BallReviews

General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: 2handedrook12 on September 21, 2015, 09:38:34 PM

Title: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: 2handedrook12 on September 21, 2015, 09:38:34 PM
I'm looking for a durable plastic spare ball by any comany. Any suggestions? I was recommended an Ice Storm (if I can find one).
I was advised to stay away from the White Dot. I do not want urethane either (no Mix, Artic Aniper, Pitch Black, etc.)
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: SVstar34 on September 21, 2015, 10:06:56 PM
Durable and plastic do not go together. Urethane is the most durable when compared to reactive resin and plastic.

The Mix and Arctic Sniper are closest to plastic
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: TREP on September 21, 2015, 10:14:04 PM
Been using a MAXIM for years now with no problems.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: itsallaboutme on September 22, 2015, 05:48:16 AM
Find an old rubber ball.  They are basically indestructible. 
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: charlest on September 22, 2015, 07:18:53 AM
I'm looking for a durable plastic spare ball by any comany. Any suggestions? I was recommended an Ice Storm (if I can find one).
I was advised to stay away from the White Dot. I do not want urethane either (no Mix, Artic Aniper, Pitch Black, etc.)

Don't look at an Ice Storm; mine snapped like a cheap twig about 2 months after I got it. Storm wouldn't honor the warranty either. I had my driller drill out the crack and plug it like any other hole. Plug material is urethane; so it last a long while after that but looked pretty ugly.

Before that ball and now afterwards I have had great luck with Brunswick T-Zones. I use my spare ball for all spares so it gets LOTS of use. Neither the old one nor the new one have cracked at all.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: eglleftcoast on September 22, 2015, 08:45:42 AM
For 11 years I threw a Roto Grip Spare Tire which held up great.  Just this year purchased their new red Own it spare ball.  Will never understand why they stopped making the Spare Tire.......
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: spmcgivern on September 22, 2015, 08:52:41 AM
Unfortunately you won't get the longevity from plastic like you would with urethane.  Good news is plastic costs less so you can get 2+ for the price of one urethane.  Not a bad investment for people who don't bowl a lot.

However, if you bowl multiple leagues plus tournaments, I would recommend a urethane spare ball, especially if you throw the ball kinda hard.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: RevLefty on September 22, 2015, 11:30:25 AM
agreed my spare tire is a trooper. best spare ball ever. but unfortunately you canr get one of those unless you wanna fork out 500. i suggest a plastic ball with a weight block like the hammer ones ore the spare+ by track.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: RotoWorld on September 22, 2015, 12:07:04 PM
My Mix goes just as straight as any plastic ball I have had and it is a rock.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: St. Croix on September 22, 2015, 12:44:55 PM
Unfortunately you won't get the longevity from plastic like you would with urethane.  Good news is plastic costs less so you can get 2+ for the price of one urethane.  Not a bad investment for people who don't bowl a lot.

However, if you bowl multiple leagues plus tournaments, I would recommend a urethane spare ball, especially if you throw the ball kinda hard.

With all due respect to Charlest, I recommend Storm's Ice for your spare ball. I have used mine for several years with no problems.

spmcgivern and SVstar's points are well stated. I am not a high speed bowler, and I use the Ice only for spares in the right corner: 6, 10, and 6-10s. If you are high speed and plan to throw your spare ball on every spare, you may want to consider urethane.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: xrayjay on September 22, 2015, 01:32:05 PM
I've gone through spare balls like i go through the sushi buffet, fast. Spare balls don't last in my hands and I don't throw hard like Max Rob. The spare tire seemed to hold up well, but I retired that ball in dedication to a friend who used my ball during leagues one year when he battled cancer. (went from rolling 16 mph to 12 mph)

Anyway, Storm, C300, Ebo, and bruns spare balls don't hold up well for me. My roll clips the finger/thumb holes which crack over time. 
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: charlest on September 22, 2015, 02:20:50 PM
Unfortunately you won't get the longevity from plastic like you would with urethane.  Good news is plastic costs less so you can get 2+ for the price of one urethane.  Not a bad investment for people who don't bowl a lot.

However, if you bowl multiple leagues plus tournaments, I would recommend a urethane spare ball, especially if you throw the ball kinda hard.

With all due respect to Charlest, I recommend Storm's Ice for your spare ball. I have used mine for several years with no problems.

spmcgivern and SVstar's points are well stated. I am not a high speed bowler, and I use the Ice only for spares in the right corner: 6, 10, and 6-10s. If you are high speed and plan to throw your spare ball on every spare, you may want to consider urethane.

Hey, Pete, it's perfectly fine to disagree, when our personal experiences are different.

All I can say is mine chipped quickly but my T-Zones, before and after the Ice Storm (About 3 years each), never did. Still using my 2nd T-Zone.

Heck, I'd still recommend urethane if one's ball speed were high enough or one's release is flat to insure it doesn't hook too much. I tried Urethane for a short while but even a pancake cored urethane hooked too much or too little.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Brickguy221 on September 22, 2015, 03:59:15 PM
My Mix goes just as straight as any plastic ball I have had and it is a rock.

I have a Storm Mix also and it is perfect for a spare ball for me ...
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Steven on September 22, 2015, 04:30:58 PM
Over the years, I've tried about every plastic spare ball on the market. They all do pretty much the same thing -- go straight on most conditions. And without fail, they all ended up cracking around the middle finder and/or thumb within 6-12 months.
 
That's partially my fault because my ball roll with plastic tends to clip the ring and thumb. I'll plug and re-drill a cracked area around the thumb 2 or 3 times before tossing the ball and getting a new one. Plastic is relatively cheap, so no big deal.
 
I'm using the Hammer Carbon Fiber polyester right now. I'll see how their "Tough Ball" marketing campaign holds up in the real world. 
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Brickguy221 on September 22, 2015, 05:36:49 PM
Steven, are you left handed?
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: dmonroe814 on September 22, 2015, 05:40:53 PM
Any ball that is all polyester has a tendency to chip and crack easily.  I was suspect when I first got the Mix, that it might hook too much.  That has not been the case.  3000 with polish and the ball goes as straight as any plastic ball.  It is much more durable than plastic because it is actually a Hybrid of urethane and plastic.  If you are set on going with all plastic, pick any of them.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Steven on September 22, 2015, 05:42:33 PM
Steven, are you left handed?

 
I wish.  ;D
 
I toil on the right side along with the majority of others. Why? Because I made a mistake and referenced my ring instead of middle finger?  ;)
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Brickguy221 on September 22, 2015, 05:55:05 PM
Steven, are you left handed?

 
I wish.  ;D
 
I toil on the right side along with the majority of others. Why? Because I made a mistake and referenced my ring instead of middle finger?  ;)

ahhhh ... that was the reason for my question when I saw the "ring finger". I thought you were RH but the ring finger thing threw me.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: avabob on September 23, 2015, 11:03:25 AM
I like urethane better than plastic for spare ball.  It is more predictable.  I cant throw 20+ mph at spares, so even with a flat release I get a bit of hook.  Urethane is much more predictable coming off the end of the oil than plastic, which sometimes would squirt in the gutter on a corner, and other times wrinkle just a bit.  My spare percentage on right side combinations went up.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: JohnP on September 23, 2015, 01:43:34 PM
With any ball, but especially plastic, be sure the holes are beveled quite a bit, even if they have a slug or finger grips in them.  Sharp edges lead to cracking.  --  JohnP
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Joker-1 on September 23, 2015, 02:20:06 PM
Any ball that is all polyester has a tendency to chip and crack easily.  I was suspect when I first got the Mix, that it might hook too much.  That has not been the case.  3000 with polish and the ball goes as straight as any plastic ball.  It is much more durable than plastic because it is actually a Hybrid of urethane and plastic.  If you are set on going with all plastic, pick any of them.


do you feel the same way when youre bowling on short patterns like wolf or cheetah?
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Steven on September 23, 2015, 02:35:39 PM
With any ball, but especially plastic, be sure the holes are beveled quite a bit, even if they have a slug or finger grips in them.  Sharp edges lead to cracking.  --  JohnP

Good advice, although almost impossible to accomplish if you use finder inserts and IT for the thumb. 
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: 2handedrook12 on September 23, 2015, 11:38:10 PM
I might get a Mix. I was advised not to but I do have a high ball speed. I'm typically 22 mph on spares shooting straight at them.
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: charlest on September 24, 2015, 03:55:12 AM
I might get a Mix. I was advised not to but I do have a high ball speed. I'm typically 22 mph on spares shooting straight at them.

Oh, C'mon now. With that ball speed, there is no reason on earth not to use a urethane as a spare ball. It can't possibly have enough time to hook. Heck with that ball speed, a plastic will almost be guaranteed to crack when it eventually hits something in the pit.

The Storm red/silver Mix is a pearl urethane; the Black/Purple is a solid.

Did someone tell you not to get a urethane? If so, what was their reasoning and did they know your VERY high ball speed?
Title: Re: Durable Plastic Spare Ball
Post by: Joker-1 on September 24, 2015, 11:39:07 AM
you know those two handers, they be hooking the urethane and everything above it.