BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Storm => Topic started by: billdozer on January 30, 2018, 10:46:17 PM

Title: Sure lock
Post by: billdozer on January 30, 2018, 10:46:17 PM
I only see Alpha crux's being thrown by the pros??? Donthey dislike the sure lock that much?

I want to get one just to remind myself not the Glory days of the Virtual line.

Anyone got one and got opinions 🤔 thanks!
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: SVstar34 on January 30, 2018, 10:53:22 PM
I see the Alpha and Phase II a lot more than the Sure Lock.

One of our senior bowlers loves the Marvel Pearl and got a Sure Lock to compliment it on heavier oil, in my eyes the Sure Lock creates too much angle in the back and he'd benefit more from the other two I mentioned
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: HackJandy on January 30, 2018, 11:15:32 PM
I only see Alpha crux's being thrown by the pros??? Donthey dislike the sure lock that much?

I want to get one just to remind myself not the Glory days of the Virtual line.

Anyone got one and got opinions 🤔 thanks!

Yeah Storm might some day soon have to just suck it up pay the licensing fees and bring the Alpha Crux back unless there their next attempt is in the same ball park but doesn't seem like the Sure Lock was.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: billdozer on January 30, 2018, 11:42:50 PM
I only see Alpha crux's being thrown by the pros??? Donthey dislike the sure lock that much?

I want to get one just to remind myself not the Glory days of the Virtual line.

Anyone got one and got opinions 🤔 thanks!

Yeah Storm might some day soon have to just suck it up pay the licensing fees and bring the Alpha Crux back unless there their next attempt is in the same ball park but doesn't seem like the Sure Lock was.

I wanna say the code X is coming soon R2S solid...(which was a strong on the hyroad solid)
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: Gatekeeper on January 31, 2018, 05:38:25 AM
I recently punched up a Surelock 50x5x40; I only have about 6 league games on it. Our THS is heavy and walled up. I'm also speed dominant. This is now first ball out of the bag. I seem to average about 240 with it; it's pulled my regular average up to 225. I absolutely love it. It reminds me of the original Virtual Gravity but stronger. The downside is I have to put it away after only 1 to 2 games.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: Luke Rosdahl on January 31, 2018, 07:06:32 AM
Sure Lock is one of the most fun balls I've ever thrown but it's just not usable on much because it hooks a ton AND backends a ton.  Can't use it on house shots because it's too much ball, can't use it on anything sport because it's too bouncy, but man it's fun to throw . .
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: Davidjr113 on January 31, 2018, 08:47:13 AM
I am a somewhat speed dominant senior rolling 13 lbs, 210-250 revs, 17-18 mph off the hand. Wanted to try a strong Assym & there aren’t many at all at 13 lbs. Love the Sure Lock, never have had such a back end, even team mates commented on the difference.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: billdozer on January 31, 2018, 08:58:30 AM
I am a somewhat speed dominant senior rolling 13 lbs, 210-250 revs, 17-18 mph off the hand. Wanted to try a strong Assym & there aren’t many at all at 13 lbs. Love the Sure Lock, never have had such a back end, even team mates commented on the difference.

I'd go up to 14lbs if I were throwing it 18 mph. Don't take me seriously, but I'm 15-15.5 mph and a strike a ton. It would provide more options balls wise, and carry better.

Are you at 13 due to injury?
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: Gatekeeper on January 31, 2018, 10:46:57 AM
I think Liz Johnson was using a Surelock when she won her PBA title this year. If I'm not mistaken, Anthony Pepe was using one also, against Liz. Still, it doesn't seem to get the coverage it should.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: HackJandy on January 31, 2018, 10:49:09 AM
I think Liz Johnson was using a Surelock when she won her PBA title this year. If I'm not mistaken, Anthony Pepe was using one also, against Liz. Still, it doesn't seem to get the coverage it should.

No but I bet it still made Storm a ton of money.  Ball has been out for awhile (edit:  wow only 10 months seems longer) and they are still selling at top shelf prices quite successfully from what I understand.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: psycaz on January 31, 2018, 11:04:44 AM
Bowled with some of the seniors a couple times. One guy has one. I've watched him hit pocket literally 59 out of 60 frames. He just loves it. Absolutely loves it.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: leftybowler70 on January 31, 2018, 11:25:34 AM
I’ve only seen a few in my area; I’ll repeat what I’ve stated in previous posts, the Lock series is a very UNDERRATED series as a whole; Special pieces imo.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: Davidjr113 on January 31, 2018, 12:42:38 PM
I am a somewhat speed dominant senior rolling 13 lbs, 210-250 revs, 17-18 mph off the hand. Wanted to try a strong Assym & there aren’t many at all at 13 lbs. Love the Sure Lock, never have had such a back end, even team mates commented on the difference.

I'd go up to 14lbs if I were throwing it 18 mph. Don't take me seriously, but I'm 15-15.5 mph and a strike a ton. It would provide more options balls wise, and carry better.

Are you at 13 due to injury?


Yes, injury. If you saw Josh Blanchard fall on TV in 2012 when ball stuck on his thumb, that was me. He is probably 45 years younger & wound up bruised only, I wound up with torn ligaments in my thumb. Took 3 months off then started back with ten lbs. 13 seems to be my limit, if I bowl more than three times a week with that, I pay the price in my thumb. Yes it definitely limits my ball options & carry, but at least I am bowling
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: AlonzoHarris on January 31, 2018, 01:08:06 PM
I am a somewhat speed dominant senior rolling 13 lbs, 210-250 revs, 17-18 mph off the hand. Wanted to try a strong Assym & there aren’t many at all at 13 lbs. Love the Sure Lock, never have had such a back end, even team mates commented on the difference.

I'd go up to 14lbs if I were throwing it 18 mph. Don't take me seriously, but I'm 15-15.5 mph and a strike a ton. It would provide more options balls wise, and carry better.

Are you at 13 due to injury?


Yes, injury. If you saw Josh Blanchard fall on TV in 2012 when ball stuck on his thumb, that was me. He is probably 45 years younger & wound up bruised only, I wound up with torn ligaments in my thumb. Took 3 months off then started back with ten lbs. 13 seems to be my limit, if I bowl more than three times a week with that, I pay the price in my thumb. Yes it definitely limits my ball options & carry, but at least I am bowling

Have you dabbled with changing hands?
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: LookingForALeftyWall on January 31, 2018, 01:50:35 PM
Richard Teece won the Shark Championship with a Sure Lock too.  Pros are using it. 

I have had both the Alpha Crux and the Sure Lock.  Alpha is smoother, Sure Lock is more on the back end and overall hooks a slight bit more.  (I feel like a broken record saying this over and over again)

Personally, I like the Sure Lock more.  But both will fill the heavy oiler role - it just depends on what shape you want to see from it.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: 2handedrook12 on January 31, 2018, 02:36:55 PM
I liked the Sure Lock when I was bowling a house shot tournament that often puts a puddle in the middle and bone dry outside. It allowed me to basically fling it right as long as I got around it a bit. Other than that, seems like 4000 is the best way for me to use it as it doesn't want to read the fronts as much and still continues quite a bit. Decided to get rid of it for a Lit (since it basically functions like an Alpha Crux in my opinion). If your game allows you to use it, definitely should be in your bag.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: HackJandy on January 31, 2018, 05:24:45 PM
Was just in the pro shop getting my new Warlock punched up and another guy was in the process of buying a Sure Lock.  Storm making bank I am sure.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: SG17 on January 31, 2018, 06:09:09 PM
My virtual Gravity Nano cracked over the summer; so I bought a sure lock.

not sure if I like it.  the sure spins up on a de-terminator fast; but on the longer oil it just isn't what my VG and VG Nano were.  on the 50 foot sport shot we bowled on this year, it was the only ball of mine that even moved, but the shape wasn't VG like and it didn't hit all that well for me.

on a 45 foot, somewhat heavy sport shot, the sure lock was .. best I can think of, lazy.  it didn't seem to read the lane well and when it did, it didn't move like the VG.  I actually scored a used VG from my dad that rolled better on the 45 foot pattern than the Sure Lock.

this got me thinking, and a couple weeks ago I visited my PSO, and he drilled the SL differently than the VG and VG Nano.  and he felt the SL pattern was better for shorter oil and VG was longer.  his notes had me getting the SL as a VG complement, not replacement /facepalm. 

While I cant recommend the SL, I am starting to consider if my issues are drilling related and if a different pattern may be better for me.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: Steven on January 31, 2018, 06:18:11 PM
I hate dumping on a ball. One man's garbage is another man's treasure. 
 
But the Sure Lock has so far been a disappointment for me. I have several oilers (Radical Guru Supreme. Guru Master, original Guru, DV8 Pitbull, Track Black Paradox and Columbia Lit). Where all these oilers rev up, the Sure Lock labors. 
 
The Sure Locks I've seen on the lanes are mostly thrown by high speed low rev players. I can see where it's a good ball for that kind of style. But for my medium speed, medium revs style, I don't see the ball being useful outside one of the longer PBA/Sport patterns. It's been a while since I've seen anything like that, but when I do that will be the final test.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: HackJandy on January 31, 2018, 07:03:28 PM
My virtual Gravity Nano cracked over the summer; so I bought a sure lock.

not sure if I like it.  the sure spins up on a de-terminator fast; but on the longer oil it just isn't what my VG and VG Nano were.  on the 50 foot sport shot we bowled on this year, it was the only ball of mine that even moved, but the shape wasn't VG like and it didn't hit all that well for me.

on a 45 foot, somewhat heavy sport shot, the sure lock was .. best I can think of, lazy.  it didn't seem to read the lane well and when it did, it didn't move like the VG.  I actually scored a used VG from my dad that rolled better on the 45 foot pattern than the Sure Lock.

this got me thinking, and a couple weeks ago I visited my PSO, and he drilled the SL differently than the VG and VG Nano.  and he felt the SL pattern was better for shorter oil and VG was longer.  his notes had me getting the SL as a VG complement, not replacement /facepalm. 

While I cant recommend the SL, I am starting to consider if my issues are drilling related and if a different pattern may be better for me.

Storm should bring back some of those VG balls since retro is in.  People sure did like them back in the day.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: SG17 on February 01, 2018, 12:24:39 AM
Storm should bring back some of those VG balls since retro is in.  People sure did like them back in the day.

If they were nearly as effective on the oil (and since my old ones are, I assume new ones would be) I would buy a case or 2
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: 2handedrook12 on February 01, 2018, 07:40:59 AM
Storm should bring back some of those VG balls since retro is in.  People sure did like them back in the day.

If they were nearly as effective on the oil (and since my old ones are, I assume new ones would be) I would buy a case or 2
Comsidering the Codes use a weaker cover, I'm sure they would. Gravity series used R2X originally.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: spmcgivern on February 01, 2018, 08:46:41 AM
If Storm brought back the Virtual Gravity, they would have to buy 100% of the Hopkinsville plant just to keep up with demand.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: AlonzoHarris on February 01, 2018, 10:06:16 AM
If Storm brought back the Virtual Gravity, they would have to buy 100% of the Hopkinsville plant just to keep up with demand.

The VG released while I was on my break from bowling. So they were really that good?
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: 2handedrook12 on February 04, 2018, 07:29:50 AM
If Storm brought back the Virtual Gravity, they would have to buy 100% of the Hopkinsville plant just to keep up with demand.


The VG released while I was on my break from bowling. So they were really that good?
If you had oil, yes.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: tkkshop on February 04, 2018, 08:39:23 AM
If Storm brought back the Virtual Gravity, they would have to buy 100% of the Hopkinsville plant just to keep up with demand.


The VG released while I was on my break from bowling. So they were really that good?
If you had oil, yes.
agreed. It would be the norm to see 3-4 per pair during league
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: leftybowler70 on February 04, 2018, 11:08:29 AM
If Storm brought back the Virtual Gravity, they would have to buy 100% of the Hopkinsville plant just to keep up with demand.

The VG released while I was on my break from bowling. So they were really that good?


Yes, it’s that good.
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: billdozer on February 04, 2018, 12:00:54 PM
Dude you shoulda saw Nationals, VGs and rogue cells entire pairs of lanes all throwing fresh ones.

Storms missing out on big $$$
Title: Re: Sure lock
Post by: spmcgivern on February 05, 2018, 09:15:05 AM
If Storm brought back the Virtual Gravity, they would have to buy 100% of the Hopkinsville plant just to keep up with demand.

The VG released while I was on my break from bowling. So they were really that good?

My wife is on hiatus from bowling right now and I told her to fill up a three-ball bag with what she wants to keep and the rest are getting donated.  She used to be on Motiv's staff after the VG was out and the VG was the first ball she kept followed by a Sigma Tour and then a Gravity Shift.  Still uses those three when she subs once every couple months.