Now that I jumped on the PBA pattern league, I am evaluating my equipment.  Currently I have a Track Champ, Columbia Wired, Columbia Panic and Plastic as my regular rotation.  I have a Columbia Jekyll I use occasionally, but it's not suited for my game so much...

I think the time has come for my Track Champ to retire.  The ball still is playable, but it was my second ever ball and even the fit doesn't seem right anymore.  I really like the consistency the ball gives me and it can mow through heavy oil. My Wired covers a lot of conditions, but it wants dry boards before moving, and that makes it bad for Sport patterns.   I like the nice even arcing balls more than the skid flip, which gets unpredictable.  I've heard a lot about the Track GP2's and how good they are in oil.  I am not closed to any company, and am most familiar with Track, Columbia and Brunswick.  

Would the GP2 be a good replacement for my Champ, or how are they different?  Can you give me some other balls that would make a good replacement?
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D <~~~~ Used to be terrible wiffing 10 pins.  Now through much practice, can wiff any single pin spare at any time.

Darrell Guzman
guzmand19 - Yahoo IM and MSN screen names

Good question Jeff!  I would want a ball that can handle heavier, I supposed.  Something adequate to play in the soup, but also still usable to play on heavier shots.  I don't want something that needs dry boards to move, I need something that can grit through on its own.


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D <~~~~ Used to be terrible wiffing 10 pins.  Now through much practice, can wiff any single pin spare at any time.

Darrell Guzman
guzmand19 - Yahoo IM and MSN screen names

guzmand19,

I actually got my hands on a NIB champ recently and drilled it up.

The GP2 is a ball that "does not need dry boards to move". It rolls a little earlier than the Champ and has much more backend reaction than the Champ does.

-EX-
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Amateur/Pro Shop Staff

Hey Rocket, thanks for the advice.  The ball you were mentioning I got halfway through the year was the Columbia Panic.  I can give it a shot, can't hurt.  The Track ball hasn't come off my hand right for a long time.  Maybe I should get it re-measured, and a simple plug and redrill might be in order.

The green ball I was using was the Columbia Wired.  I always feel like I get the best release from that ball.  

I hear you on spare balls.  My spare ball is a 16lb ball, when everything else is 15.  I always wonder if that doesn't cause some problems here and there.  I was thinking about making a change to something that will help my spare percentage.  Anyone know the proper layout for a basketball?
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D <~~~~ Used to be terrible wiffing 10 pins.  Now through much practice, can wiff any single pin spare at any time.

Darrell Guzman
guzmand19 - Yahoo IM and MSN screen names