Author Topic: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite? (Read 10633 times)

Nicanor · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 11:40:44 PM »

I bought a couple of Alpha Maxes but have only a few games on the ball. But the Alpha Max sold very quickly here and I see a lot of them being thrown. Many of the bowlers stated that after a couple of weeks, the ball stopped hooking. This is very general with bowlers that might not have a lot of knowledge about surface prep. I noticed it in one of my Alpha Maxes also and wondered if it had to do with the Chemical Friction Technology.

I had a 200 Ablaron pad in the bag and for three of the bowlers I used some water and the 2000 Abalron pad (used previously) by hand and cleaned the ball and used a ball cleaner after the Ablaron use. The ball pretty much came back to life. When I went home, I used a 2000 used Ablaron pad with water slow speed on my Alpha Max and cleaned the ball with Clean and Tacky. The ball really came back to life.

So looking at the picture of the Alpha Max coverstock, it makes me wonder how dureable the coverstock is and when we do use an abrasive on the ball, how is it really effecting the coverstock?

Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2011, 10:26:06 AM »

I would guess any cover that starts dull with no polish will not last long before needing some surface prep to get the original look on the lane back. They (any dull ball) will absorb oil and start to have a more shinned look when compared to the same ball undrilled.

I've had this happen with a few different bowling balls over the years that have surface. When polished, not nearly the same amount of maintenance was needed.

Be good, or be good at it.

OddBalls · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:16:14 AM »

When you change the surface of a CFT ball, doesn't it effect the CFT process?

In other words, does it make the effect of the CFT void and you're now relying on the NEW surface you just put down and the reactive properties of the resin??

Yes. it's I, the Inverted One..

charlest · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:27:40 AM »

Barry,

The Roto-Grip/Storm people have already said that some of their new coverstocks, like the Theory, will lose performance within SEVEN (7) games, unless the surface is renewed regularly.

I don't think the Alpha Max is the exception here. The higher the performance, the more important ball maintenance seems to be. This seems especially true with balls intended to handle heavier oils, like the Alpha, Theory, Nano, and the like, because not only are they absorbing oil like crazy (even the new super covers) with their dull surfaces, they are also being compressed, changing the Ra with each use.

"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BowlingChat.net

"Some bowlers are crazy as pickled cats."

Edited by charlest on 3/28/2011 at 11:28 AM

Visionary 4626 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:33:45 PM »

My C-Systems 2.5 and 3.5 have lost a lot of their hook power as well. I clean my equipment after every set and with a towel when the ball comes back to the ball return. This coverstock just doesn't seem to have the durability of other Brunswick coverstocks that we are used to. Maybe that is why Big B has stopped producing them?

T Scott
USBC Bronze Coach
PBA Member

« **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2011, 01:42:57 PM »

Yes. They do require some maintenance, especially if you are seeing plenty of friction. Re-read the post from "charlest" in this thread.

It's all about "topography" on the surface. As we start with a more coarse grit we create microscopic peaks and valleys on the cover. Then we will typically jump right to the finished grit or polish. The more steps in between, the more we lose those peaks and valleys and the ball's ability to displace oil. The same is true as we throw the ball. The friction on the lane gradually smoothes out the peaks and valleys and the ball isn't quite as strong as when first purchased.

Any ball that is made for more volume will experience the same thing at varying rates. I don't want to mention any specific company's ball, but in the shop we are regularly tweaking covers to wake them up.

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Nicanor · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2011, 03:29:33 PM »

Notclay, CharlesT,

But as Oddballs mentioned and my real question is: if we use Ablaron or any other abrasive do we change the CFT and just make the surface like any other ball and the Chemical Friction Technology is worn off by the abrasive?

Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

RSalas · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2011, 03:50:17 PM »

I haven't changed surface on either alpha-max (haven't had to yet), but I did so rather frequently with my C-(System) 3.5, and never saw any loss of reaction when restoring to box finish.

I can't speak *definitively* as to the effect of abrasives upon the CFT additive, but I can say that, during the conference calls for the C-(System) releases, there has been an emphasis on the wider "window" of overall hook with the CFT balls when going from 1000 smooth to High Gloss, and because of this, we've been strongly encouraged to use surface adjustments to obtain different looks. I'd think that, if the CFT additive were that sensitive to changes, we'd be advised against tweaking the cover.

Ray Salas
Brunswick Amateur Staff
http://www.brunswickbowling.com

Visionary 4626 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2011, 04:02:24 PM »

I have not changed the surface on my C-System 3.5 and I have definitely observed a loss of hook power at the breakpoint. I can use it now to play a much straighter line than I was when I first bought it. There is not a lot of games on it either. Compared to say the Inferno line this ball has not held up near as well. It is still better than an Ebonite product, but not what I have come to expect from Brunswick.

T Scott
USBC Bronze Coach
PBA Member

« **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:11:07 PM »

By changing the surface texture you do not change the chemical make up of the coverstock. You can change how the ball reads the lane, but not the chemical make up. That is part of the cover - all through the cover.

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

JustRico · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:15:19 PM »

It is an additive in the cover stock, no different than any other additive...therefore adjusting the surface will effect no differently than any other cover stock...

The views and opinions expressed by myself are solely those of mine and NO one else, nor are they affiliated with anyone else.

« **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:24:41 PM »

My 2.5 has maybe 200 of games on it. All I have done is to periodically do a light resurface and polish. A while back I put it in the Revivor and saw nothing coming out, which somewhat surprised me. The ball is a carry monster.

Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.

Edited by notclay on 3/28/2011 at 5:25 PM

Edited by notclay on 3/28/2011 at 5:26 PM

Nicanor · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2011, 07:20:15 PM »

Thank you for the responses, it was very helpful.

Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)

jls · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:30:04 AM »

If you are using a ball with surface...I tell my customers to clean the ball and hit it with the

pad every 3 games...If not, the cover will take on a shine after a few games...

If you are using the ball polished, I tell my customers to use a good ball cleaner after

every 3 games and re-polish after 6-9 games...

And about every 30 games, draw the oil out of the ball...

Cleaning your bowling ball is like putting gas in your car...If you don't, you car will stop

running after about 250-300 miles...

But most bowlers just toss their balls in their bags when done and race for the bar...

And then they wonder why their ball lost it's reaction...

And what's even worst is when you see a farmer pull his ball out of his bag BEFORE bowling

and clean it...That ball has been soaked with oil for at least a week...Not good...

The Jackie Gleason era of bowling is over...Todays coverstocks need to be cleaned...and the sooner

after bowling, the better...

And don't even get me started about using alcohol...

If I had a dime for every customer who said, "I use alcohol" I would be rich...

And when they do, I take some good ball cleaner and a clean towel and go over the ball that they just

cleaned using alcohol... And watch their faces as the towel turns BLACK....

Clean balls are healthy balls...

BTW, in my area, most use the Alpha Max with ruff buff polish...

jls

charlest · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:47:29 AM »

Very quotable comments, jls.

You do pro shops proud.

"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BowlingChat.net

"Some bowlers are crazy as pickled cats."

Author Topic: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite? (Read 10633 times)

Nicanor

Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

kidlost2000

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

OddBalls

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

charlest

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Visionary 4626

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Nicanor

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

RSalas

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Visionary 4626

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

JustRico

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

Nicanor

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

jls

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?

charlest

Re: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite?