Since I am speed dominant as-is and see fairly high volumes of oil on a regular basis, I tend to like strong balls with some surface on them drilled with longer pin to PAP distances.  This gets me good consistent roll, miss area, and pin action.  Since coverstocks keep getting stronger and core design keeps improving, the newer balls tend to really suit my game when I go with that approach.  The oldest thing in my arsenal is a Storm Eraser Banshee that I drilled Rico and sanded just for the hell of it -- it might get some use in a tournament when I see less oil and super clean backends.  Otherwise all of my gear is from the past year or two.  Not that older equipment wouldn't work for me, but the newer stuff really fits my needs well.

Since I started my arsenal building about 2 years ago, I've been getting newer releases.  But that stuff is now considered a bit older, and I still use it.  It works great, just some of their uses are changing since they're being abused.  But I'm definitely goign to start stockpiling balls I like so I don't have to try and find replacements straight away.
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I have balls from the past that are great and then I have some new balls that are great also because they have something that applies to today's oil that is unique.

Of the old stuff that just keeps on tickin.....

Icon 2,
Reaction Roll heavy oil or top hat monster
Sonic X Solid if strong backends.
Sonic boom If length is needed and weak backends.
Wow Pearl with wet till the backends which must be quite strong.
Track Spell on the wettest of wet(so wet you have to point and need backend).
X factor Deuce strong core and smooth coverstock used by many at a vicious and harsh wet dry center to smooth out overunder!

Of the new stuff that is remarkably different and better.
1. Awesome revs.....works so many places and creates backend everywhere but total carrydown......(this core is AMAZING and AWESOME).
2.Any storm with Reactor and one of the new reactor coverstocks....this stuff  treats carrydown almost like it isn't there.  Move one board outside and blam you are carrying like no difference!  Super and better stuff.

I believe Ebonite and Hammer(black widows and NVS) have stuff just as strong in carrydown as the reactor super potion above.....but I haven't tried em.

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS
A comparison I think is the El Nino Wrath of the past.....on certain dry conditions in the heads and mids it is perfect but on many modern oils....the coverstock is just not enough....whether original formulation or age....who can say but I quickly know when to hold or fold em with this ancient and still great warrior!  
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Edited on 6/24/2008 2:34 PM

I have balls from the GAMEBREAKER to an old original Nitro/R2 that is 14 years old.

  Most of my stuff is bought used online and can range from pretty recent ( Total NV ) to a 23 year old black Hammer I have ( shot my first 300 with it ).

  Right now, for some odd reason, the new Track TANTRUM really has my attention and I may get one.  If I do, it will be the first new issue ball I have bought in a long time ( last one was the storm Blue Thunder in 1997 ), the rest of my stuff is usually bought either used or NIB the following year when it is on closeout sales.
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I don't know why, but I have always had success using balls that fit into certain RG/Diff/cover specs reguardless of namebrand (around 2.55 RG, .040 Diff., and reactive solid cover).  I like one particular drill with this "ball" and if I get it all right its my benchmark (med. dry, med. oily and go-to piece).  

As far as if its a new release or not I don't really care.  Most of the new covers out there are much stronger than the older ones, so if I am looking at new releases I usually go for midline equipment because they aren't as strong as the high performance lines of the new.  But age really doesn't matter to me.

Later,

REvans284

Personally, I am a huge fan of older equipment, because I have the impression after some trials that I match up better with "old school" coverstocks like PK18 or Accu-Tread. I play rather slow with sufficient revs, so I do not necessarily need high traction ability. I also found out that ultra-low RG cores do not work too well for me, regardless of the manufacturer.

I also found that strong MB balls that are all the rage since 3 years - while offering spectacular lane reactions - lack versatility for me. If in doubt, I prefer more simple stuff, and in my league and tournament bag, there's no strong asymmetrical core ball anymore! My XXcel was the last one that saw frequent use, but its MB was not overly strong and it finally cracked while sitting at home in the shelf. Hmpf.
I think I am going to sell both my Sahara and S&A, because they do not see league use anymore. Too risky, even though I must admit that I am rather conservative when it comes to tournament ball, and that their reaction and pin impact are impressive. But a good show does not win the game.

Money is also a matter, of course. Prices around here are more than double as high on bowling equipment as in the US, and even though I do not consider myself "poor", I have to swallow if I am to hand over $400 for a drilled current high end ball.

Besides, it is fun to hunt down some old NIB pieces - and they can be overwhelmingly succesful. My Revolution Renegade is such a case, a ball from 2000 I got NIB for small money and which has become THE money ball in my bag. And I just got hands on a NIB Fuze Igniter which is going through tests for a review - because of its unique design with a hard reactive shell. I even got me an original Blue Hammer, mainly to see and feel what bowling was almost 20 years ago, and to see what you can do with it today. It is a lot!

Not sure what more modern stuff could effectively "do" for me, though. But I have an eye on Brunswick's upcoming Smash Zone, because it has a state-of-the-art coverstock coupled with a symmetrical core. That one could fill a gap in my line-up.
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Edited on 6/25/2008 9:37 AM

I guess I'm just like most guys here....I'm not bent on getting the latest and greatest! I just want what I have, to work!

Most of my "new" pieces are at least 1-2 years old. Like my Toxic, Doom, Angular One, Mystic, etc. But they work well, so I use 'em.

But in my library I still keep some old reliables, such as a blue, red, black and burgundy Hammer. An old Cuda C, a green Messenger, and several crimson AMF Ninjas. Back in the day, all these balls were money, and chances are I'll see a condition in the future where I can still use one of these gems!
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