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Author Topic: Picking a urethane ball help  (Read 2074 times)

thedjs

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Picking a urethane ball help
« on: December 08, 2014, 11:35:52 AM »
Thinking about getting a urethane ball to combat very dry lanes.  Have narrowed this down to a Blue Hammer, Storm Pitch Black and Storm Super Natural.  I realize that two of these are solids and the Super Natural is a pearl.  Since I don't have a lot of revs, I'm leaning towards the Blue Hammer or the Pitch Black.  Would appreciate a little input from folks who have used any of these or have bowled with someone who uses one.   

I have slower speed (13-14 mph) and, as I mentioned, lower revs.  In the past, I seem to have done better with solids.

Thanks for the help.

 

avabob

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Re: Picking a urethane ball help
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2014, 11:51:22 AM »
Probably doesn't make a lot of difference.  I think the surface prep you put on the ball will be more important than which ball you pick.  I like my urethanes at 4000, even a little polish doesn't hurt.  I have used the original Natural, and the Blue Hammer.  Primarily used as spare balls, but I have done very well with both in limited situations.  The real key is to be able to not have to move inside, particularly for a low rev guy.  Urethane will hit very well if you can stay squared up and not go away from the pocket.  Sometimes this is possible, sometimes it isn't. 

spmcgivern

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Re: Picking a urethane ball help
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2014, 12:11:30 PM »
My first question to you is what are you going down from?  What is your current "dry lane" ball and what is it not doing for you?  You may need what the Blue Hammer or Pitch Black offer (traditional urethane reaction) or what the Super Natural offers (more resin like).  Or, if all your equipment is high end, you may not need to make the jump to urethane. 

The Blue Hammer and the Pitch Black both pick up pretty early (traditional urethane reaction) and can die if your speed is too slow (Pitch Black is usually considered stronger than the Blue Hammer).  The Super Natural has some resin in it but is still pretty weak.  Has a little natural length and provides more of a reaction on the back end.

jensm

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Re: Picking a urethane ball help
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2014, 12:25:21 PM »
From what I've seen, Blue Hammer is somewhat weaker than the Pitch Black in box condition while Super Natural looks more like a hybrid of urethane and reactive resin. I have a feeling that the Pitch Black is the most versatile piece for most bowlers.
Regards,

jensm

charlest

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Re: Picking a urethane ball help
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2014, 02:53:39 PM »
From my perspective, the closer you are to rev dominant the more the coverstock type AND the surface make a difference.The closer you are to speed dominant or matched, the less difference it makes.

Personally I found the polished SuperNatural to be very susceptible to carrydown of the least little bit. If you dulled it slightly, maybe 4000 grit, it was still useful but handled/required more oil than it did when it was polished.

FYI The Supernatural is a hybrid (part solid, part pearl) urethane/resin blend.
The Blue Hammer is also a urethane/resin blend.

I found the Blue Hammer more useful on a wider variety of dry/light oil patterns, than the SuperNatural and I had better luck with its overall hitting and carry power than the SuperNatural. The Blue Hammer was more amenable to surface changes from 2000  to 4000 grit dull and 2000+polish to 4000+ polish. It was always  a mild, arcing, great carrying ball from the 3rd arrow to the 1st arrow. It is slowly growing as valuable to me as my Blue/Green Centaur.
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

avabob

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Re: Picking a urethane ball help
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2014, 03:11:16 PM »
I would echo what Charlest said.  Also, all urethane is terribly susceptible to carrydown which is usually what does them in for carry.  I have been using my Blue Hammer on a flat 27 foot pattern with little success.  What kills me is the transitions that keep coming all night to tighten the pattern down since everyone is throwing plastic or urethane on the pattern.  While I cant keep any of my resin stuff on the right side of the head pin, I will start leaving buckets and washouts by the middle of the first game with pure urethane.   

Also, keep in mind that all resin balls are urethane with a resin additive.  It is the resin that fights carrydown in two ways.  First it will bite in some carrydown, and second it soaks the oil up as much as it pushes it down the lane.

As for the Blue Hammer specifically I have no idea what is really in the shell, but I believe it has the vibe core, which may be what makes it marginally better than my natural was on a slightly wider variety of conditions. 
« Last Edit: December 08, 2014, 03:14:03 PM by avabob »