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Author Topic: Ball death myth  (Read 5084 times)

Pinbuster

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Ball death myth
« on: November 18, 2004, 10:48:04 PM »
Seems like everybody talks about ball death but I just have not experienced it myself.  

I have never had a ball that I quit using because I felt it quit hooking enough.

I’ve had balls (original X-Calibur, Red Pulses) I quit using because I resurfaced them so many times the labels were gone and the pinsetter had trouble picking them up.

But I have never had trouble getting the ball to hook so I have never been into getting the real hook monsters either.

I feel 80% of ball death is really I want a new ball fever in the bowler.


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Pinbuster

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2004, 07:47:29 AM »
I resurface because the after about 300 games I the track gets flat and the balls get where they don’t carry as well. I notice no improvement in the amount of hook the ball provides.

New balls being closer to perfectly round do roll better.

And I will admit that the hook monsters do hook a little less after they get some oil in the cover stock.

But for the love of Pete, move you feet right a couple of boards the ball is far from unusable and half the hacks blaming ball death don’t get 3 revs on the ball. If you are that dependent on that last 2 boards of hook your game has other issues.

As far as the red alert, I can't say for sure but odds are your house increased the amount or type of oil they put out to combat the big hookers.
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cpo_bee

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2004, 08:48:53 AM »
Had a Track Black/Gold Stomp, very aggressive ball.  Died in less than 40 games.  Left it on the rack for some poor soul to use as a spare ball.  On the other hand I have an original Cuda/C with at least 1500 (probably a lot more) games on it, never resurfaced, still same consistent, powerful ball it has always been.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2004, 09:01:27 AM »
Remember with the Black Beauty you couldn’t wait to get a track burned into it.

I think it’s all proportional. You have a ball that hooks 30 boards then a 10% loss is 3 boards, a ball that hooks only 10 boards then 10% is only 1 board.  
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nicolekidman

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2004, 09:25:42 AM »
Ball Death NOT A MYTH

If it was then there would be no Rejuvinator, no Hook Again, no Doc's Magic Elixer.

Ball Death exists.

Some people can play the same line with a Ultimate Inferno and the Sonic/X. <hint hint>
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Overhand

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2004, 09:26:02 AM »
quote:
Is this a true statement? The more aggressive a cover, the sooner it will wear down and the less aggressive, it will last longer? If that is true, then particles will have to be replaced first?


I'm guessing that any decline in an aggressive cover is more noticeable...anyone ever experience 'balle morte' on a blue dot?


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iommifan

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2004, 09:37:22 AM »
Anyone who had a Brunswick HPH knows that they do pick up oil and change the amount of reaction as they get older. However keeping them clean and using the hot water and soap treatment and a occasional resurfacing keeps them usable for quite a while.
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Burak Natal

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2004, 09:52:51 AM »
Pinbuster, you must be the luckiest person in this universe perhaps

Since we have been through this zillions of times, I will just copy and paste from one of my previous posts:

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"Effective" life of a bowling ball is 200-250 games max with a proper maintenance. Note the quotations "effective"! That is a scientific fact, not only experience.
Coverstocks do ware out. Every life has an ending.

Coverstock longevity may vary due to the surface preparation of the ball, rev rate, surface of the lane and oil amount. Some coverstocks last longer, some not. But dies in the end.

The reason that many of us (including me) sometimes do not recognize this until it is too late, it dies gradually. You get used to it in time and continue to play the proper shot by tuning your line with its remaining capacity. Besides, they do not die totally, ofcourse you will see some hook.

Best way to compare that 1000games played ball is drilling new one with identical specs and playing on the same pair. Please also remember you need to have some "serious pattern" on the lane. I don't say heavy oil or light. I say competitive pattern other than THS. (I do not suggest that one of them is better, I suggest that you need to have something other than china wall to see the true hook capacity difference).
------------------------------------

quote:
Is this a true statement? The more aggressive a cover, the sooner it will wear down and the less aggressive, it will last longer? If that is true, then particles will have to be replaced first?

Is this why we could use a Black Beauty for ever just as we never have to replace a plastic spare ball, but feel we need to replace a hook monster as soon as we have to start moving right with it(for correct bowlers that is)?

Bones, it's true.
Aggressive balls usually die "relatively" earlier because they are "programmed" to soak more oil. Again duller balls die "relatively" earlier than polished balls..

quote:
But for the love of Pete, move you feet right a couple of boards the ball is far from unusable and half the hacks blaming ball death don’t get 3 revs on the ball. If you are that dependent on that last 2 boards of hook your game has other issues.


Pinbuster, this I totally agree with you. It is versitality, adjusting, relying on your skills rather than hook in a box, more practice and so.. And it is another issue which I believe Bones could want to write a book about
Why try hard if you have a chance to score 700s on china wall with the ball of the month..

Regards,
Burak
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Regards,

Natal
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Pinbuster

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2004, 10:02:43 AM »
Burak – Maybe I should have explained this in my first post better. But the issue I have is people saying the ball died after as little as 50 games.

Yes coverstocks can and do wear out but I think at least 200 games is available and at that point processes can be performed that will get you another 150+.
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Steven

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2004, 10:40:06 AM »
Pinbuster: I agree with your assessment -- ball death is largely a myth.

Most posters here frame "ball death" in terms of "absolute death" after 50-100 games. In others words, they claim that no matter what they do (sanding, polishing, soaking, etc.), they cannot get the ball even close to original reaction.

Again, this is myth.

Balls are little different than cars. If you perform the correct maintenance procedures at the right times using the right techniques, the product should last for years of consistent use. I have a garage full of good balls (many of which several years old) that sit, not because they no longer work, but because I get caught up in the ball of the month club.

Get a spinner, invest in the right supplies, learn proper maintenance techniques for the various cover types, and talk about premature "ball death" will fade into the sunset.


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Brickguy221

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2004, 10:50:20 AM »
quote:
If it was then there would be no Rejuvinator, no Hook Again, no Doc's Magic Elixer.

 

Nicolekidman, with the right advertising, products sell. For example, I have an old Forrest Green Quantum that I purchased in 1994. I still use it some today and it hooks and hits as hard today a it did 10 years ago. I have never to this day treated it with anything other than a good cleaning after every bowling session. To sum it up, it has needed none of the products you mentioned and it is not dead....It is still alive!....So,  ball death is a myth unless a person doesn't take care of their equipment.
 

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DanH78

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2004, 11:10:43 AM »
One of the guys I have bowled with complained that his black cherry bomb died after only having it a few months.  He brought it in to the pro shop, had it resurfaced, cleaned, etc, and still he claimed the ball was dead.  The pro came out watched him bowl for a little while and noticed he had developed a semi serious flaw in his swing and release.  He corrected the problem and wouldn't you know that the ball worked great again.

Personally, I have never experienced "ball death"
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Burak Natal

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2004, 11:34:28 AM »
Is this for real? Anyone reading what I just posted?

Ok.. Here we go:
World is flat. And Newton was extremely wrong coz I can fly!
I have a high load particle 3 years old with over 20000000 games on it and still hooks a ton! And guess what, I didn't even clean it ever!

My best regards,
Burak

PS: Pinbuster, message sent
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Natal
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Pinbuster

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2004, 11:43:07 AM »
Sawbones – I been called full of it and there is a lot of me to be found but I have never been accused of having a lot of hand before.

You obviously haven’t seen me bowl.  
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Overhand

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Re: Ball death myth
« Reply #14 on: November 19, 2004, 11:52:00 AM »

Hey, 'Bones?  Would the type of release affect whether a person would even notice if 'ball death' occurs?  

For example, an 'up-the-back' release would rely more on the core and drill pattern while someone who comes around the side of the ball seems to involve the cover more for their hook.

I believe in ball death having personally executed numberous balls.  The Tracks seem susceptible and an Ultimate Inferno I've had should've had hospice care.  It seems the pearl covers resist the effect longer.


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It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.  It is by the beans of Java that my thoughts acquire speed.  The hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning.  It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion.
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