Author Topic: Widow Venom (Read 2849 times)

oooink · « **on:** December 11, 2008, 02:48:41 AM »

Need some help here!

So I got the widow venom at the beginning of the season. This ball was amazing, nice and sharp on the back end. Well about 2 weeks ago, the ball just stopped turning. So I took it to my local pro shop guy and he did some surface work to it. Well still nothing! I find it hard to believe that after 4 months of bowling that a ball will just die like that! Considering my 2nd ball out is a track rule which is about 4 yrs old now and still turns quite nicely. So im looking for some suggestions here. I really find it hard to believe that the ball is just dead, or is it?!? I will say this, if that is the case, I will never touch another hammer/ebonite product again! So any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciate! Thanks in advance for your help!

Eric

911chilli · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2008, 11:08:28 AM »

sounds fishy all i throw is ebo and hammer, i got the origanal one and it still hooks after 3 seasons on it. never had ball death like alot of guys on here do.
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the little lights there not twinkling.

ucumin2 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2008, 11:13:39 AM »

I'll explain it to you this way its a flip of a coin with the new hammer/ebonite made balls . I have a widow that has died but my TNV is still kicking. You can try soaking it sanding it but still will be dead. Sand it down too like 100 grit and then sand it back up too a shine. May work for little while longer. I would say if you dont have the money to keep throwing around go to non ebonite ball try a brunswick

cooksey · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2008, 11:15:50 AM »

Try a hot water bath or if your pro shop has a revivor oven that would work. Have the lane conditions changed? Maybe it is burning up. I have a beatn and it is a sponge lol. I have to bath it after about 30 games or it goes to crap.

cooksey
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" Focus the next shot is critical"

AIM:johncooksey24

bluerrpilot · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2008, 01:55:27 PM »

A change in lane conditions and maybe your release is more likly the culprit. Balls that have polish still on them dont absorb oil as fast as those without.
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"USBC is concerned that technology has overtaken player skill in determining success in the sport of bowling"

janderson · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2008, 02:59:20 PM »

Do you usually play the Widow down and in and swing the Track Rule? Are the statements in your original post when playing both balls on the same lane? How many different houses have you bowled in during the last 2 weeks? What's the surface on the Widow and the surface on the Rule?

We're talking about a 2 week period of time here. All it takes is a couple more people on your pair on league night burning up the same part of the mid-lane your ball will burn up in the mids and straighten out on the back. Any number of factors (such as a weaker cover) may make the Rule appear to have more back end when thrown on the same line on the same lanes.
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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson - "Better than Jello" - Kill the back row

janderson · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2008, 03:12:24 PM »

quote:
I have to say...The same thing has happened to me. It'll still hook, but nothing like it used to. i always cleaned it after every 3 games, as i do with all my balls.

"The same thing happened to me" regarding this type of topic is rare because the number of variables involved.

How many games are on it? Was the surface left in box condition or was it sanded / polished? When was the last time you took the surface back to its original condition? With a ball spinner? Cleaning after every session is good. When was the last time it was resurfaced? How many different houses do you bowl in? How often are the lanes conditioned? Has the house changed the condition? Has the house really changed the condition or are you guessing? When was the last time you had your span/grips/finger holes checked for proper fit? Have you had a recent injury? Muscle strain? Bowled while tired?

I can go on with a great number of possible reasons why "it ain't hooking as much" has happened to you.

Seriously folks, apply some logic here. Is it more likely your ball just suddenly, out of nowhere, "died" and won't hook anymore or that one of the other 1000's of possible variables or some combination thereof is to blame? I'm not saying that manufacturers never have a bad batch of balls, but that's the exception, not the rule.

Don't get defensive when someone suggests you don't take care of your equipment the way you should. The vast majority of bowlers do not do so. If I never changed the oil in my car and complained on a automobile gear-head forum, I'd expect to be ridiculed when complaining about the car not running right.

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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson - "Better than Jello" - Kill the back row

Edited on 12/12/2008 9:23 AM

leftyinsnellville · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2008, 03:29:12 PM »

Throw it in the dishwasher with no detergent and the "dry" function turned off. If that doesn't work, take it down to 360 with an abralon pad, run it through the dishwasher again, then bring it back up to 2000 and throw on some polish. I bet it'll work like a champ then.
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220...221...whatever it takes.

Fatboy8 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2008, 10:18:38 PM »

Sounds like you need to de-oil the ball. My Solid has a ton of games, and I've only soaked it once, and it's still pretty strong. I've noticed alot of the newer Hammer's track up pretty quick (my Sauce and Venom), but oil soak or loss of reaction I haven't noticed though.
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Nothing Hit's Like A Hammer

Maine Man · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2008, 10:36:57 PM »

Bowling ball death is a myth, as there are always mitigating factors that give the bowler the impression their particular ball has "died". Here are three common reasons that many bowlers would mistake for ball death:

1) The bowler does not know how to properly read lane oil transition.

2) Using a ball meant for floods on a lighter oil volume.

3) Improper cleaning and maintenance of your bowling equipment.

I have some balls (ebonite / hammer included) with over 1000 games on them, with almost zero loss in reaction. I have yet to see a ball truly "die" unless it comes into the shop in pieces, in which case it is dead.

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James Goulding
Moores Pro Shop
My Bowling blog: http://bowler2bowler.wordpress.com
State Site: http://www.msusbc-maine.org
Local Link: www.lausbca.org

ucumin2 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2008, 08:01:18 AM »

With that all said now belive it its true Ball death does happen. Everyone says you didnt clean ur balls or your throwing it a wrong shot. They are all good reasons but from me been cleaned after every 3 game set and deep cleaned by drill every 30 games Black widow solid orignal is dead. Like i said flip a coin if you want to throw moeney away try there ball if not dont go with them

quote:
Bowling ball death is a myth, as there are always mitigating factors that give the bowler the impression their particular ball has "died". Here are three common reasons that many bowlers would mistake for ball death:

1) The bowler does not know how to properly read lane oil transition.

2) Using a ball meant for floods on a lighter oil volume.

3) Improper cleaning and maintenance of your bowling equipment.

I have some balls (ebonite / hammer included) with over 1000 games on them, with almost zero loss in reaction. I have yet to see a ball truly "die" unless it comes into the shop in pieces, in which case it is dead.
--------------------
James Goulding
Moores Pro Shop
My Bowling blog: http://bowler2bowler.wordpress.com
State Site: http://www.msusbc-maine.org
Local Link: www.lausbca.org

Author Topic: Widow Venom (Read 2849 times)

oooink

Widow Venom

911chilli

Re: Widow Venom

ucumin2

Re: Widow Venom

cooksey

Re: Widow Venom

bluerrpilot

Re: Widow Venom

janderson

Re: Widow Venom

janderson

Re: Widow Venom

leftyinsnellville

Re: Widow Venom

Fatboy8

Re: Widow Venom

Maine Man

Re: Widow Venom

ucumin2

Re: Widow Venom