I am a decent bowler...legitimate 200+ shooter for a couple years, with plenty of tournament experience.  Im a tweener, with above average ball speed, moderate turn, and a roll more forward than not.

I simply have had no success with particle equipment.  For me, none of it has been able to hook, and what has managed to wrinkle has been extremely squirty in oil.  I thought that a strong particle ball is meant to blend out wet/drys???  For me it does the opposite....and its not like i haven't thrown that many balls.  I have thrown my dad's equipment as we have the exact same span, and that of a few other bowlers whom I have similar spans.

I have thrown (all for 10 games+ on different conditions)
AMF - Nighthawk Menace and Menace pearl (the pearl was actually decent in dry)
Brunswick - ProZone Teal
Columbia - Rock, Rock On
Dynothane - Vendetta Particle Pearl, Anomoly, Thing Lives
Ebonite - Apex Intensity
Lane #1 - Carbide (the blue one...hits hard though)
Storm X-Factor Deuce, X-Factor Reloaded,

Is it just me?? or has anybody else had the same problem??? I have found old standby equipment (Quantums, Zones, Matrixes) to be way more powerful as far as hit, strong roll and consistency.  Thinking about picking up a Nemesis and sanding it to about 400 to hook.  The center I bowl at is on the oily side, with extreme carrydown as oil pushes down fast.  I can get to the pocket with my own stuff, but I know that come tournament time, more oil is possible...any suggestions??
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Spin....the way to generate killer backend.

Lazolio: There is a lot here. I'll provide some thoughts.

The reality is that many of the stereotypes about 'particle vs. reactive' simply aren't true anymore.

In the beginning, there was certainly some truth. The original breed of high-load particles (Brunswick ProZone, Storm La Nina, etc.) provided the classic heavy arching roll with minimal backend.

However, times (and technology) have changed. Particles now come in more flavors than Baskin Robbins ice cream. While there are still some classic high-load particles available (i.e. Lane#1 Super Carbide Bomb), the market is now dominated with solid low-load particles and pearl particles that overlap reactive resin reaction.

I'll provide Lane#1 for example, comparing the Solid Uranium (reactive), Uranium (pearl reactive), and Golden Nugget (Pearl Particle). The Uraniums hook earlier and have less backend the Nugget. Old 'particle vs. reactive' logic says this shouldn't happen, but the rules have changed. Reactive resins have become stronger, and core dynamics play a much bigger role than most bowlers understand.

This is probably why you mistakenly took your X-Factor Duece as a particle -- it's not. The Deuce is Storm's Accutread reactive, which provides for some of the classic roll characteristics found in particles.

In your case, the answer probably lies in your own description of your style:

 

quote:

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Im a tweener, with above average ball speed, moderate turn, and a roll more forward than not.

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With 'roll more forward than not', you're not going to see the full backend hook potential of any particle equipment. Of the balls you mentioned, I have both the Deuce and Intensity. I can say with absolute conviction that with the right drill and roll (even for a tweener), these balls have backend that rivals most high performance reactive pieces.

The variables in the old 'particle vs. reactive' debate have changed. Consider this when evaluating what you think you're observing.
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"You want the truth? -- You can't handle the truth! "



Edited on 1/7/2005 12:54 PM