Best plastic STRIKE ball

[the_scarlet_pumpernickel]

i wasn't sure where to post this so i figured it should go where most people are asking for advice anyways...

so basically i have a ball i use in league (B'wick Mastermind Einstein), but 9 times out of 10 when i go to open bowling with my friends it's waaay too much ball. i don't need a plastic spare ball per-se since i'm pretty good at flattening out and shooting spares with my strike ball, but figured why not get a plastic ball to use at cosmic bowling? i see some good reasons to do this:

-it'll prolong the life of my good ball

-i can get a fun-looking ball that glows in black-light and such

-practicing with a plastic ball could improve my accuracy, since it wont read the lanes as much and i wont have the "assistance" of the aggressive reactive-resin cover, thus forcing me to focus on good shot making.

TL;DR what i want to know is:
- which plastics are good/durable, which should i stay away from
- should i go for a "spare plus" ball that has a core in it? or stick with a traditional pancake?
- i could be wrong/blind but it seems like the beloved T-Zone, Maxim, and White-Dot max at 15 lbs, is there any way to get these in 16 lbs?

BONUS ROUND: any opinions about using plastic to practice, good ways to practice at open bowling, or any advice about using non-resin balls are welcome.

[Bowler19525]

The Maxims are available in 16lb, as are the Pyramid Path Polyester and Viz-a-balls.   White Dots and TZones max out at 15lb.  If you bowl in sport shot tournaments you might be able to get added use from a plastic ball with a dynamic core (Track Spare+, Hammer Black Widow spare, etc.)  If you plan never to use the plastic ball anywhere other than glow bowling and practice, stick with something less expensive with a pancake block.  Some plastic ball tournaments require a plastic ball with a pancake weight block (no dynamic cores), but if you don't have any of those tourneys in your area it is not worth worrying about.

[leftybowler70]

The black widow spare would als be a great choice.... I'm considering one myself , since I use a lot of spare ball/urethane pieces; also seeing that it has that famous gas mask core with the polyester cover, it definitely will work up the gutter for the dry conditions.

I use the storm mixes myself for strike shots,  the downside is I leave/ 5-6 7 pins a game.

[the_scarlet_pumpernickel]

If you bowl in sport shot tournaments you might be able to get added use from a plastic ball with a dynamic core (Track Spare+, Hammer Black Widow spare, etc.)

i hadn't thought of that actually; another situation i see a ball like that being useful is when i occasionally have to make-up a league game during open bowling. that's classically been a disaster for me, as we have to bowl on whatever chewed up oil happens to be on the lane, but a plastic ball with a dynamic core might certainly help.

[xrayjay]

XXXL Lane 1 and and clear ball have been good for me....

[bcw1969]

If you are talking simply non sanctioned bowling to use it for then check this out...

http://www.bowlerscellar.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6510823

slightly more than you probably wanted to spend but they are unique and neat looking.

Brad

[xrayjay]

I wish storm/RG bring backs the clear tire...

[the_scarlet_pumpernickel]

If you are talking simply non sanctioned bowling to use it for then check this out...

http://www.bowlerscellar.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6510823

that's sick looking, but i do want to use it in my league if i have to.
 

XXXL Lane 1 and and clear ball have been good for me....

i forgot about Lane 1 altogether, where have they been?? their plastic balls actually look great too.


there are a lot of really neat older balls that have a clear polyester cover and you can see the core within them, not what i'm looking for now, but definitely something i can see getting for curiosity's sake

[MI 2 AZ]

I was still using my old Visionary Amulet (sort of clear with real core) when I was bowling RH.  I used it as my spare ball and for dry lanes.

[Mbosco]

I was still using my old Visionary Amulet (sort of clear with real core) when I was bowling RH.  I used it as my spare ball and for dry lanes.

I'm still using mine even though it's 16lbs and I switched down to 14 (oh how I wish I could find a NIB 14 pounder that was for sale!!!).  I often wonder if other plastic balls with dynamic cores are as amazing, but I haven't gotten around to trying one yet.

[bcw1969]

As far as plastic with a core, I have found the ebonite clear wolf to be quite aggressive/strong for a plastic ball....actually my wolf is stronger than the taboo spare I picked up used a bit after I got the wolf....and the clear wolf is always popping up on ebay in various weights, there are a few now.

Brad