BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Storm => Topic started by: jbart1971 on May 30, 2009, 02:17:16 AM

Title: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: jbart1971 on May 30, 2009, 02:17:16 AM
I have had the virtual Gravity for about 5 months. It has considerably
lost its hook. I have cleaned it after every game. I also have wiped it
off after every frame. Any help on getting the pop back into it would
be helpful
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Big Jake on May 30, 2009, 10:28:42 AM
I had the VG and the ball drinks oil like no body's business. Give the ball a hot-water bath and it should be fine.

If you have not done that yet you will find that you'll probably have to do it 2-3 times to remove the oil...good luck!

Jake
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Join a PBA Experience league, it will make you or break you...you can count on it!

Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Joe Jr on May 30, 2009, 10:39:31 AM
Ball's dead. Every single VG drilled in this area is done within 2 months. I've never see anything like it.
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My Vid (http://"http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/RevLefty/Vids/?action=view¤t=OnePearl.flv")
Just another hack with too much equipment.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: justinmill14 on May 30, 2009, 11:51:03 AM
The virtual gravity is meant for heavy heavy oil. When  you bowl with it on lanes that have been bowled on some or that are dry, then it will mess up your virtual gravity. Keep that ball in the bag and only use it for sport shots or when the oil is very heavy.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: River700 on May 30, 2009, 11:57:40 AM
Here's the thing that I think most people don't think about. With the vg being at 4 abralon, it is going to get a normal track, then it is also going to shine up some. Now since basically all cleaners are only cleaners and have no polish in them, you maybe getting the dirt off and out of the coverstock, but the track is still there, and that is going to lessen the reaction. Because more track = less hook and backend. So, if you want the ball to reaction close to what it was before, do a light resurface, like 500 abralon, 1k and then 2k and maybe 4k if you want a little more length. So many people forget about the simple things like doing light resurfaces like every 20-30 games Hope that helps.
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If your going to bowl...bowl for fun or go home
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Monster Pike on May 30, 2009, 12:36:18 PM
Very good points River700.  I even have to do that to my Attitude Shift.  I haven't used my VG enough but, from the games I have used it, it does get that lane shine.  My Attitude does also, but I've used it way more than my VG.
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Here's a thought for you grammar police: Have your own backyards cleaned up before trying to clean up others.

A.K.A. Monster Puke, it's catching on....
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: tuckingfenpin on May 30, 2009, 12:43:36 PM
Surface refresh to get to 4k would be 360, 500, then 4000. If you go 1k, 2k, then 4k, the ball will not finish like it did before.

http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=233784&ForumID=17&CategoryID=5

Linked the topic for a reference. I think it's safe to assume if RG does it that way, then Storm does it that way, since Storm 'sort of' makes RG. Works wonders on Big B stuff too.
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Big B > *
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: cmoore3wins on May 31, 2009, 10:55:53 AM
From Storm......

Probably the RA and RS values are a little off.

Try a 360 or 500 grit Abralon for 15 seconds on four sides and then a 2000 Abralon for 7-8 seconds on four sides. Also if possible, make sure you’re using fresh pads. Make sure that the underlying grit is deep enough.

It’s very important to get those initial cuts into the surface and then put some lighter lines in over the top of that.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: BrianCRX90 on May 31, 2009, 04:11:29 PM
Wow...what a coincidence. I was going to post about this. I have a Gravity Shift for about a year which is the same thing but pearl and it totally encountered ball death yesterday.. Also, this ball soaks up oil more then any ball I have seen. The reason I know this is if I leave it in my trunk in my car, the ball bleads oil like crazy. I have tried to clean it this year a couple of times and using the hot water method but now convinced the cover stock has lost all friction except in the driest part of the lane. So I just tried a scotch brite to the ball and polished it by hand to get somewhat close to the box condition. I did this last year but with a 1000 abarlon pad and worked fine for awhile.

To be honest, awesome ball the first few months but I'm not caring for this coverstock material at all now.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: tc300 on May 31, 2009, 07:12:12 PM
mabye storm had ebonite put the coverstock on....LOLOL
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: tizzle on June 03, 2009, 02:23:29 PM
Ran through 5 of these virtual and every single one had this issue. Out of box its amazing, but it is way too high maintenance for me. I went to an Ebonite Magic and its lasted me 400 games and counting! And I have gave it a bath one time! I love the Virtual out of box, but man this is like caring for an infant!
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Hmm..Lets see what I have in this bag...some magic, some hot sauce, a rogue cell,a liberator, and a saw.. how can I loose....

....HG-300(2006 w/Desert Heat)...299 (03/15/09 w/Agent Orange)...HS-776 (Hot Sauce Pearl & Ebonite Magic)
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: cheech on June 03, 2009, 04:12:20 PM
you people are acting like this is the first ball to have ball death. every ball will die eventually even if you take care of it. just R&R it to return it to box condition and it should be close to what it was. its not rocket science at this point.

all my bowling balls have died more than once since ive gotten them and they last a few thousand games. just clean and resurface and rejuvenate as needed
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HG:300x2(SR300 both)
HS:792(SR300)
2004 NYSPHSAA team champions
2007 NYSPHSAA individual high game(300) and series(1411-6 games)
sacred heart university bowling, frosh.
greatest accomplishment:shooting 603 and not shooting one 200 game(130,173,300)...lol
balls for sale in my profile
p.s. go leftys
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Monster Pike on June 03, 2009, 04:19:28 PM
quote:
Ran through 5 of these virtual and every single one had this issue. Out of box its amazing, but it is way too high maintenance for me.I went to an Ebonite Magic and its lasted me 400 games and counting! And I have gave it a bath one time! I love the Virtual out of box, but man this is like caring for an infant!
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So you ran through 5 of them & all had the same issue....  Why get the 3rd & 4th let alone 5th then?  Just asking....  I have one & haven't had death issues, but I don't use it nearly as often as you do.
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Here's a thought for you grammar police: Have your own backyards cleaned up before trying to clean up others.

A.K.A. Monster Puke, it's catching on....
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Steve Richter on June 04, 2009, 10:04:29 AM
Please keep in mind that ball maintenance goes beyond just using a cleaner.  The dirt and grime that plugs the pores on a micoscopic level don't let oil in and more importantly don't let it out either.

Along with cleaning, keeping the surface freshly "roughed" with Abralon pads ensure long consistent life and ball reaction.  Riggs posted a while ago what his process was to get 1,200 games on a Special Agent he still uses today.  Rigerous cleaning and refreshing were the two main points.
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Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: r534me on June 04, 2009, 08:49:51 PM
quote:
Please keep in mind that ball maintenance goes beyond just using a cleaner.  The dirt and grime that plugs the pores on a micoscopic level don't let oil in and more importantly don't let it out either.

Along with cleaning, keeping the surface freshly "roughed" with Abralon pads ensure long consistent life and ball reaction.  Riggs posted a while ago what his process was to get 1,200 games on a Special Agent he still uses today.  Rigerous cleaning and refreshing were the two main points.
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Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
IBPSIA Certified Technician


Stupid question so bear with me.  How often should one hit the ball with pads and at what grit?  And if you don't have a ball spinner can this be accomplished by hand?

Thanks for bearing with me.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Steve Richter on June 04, 2009, 11:04:23 PM
r534me:

I think for everyone it's different.  A real good gauge is when you start to see the ball make it move and sort of wiggle, then you know it's time.  Personally, I take my Abralon pads with me EVERY WEEK and leave them on the scoring pedastal and make adjustments as I see fit.

I'm more of a higher-end tweener so for me worm Abralon pads work well for the daily touch-ups I do.  However, for PBA-X league and the USBC Open I took fresh pads.

The best thing is to get into a routine and find what works for you.  I'm a firm believer that no one is suited for just a single grit but that we fall into a sort of "range".  Send me spec info via PM that includes ball speed, rev rate, PAP distance, surface you bowl on, etc and I'll try as best I can to give you a starting range to work with.
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Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: raiderh20boy on June 04, 2009, 11:09:02 PM
Hi Steve,
I hope by the last post that you are not infering that you adjust the surface with the abralon while you are bowling in a league or tourney
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Use "IT" and BOWL UP A STORM!!

Edited on 6/4/2009 11:09 PM
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Steve Richter on June 04, 2009, 11:20:08 PM
Sometimes I wish.  Thought my 2nd D wiggled a little but too much at the end of "A" squad in Peru this weekend and could have hit it with 2000 to make it better but the rules are the rules.

I recently heard that USBC is exploring options/thoughts for allowing changing surfaces between games.  For the purists that say you can't, think about this...when we throw ball #1 in practice, we change the pattern.  What if surface adjustments between games allowed us to use the same ball longer as a result?

It may have restrictions on certain events, but progressive thinking IMO.
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Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: BrianCRX90 on June 04, 2009, 11:38:41 PM
I know this isn't the Virtual Gravity but my Gravity Shift which I think has the same coverstock is seriously f**ked. I extracted the oil out which I've had to do to this ball quite a few times and tried using a green scotch brite and used some polish by hand in hope it may pick up earlier since it lost all friction and reaction down lane and now it reacts like a urethane ball. I only have encountered true ball death in one other ball I've owned and was a Columbia Chaos.
When I had this ball first month it had a reaction like no other then after that no matter what I tried with the ball was nothing more then an expensive asymmetric medium-light oil ball.
I've only owned this all a year too at that or just a little over.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: r534me on June 05, 2009, 12:40:21 AM
quote:
r534me:

I think for everyone it's different.  A real good gauge is when you start to see the ball make it move and sort of wiggle, then you know it's time.  Personally, I take my Abralon pads with me EVERY WEEK and leave them on the scoring pedastal and make adjustments as I see fit.

I'm more of a higher-end tweener so for me worm Abralon pads work well for the daily touch-ups I do.  However, for PBA-X league and the USBC Open I took fresh pads.

The best thing is to get into a routine and find what works for you.  I'm a firm believer that no one is suited for just a single grit but that we fall into a sort of "range".  Send me spec info via PM that includes ball speed, rev rate, PAP distance, surface you bowl on, etc and I'll try as best I can to give you a starting range to work with.
--------------------
Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
IBPSIA Certified Technician


PM sent, thanks!
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: Steve Richter on June 05, 2009, 12:52:07 AM
Brian:  A rant with no evidence of what was done to allieviate the issue is just a rant.  Let us know what you've tried to fix the issue.  Have you tried what cmoore3wins says above but finish at 1500 abralon instead of 2000?
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Steve Richter
USBC Silver Level Coach
IBPSIA Certified Technician
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: BrianCRX90 on June 06, 2009, 01:42:20 PM
The ball is dead. Doesn't matter what you do it the cover stock is a failure. I've already tried everything including full resurface. The ball works great as a dry lane ball now.
Title: Re: Virtual Gravity problems
Post by: backswing_aplenty on June 06, 2009, 03:20:50 PM
Lets see...which balls have had this forum syndrome of ball death?  The original One, top seller, Total NV, sold piles, Black Widow and BW Bite, sold tons, Cell, leapt off the shelves, and now the Virtual, can't keep it in stock.  The balls experienceing the "ball death" are all the top sellers that everyhone buys and everyone uses on all conditions whether it's designed for that or not.  Not coincidence to me. The more balls out there the more might see some slowdown from improper cleaning, wrong surface change, too little oil, or just plain dumb luck.  

We've been over this enough as a forum. Those that have been here know better...CRX...and don't have to stir the pot. Blanket statements - "This ball died quicker than snap bracelets!!!!" - don't help anyone.  There's a reason why it happens.  It may be your fault, but there's a reason.


*backswing
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Storm Staff 2009

Professional Approach Staff So Cal