About buying used balls...

[Noy]

Hello all!  Have been lookin around this site for the past month and it has been very helpful.  I have a question though.  I see a lot of used balls in the sale forum for great prices.  Of course most of them are already drilled and used, and I am unfortunate enough to be a left hander, hardly any balls are drilled left handed in the sale forums.  I know you can fill those holes up and redrill a ball, but here are my questions:

1) Will the material used to fill the holes back up alter the performance of the ball itself?

2) Say a ball has been used for 10 games but drilled right handed...if i got that same ball filled and drilled with the same layout but aligned for a lefty, would it perform just as well as if it were its 10th game but originally drilled left handed?

Besides price and wear/tear...what are the performance advantages and disadvantages to buying a used ball?

[dizzyfugu]

If plugged properly, you will not recognize any loss in reaction. The plug material is not porous as recative resin, so it will skid on the lane, but the area on the ball is so small - if it comes into contact with the lane at all.

As a lefty, right-handed balls might be good for you, since they have the track in another area. A righty's ball, especially with low games, should be al,most in virgin condition for you. I got 2 used lefty balls once from Ebay (2 Fuze balls), and they were great. O.K., you will have to completely plug the ball and have it totally re-drilled for you, but the surface should be as good as new for you.

Used balls can be a risk... I'd always ask for pictures of the holes and the track area, ask for cracks, nicks, number of former drillings etc. A good seller will provide you with this; if not, I'd be careful.
In the owrts case you will ned a complete resurfacing of the ball - but that is normally done when you have the ball plugged and re-drilled. Just watch out for the shape and age of the ball you get. Good thing is that you can save a lot of money, especially when you want to experiment with equipment or drillings.

Good luck!
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Team "X" website (now available in English!): http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

[azguy]

I have bought several used balls here. As said above, it's a great way to try a ball at a small amount of new ball expense.  I will also add, to wanting to see pictures, ask about any plug work done on the ball. Some plug with clear and it might be hard to see in a pic, unless the seller takes one shot of any plug done. I know, from taking pics of the balls I sell/sold, at times it's hard to get a pic to show what the eye can pick up with ease. That's not to say the seller is hiding anything, just hard to get a good pic where the eye will pick up smaller things.

It is always a good idea to check on the seller's rep, anyone who has bought from them before will answer your questions about conditions of a ball they may have gotten from them in the past. We have many great sellers/buyers in here, and yes, there are probably a few crooks, but those get weeded out in time.

I for one, have been very lucky with those I have dealt with and hope you have as great luck in your dealings in here. You can check the "Buyer/Seller" topic to see the background so to speak of any seller you want to deal with. Check the profile to see who they have dealt with in the past and ask those folks about the seller. IMO, a good seller will never mind someone 'checking up on them', especially if the buyer is new to the site.

Find a ball you want , ask questions..and Good Luck !

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AZ Guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net
www.rlbowlerspro.com

Sleep is over rated.

[Noy]

You are have been a great help.  I guess I'm at an advantage then being left handed and purchasing right handed balls.  I will be sure to keep you guys updated on my future ball purchases.  I just ordered my first performance ball yesterday and getting fitted today.  I got the DOOM RAW HAMMER, anyone heard of it? (hehe, sarcastic question =)  Anyways, all of your help has been much appreciated, great community!

[Babycash22]

I have bought multiple used balls and never had a problem i would actually recomend you plug them because even if it seems like the holes fit they probally arent exactly for you and you will learn bad habits like gripping the ball or compensating for it not fitting, etc.