Author Topic: Difference Between Blast and Ultra? (Read 4124 times)

Doug Sterner · « **on:** October 22, 2008, 02:17:07 PM »

Now you all know I am not one to inhabit the Brunswick forum all that much but I need some help.

A customer has a Blast Zone that he loves. He wants to get a new one but they are discontinued. Yes there are some still floating around out there but he wants a new ball...NOW!!!!

So my question is, since the Blast and Ultra use the same core, how similar in reaction would they be?

I have not seen enough of them around to make a judgement on my own.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
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Doug Sterner
Doug''s Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling

Edited on 10/22/2008 10:17 PM

rockerbowler18 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:21:02 PM »

They're not really that similar...

I'd advise him to wait and try to get a Blast Zone online.
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Rev Rate: 400-450 Speed: 16-17 mph
Current Average: 236

« **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:32:43 PM »

The Ultra is much cleaner through the heads and a more pronounced move late. Most guys can play slightly straighter lines with the Ultra. Up until the Twisted Solid was released the Ultra Zone was the strongest ball in the line-up.

Put another way, the Blast rolls like a strong solid, while the Ultra reacts more like a strong pearl, but not snappy at the break point. I hope this helps.

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
www.brunswickbowling.com

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:47:40 PM »

I guess I should have clarified this....

his Blast is finished at 1000 grit with polish

drill pattern is basic label....pin next to ring, mass bias just outsude thumb to the left.

does this change anything for your suggestions?
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling

rockerbowler18 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:52:30 PM »

Well...

If you drilled the Ultra pin down under ring, MB in similar location as the BZ, and take the coverstock of the Ultra down to a 2000 wet-sand, maybe 1000 wet-sand, no polish...you might get a similar reaction...

However, I would still advise against his impatience and go with another Blast Zone if possible.
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Rev Rate: 400-450 Speed: 16-17 mph
Current Average: 236

« **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:07:18 PM »

Quote: I guess I should have clarified this....

his Blast is finished at 1000 grit with polish

drill pattern is basic label....pin next to ring, mass bias just outsude thumb to the left.

does this change anything for your suggestions?
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY

******************************************

No, the two coverstocks are the big difference. If both had the same surface prep, Enmotion hybrid (Ultra) is still cleaner through the heads than the Activator hybrid (Blast) in my opinion.

Of all the Blast Zones we sold, nearly all of them ended up being polished for league conditions. It just wanted to be early and smooth, which is fine if you've got some oil on the lanes. The Ultra comes with some shine, but maybe you should think of it as a Twisted pearl that starts earlier and handles a bit more oil.

Both use the same core which revs up immediately, but there is a noticeable difference in the two covers... Not HUGE, but noticeable.

Perhaps adding some surface to the Ultra would get you close in reaction.
My guess would be between 1000 and 2000 abralon and no polish. That's a guess on my part because although I did adjust the Blast Zone back and forth, I have kept the Ultra with some shine so I could use it further outside and cross more boards late. It's probably more friendly to a guy with average to lower revs and speed because it changes direction and hits hard with little effort.

Good luck. I don't think your customer can go wrong with the Ultra since you can tweak the cover in both directions and still have a ball that hits. The Blast NEEDS polish for many bowlers before it really hits hard. I hope this helps.

--------------------
Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
www.brunswickbowling.com

Edited on 10/22/2008 11:08 PM

Edited on 10/22/2008 11:09 PM

ayo · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:19:41 PM »

i have both balls and my ultra is cleaning through the heads while the bz is more even rolly. what if you try a copperhead with some surface prep?

« **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:26:44 PM »

My Copperhead with a little shine reacts pretty close to the Blast. Maybe a bigger move late, but still smooth. Not a bad option, too.

One thing to take into consideration is the bowler's release. Is he very consistent? If so, either one will do. If not, asymmetrical core balls tend to "expose" bad releases more than symmetrical core balls, which tend to be more forgiving to inconsistent bowlers.

--------------------
Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
www.brunswickbowling.com

six pack · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:19:20 AM »

my BZ polished handles about the same amount of oil as my Twisted,both with the same cover prep.the blast make a big move off the dry while the twisted has a tame backend.the blast is drilled 5-1/2" by 3-1/2" pin under mid ring and the twisted is 5" above and center with the same on the mb.both balls are finished 1000 Abralon and a compound finish.IMO it depends on what his original BZ was finished at and the layout but I would think you could get it close with lay out and cover prep.I had a pin under copper and tried the same cover prep as my blast and it still didn't have the backend as the BZ.
for the record the Blast was not that great until I shined up the cover and used it on a med house shot,the core seemed to match up better with a shined up cover.
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The harder I try the harder they fall

ayo · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:11:01 PM »

Quote

for the record the Blast was not that great until I shined up the cover and used it on a med house shot,the core seemed to match up better with a shined up cover.
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really? i felt it was best the way it was. although mine is drilled with a rico pattern. was thinking about finding another one as well.

302efi · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:54:39 PM »

quote:
for the record the Blast was not that great until I shined up the cover and used it on a med house shot,the core seemed to match up better with a shined up cover.

For me it was the oppisite. When I got the ball it looked so dull that I shined it before I even drilled it The ball pretty much did nothing at all.

I pretty much marked the ball up as a loss. Then the next week I decided to hit it with a grey pad and toss it in practice. Wow did the ball come ALIVE ! Nice recovery with a hard arcy reaction. All I had to do was get he ball in the oil and just touch it off the dry. Pretty decent carry as well !
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quote:
I will head to my local pro shop. Right after I buy it online.

Sport Bowling is a F**king joke

Edited on 10/23/2008 2:55 PM

six pack · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2008, 04:47:11 PM »

for me between the BZ,copperhead and LevRg with a dull finish I like the copperhead the best,then the LevRg as the Blast seemed to have too much backend for a heavy oil pattern and too strong up front for a med oil shot.shined up the cover and it's been a great med oil ball.I'm sure the layout I have on it helped with the reaction I get but I like it alot.
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The harder I try the harder they fall

Slumpbuster · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2008, 05:27:50 PM »

The biggest difference was that the blast zone was horrible and the ultra is pretty darned good. Blast and ultra i had similar, ultra was much cleaner in the front, much stronger at the spot and much more continuous. The blast was early and quit and typical big b reaction. On that note, we are constantly promised for the last year of releases that new big ball ball will be a "new reaction" that we haven't seen out of a big b cover. The ultra is the only thing close to a different reaction so far!
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Come AMF/900 or don't come at all!!

« **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2008, 07:41:55 PM »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Watch the Maxxx Zone and Twisted Destruction.

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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Amateur Staff
www.brunswickbowling.com

Edited on 10/23/2008 7:42 PM

raiderh20boy · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2008, 07:51:59 PM »

msg sent
Thanks

Author Topic: Difference Between Blast and Ultra? (Read 4124 times)

Doug Sterner

Difference Between Blast and Ultra?

rockerbowler18

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Doug Sterner

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rockerbowler18

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ayo

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six pack

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ayo

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302efi

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six pack

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Slumpbuster

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raiderh20boy

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