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Author Topic: Best plastic spare ball  (Read 12203 times)

Wowitsnew

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Best plastic spare ball
« on: March 22, 2016, 01:47:26 PM »
I wanted to know what is the best plastic spare ball from any company.
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spmcgivern

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2016, 01:49:35 PM »
The cheapest one you can find.
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Wowitsnew

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2016, 01:54:26 PM »
Is a mix just as good as plastic?
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Ken De Beasto

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2016, 01:55:11 PM »
Quote from: spmcgivern on March 22, 2016, 01:49:35 PM
The cheapest one you can find.

+1 and may i add best looking to your taste. DV8 black for me
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CoorZero

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2016, 02:09:24 PM »
Quote from: spmcgivern on March 22, 2016, 01:49:35 PM
The cheapest one you can find.

Pretty much. If you want it to have as little reaction down-lane as possible make sure you stay away from the plastic balls with a real core in them like the Track Spare +. Those will move a little bit.

Quote from: Wowitsnew on March 22, 2016, 01:54:26 PM
Is a mix just as good as plastic?

The Mix balls are polished urethanes with your typical plastic ball "core" so they will hook a little bit more than a general plastic ball. Emphasis on the "little bit." It wouldn't take much to adjust to the differences. 
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Wowitsnew

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2016, 02:30:13 PM »
Ok thanks for all the help guys.
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spmcgivern

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2016, 02:46:21 PM »
As others have said, looks can play into your decision.

If you are considering urethane like the Mix, you will spend more, but you will probably have a longer lasting ball since urethane generally more durable.  Urethane can hook more than plastic, but for a lot of people, the difference is negligible.  In fact, if you purchase a Mix as your first spare ball, chances are you won't have any trouble.

I know some people that purchase a new spare ball almost yearly.
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WOWZERS

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2016, 08:25:41 PM »
I have not had a Mix, but I did have an Arctic Sniper. I really didn't like it but I rolled over my finger and thumb because of my high track, so my opinion is based on limited use.

I have also had the Lane 1 Starburst plastic (has a real core) and the current Track Spare + plastic ball with a real core. Now that I am typing this I remember I also had the Taboo plastic spare ball. Without a doubt, the Track Spare + I have right now has been the best out of the 3 plastics and the Arctic Sniper I had. I used it just last week on some seriously fried lanes for practice (just 2 games) and had back to back 230s playing 15 out to about 7 and back. Ball hits well and carries pretty well. I would constantly ping 7s with the Starburst (lefty) and the Taboo and I just never agreed with each other.

I have yet to see any cracking out of my Track Spare +, the Taboo never cracked, and the Arctic never cracked either. All seemed very durable for me. I don't remember about the Starburst cracking or not, but the ball did track very easily, like the cover was soft.
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Steven

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2016, 11:07:28 PM »
Quote from: spmcgivern on March 22, 2016, 02:46:21 PM

I know some people that purchase a new spare ball almost yearly.

 
I'm one of them.  :o
 
My track clips the edge of the thumb hole on pancake core plastics, and I'm lucky to get 8 months on a ball before I have to plug and redrill the thumb, or trash the ball all together. I've grown tired of dealing with plastic cracking issues, so I just got a urethane Mix. 
 
I've only had it for a few days and I'm still getting used to it. It goes almost as straight as plastic, but there is enough of a difference where I have to think about how I line up. It moves a board or 2 more in heavy backend friction, but nothing I can't adjust to. If it stops the cracking merry-go-round, I'll stay with it.
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ICDeadMoney

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2016, 01:09:30 AM »
Quote from: Wowitsnew on March 22, 2016, 01:54:26 PM
Is a mix just as good as plastic?

I use a Mix for my strike ball, and a White Dot for my spare.

I could use the Mix for spares also, but I don't want to risk the damage to my strike ball that can occur if I happen to drop the ball in the ditch.

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TREP

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2016, 05:47:04 PM »
Have used a Maxim for seven years with no issues. Even shot a couple 600 with it on second shift.
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Bowlaholic

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2016, 06:02:42 PM »
I use the Polar Ice (Blue/Black) which is the Mix (Blue/Black) today.  I found the urethane cover holds up like iron compared to plastic.  I was buying a new plastic ball every two years due to destruction.  Since the bought the Polar Ice (three years ago) it is still in great shape and it goes as straight for me as any plastic ball.
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Dave81644

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #12 on: March 28, 2016, 08:57:45 AM »
+ 1 for the Hammer Taboo plastic spare ball
shot 800 with that on a old dry wood lanes house shot
also doubled as my normal spare ball

but at $100 and only as a spare ball... kinda pricey
a $50 maxim is a better use of $$ IMO
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themagician

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Re: Best plastic spare ball
« Reply #13 on: March 28, 2016, 09:03:30 AM »
As mentioned above a few times I use urethane because I track over my thumbhole on my spare release. Plastic balls never make it more than a league season for me before exploding around the thumbhole.

Currently i'm using a Motiv Rebel Tank as a spare ball, works great and gives me a ball I use on super toasty conditions if needed.
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-MOTIV Staff
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