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Author Topic: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction  (Read 7013 times)

lefty50

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Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« on: April 07, 2012, 11:21:43 PM »
For the first 15-20 games, my 14lb Gamebreaker has been great. Like an idiot I decided to play with the surface using my spinner to tweak the reaction. Ever since, no matter which direction I go or what I do, it's turned into a very mellow ball that seems to have only one reaction at any house and on any surface. Really strange. I've gone as low as 600 dull, plus 1000, 1500 and 2000. I don't really have anything higher than 2000, but maybe that's what I'm missing. Any ideas on what original finish is and/or whether the Gamebreaker is sensitive to surface adjustments?

 

Constructive feedback appreciated

 

Thanks in advance


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charlest

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2012, 11:36:44 PM »
The Gamebreaker had a fairly oil absorbent shell. If you had the surface at  the stock 2000 grit, and had been using it on a good amount oil, it is possible that it needs an oil extraction already. BUT the first thing I would do, if I were you, is to do a thorough refresh of the surface with a strong cleaner, like Clean and Dull or Hook-It, as the lubricant. One, use all fresh Siaair or Abralon pads. Start with a 500 grit, use the cleaner (with rubber gloves!!!!) as a lubricant. Do about 30-45 seconds per side (2 - 4 sides), using medium pressure. Then do 1000 grit, about 30 -45 seconds per side, then do 2000 grit for about 30 seconds per side.
 
All this with the proviso that the oil pattern and amount at your center(s) has not changed!!
The seasons are changing (in many parts of the US) and with temperature & humidity changes come change in ball reactions with the same balls on the same oil pattern/amounts. One scenario: It looks like something has changed and you wonder what's going on, blaming the ball and the oil machine or the oil man and the only thing that has changed is the weather. On the other hand, it could be they're oiling earlier and there's some open bowling before your league. Maybe they're drier or carrydown has been created.  All are "POTENTIAL" causes.
 
Make sure that none of this is happening, as near as you can determine, BEFORE blaming the ball.
This is all standard stuff. Just maybe it hasn't occurred to you - you're so focused on what's in front of you. 
 
Of course it could be the ball ....
 
If the refreshing didn't work AND the problem does seem to be the ball, try an oil extraction (Revivor, Rejuvenator or hot water).


"None are so blind as those who will not see."

 
 
Edited by charlest on 4/7/2012 at 9:38 PM
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

lefty50

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2012, 12:05:09 PM »
The thought that my pads may be worn out did occur to me and my new supply (which I will mark after each use this time) arrived yesterday...  Not sure that's it because I can still affect surface changes on all other balls. Just seems like this one is not happy about surface changes. Of course, I had the same problem with an original Kinetic/Seismic Solaris last year, so maybe it's (shudder) operator error...

 

I actually haven't tried Clean and Dull as a lubricant when sanding, just as a cleaner. I'll try it today and let you know when I roll my 300 tomorrow whether it was a 300 for one game or a set... :)

Thanks, as always

Steve 


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charlest

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2012, 12:42:47 PM »
I suggested the use of a deep cleaner as a lubricant, only in this case, because you may ("MAY"!) also have enough oil absorbed to affect the ball's hook. Using it this way may help remove some oil from the surface and just a tiny bit below the surface. Normally you'd use water as a lubricant.
 
ALSO: Have you been cleaning each ball IMMEDIATELY after each use, with a strong, deep cleaner like these 2? I mean at the center, before putting it into the bag  These days this is essential for ANY ball. The only one I don't do that with is my polyester spare ball.
 
lefty50 wrote on 4/8/2012 10:05 AM
I actually haven't tried Clean and Dull as a lubricant when sanding, just as a cleaner. I'll try it today and let you know when I roll my 300 tomorrow whether it was a 300 for one game or a set... :)

Thanks, as always

Steve 


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lefty50

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2012, 01:30:08 PM »
I carry Hook-It with me to the lanes, but have been a little lazy, maybe 50% of the time at the lanes. Also been experimenting with the new Adrenalinbe wipes, although not impressed so far. Cleans off dirt, yes. Enhances reaction, no...

Maybe time for a warm bath and then deep cleaning? (The ball, not me....)


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Edited by lefty50 on 4/8/2012 at 11:30 AM

Brickguy221

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2012, 01:42:11 PM »
I have 2 Gamebreakers .... a 14# and a 15#.

 

The 14# probably has in the area of 175+ games on it and the 15# probably has in the area of 80+ games on it. I clean my balls very religiouly at the lanes immediately when done using that specific ball and have not had a problem of lost reaction. I also clean them at home with Clean & Dull every 15 or so games. I did recently though, refurbish the cover on the 14# with some new Saair pads going 500-1000-2000 grit and the ball looked NIB when thru.

 

I think the Gamebreaker comes NIB at 4000 grit, but not sure about that, but I have been successful at "very lightly" hitting the cover with 2000 grit pads every 40 or so games.


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lefty50

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2012, 02:31:26 PM »
Hi Brick, long time no talk. I know Charlest is extremely knowledgeable on cleaners as well, but curiosity wise, what do you use at the lanes?


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charlest

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2012, 02:58:43 PM »
Please use the Hook-It.
I was going to mention the Adrenaline wipes.  I had a couple of email conversations with the Track product manager, Rich Hanson, about them in December 2011. They do enhance the oil absorption properties of the ball. I had seen that with 3 or 4 of my balls. I don't use it that often, because I bowl on lighter oils and I don't want my balls hooking more. If you're not seeing this enhanced reaction when you use them, maybe your ball is oil soaked?? I've seen it in balls, like the Blue/Green Centaur which hardly absorbs oil at all.
 
I've seen some cleaning effect with Adrenaline but that is not its main purpose, I believe. Use the Hook-It religiously after each session!! Then use the Adrenaline wipes every other session.
lefty50 wrote on 4/8/2012 11:30 AM:
I carry Hook-It with me to the lanes, but have been a little lazy, maybe 50% of the time at the lanes. Also been experimenting with the new Adrenalinbe wipes, although not impressed so far. Cleans off dirt, yes. Enhances reaction, no...

Maybe time for a warm bath and then deep cleaning? (The ball, not me....)


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Edited by lefty50 on 4/8/2012 at 11:30 AM


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charlest

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2012, 03:06:16 PM »
Brick,
 
I'm about 99.99% sure the GB's stock surface is  2000 grit.
Ebonite's resource Rating Matrix still shows that: Rating Matrix
BowlingBallVault agrees: Gamebreaker file
 


"None are so blind as those who will not see."

 
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

lefty50

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2012, 04:33:40 PM »
Thanks Charlest. No pun intended, but let me "spin" this in a slightly different direction for a side question. considering that I want to get eh ball back to OOB as much as possible. Is there really a big difference in final result if I use a 2, 4 or 6 sided approach on the spinner for sanding?


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charlest

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2012, 05:57:33 PM »
For me, I'll let the manufacturers do 6 "sides". If I'm doing a total resurfacing (totally tracked out ball) then I'll do 4 "sides". Otherwise, 99% of the time I do 2 sides. With most ball cups in/on spinners, around 2/3 - 3/4 of the ball is above the cup. So every time you do "1 side", you're doing at least 2/3 of the ball. I'm not a lazy person under normal circumstances. I figure if you're doing 4 sides, you're overdoing it. Besides I never use a pad more than 5 times, sometimes even less, especially the fine ones like 2000 and 4000 grit. When you use medium pressure and on a spinner,with these sharp abrasives on new pads, you're putting a lot of sanding lines on that ball surface.
 
lefty50 wrote on 4/8/2012 2:33 PM:
Thanks Charlest. No pun intended, but let me "spin" this in a slightly different direction for a side question. considering that I want to get eh ball back to OOB as much as possible. Is there really a big difference in final result if I use a 2, 4 or 6 sided approach on the spinner for sanding?


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lefty50

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2012, 06:13:50 PM »
Thanks guys. I'm going to give it a nice warm Easter bath, or maybe even stick it in the oven with the ham... (doubt the wife will let me do that). I'll get it in shape and report back after givng it a full spa treatment.


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Balldoctor

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #12 on: April 08, 2012, 08:18:22 PM »
2000 is the finishing Abralon pad on The Game Breaker.

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Brickguy221

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #13 on: April 08, 2012, 10:39:39 PM »

 Jeff, you are probably right about the 2000 Grit. Guess that is why it has worked so well for me when I touched up the surface with 2000 Grit as well as recently refurbushing the 14# at 2000 Grit. I don't know why I thought the original was 4000 Grit.



charlest wrote on 4/8/2012 1:06 PM:
Brick,

 

I'm about 99.99% sure the GB's stock surface is  2000 grit.

Ebonite's resource Rating Matrix still shows that: Rating Matrix

BowlingBallVault agrees: Gamebreaker file


 



"None are so blind as those who will not see."




 


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Brickguy221

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Re: Game Breaker remake - changing surface and lost reaction
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2012, 10:53:50 PM »

 Lefty, I use mostly Valentino's Remedy RX most of the time and sometimes Black Magic Ultimate Rejuvenator. Both do an excellent job for me with the Rejuvenator "maybe" being a wee bit better but not all that much, but I probably favor the Remedy RX though because the smell isn't as potentent as the Rejuvenator.

 

I also use a Microfiber Towel dampened with the Remedy RX to wipe my ball before I bowl each frame. When I do this, when I finish bowling, my ball has very little dirt/oil on it and is almost already clean. Also when I do this, the Remedy RX and Rejuvenator clean equally. The only time the Rejuvenator out does the Remedy RX a wee-wee bit is if I don't wipe my ball down before bowling before each frame and only clean my ball when done bowling. When practicing, I seldom use my good balls and use older balls, thus I don't wipe down ball every frame in these instances and only clean the ball when done practicing.



lefty50 wrote on 4/8/2012 12:31 PM:
Hi Brick, long time no talk. I know Charlest is extremely knowledgeable on cleaners as well, but curiosity wise, what do you use at the lanes?


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"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away."

Brick
"Whenever I feel the urge to exercise I lie down until the feeling passes away"