Author Topic: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite? (Read 10635 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)

UpstateProShopChris · « **Reply #31 on:** April 17, 2011, 08:42:30 PM »

Try scuffing the ball with more grit than you have previously used before. I would try a 360 and then an new 500 Siaair pad. You can then scuff with a lighter grit if you wish for a little more length and less traction. Ra and Rs values are a big part of what makes a ball hook according to the USBC ball motion study and grittier sanding media help create more traction by increasing these values. Higher performance oilier lane balls tend to be cut with very dull pads when first leaving the factory and then are very lightly finished with the final sanding grit. The Alphamax is no different from other high performance balls in this regard. The heavier grit pad is likely to give you the move you are looking for out of the box performance.

Chris Garrett
Upstate Pro Shop
Greenville, SC 864-569-0878
Upstateproshop@charter.net

PBA Member
Brunswick Regional Staff
Vise Regional Staff

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

Dewey24 · « **Reply #32 on:** April 18, 2011, 04:09:05 PM »

I'll agree with Chris. I went up with the grits on my Alpha trying to get it to do anything. Nothing worked, finally took it down to 500 and then 1000 with rough buff and it has become everything it was advertised.

Sunshine n Lollipops · « **Reply #33 on:** April 18, 2011, 05:14:32 PM »

Just another THB who buys the next hook monster in a box and doesn't use it for what it's intended. Throws it on a THS into the dry, it burns to a cinder, then hits like a feather pillow.

duvallite wrote on 4/6/2011 12:16 PM:
From previous posts, I know you have had a whole lot of different balls that you feel never lived up to their hype, either being duds for you or dieing quickly. Since you've tried so many different ones, can you list the ones that you feel worked as advertised on their recommended lane conditions? I'm just curious.

toomanytenpins wrote on 4/5/2011 7:31 AM:

When I first thru my max I thought I had finally found the ball I was loking for for the tougher shots. I had to move 15 boards left of where i was playing with my other stuff just to keep the ball right of the head pin,I may have thrown a half a game with it. Since then I have not been able to get it to wrinkle on any shot. It lost all the recovery I saw when I first thru it. I bathed it and it is still the exact same nothing. If I had never seen its potential I never would Have believed it, I have never had a ball lose this much this fast.

my style, the art of bowling without bowling

Turn that frown upside down!

toomanytenpins · « **Reply #34 on:** April 19, 2011, 10:55:53 AM »

First off,let me be totally honest with you all and myself,I suck,I wouldnt know heavy oil from a sandbox. I wouldnt know a good ball from a bad one . 1 because I throw like a bumb.2because I can never get a read on a lane to know what ball to use,and 3,because I have a lousy mental state. Not that I am crazy.just that as far as being a competitor my mind is weak and therefore when it comes to competing,I suck.

Now as for balls I have liked,odyssey and the original epic,rising star is decent,I like the new omg. Liking them though is really misrespresented with me because I am sure I am using them at the wrong time for the wrong reason. I can practice with anything and look good. I shot 299 with my taboo,but it was on a 3rd shift shot after I had shot 5 games on the pair,I proceeded to shoot 450,series,in the same house 5 days later,the taboo,nor anything else,would wrinkle. I have no clue. Boredom and intrigue keep me posting to this site.

And now about the max. Imho,not forgoeing what I just said is a oil ball,no oil no hook,no hook go to weaker ball,i.e rising star. Last night we had a bit moreoil on the lanes and I had a pretty squirly look. I picked up the max not expecting much and I didnt have enough lane. the backend off the transition was sick,I couldnt control it. The flip was as hard as it was when i first threw it. Yes it was flaring,yes there was a substantial amount of oil residue on the ball. So I dont know cause I suck. Side bar,the team we bowled threw the first 18 of 20 strikes and the lowest handicapp was 30 pins,highest was 80. one of their bowlers used a vg all three games to shoot 663 and he had 40 pins a game. I never found anything concrete throwing everything in my bag. Like I said I have no clue,I suck. Alpha max good ball,good for what its supposed to be used on ,me,suck.

my style, the art of bowling without bowling

toomanytenpins · « **Reply #35 on:** April 19, 2011, 10:56:14 AM »

First off,let me be totally honest with you all and myself,I suck,I wouldnt know heavy oil from a sandbox. I wouldnt know a good ball from a bad one . 1 because I throw like a bumb.2because I can never get a read on a lane to know what ball to use,and 3,because I have a lousy mental state. Not that I am crazy.just that as far as being a competitor my mind is weak and therefore when it comes to competing,I suck.

Now as for balls I have liked,odyssey and the original epic,rising star is decent,I like the new omg. Liking them though is really misrespresented with me because I am sure I am using them at the wrong time for the wrong reason. I can practice with anything and look good. I shot 299 with my taboo,but it was on a 3rd shift shot after I had shot 5 games on the pair,I proceeded to shoot 450,series,in the same house 5 days later,the taboo,nor anything else,would wrinkle. I have no clue. Boredom and intrigue keep me posting to this site.

And now about the max. Imho,not forgoeing what I just said is a oil ball,no oil no hook,no hook go to weaker ball,i.e rising star. Last night we had a bit moreoil on the lanes and I had a pretty squirly look. I picked up the max not expecting much and I didnt have enough lane. the backend off the transition was sick,I couldnt control it. The flip was as hard as it was when i first threw it. Yes it was flaring,yes there was a substantial amount of oil residue on the ball. So I dont know cause I suck. Side bar,the team we bowled threw the first 18 of 20 strikes and the lowest handicapp was 30 pins,highest was 80. one of their bowlers used a vg all three games to shoot 663 and he had 40 pins a game. I never found anything concrete throwing everything in my bag. Like I said I have no clue,I suck. Alpha max good ball,good for what its supposed to be used on ,me,suck.

my style, the art of bowling without bowling

AlBundy33 · « **Reply #36 on:** April 19, 2011, 11:22:10 AM »

Translator please?

toomanytenpins wrote on 4/19/2011 10:56 AM:First off,let me be totally honest with you all and myself,I suck,I wouldnt know heavy oil from a sandbox. I wouldnt know a good ball from a bad one . 1 because I throw like a bumb.2because I can never get a read on a lane to know what ball to use,and 3,because I have a lousy mental state. Not that I am crazy.just that as far as being a competitor my mind is weak and therefore when it comes to competing,I suck.

Now as for balls I have liked,odyssey and the original epic,rising star is decent,I like the new omg. Liking them though is really misrespresented with me because I am sure I am using them at the wrong time for the wrong reason. I can practice with anything and look good. I shot 299 with my taboo,but it was on a 3rd shift shot after I had shot 5 games on the pair,I proceeded to shoot 450,series,in the same house 5 days later,the taboo,nor anything else,would wrinkle. I have no clue. Boredom and intrigue keep me posting to this site.

And now about the max. Imho,not forgoeing what I just said is a oil ball,no oil no hook,no hook go to weaker ball,i.e rising star. Last night we had a bit moreoil on the lanes and I had a pretty squirly look. I picked up the max not expecting much and I didnt have enough lane. the backend off the transition was sick,I couldnt control it. The flip was as hard as it was when i first threw it. Yes it was flaring,yes there was a substantial amount of oil residue on the ball. So I dont know cause I suck. Side bar,the team we bowled threw the first 18 of 20 strikes and the lowest handicapp was 30 pins,highest was 80. one of their bowlers used a vg all three games to shoot 663 and he had 40 pins a game. I never found anything concrete throwing everything in my bag. Like I said I have no clue,I suck. Alpha max good ball,good for what its supposed to be used on ,me,suck.

my style, the art of bowling without bowling

"Pretty women make us buy beer, ugly women make us drink beer"

sport300 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 19, 2011, 11:29:44 AM »

i probably have 24-27 games on mine, i have not noticed any fallout in performance. after every session i clean it.

after 6-9 games i'll freshen up the surface with abralon. no problems with this piece, & i really like this ball.

Author Topic: Anyone else notice how fast the Alpha Max loses its bite? (Read 10635 times)

Nicanor

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

UpstateProShopChris

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

Dewey24

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

Sunshine n Lollipops

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

toomanytenpins

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

toomanytenpins

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

AlBundy33

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

sport300

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