Until last year it had been about ten years or more since I had shopped for a new ball.  Back then there was a choice between "proactive" and "reactive," as well as urethane or plastic.

Now I do not hear the term proactive anymore.

Can anyone shed light on this.  Is it just different terminology or is there no such thing as proactive anymore, or what?

If my memory serves me correctly, I'm sure I'll be corrected if wrong😉 "Proactive" was Brunswick branded particle cover stocks. While you can still find particles there kind of under the rug now a days.  The terms have changed a bit. Reactive resins are kind of split in three genres. Solids, pearls and hybrids. Urethane still exists although little different formula than it used to be.

Yes Proactive is what Brunswick called their brand of particle balls back then.

Those proactives would eat up a piece of regular wet/dry sandpaper, they were hard sand down. that's when they started suggesting using Trizact paper on them.

As others have said, particle balls are still out there, but they aren't widely marketed as such anymore due to the negative connotation many bowlers have of particle balls based upon some of the missteps of the early attempts at using that technology.

Just remembered another particle everyone around me hated but I loved. The La Niña! Had such a heavy particle load it felt like its was micro fiber!

It seemed to me that many Lefties loved the Particles and proactives of yesteryear.

I loved for over 10 years my Icon 2 and would take it to many centers in Florida to reduce the over under of fresh shots that exists for a long time on the left in non blended centers.  It was a wonderful answer.  Another super favorite was a Pro Zone Violet.  I gave it away/sold it only because I had so many 279s with it in practice and bigger money non sanctioned tournaments.  Not so smart...missing it today!

Supposedly all the surface texture things being done in preparation are the replacement for particles(additives).

However, one often hears about MoPinel working now with Radical and lefty New Guy are often coming up with just the right set of additives to give great rolls!  Me thinks todays variants of particles.  Probably more loved by lefties as many times our balls don't see friction till well down lane.

Thanks Mo!  Thanks Phil!

Regards,

Luckylefty
PS right now I still have a nice smooth strong Columbia Reaction Roll and it takes the over under out easily.  Sometimes it has bled off too much energy by the time it reaches the pocket!
PPS  I was a big fan of MICA also in balls.  Again...Thanks MO!