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 still have a couple of 14 year old balls in my bag.   L/M THE NEW STANDARD and YEAH BABY.

You're tugging at my heart strings with those balls.

i just shot 154 (not bad for me) with my dads old black diamond rubber. i played in between 10 and 5 and it rolled back kinda like urethane

speaking of old bowling balls. Is the x factor ace a 2 piece? I was offered one in nice shape for the right price.

My original blue Track Triton works just fine on a THS with the right surface (currently at 600/light 2000 sandpaper, but that's actually overkill)...and a cloth that doesn't just spread oil all over 

It's actually a bit awkward because I joined a casual league expecting to average 160 and not 205 for the first week. Haven't bowled any fall league (Adult-junior) since 1996-7 and summer since 1999, and I found a score sheet that 168 was my average then, so my memory was a bit off. Really didn't even open bowl for a few years either, and now the game has changed quite a bit.

Actually none of my balls are new at all, the newest is a U2 Classic (not the real U2). That ball is just weird though. Also got a Blue Dot remake (blue dot not included  ) for $1 plus shipping on Ebay and a Combat Zone my ex found for free at a garage sale that I can throw with enough tape in the thumb, but really needs a redrill and new grips.

Worse, some pro shops actually don't want to redrill old balls, I've found out. I had my dad's Forest Fire Storm, which I loved throwing, but had to stuff cork and tape in the holes to try out because the guy said "Don't waste your money". Rolled pretty good for being drilled pin-in-palm because the pin-out was about 3/8". Eventually I gave it back though and started looking for something that would be it if it was made now, but probably most anything will work on that shot, I'm guessing.

Even one of the best balls on house shot sold today is 10 years old (Hy-Road).  Lighter house shots do not need modern super soakers.

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.

Agreed. Still throw AMB Centaur Solid regularly.

Not really Old but bought a new Brunswick Melee Cross as the shop I go to has had a handful leftover. Drilled it to occupy the smooth reaction spot on the mid-low end spot in my arsenal

Speaking of Brunswick from that hand to hand era may someday get me a Brute.  Not because of the #s or performance but because of the cheesy graphic on the ball lol.

is it good?