Author Topic: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls (Read 3218 times)

dizzyfugu · « **on:** April 03, 2012, 06:18:46 AM »

Sorry, but I have to vent some steam. As dreadfully expected upon purchase, my orange RX-1 (1st drilling) cracked after 15 months without reason while sitting in a ball cup in my ball rack. Temperate surroundings, no oil extraction so far, low mileage and frequently turned in the cup to prevent pressure building up between the ball elements - but to no avail.

Fed up. The ball cracked from the pin through the intergrated engravings, obviosuly the ball's weak spot on the shell. It was a try, but this lack of structural integrity leads me not to purchase any Motiv ball in the future anymore - and I suspect the ever-thin shells of only 0.5" to be the general source of this trouble. Built-in obsolescence, eh? Thanks a lot for taking care of my equipment!

I expect my Hell Raiser to be the next, while "old school" stuff like my vintage Elimator, Renegade or VBP stuff keep literally solid and reliable as rocks.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

mainzer · « **Reply #16 on:** April 03, 2012, 06:18:42 PM »

We have all seen stuff from EVERY manufacture crack at some point...it happens, as far as not buying a another ball from the same company I believe that is folly.

I use Seismic poured by 900G and I have had one ball an Epicenter Crack after I left it in the car in the winter here in WI then brought it into the bowling alley and used it then back into the car to freeze for another extended period of time that one is on me. But I have not had a issue with anything else cracking. And the shells are "thin" like any other companies stuff.

My thoughts on the reason for cracking? Luck and design, you have bad luck you might have one crack just like a car that gets recalled you will have lemons in every batch. And the Design of the covers sounds more and more intricate every year, everything is so finely tuned that maybe the covers are becoming a little more brittle than they were ten years ago.

Just my thoughts.

MainzerPower

badbeard · « **Reply #17 on:** April 03, 2012, 07:03:04 PM »

visonary has 2 new balls with real thick outer shells

kidlost2000 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2012, 07:51:11 PM »

Any bowling ball may crack at some point for any reason. If you assume some never will you will be disappointed.

"1 of 1."

Djarum · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2012, 11:59:35 AM »

I have a Fired Up and Jolt Pearl which I still throw. The fired up is older and starting to crack around the thumb. Both balls have thick shells. I had an attitude shift with only abou 50 games on it, sat in the closet off and on and it cracked from the finger all the way around. It had a thin shell. However, I have a track freak and hammer saw blade and both have thin shells and are still in good shape.

So, is there any tread left on the tires? Or at this point would it be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway? - Stewie Griffin

CRSmith · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2012, 05:36:54 PM »

I have lost balls from cracking that were made by Columbia, Brunswick, AMF, and Track. One was only a year old. Yet I have an old AMF King Cobra that still remains intact, while far newer AMF balls have bit the dust. Cleaned after every set, and rotated on a rack in a heated basement. Unfortunately, I think it just happens for whatever the reason.

Graaille · « **Reply #21 on:** April 23, 2012, 01:03:14 PM »

Yeah, only ball I've ever had crack on me was actually a LM XS Power, w/the 5/8" coverstock. Kept in a temp controlled environment next to 5 other 3 piece LM products that didn't crack, and 30 other 3 piece balls from Hammer, 900G, RG and Dynothane.

charlest · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2012, 09:27:14 PM »

Sorry, Thomas, but I believe your assumption about thin shells being THE responsible factor for that shell cracking does not really hold water.

There have been many factors that have been ascribed to be potential causes for a coverstock to crack. That is not one of them, as far as I have learned/seen/could discern.

"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BowlingChat.net

Xx 12 X 300 xX · « **Reply #23 on:** April 23, 2012, 09:43:05 PM »

I just had another one crack. A Storm Meteor from 1997. I've been throwing it faithfully for the last few months. Choose to go back up to 15lbs and took the Meteor and removed the inserts and put it in the upstairs bedroom closet with the rest of my balls.

Within a month it cracked from the seam where the resin and outer core meet, up and out all the way out about 3 inches.

This was after I removed the finger inserts, and cleaned up the hole.

Ball lasted 15 years with no problems. Used it a bunch this year, as soon as I put it away it cracks. As of today it's still cracking, making its way around the ball slowly each week.

No bowling ball is safe. Doesn't matter who makes it, or what its made when it comes to thickness of resin.

Edited by Xx 12 X 300 xX on 4/23/2012 at 7:45 PM

DON DRAPER · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:01:51 AM »

I've been buying reactive balls since they first came on the market almost 20 years ago and I've never had one crack. I firmly believe that the majority of people who have suffered a cracked bowling ball are storing their equipment in an area where the temperature is too extreme. Modern bowling balls are made of sophisticated mixtures of chemicals. These chemicals and their compounds can be VERY unstable when stored in extremes of temperature and/or humidity. I can't tell you how many players I know keep their bowling balls in the trunk of their car in both winter and summer here in the Midwest. THIS is a disaster waiting to happen.

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #25 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:54:26 AM »

charlest wrote on 23.04.2012 7:27 PM:
Sorry, Thomas, but I believe your assumption about thin shells being THE responsible factor for that shell cracking does not really hold water.

There have been many factors that have been ascribed to be potential causes for a coverstock to crack. That is not one of them, as far as I have learned/seen/could discern.

"None are so blind as those who will not see."

BowlingChat.net

Maybe not THE factor, Jeff, but it is IMHO certainly a big influencer. Besides, I believe that the molded engravings from Motiv are another major factor in my case. While the surface/material looks like one solid block, there are still seams between the different colours which I'd call a built-in weak point. Anyway, I am still wondering why the ball cracked... no matter, I am done with that brand.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

Author Topic: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls (Read 3218 times)

dizzyfugu

Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

mainzer

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

badbeard

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

kidlost2000

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Djarum

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

CRSmith

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

Graaille

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charlest

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

Xx 12 X 300 xX

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

DON DRAPER

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls

dizzyfugu

Re: Rant: fed up with thin-shelled balls