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Author Topic: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?  (Read 6462 times)

Juggernaut

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Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« on: August 05, 2015, 04:09:15 AM »
 The topic of worst ball you've ever had made me wonder something.

 Are/were there some balls out there that were SO bad that they were just absolutely certified terribly bad "dogs" of the bowling ball world?

 They wouldn't be "hit or miss" type balls that some did and some didn't like, these would be those rare cases where you don't know virtually anybody who tried one that liked it, and were so bad that it makes you wonder how they ever got made and put on the market.

 From the other thread, three stood out to me that might be in this category:
1. Ebonite TOMBSTONE
2. Ebonite RIPTIDE
3. Faball SYNTACTIVE SLEGEHAMMER

 Were not talking something you didn't like, we're talking the ones that seemingly NOBODY you can remember ever liked.  I've never met, or heard of, anyone who liked the ones I mentioned above.

 Anymore I'm leaving out? 
 Anybody out there ever like any of the ones I mentioned?
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2015, 07:03:35 AM »
Visionary z-spins that no one knew that they were (or refunded)?   :-\

I don't think the ball was terrible per se......but there were a lot drilled wrong (which I totally understand why) which led to some poor reactions.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 08:42:58 AM by Good Times Good Times »
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michelle

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2015, 08:45:16 AM »
If I remember correctly, the issue with the Tombstone was that it was a high particle load that was designed for conditions that most bowlers were NEVER going to see...EVER!  But, hey, when has that stopped someone from using it on a generic THS thinking high particle load would mean massive hook only to have no clue about it needing high volumes of conditioner in order to avoid burning out. 

NOTE: I was not throwing Ebonite at the time, so I have no first-hand experience with that one...
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xrayjay

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2015, 10:40:40 AM »
onxy?
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bradl

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2015, 12:56:28 PM »

The P7? The alleged 7-piece ball that came out between 1988 and 1991?

BL.
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BradleyInIrving

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2015, 01:44:14 PM »
I remember a maroon P7 that a guy in my area had.. It rolled pretty smooth from what I recall.. 

I had mentioned the Thunderbolt M/D and I don't recall many people having that ball very long..

As mentioned already w/ the Riptide and Tombstone.. you needed a flood plain and simple.. those particles were so loaded it would roll out at your feet if you had less than a flood, so yeah nobody liked them based on that.. Watch Jason Couch throw them and they hit like freight trains because he was bowling on a flood..
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J_w73

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2015, 02:48:06 PM »
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on August 05, 2015, 07:03:35 AM
Visionary z-spins that no one knew that they were (or refunded)?   :-\

I don't think the ball was terrible per se......but there were a lot drilled wrong (which I totally understand why) which led to some poor reactions.

What were the names of some of these balls?
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JustRico

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2015, 03:38:04 PM »
I was doing some testing for Ebonite and Brian Pursel and after the Tombstone was thrown by abt 5 guys in my shop, incl me, I told him it was appropriately named as it should be placed under one...
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2015, 05:08:36 PM »
Quote from: J_w73 on August 05, 2015, 02:48:06 PM
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on August 05, 2015, 07:03:35 AM
Visionary z-spins that no one knew that they were (or refunded)?   :-\

I don't think the ball was terrible per se......but there were a lot drilled wrong (which I totally understand why) which led to some poor reactions.

What were the names of some of these balls?

Mixed Breeds were at the top of the list, with the other Breeds (Breed, New Breed) and the Spartan.  I think the Gladiators were also but can't trust my memory.

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xrayjay

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2015, 05:24:53 PM »
Quote from: JustRico on August 05, 2015, 03:38:04 PM
I was doing some testing for Ebonite and Brian Pursel and after the Tombstone was thrown by abt 5 guys in my shop, incl me, I told him it was appropriately named as it should be placed under one...

That was funny! :D
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Juggernaut

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2015, 01:19:06 AM »
Quote from: MI 2 AZ on August 05, 2015, 05:08:36 PM
Quote from: J_w73 on August 05, 2015, 02:48:06 PM
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on August 05, 2015, 07:03:35 AM
Visionary z-spins that no one knew that they were (or refunded)?   :-\

I don't think the ball was terrible per se......but there were a lot drilled wrong (which I totally understand why) which led to some poor reactions.

What were the names of some of these balls?

Mixed Breeds were at the top of the list, with the other Breeds (Breed, New Breed) and the Spartan.  I think the Gladiators were also but can't trust my memory.



 That probably explains why a friend of mine never liked his N.B particle pearl. It was drilled to be strong, but never really was. Has a "lazy" reaction and doesn't carry very well.
 
 If it is a "z" spinner, that would explain what is wrong with it.
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Juggernaut

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2015, 01:32:40 AM »
Quote from: JustRico on August 05, 2015, 03:38:04 PM
I was doing some testing for Ebonite and Brian Pursel and after the Tombstone was thrown by abt 5 guys in my shop, incl me, I told him it was appropriately named as it should be placed under one...

 They should've listened to you.  The joke around here about the Riptide was that it should've been called the R.I.P. Tide instead.

 Seems like I remember one from the "old days" now. I honestly don't remember ever seeing, or hearing of anybody, that liked the Columbia300 ORANGE DOT.

 I know several people who personally had this ball (myself included, ), but NONE of us ever liked it, and I went back to my Yellow Dot. It kept me from buying a urethane ball for a year after that, afraid they would be the same way.
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spencerwatts

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2015, 06:33:57 AM »
Preach, Juggernaut!
I used an Orange Dot during one league set, circa 1983. I didn't pick up another urethane ball until 1989. By then I had no choice in order to keep pace with the competition who had better hitting capacity than I did.

The next absolutely worse bowling ball, in my bowling experience, was the original Brunswick Edge. Pure junk. And you can throw in the Mark X because of its brittle shell.

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michelle

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2015, 10:22:05 AM »
Quote from: Juggernaut on August 06, 2015, 01:32:40 AM
Seems like I remember one from the "old days" now. I honestly don't remember ever seeing, or hearing of anybody, that liked the Columbia300 ORANGE DOT.


was that the one with walnut shells or something?  Or am I thinking of another ball in that era that was sort of a precursor to the particle loading?
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Good Times Good Times

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Re: Absolutely terrible bowling balls?
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2015, 10:38:28 AM »
Quote from: Juggernaut on August 06, 2015, 01:19:06 AM
Quote from: MI 2 AZ on August 05, 2015, 05:08:36 PM
Quote from: J_w73 on August 05, 2015, 02:48:06 PM
Quote from: Good Times Good Times on August 05, 2015, 07:03:35 AM
Visionary z-spins that no one knew that they were (or refunded)?   :-\

I don't think the ball was terrible per se......but there were a lot drilled wrong (which I totally understand why) which led to some poor reactions.

What were the names of some of these balls?

Mixed Breeds were at the top of the list, with the other Breeds (Breed, New Breed) and the Spartan.  I think the Gladiators were also but can't trust my memory.



 That probably explains why a friend of mine never liked his N.B particle pearl. It was drilled to be strong, but never really was. Has a "lazy" reaction and doesn't carry very well.
 
 If it is a "z" spinner, that would explain what is wrong with it.

This is what I saw out of the one I had (for a brief time).  Amazing no one was ever told.....and the react from the company was epic (in a bad way). 
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