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Author Topic: Buying Used Balls  (Read 5768 times)

Cobb

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Buying Used Balls
« on: December 09, 2008, 03:15:46 PM »
K well my question is it really worth it to buy a used ball? Does plugging it and resurfacing it make it basically a brand new ball? I currently have a cell and was looking to grab a cell pearl just cause. I'm on a pretty strict budget so that's why i'm wondering would a used ball perform as well as a new ball?

Edited on 12/10/2008 0:17 AM
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Jay

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #16 on: December 10, 2008, 04:42:57 PM »
Personally I would rather buy used balls that have no more than 20-30 games, in which case you kinda have to trust the seller to tell the truth.  As long as the ball has no amount more than that, it probably beats new every time because you'll save a good amount of money.  My only worry about buying used even if only that many games is when it comes to stronger equipment that handles med/heavy oil or more, because with that many games the ball has soaked up a decent amount of oil and who knows how long the ball will last for you.
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Cobb

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2008, 04:53:11 PM »
See here's my ordeal...
My local shop is pretty expensive, i would say more than most. I would like to get a cell pearl or storm virtual gravity to go along with my original cell. The shop charges i think right at $205 or a little more for the Pearl drilled and out the door. So one would think to go buy one online and save around $50, but instead the shop charges you $75!!!! to drill a ball that was bought online. Plus the inserts and thumb slug. So in reality if i bought a Cell pearl for say $120 online, it would cost me right at the $205 or more. So that's why i'm looking into a used ball that i could hopefully get into pretty reasonably and have it plugged and fit for me.

Edited on 12/10/2008 5:53 PM
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sdbowler

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2008, 06:31:07 PM »
Just like buying anything used. You will have some good and some bad. I have had my fair share of used equipment. Being short on money it is a good way to try different equipment. Just want to watch what they want for it though.
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Spider Ball Bowler

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2008, 06:36:31 PM »
I actually don't like to buy used, but I bought a RED ZONE off of someone on here, and I can't remember who it was, but that ball became the ball I had copied for span and pitches and everything, it was crazy how well that ball fit, now every ball I get fits like that.

Buying used only sucks because you have plug work on it, but I think it's safe to say that if the plug work isn't in your track, it won't affect the ball.

I bought a couple of used pieces off of Scroggins on eBay and just had to have the thumb adjusted and new finger grips placed in, the balls worked good.  I cashed in a couple tournies using his Track Machine.

I just bought a Hammer Tomb Raider S.E. used on here, and it came today, can't wait to get it plugged up for me to use
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six pack

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2008, 08:01:47 PM »
some of my favorite equipment I bought used and I've had more then my fair share of new stuff that I didn't love.
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JessN16

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2008, 08:14:57 PM »
quote:

The only problems we had were with sellers who either misrepresented the condition of the ball they were selling, or in one case ruined a ball by drilling into the core.


dougb,

Who told you that drilling into the core "ruins" a ball? That is a myth.

Jess
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Graaille

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #22 on: December 10, 2008, 08:24:14 PM »
One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is that certain companies equipment stand up to plugging/redrilling better than others.  In my case, 95% of my Lane Masters balls are used - and never had a problem with plug/redrills affecting the roll or the longevity.  (Ditto with Visionary)

A couple of times when I tried to have others plugged and redrilled(Dynothane, Ebo,)my final results were much less successful in the plug/redrill/re-use sequence.  But that's only my experiences -- others I've dealt with had no problems with any used balls from any company.
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dougb

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #23 on: December 11, 2008, 10:05:11 AM »
The ball rolled in the funkiest manner down the lane when it came.  

The pro shop told my friend that the diamond block (this was a Lane #1 ball) had been drilled into and therefore it was hard to plug and redrill in a manner where you could predict the reaction.
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JessN16

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #24 on: December 11, 2008, 12:56:03 PM »
quote:
The ball rolled in the funkiest manner down the lane when it came.  

The pro shop told my friend that the diamond block (this was a Lane #1 ball) had been drilled into and therefore it was hard to plug and redrill in a manner where you could predict the reaction.


I'm sorry, but that has nothing to do with it. You've been ripped off.

Drilling into the core does not "ruin" anything. Just about any drilling is going to hit the core. For that matter, it's sometimes intentional -- the Rico drill, for instance, is done with the outright intention of drilling into the core. And if you had an older ball such as the AMF Sumo, you wouldn't be able to drill ANY hole in the ball without hitting the core, as the core was huge.

In order to miss the core on most balls, you'd have to drill either the fingers our the thumb very shallow. I've got 52 balls in the house right now, eight of them in arm's reach while I'm typing on this computer. So let me do a quick check for you.....................all eight of them have some kind of core-touched drilling.

My suggestion is to spend a Saturday afternoon here reading the FAQ, the forums and asking questions to expand your base of knowledge. There's no harm done here on your part -- you're just repeating what someone has told you. But drilling into the core of the ball is not going to ruin it and in most cases, is unavoidable.

Jess
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Juggernaut

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #25 on: December 11, 2008, 01:38:20 PM »
The only 800 I ever shot came with a used original Inferno.  Much of my stuff has become the used variety, as this gives me the option to try balls that I would not pay retail for, or that I just flat out could not afford to buy NIB.

 Right now, I'll say what's in my bag and how much I have in it. I have a Total Inferno ($20) ( used, fully plugged once ), a Blueberry Buzzsaw ($0) ( used, fully plugged once, it already fit me. ), the Original Inferno ($40) ( used, fully plugged once ), and a pearl Avalanche ($75) that I bought NIB off e-bay. That's $135 for what's in the bag!

  I also have a Columbia EPX T-1 ($30) ( used, fully plugged once ), an ebonite TNV ($45) ( used, thumb plugged, then slugged ), track Coral Triton ($15) ( used, fully plugged once ), ebonite Gamebreaker ($35) ( used but not plugged yet. It needs it ), a storm Trauma ($0) ( used, needs thumb plugged ), and a few other pieces lying around ( including an ebonite Tombstone, a track T-Shark, and a gold Rhino Pro ) ( around $50) that may or may not be of use to me eventually. That's another $175.  Total for all these balls is $310.  I know people that have paid almost $300 for one ball!

  So, out of all those balls, I have ONE that was purchased NIB, and that was a steal I got on e-bay.

 P.S. I forgot to mention I have a single drill black hammer ( that I shot a 300 with), a partially plugged pink hammer ( shot 298 with it ) and a thumb plugged yellow dot ( that I shot 789 with ) in my closet as well.
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dougb

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #26 on: December 11, 2008, 02:23:31 PM »
Hi Jess,

Thanks for the response.  I will definitely read the FAQ.  I have to read up more on this stuff, but I realize what I was trying to say is that someone had drilled into the weight block on the ball which my buddy purchased, not the core.

Does that make sense?
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JessN16

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #27 on: December 11, 2008, 05:31:37 PM »
quote:
Hi Jess,

Thanks for the response.  I will definitely read the FAQ.  I have to read up more on this stuff, but I realize what I was trying to say is that someone had drilled into the weight block on the ball which my buddy purchased, not the core.

Does that make sense?


Same thing. When you look at descriptions of balls and they say "two-piece," that means cover and weight block/core. If it's a "three-piece" ball, it typically  means cover, weight block and filler, but some companies throw it all in as "modified two-piece," etc. I've seen balls go all the way up to "six-piece" before (the original Track Enforcer) and all it was, was a marketing tool.

The basic thing to know is that performance balls today come in two basic varieties. One that is nothing but coverstock and core (mostly seen in Legends/LaneMasters brand balls) or one that is cover, filler and core. In either case, it's near impossible to completely miss the core of the ball while drilling. And yes, if you plug up such a hole, the weight block won't be the same shape anymore.

The deal is that it's just not enough to matter in most cases. Once you plug it back up, you add some density back to the core. Granted, if you plug the ball 100 times there's going to be a pretty noticeable effect but one set of finger holes or a thumbhole isn't going to be a big deal. What's a lot more important is the number of games it's been used, whether it was kept out of the elements of extreme heat or cold, how many times it's been resurfaced, etc.

Jess

Edited on 12/11/2008 6:32 PM
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Cobalt Bomb

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #28 on: December 11, 2008, 05:39:38 PM »
When I buy a used ball, I look for a span that is close to mine and and that the ball has the layout I want. Then, any plugwork will have virtually no effect on the way the ball reacts.
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dougb

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #29 on: December 11, 2008, 05:45:44 PM »
Thanks Jess.  This is why I love being part of an online bowling community.
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JessN16

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Re: Buying Used Balls
« Reply #30 on: December 11, 2008, 05:54:32 PM »
quote:
Thanks Jess.  This is why I love being part of an online bowling community.


No problem. Take the advice of the guy right above you in this thread. If you're going to buy used, try to find one that has been plugged only once, and/or that already comes pretty close to your span and has a drill pattern on it fairly close to what you'd want anyway. If you find a ball that is drilled with a layout you like, but needs, say, the thumbhole moved about a half-inch down, you'll never be able to tell a difference in performance after plugging so long as the ball has low game traffic on it.

Jess
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