Author Topic: How old is too old? (Read 5639 times)

n00dlejester · « **on:** May 15, 2008, 12:31:40 PM »

So, I've seen a few different theories about older balls on modern lanes. My question is, how old is too old? Let's say you buy a nice new ball today, and don't get it drilled for 1, 2, 5, 10 years from now. When does the oil change enough that the balls performance gets affected? My oldest ball I'm using now is creeping up on 2 years old, and I don't see any performance difference at all. I've kept up with maintenance, get it sanded when it starts to look shiny; all that jazz. Assuming the cover doesn't absorb too much oil and maintenance is kept up, how long will I continue to see the same reaction?

tenpin477 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:39:52 PM »

A Ball is never too old. Its place in your arsenal may change over time, but its never old.

I recently took an X-Factor Deuce off my cousin, and its an amazing ball, and a few years old now.

noturcuzin · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:40:19 PM »

i've had a blazing inferno for 4 years and it still performs like the day i got it. just keep cleaning it after every use and it should last a long time.
--------------------
CHRIS FARLEY:1964-1997

JOHN CANDY:1950-1994

"NO RESPECT, I GET NO RESPECT."-the great Rodney Dangerfield

abrown · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:41:57 PM »

theres a guy that still throws the blue fab ball and avg. is 215 to 220 he has another one nib when that one dies he's had it 17 years.

Locke · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:48:52 PM »

I don't think there is a specific too old. If the ball works its not too old.
--------------------
Always be sincere, even when you don't mean it

Known Cell pimp

cartman33 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2008, 08:50:25 PM »

i am still using one of my 2 columbia 300 pro hooks every week in league from 1992...smoothest pieces that i have ever owned on the house shot and they even work really well on shorter patterns when everyone else has over under, i get a nice consistent reaction off the dry....

old balls are like fine wine and cheese only better with age
--------------------
people should not fear their government, rather the government should fear their people.

Edited on 5/15/2008 8:55 PM

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2008, 02:48:15 AM »

IMHO, no ball is "too old". You can even score well today with a rubber ball, you just have to adjust your game and be able to read the lane. As a kind of self experience experiment, I got me recently a 1993 Blue Hammer, to see how I match up with this urethane piece and its usefulness on today's lanes. And all I can say: even though it does not move a lot like a porous reactive from today, it is still very effective. Instead of swinging the shot I must play it straight down, but it "works" and hits pretty hard. A little less room for error, due to the lower grip of the surface, but overall "enough" ball to have fun. I can understand why this piece ruled the PBA at its time, and then you realize how (and almost ridiculous) coverstock technology has evolved today.
--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?

six pack · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2008, 06:35:33 AM »

I have an old Track Phenom that works better then anything else I've tried,the ball just carries everything and I have often asked myself why I bother useing anything else.I also have a storm thunderflash that works like new even though you can't see the logo on it anymore.
--------------------
The harder I try the harder they fall

n00dlejester · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2008, 07:24:09 AM »

quote:
IMHO, no ball is "too old". You can even score well today with a rubber ball, you just have to adjust your game and be able to read the lane. As a kind of self experience experiment, I got me recently a 1993 Blue Hammer, to see how I match up with this urethane piece and its usefulness on today's lanes. And all I can say: even though it does not move a lot like a porous reactive from today, it is still very effective. Instead of swinging the shot I must play it straight down, but it "works" and hits pretty hard. A little less room for error, due to the lower grip of the surface, but overall "enough" ball to have fun. I can understand why this piece ruled the PBA at its time, and then you realize how (and almost ridiculous) coverstock technology has evolved today.
--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?

Very neat experiment, I must try that one time!

Taking these responses in mind, here's another question for you all: Let's say you buy a Cell right now, and don't drill it and just leave it. I think we can all agree that OOB the Cell can handle a good amount of oil. In how many years will the oil patterns change enough that the Cell is no longer a ball for heavy-ish oil and plays better on medium-ish oil?

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2008, 07:30:31 AM »

If I should make a bet, 5 year horizon would IMHO be plausible. I can remember when the original Inferno and Trauma were introduced - both were advertised as balls for medium to heavy conditions. From today's point of view, with slicker lane surfaces and more viscous oils, they are medium condition balls. Even oil balls from that time have (at least nominally) been overpowered by more potent balls and coverstocks.-
--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?

azguy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2008, 07:34:39 AM »

Last month we had a guy shoot 2- 300's in the same week with his Cuda C, his if I remember right is about 11-12 years old. Over the past year he's had several 270+'s with it, so for him at least, never to old.

--------------------
az guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2008, 07:43:11 AM »

A friend of mine from my club uses a Piranha (green pearl) drilled label as his spare ball - but if he uses it as a strike ball, either on dry lanes or in training, he carries the world with it. It is very impressive to see what he can get out of this old and simple ball, just through release adjustments. Even on fresh lanes this old piece can look as if it goes sideways on the back end! No, ball is never "too old". It just depends on the player nad what he/she can do with it. In fact, I like to experiemnt with older pieces, because I have the feeling that I match better up with "last generation" coverstocks. I really am afraid to get a current high performnce piece, because I am afraid that it would be too aggressive to be useful for me and my slower game. That's also a reason why I tried the Blue Hammer

--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?

J_Mac · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2008, 07:49:00 AM »

I've shot 300 with a ball that's 7+ years old. I've shot 300 with a ball that's less than 6 months old.

It's not the ball... it's the bowler.

IMHO, there is a big difference in a 9 year old ball that has 1000 games on it and one that was poured 9 years before it ever had a drill bit touch it though.
--------------------
"A word to the wise ain't necessary -- it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby
"Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience."

laddog54 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2008, 08:39:57 AM »

My brother Charles has shot 3 800 this year. 1st one with a urethane Ebonite, 2nd with a 50 year old Brunswick Black Diamond and the 3rd with a Roto SD-73 Classic. No ball is too old.
--------------------
my vote for president is green nikes

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #14 on:** May 16, 2008, 08:42:13 AM »

quote:

IMHO, there is a big difference in a 9 year old ball that has 1000 games on it and one that was poured 9 years before it ever had a drill bit touch it though.

That's true. Last year I shot a NIB Revolution Renegade through ebay - the ball is from 2000 and was in mint condition. After drilling it up it was not much of a ball, and I did not expect much from it. It had been very unstable at the break point, much over/under uissues, and it handled oil, esp. carrdown, poorly.
Nothing lose with it I decided to re-polish it (mine came with a good shine) - and all of a sudden this ugly green orb turned into one of my best balls for medium to medium-dry conditions. It is very predictable now, hooks sharply, it is a real winner - an awesome piece that will probably outperfom more modern balls. I was really amazed, and it seems that only the polish suffered through the long period of time, but not the coverstock material itself.

Despite this experience, we will have to see if modern coverstocks take so well to long storage times?
--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

Confused by bowling?
Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section
Secrets revealed: What's a fugu?

Author Topic: How old is too old? (Read 5639 times)

n00dlejester

How old is too old?

tenpin477

Re: How old is too old?

noturcuzin

Re: How old is too old?

abrown

Re: How old is too old?

Locke

Re: How old is too old?

cartman33

Re: How old is too old?

dizzyfugu

Re: How old is too old?

six pack

Re: How old is too old?

n00dlejester

Re: How old is too old?

dizzyfugu

Re: How old is too old?

azguy

Re: How old is too old?

dizzyfugu

Re: How old is too old?

J_Mac

Re: How old is too old?

laddog54

Re: How old is too old?

dizzyfugu

Re: How old is too old?