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Author Topic: Comparing manufactures  (Read 651 times)

sspeckma

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Comparing manufactures
« on: February 15, 2006, 12:24:12 AM »
I have enough trouble trying to compare some Columbia balls, sometimes they say they are pearlized but never really give a lot of information on different cover stocks such as superflex, accelerator, TEC, M80, Muscle GT or whatever.

BUT NOW! whew wipes forehead I've also got an ebonite and a Lane #1. The specs between the companies are different son how does one go about comparing say a Columbia Bully to a Lane #1 Solid Uraninum or a ebonite The One? Unless of course you purchase all of them then try them.

Thanks

 

shelley

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Re: Comparing manufactures
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2006, 09:41:51 AM »
The age-old question.  One of the primary arguments in favor of brand loyalty (without getting into that debate).

Basically, it's very difficult.  But, if you can get a single pair comparison to work (say find two balls that are comparable), then you can guesstimate from there.  Turns out the Big Time is comparable to the Bully (who knows?  Not me).  Well, the BT has a hook potential of 28.75, the Bully 53.  So if the Ice has half the Ebonite hook potential (guess), and the Jeckyl has half the hook potential of the Bully (another guess), then maybe those two balls are similar as well.

That will give you a rough idea of what's similar.  Of course, you have to also factor in things like surface finish.  It won't do to compare the 500-grit EPX-T1 to the 4000-grit polished The One, even if, based on an argument like the above, they are otherwise similar.

At best, you can kinda group them and order them within a single company.  The XXXcel, XXcel, Xcel..., Action, Bully, Backyard Bully,...  Sort them from heavy oil to light oil, and guess that the heavy oil balls from multiple companies will handle roughly the same amount of oil.  That's not always the case, but usually close.  Then work your way down the list.

Or, the much more reliable method, ask someone with both balls how the two compare.  Or normalize the numbers.  If Brunswick's scale is 0-175 and Ebonite's is 0-50, then a 30 on Ebonite's scale is about 105 on Brunswick's.  Maybe.

SH

sspeckma

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Re: Comparing manufactures
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2006, 10:25:31 AM »
Shelly:
Thanks alot for the suggestions. Unfortunately for instance, the last time I asked a person who had two or more balls I was considering, turned out we had very different releases and therefore different drill patterns etc. etc.

I guess that's why alot of discussion on this board as well as arguements for trying several balls. For instance I got the Lane #1 HDB last year about this time, but the drillerdidn't understand the ball and drilled it to roll sooner and have a more arching motion instead of flip, so I was confused why I spent so much on a ball. Next I got the Bully at a discounted price, could have been second because it hits like a marshmallow compared to the HDB.

So, I've still got alot of comparing to do yet.

Thanks again