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Author Topic: Do balls wear out  (Read 7140 times)

thewhiz

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Do balls wear out
« on: October 24, 2017, 10:57:39 AM »
Got in a discussion with an older guy in my league.  He's 75.  He says balls do not wear out.  I told him no matter how much you care for them and refinish them they will never be the same as new.  What are your thoughts on this?
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HackJandy

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2017, 11:02:04 AM »
Non reactive balls can out live their owners as they don't suffer ball death so they literally can almost be the very same as day you buy them with factory finish but lanes and oil will be much different probably.  Plenty of rubber balls from 1950s available on ebay for example.  Any ball will wear out with enough games thrown though (machinery and lanes beat up a ball over time but for hard rubber this could be more games than any one person can throw in a lifetime).  Also the issue can become the labels and the serial numbers have to be visible for a ball to be legal so enough resurfaces could limit ball life (for sanctioned games) very long term I suppose.  As for reactives different people seem to have different experiences with different balls.  For example I had a Storm Shift crack with a pretty low number of games on it but my Brunswick BVP with well over 1000 games on it is going nearly as strong as day I bought it.  But in general their life is shorter which also why I won't buy a drilled reactive from strangers on the internet.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2017, 11:12:32 AM by HackJandy »
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avabob

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2017, 11:55:54 AM »
Balls wear out in a variety of ways.  Even urethane dies.  Hard to maintain the she'll strength.  Also some if the early urethane were so soft that the track went flat.
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leftybowler70

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2017, 12:23:26 PM »
Despite all the differences of opinions, I've always wondered the same thing, and in what ways (if any).

Of course no ball retains the original performance as it was new, but DIE?  May never know scientifically.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2017, 12:26:36 PM »
To me you have to define what wearing out is.

If you mean the ball becomes unusable because the ball return will not pick it up, large holes and gouges in the ball, falls apart, or some other physical malady, then I would say very few balls become completely unusable.

If you mean from a perspective that the ball has lost it's effectiveness to carry strikes, react to oil and dry, etc. Then yes balls will wear out over time.

Nothing rolls like a new ball, not even resurfaced ones, but older balls can be used effectively.
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CoorZero

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2017, 01:20:17 PM »
Some do, some don't. For the most part I chalk it up in the same category as balls cracking. It's kind of random aside from a few preventative measures that can be taken in each case (although those measures are by no means guarantees).
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HackJandy

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2017, 01:29:01 PM »
Quote from: CoorZero on October 24, 2017, 01:20:17 PM
Some do, some don't. For the most part I chalk it up in the same category as balls cracking. It's kind of random aside from a few preventative measures that can be taken in each case (although those measures are by no means guarantees).

^this
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spmcgivern

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2017, 01:31:44 PM »
Once balls were designed to absorb oil then they can reach a point of non-effectiveness.  De-oiling will prolong the life of the coverstock, but eventually you will reach a sort of equilibrium between what stays in the coverstock and is no longer available to be removed.

This does not mean the ball is unusable.  I have seen many a bowler find a former high performance ball which is leaking oil out of it without any effort still be useful. 
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HackJandy

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2017, 02:14:20 PM »
Today's high performance ball is tomorrow's tamer ball.
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avabob

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2017, 04:45:31 PM »
On house shots a do called dead ball can still be very effective
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tgknukem

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2017, 04:32:58 AM »
In my rotation (with other assorted pieces) are an Angle Evolution and Angle Evolution tour with 400-500 games each.  I polish all balls I use after 3-6 games just enough to remove what I term the 'mashed down bubble edges' that come when the ball hits the pins and curtain, and from the ball cycling thru the machine and ball return and whacking other balls on the return.  This also removes grease and dirt from the 'mashed down bubbles'.  I now have a ball with new sharp bubbles that I the prep based on the shot I'm playing.  I have never 'de-oiled' either of the Angle Evolutions despite the being old Columbia 'Tech' particles.  They still react just as strong as when I purchased them.
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BenDowns

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2017, 01:56:31 PM »
I use this excuse all the time to buy new equipment!! I do think over time, even properly cleaned, the balls do lose their bite or snap. However I also know the ball can still be effective but no longer for my style. If the ball doesn’t turn as hard as it used to for me, it is still a good enough ball for someone who plays straighter.
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thewhiz

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2017, 11:27:40 AM »
Good point Ben.  I have a Byte that I use when the lanes burn up some.  Works out great.
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luv2C10falll

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2017, 08:03:27 PM »
If it's a storm ball, then the product diminishes fast (30-40 games).They will also crack quickly too
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HackJandy

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Re: Do balls wear out
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2017, 08:54:37 PM »
Quote from: luv2C10falll on October 26, 2017, 08:03:27 PM
If it's a storm ball, then the product diminishes fast (30-40 games).They will also crack quickly too

Forecast calls for 100% chance for a sh1tstorm now.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2017, 09:08:29 PM by HackJandy »
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