Author Topic: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite (Read 3275 times)

mumzie · « **on:** December 09, 2003, 12:45:42 AM »

I don't own any Ebonite equipment. Don't really know why, but every time it's been time to get a new ball, nothing they've had has tempted me.
I was talking with a couple of friends over the weekend, and they said that if I love the early roll of Brunswick, I'd really love ebonite. I don't see it, but I'm willing to listen. My one friend said that if you don't have a lot of hand, Ebonite is the company. From what I've seen, Ebonite stuff isn't too bad, but it seems to die an early death. Brunswick just keeps going.
Thoughts?

Steven · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2003, 04:14:25 PM »

Mumzie: I have a fair amount of Ebonite equipment as follows:

1) Apex Intensity
2) Savage (Solid sanded)
3) Matrix Trimax II
4) V2 Particle
5) V2 Dry
6) Navy Stinger (2 of them

)
7) Stinger Low Flare

Tiger
9) Red Wolf (Vintage 1995 and still going strong)

Now to some of your statements:

quote:
I was talking with a couple of friends over the weekend, and they said that if I love the early roll of Brunswick, I'd really love ebonite.

Too much of a generalization. Like any other company, it depends on the specific ball and drill pattern. The statement certainly applies to the Savage. Keep the cover in box condition and put a CG out drill on it, and the ball is all roll. However, most of the rest of my stuff, including the Apex, gets some length before breakpoint. The Stinger and Tiger are about as skid/snap as you can get.

quote:
My one friend said that if you don't have a lot of hand, Ebonite is the company.

I like Ebonite a lot, but I've yet to throw one of their balls (from what I own or at Demo Days) that compensates for lack of hand. If you're looking for a ball that will roll regardless of release, a dull Particle from any company will accomplish about the same thing.

quote:
From what I've seen, Ebonite stuff isn't too bad, but it seems to die an early death.

I've heard this before, yet when I try to pin down the folks who make these statements, they can't give specifics or they are the type of folks who simply don't take care of their equipment. All I can say is that I've thrown 200+ games on several of the balls listed above, and I've yet to have one "die". Ebonite has excellent ball maintenance procedures documented on their website. Follow them (for any ball) and life span should not be an issue.
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"You want the truth? -- You can't handle the truth! "

L o G · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2003, 04:40:14 PM »

I have a few Ebonites Vortex 1, Vortex Afterburner (two of them) Turbo Black Panther, Matrix TPS and Trimax 1, and have loved them. The only ones that have even come close to dieing are the particle ones, but I am one of those that does not clean them as often as I should. From what I have see Ebonite is a love hate company, I have not met alot of people that say Ebonite is "ok" it is eather they love it or hate, ex. Rightside and myself. Steven pretty much hit the nail on the head with what he said.
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Deadman Walkin

Edited on 12/9/2003 5:40 PM

bigfoot · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2003, 04:51:34 PM »

I love my Vortex -- on the lighter conditions it's my go to ball.

laner7pin · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2003, 05:22:55 PM »

I had the original Apex and hated it, sold it after 10 games. After seeing everybody in site having at least one (or 6) Ebonites, I tried the V2 Solid and loved it. Picked up a V2 Pearl to go hand in hand and they are 2 great balls. Thinking of a V2 Strong or V2 Particle, but need to down size the load a bunch before I go getting more balls.
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This post was brought to you by just another lefty hack who considers covering corners bonus pins added to the series....

Phillip Marlowe · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2003, 05:52:05 PM »

I've tried a number of Ebonite balls and had some drilled for my lovely, hand-challenged spouse. From my observations, they do roll earlier than competing products from some other companies (similar to many Lane One or Visionary products) and do help those who are hand challenged. For example, the Stingers and Savage Flip are all very good balls for those with minimal speed and few revs, because they get down the lane reasonably and then go into a hard roll. The APEX line, with the exception of the Adrenaline, was absurdly early and even for my tastes, as were most of the Matrix balls. Remember, however, I am not a particular fan of early, even rolling equipment, so the equipment I tried just didn't fit my game. I think the tendency of Ebonite equipment is to be a bit more even and early, but I haven't tried the newest (TPC line) stuff.
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"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

mumzie · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2003, 06:28:22 PM »

thanks, all for your replies.
I'd like to elaborate on my previous statement -
the actual statement that was made that anyone without a "TON of hand" would love Ebonite - which I took to meant that for the average bowler, ebonite would be the first choice...
I am not rev-challenged - I'm just not Robert Smith.

In other words, for a girl, I have a fair amount of hand...

I have tried some equipment at a demo day a couple of years ago, and frankly, I wasn't that terribly impressed. I have heard very good things about the V2 line, though.

I'm just collecting opinions right now. I don't really need anything else right now - in fact, I have several balls in the old truck that have less than 6 shots with them - I need to figure out what I've got before I figure out what I need.

But - I'd love to know more about why you love or hate Ebonite. I'm definitely not a single ball company kind of bowler, but I do favor Brunswick, with Storm being close behind.

Steven · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2003, 07:06:43 PM »

Mumzie: Before getting into the 'love/hate' specifics, I want to say that even though I have a lot of Ebonite equipment, I'm not attached to one ball company. I also throw Storm, Columbia, Track, and a failed experiment called Lane#1.

Anyway, I look for a unique reaction when searching for a new ball. That's what originally got me to try an Ebonite. I was looking for drier lane equipment that would actually hit/carry, so with some trusted advice, I tried a Navy Stinger. The ball was/is incredible, and still a gem among low end equipment. Next I went up the ladder and tried the Tiger, and was equally impressed with bang for the buck. I often think of that ball as a better Eraser than an Eraser. Going further up the food chain in aggressiveness, I got the Martix Trimax II, which gave me the look of the Tiger on oiler conditions.

My next search was for a Particle ball that could actually turn the corner with authority. The Apex Intensity had the right specs, and again, I was pleasantly surprised -- particle reaction in the mid lane with resin snap at the breakpoint.

My subsequent Ebonite purchases have reacted OK, but I haven't been overwhelmed. The Savage solid rolls up too early for my taste, and the cover reaction basically dies when I polish it up to retain energy. So I've taken the surface down and use it for heavier oil practice. The V2 Particle is fair, but nothing special. I've polished it up and use it for medium condition practice. The V2 Dry in my opinion is a disappointment -- it's too strong for dry but not aggressive enough for the mediums. It's probably my style, but I just don't match up perfectly to the V2 line. However, others love them.

For your purposes, try to avoid the urge to put all Ebonites into a nice little package with a single label. The company offers a full range of Symmetric cores (V2, etc.) and Asymmetric cores (Apex, etc.) with a multitude of different covers, which provide completely different looks on the lanes. They may offer a broader range of reactions than any other company. That's why I'm always amused when posters emphatically say "Ebonites are this" or "Ebonites are that". Do your research before buying an Ebonite because a single look and reaction doesn't exist.

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"You want the truth? -- You can't handle the truth! "

Brickguy221 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2003, 09:01:35 PM »

I'll vouch for the V2 Pearl. This was my first Ebonite which I bought approx. a year ago. It immediately became the first ball out of my bag until I bought a Lane 1 Emerald a while back. However I still love the V2 and still use it.
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In the old days, they used axes to chop up wood...Nowadays, they use "BUZZSAWS".

slimeypebble · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2003, 01:01:02 AM »

I have been a long time ebonite user and from what I have thrown, the majority of the equipment has been late breaking, angular balls. But if you are looking for some earlier roling stuff, i would say a savage sanded, a v2 particle, v2 sanded, v2 strong, or a tpc player. I have thrown all and they can move early if drilled right. Personally i love the player and savage. Honestly if you can, look for a demo days around you, this way you can try them out and decide what you like.

jensm · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:23:29 AM »

Judging from an RG and Diff chart on the Ebonite website they seem to cover the whole spectrum.

http://www.ebonite.com/techcenter/rgdif.php

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Regards,

jensm

sheppy335 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2003, 07:47:33 AM »

Mumzie,
I do have a allot of hand and i love Ebonite! I own a original Apex, Apex Adrenaline, Predator Jungle, Predator Sparkle, Tidal wave, and Gryo 1. I have never had a problem with these balls dying because i take care of them. I am looking into getting a V2 dry to add and i am very excited and would never look at another type of ball but that is only my feelings. I have tried other ball companies but love my ebonites. Again they are not for everyone and everyone is entitled to there own opinion.
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Oil is served Best with fingers!

Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!

Sheppy

ambi1 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2003, 12:08:28 AM »

Steven has hit the nail on the head but to add mY 2 CENTS:

I was not really a single company bowler in the days of urethane and wood, as i felt there was not real difference between the various ball and the bowler was responsible for the ball to work.. i stopped in the early 80's and got back late 1999.

Why I ended up with ebonite was:
1) as i was researching the new balls, when I came back to bowling, ebonite (for me), had the most understandable balls offering and rating. this lead me to try a wildcat, it did its job, (so i thought as i had that one reactive ball and still didn't have any thing else for comparison). And I was satisfied. so I got the pantera and the tiger which leads me to the next reason why I stuck with ebonite;

2) bang for the buck! The cat series is really somthing else.

To date I've owned the following:
2 panteras (pantera 1 more than 1000 games on heavy oil) / tiger (1k games or more)/ wildcat (lent it to my friend, liked it so much he didn't return it anymore LOL!!)/ intensity (250+ games) / savage pearl (500+)/ my comments are except for the savage pearl, the other balls have either met or exceeded my expectations of them as per the shot for which they were purchased for. (Other balls I've thrown that I liked from the line is matrix dynasty, obsession, and the flip. Balls from a demo day, those I didn't like predator, v2 strong, tpc player.)

Does this mean I think Ebonite is better than the other companies in terms of the 'magic bullet' theory - NO! But in terms of offerings and convenience I'm satisfied. I also like the monster green (brunswick), and the freak line from track. but ebonite does give a good offering, good value for perfomance.

So to sum it up, the line is pretty deep, and for me it is much simpler to keep within one company to better set up my equipment. ( I do own an eraser and a brunswick monster red also)

regards

Edited on 12/15/2003 2:22 AM

Edited on 12/15/2003 2:27 AM

Author Topic: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite (Read 3275 times)

mumzie

Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

Steven

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

L o G

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

bigfoot

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

laner7pin

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

Phillip Marlowe

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

mumzie

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

Steven

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

Brickguy221

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

slimeypebble

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

jensm

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

sheppy335

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite

ambi1

Re: Someone told me I'd love Ebonite