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Author Topic: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?  (Read 11884 times)

guysensei1

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Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« on: March 01, 2016, 07:23:46 PM »
I recently found my dad's stash of old bowling balls, and there was a Brunswick purple power blitz and a teal pro-zone, they look fine so I may get them resurfaced and redrilled just for fun, what should I expect from these balls in terms of reaction?
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kidlost2000

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2016, 09:11:47 PM »
Great bowling balls. The biggest difference is today's oil is different from oil years ago. Mainly because of the strength of covers like the ones on the balls you mentioned.

I think on most medium patterns you should have a good reaction. See many of these still being used with lots of games over the years and still hooking.
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bergman

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2016, 11:57:10 AM »
Indeed, the lane oils used today are generally slicker than they were when those balls were released . In general, there is also more (oil) volume being applied today.

I recently pulled out my old Brunswick Danger Zone (the original one) and threw it
on several different conditions. It goes very long and straight for me on today's conditions. When I first bought it (20 years) ago, it was a hook monster. Not now. Same with an original Columbia Pulse that I have not used in close to 20 years.
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SG17

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2016, 06:37:57 PM »
this has me thinking of old balls I still have.  one that intrigues me the most to possibly get redrilled to my current specs is my Azure Zone Pro.

just not sure it is worth the expense.

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jlee0924

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2016, 09:23:52 PM »
I actually tried out my Zone Pro Azure recently and it still hooks a decent amount and early on fresh THS. Had to switch to a pin up Hyroad Pearl after a few games because of the amount of hook the Azure had.
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BackToBasics

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2016, 07:17:31 AM »
The problem with the "today's oils are slicker" is the assumption that everywhere is using these so called new oils.   Unfortunately they are not.  So if you happen to bowl in a house that doesn't, then they will react fine.

The other key factor is surface.  Modern balls are also using surface "tricks" by sanding with a much rougher first grit.
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spencerwatts

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2016, 09:09:31 AM »
Interesting I would see this. I'm a big fan of old-school equipment and depending on the ball (and perhaps bowler) the old-school stuff is still very much relevant despite higher oil volumes being applied. The main thing is knowing when to use it, particularly on tournament shots.
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Pat Patterson

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2016, 09:22:13 AM »
A friend last week bowled in a 4-Day tournament (tues-fri) and didn't shoot a series under 717 with an original Storm X-factor in a newer synthetic house that uses Kegel Ice oil applied with a Kegel machine. I believe they use a longer modified version of the Stone Street pattern. He also had a shot at an 800 series in his Friday night league just missing with a 789. 

I personally use an Original Lane Masters Masterpiece on the above mentioned pattern and have shot my fair share of high scores with it.
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Pat Patterson

Char_Byers

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2016, 03:39:34 PM »
Just got back into bowling last year from the mid 2000's.  Up until two months ago my arsenal included:

Original Black Widow
Original The One
Original Big Time Pearl
Original Morich Ravage

I traded the Morich for a Storm Snyc.  Were they relevant?  Since October I have shot 7 - 300's, 4 - 800's, finished top five in multiple tournaments and made the finals in 2 PBA50 Regionals.

Not bad for old balls.
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BobOhio

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Re: Old bowling balls, how will they react on 'modern' lanes?
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2016, 07:43:27 PM »
I have an original Lane Masters Buzz Attack with hundreds if not thousands of games on it. Rolls and hits as good as any other ball I have. Hits as hard as my Orignal Guru.
Have fun with those toys.
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BobOhio
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