Everyday it seems there is a new topic here about how fantastic some new ball is and we all(mostly) get geeked up over the latest and greatest. Include me in that group. 

This weekend I was reminded(yet again) that the older stuff is just as good as the latest shiny new toy. I pulled out my Sigma Sting(5 years old) that I had regulated to the shelf this past year and shot an almost effortless 750+ series.  I have went back to my Roto Grip Cell(original, 10 years old) the past month or so and can't remember why I stopped using it. Just one fantastic ball. The last part of the league season, I went back to the Venom Shock(4 years old) and was very happy with what a great reaction it provides. Why did I ever stop using these balls? I have no idea other than I must have fallen for the "latest and greatest, you gotta have this one" scam the ball companies pull on us every month.

I suspect we all have perfectly good equipment that has become "obsolete" in our version of reality that is every bit as good as the latest new ball. Even the ball companies are bringing back the previous generation of balls and selling them as something new.

Now, for all you oldsters out there who will feel the need to tell me how you have been using your Manhattan Rubber, Brunswick Mineralite, Faball etc. relax, I get it, you were retro before retro was cool. But remember, there is a big difference between retro and cheap-ass tightwad. 

I'm actually thinking of bringing my Lane #1 Dirty Bomb to play around with in my summer league. My fit has changed since then, but I should be able to get through some games with it just fine.

Yea, too bad Lane #1 couldn't do a remake on some of their old stuff.

My Night Hawk SE is still in the bag and I never go anywhere without a Break core in my bag... does that count for something?

Only if you knock down pins...

Can you quantify how many pins I need to knock down?

Great post milo;  I stopped falling for the jiba-jaba and I've been very successful in keeping balls from 2010-2015,  and I couldn't be happier.

I'd rather get lessons at this point of bowling, than to keep forking out hundreds of disposable income, when after a couple dozen sets, you will have similar reactions like your older pieces anyway.

To each their own, not worth it any more for me.

Great post milo;  I stopped falling for the jiba-jaba and I've been very successful in keeping balls from 2010-2015,  and I couldn't be happier.

I'd rather get lessons at this point of bowling, than to keep forking out hundreds of disposable income, when after a couple dozen sets, you will have similar reactions like your older pieces anyway.

To each their own, not worth it any more for me.

+1,  Done paying full price for latest releases when I end up throwing balls like my Hy-Road or Venom Shock when I need to score.  Is mildly amusing as others have noted to watch people throw strike after strike in shadow bowling with their latest greatest hook monster and then watch them get into over/under hell by the end of the first game.

I buy new balls knowing full well that I don't need them or that they are going to do anything different than balls that I already have. I used to collect toys and such and have them sit on my shelves. I used to collect comic books and never read most of them. Video games, movies, albums, etc.... Bowling balls are what I collect now and I do use most of them - at least once in awhile. But I do sell them off when I start getting too many.

As for the Sting, I loved that ball. I dropped down to 14lbs a couple years ago though, so I've ended up selling all my 15lbs equipment since then. 14 is just easier on my body as I get older and bowl fairly often. I'd love to have another Sting in 14. I did end up getting a Shock in 14 and it is even more ball than I remember it being. Although I have worked on my release the last couple of years and can rev up 14 easier than 15.

I'd love to have these balls again in 14:

Primal Rage
Covert Revolt
Sigma Sting

Not sure if the Rage LE is close enough to the original so I held off getting one. The Villain does seem to be similar to the Revolt. If the Rogue Blade is an updated Sigma Sting, I will have to get one.

It could just be that with all the changes I've made since owning the Revolt - ball weight, release(s), etc., that the Villain ended up being similar. I don't have them drilled quite the same either. The Revolt seemed to be a tad smoother, but I feel they are close in motion and oil handling capabilities. Of course, I'd need a Revolt in 14 to see if they truly are similar. I can only go by what my 15lbs Revolt did back then and what my 14lbs Villain is doing now.