What do the cheaper balls that some department stores carry do reaction wise with a pancake weight block? Did all older balls have this type of weight block? Sorry if this is a simplistic question I am just curious.
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Most ball reaction (70%+) comes from the coverstock, the core adds some reaction characteristic. Pancake core balls have a high RG (highest possible), which means that they are harder to rev up than a low RG core. RG differential also tends to be low (although there are exceptions), and they normally use "weak" coverstocks since they are cheap and intended for beginners or as a dry lane solution for experienced players. Therefore, they tend not to move too much on the lane and are IMHO a step up from polyester balls. The pancake is also a simple way to add some top weight to counter the loss of weight through drilling, so that many polyester balls today also have a pancake "on top".

Before the "true" core was intruduced into bowling balls, tghose were massive things. Idea was to create excess energy to be delivered in the back end - a revolutionary idea at its time. The first 2 piece core was introduced in 1974, as far as I know, but wide coverage only began in the 80ies through Hammer.
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
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