This is going to be very interesting to see the results of this poll....

Please explain your decision if you want....

Doesn't matter. I keep throwing my 2006 amf radar and my 2011 amf double clutch pearl and strike just as well as my new gear. Sport shots are a different story, but on ths it doesn't matter.

You know what you're paying for with "new" equipment? Mostly marketing and hype... Maybe a little R&D...

Pretty spot on. Why is the Protocol cost more than the Hard Drive, but the Hard Drive hooks more and is more aggressive? New weight block in the Protocol. As R&D gets less and less involved in a given weight block, it will lower the price point.

Old equipment? Then let's go back to the pre resin days. Lol.  Or if you want to stay resin, go to 1991. I'd like to create a poll for what year of equipment = old. Once it's been out for 3 months its considered old nowadays.

I personally don't buy any of the "Newer" balls. 

I averaged 215 bowling one night a week this past season.  Recently bowled an 846 series using a 2nd drill, Avalanche Solid.  In my bag currently is a 2nd drill Blue Vibe (surface taken down a bit), that Avalanche Solid, a Cobalt Vibe, and a blue/silver Avalanche Pearl. 

In my basement waiting to be drilled are NIB green/black Avalanche Pearl, another Avalanche Solid, a Fury Pearl, and 2 Ultimate Infernos.  I do possess a NIB Ringer and a plugged Meanstreak Brawler (has like 1 game on it) that I only bought because of excellent prices on EBay.

I love the older stuff!  If anyone is interested and throws 16#, I can point you to a guy that has more NIB of the older Brunswick stuff that I listed above for just $40-50 plus shipping.  Inbox me.

*It doesn't matter, I can strike with anything*

 Voted this way because it really isn't about the ball, it's about the conditions you're bowling on.

 People used to shoot big numbers with rubber balls. It isn't all about the ball, it's the condition that allows you to score or not.

The only guy in bowling that determines the score, is not you, not the R&D guy back at the manufacturer, not you pro shop owner/ball driller but the who hits which button on the machine and the shot that he puts out. He controls who strikes, how many strikes, and they why....

I think a lot of this stuff has to do with if one is rev dominant/speed dominant or matched.  (and of course whether one's shot is wet dry or blended)

Speed dominant players often need the latest strong cored stuff and fresh coverstocks.

Rev dominant and slower players often need lower end cores, weaker coverstocks and even oil logged equipment often scores higher and blends out the shot nicely!

I remember an acquaintance with a nice balanced matched delivery was bowling on an extreme wet dry in a local house.  700 after 700 and then an 837 bowling with a 10 year old Ti Boss Pearl(oil logged)  His Father purchased him a new Storm Triple Xfactor.  465, 510, 457.  Back to the oil logged Ti Boss Pearl, 710.

You get the picture.

Regards,

Luckylefty

On house shots it really doesn't make much difference.  Sometimes the old stuff can be better because you are playing a wet dry, and the more worn shells will not over under as much going out and back.

Tournament patters are a different matter, especially the longer ones.  You need something that will read the dry strong when it finally finds it.