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Author Topic: Feelings on Blems  (Read 2080 times)

mrteach3

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Feelings on Blems
« on: February 28, 2010, 05:38:03 AM »
Just wanted to hear everyone's feelings on blems.  State what you wish.  I will ask a couple of questions to get things started.  If you own a pro shop, do you sell blems???  If you are a consumer, do you buy blems???  Why is appropriate for both questions.  Lastly, what do you think makes a ball a blem???  

I will chime in on my own feelings at a later time, but I wanted to gather some information.  More inquisitive than anything.
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David Lee Yskes

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2010, 01:44:47 PM »
while i dont own a pro-shop,  I'd say I am not against blems, cuz you can generally get a decent deal on them... And if you have a Blem Pin or CG, where its like 5+ inches you can do some funky layouts that you normally wouldnt be able too.  

I personally like 4+ inch pins on bowling balls.
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2010, 02:21:24 PM »
In 2009 I bought 7 (NIB) balls which is a record LOW for me. Of those 7 .. 2 were BLEM'S and 1 was an X-OUT.  It's kind of tough to know if the OFF'S were as good as the PURE'S but I found NO PROBLEMS with the OFF'S! I did save a lot of money on the purchases.

Honestly don't know if I would buy another BLEM .. MIND over MATTER!
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directdrill

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2010, 02:31:23 PM »
I like blems and have bought many of them.  Some of the blems I have bought have been merely cosmetic.  Most of the blems I have bought are 5"+ pins.  Long pins allow some different layouts to be used.  I've never bought a blem that didn't perform well, so I've been happy with all of my blem purchases.
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Strider

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2010, 02:31:27 PM »
As long as the reason the ball is a blem is known ahead of time, I don't think there should be any reason to avoid them.  Some people want a really long pin, or maybe a lot of top weight might be good for an intended drilling.  Color blems are often a really good deal.  Some are ugly, some are actually better looking.  The offset CG on an asymmetric can be just what the doctor ordered.  CG kicked left of the pin-MB line along with high top weight might be a disaster for a lefty, but perfect for a righty.
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Juggernaut

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2010, 02:33:09 PM »
Nothing wrong with blems, you just have to know what''s wrong with them. long pins give you different options, but high or low topweights can limit your options.

 Bought a long pin CODE and drilled it up.  I''ve actually been using it more than anything else.
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MI 2 AZ

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2010, 07:22:34 PM »
Yes, I buy blems.  Most of the blems I have purchased were Visionary blems and most of those are probably cosmetic blems (color, engraving, etc) and some of them I can't tell what the reason was.  Never had a problem with a blem.

What makes a blem is probably dependent on the company's QC policy.  Some companies sell balls as firsts that other companies would mark as a blem.


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SrKegler

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2010, 07:22:49 PM »
Used to sell a lot of the half weights.  Lot of us older folks don't want to drop down an entire pound.  Used to be we could find the 15 1/2, 14 1/2, etc.  Now those are considered blems and a lot of the pro shops woun't stock them.
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Jay

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #8 on: February 28, 2010, 07:41:22 PM »
Blems vs X-Outs.  Difference?
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sunsetlefty

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #9 on: February 28, 2010, 08:00:31 PM »
Blems are usually coloring issues or miss - stamped label issues.

X-outs are usually pin/CG/MB alignment issues.

I have purchased several Hammer Jigsaw X-outs that had the CG miss-marked. With a Kaufman scale I could determine the correct CG and mark the ball with a punch mark. I always sold the ball as an X-out and discounted to the customer.

PS>> these balls still hook a bunch with the correct layouts for the customer...
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dizzyfugu

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2010, 02:07:56 AM »
Being a customer/user, I normally do not use/buy blems. IMHO too risky, even if I coukld get sucha ball measured at the pro shop to be sure about its specs.
I also just do not see a need to buy them at all, unless they'd be dirty cheap. In almost any case (unless it is just a dicoloring blem, which actually CAN look pretty cool!), the setup is a kind of compromise and lottery. But some people think they get something "special" (which is, in some way, true), I cannot follow this attitude.
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stormed1

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2010, 02:25:46 AM »
A lot depends on what the blem is. olor and label blems  are usually much cheaper and there are no performance issues. I have also bought several long pin seconds and again no difference in performance.
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kidlost2000

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Re: Feelings on Blems
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2010, 04:30:13 AM »
I've owned several over the years. Many from Brunswick and Morich and couldn't see the problem. I guess it was the color because the performance was nothing short of impressive. Had a lot of the Track/Columbia blems from pre-Ebonite era that were great as well.


I have had two x-outs that did nothing and they were a Track Tantrum and Ebonite Total NV. Both balls drilled identical on a pattern I use often(5x5 pin above the ring finger) and both were very very weak and inconsistent. Tried playing with the surface as well with negative results.


Other then that I am all for it.
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