Author Topic: Thin cover stock - plus or minus? (Read 3411 times)

lion · « **on:** October 23, 2003, 05:50:35 PM »

Bought a new V2 Particle Ball. After it was drilled I noticd the shell of the ball was very thin. It was a dark colar and then the white. It was probably about 1/4 inch of cover stock.
Yet, some of my other balls like Quantum Blue Slate has a cover that is about 2 inches thick. Also, olders balls like Triton Elite and the much older Black and blue hammers have thick covers. When I use them they hit real hard.
Also, many of the new balls have these thin covers.
Any idea behind those thin covers?

JohnP · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2003, 02:44:25 PM »

lion -- One downside to thin coverstock is that it limits the number of times you can have the ball refinished. -- JohnP

lion · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2003, 05:03:20 PM »

Bob,
Yes, I know the white is filler. I also understand that the cover of the ball is the most expensive part to manufacture. So, the point may be that ball mfgs are cutting costs and giving us a cheaper product with just a lot of hype.
A lot of balls today are cracking. I had two track heat balls crack and others like the Track Elite with chips around the fingers. My old black and blue hammers are still hitting hard, granted not hooking as much unless sanded.
The question is -- are the thin ball covers just a cost saving device or could there be a technology betterment here.

Edited on 10/25/2003 5:16 PM

Edited on 10/25/2003 5:17 PM

Doc Hollywood · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2003, 05:44:02 PM »

Lion - In answer to your question about coverstock thickness. Depending on how a core is built (size and weight) and how dense the material is determines the overall weight the filler and coverstock must weigh. Often times in the past it was explained that the thinner coverstocks were, they provided more flex and could provide a wider footprint on the lane and when hitting the pins the ball would compress and cause the pins to spring off on impact. Kinda like how a golf ball compresses and springs off the golf club face.

I do not know how much truth there is to this but it sounds good. Overall I believe that the weight and densities have the most to do with the bowling ball coverstock thickness. If the core has a big motor (size, density and weight greater than 50%) then the coverstock has less influence. If the core has a small motor (less then 50% of the size and density and weight) then the coverstock can have a greater impact. Think small car with a huge motor. Motor has power but can't work until it gets hooked up. Large car small motor hooks up fast but can't get going until in motion.

This allows ball companies to make ball do different things on the lanes.
--------------------
Doc
Owner and Inventor of
DOC'S MAGIC BOWLING BALL ELIXIR
For more information click on the link below
http://home.comcast.net/~docsmagic/
or message me at:
http://Doc65@aol.com

Edited on 10/25/2003 5:53 PM

lion · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2003, 07:25:01 AM »

Doc, That is interesting.
I must say when using the V2 Particle ball new the pins do bounce around a lot more than some of the older equipment I have like the elnino 2000 or heat 2.
What do you think would be the theory behind the construction of the V2 particle, just to use that ball as an example?

Doc Hollywood · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2003, 08:47:34 AM »

Lion - The V2 series of balls have pretty strong cores in regards to controlling the lane dynamic and flare. The coverstock helps to grip in the oil and drive. Strong core strong cover hook up well with the grip at the pins and the core driving that is why you see the hit.

I see how a lot of bowlers use balls that do not hook up at the right time on the lanes and this is why they do not carry well. The ball must drive the pins not deflect as if skidding or rolling. Balls that no longer drive but roll into the pins look like they are driving but deflect at the pins. Balls that skid into the pocket never get a chance to drive the pins beacause the ball just catches the head pin and then bounces off more. These are some of he reasons why people leave 10 pins or solid 9's. Often times the ball deflects too much and delfects so much that the ball ends up hitting the 9 pin in the face instead of catching it on the side. Adjustments are to hit high flush or get a ball to expend less energy in the front and mid part of the lanes. Balls that drive too hard need to expend more energy early on or hit light.

These are just some of the things that are needed to get the reaction we want on the lanes and I have not even begun to get into axis rotation or tilt or even coverstock prep.

I hope this helps
--------------------
Doc
Owner and Inventor of
DOC'S MAGIC BOWLING BALL ELIXIR
For more information click on the link below
http://home.comcast.net/~docsmagic/
or message me at:
http://Doc65@aol.com

Author Topic: Thin cover stock - plus or minus? (Read 3411 times)

lion

Thin cover stock - plus or minus?

JohnP

Re: Thin cover stock - plus or minus?

lion

Re: Thin cover stock - plus or minus?

Doc Hollywood

Re: Thin cover stock - plus or minus?

lion

Re: Thin cover stock - plus or minus?

Doc Hollywood

Re: Thin cover stock - plus or minus?