eraser(original) and a teal STORM from back when they were still A.S.U..
--------------------
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
Albert Einstein
Post by: RSalas on July 18, 2006, 04:47:12 PM
quote:
P.S. I have an old storm eraser(original) and a teal STORM from back when they were still A.S.U..
Correct me if I'm wrong...but didn't Storm used to be HSP (High Score Products)?
I thought ASU was Award Skores Unlimited, and was based in Michigan.
Perhaps the true historians out there can clear this up.
--------------------
...formerly "The Curse of Dusty," and "Poöter Boöf" before that...
Post by: RPM MAX on July 18, 2006, 05:09:49 PM
Post by: TerryV on July 18, 2006, 05:39:12 PM
--------------------
Storm: XXX X-Factor
Trauma responce
Roto: RS-X
Super sonic
AMF: Nighthawk, M2 (the purple pearl one)
Post by: Juggernaut on July 18, 2006, 10:43:19 PM
My bad. It was H.S.P. I went and checked. I should have paid more attention, I knew you were right as soon as I saw it. The old A.S.U. balls I had were a Cheetah and Eliminator.
--------------------
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
Albert Einstein