A particle pearl will start reading the lane sooner, due to the particle load, and thus be better if there's plenty of oil. Many of today's pearl-particles have a "lower load" of particles and can still be angular at the breakpoint.

Pearl reactives tend to go long and break a little more sharply and can be excellent for bowlers who play closer to the dry boards.  

The purpose of adding particles to the cover is to create friction sooner, which, technically, is the tradeoff for more angle late on the lanes.

Particle balls are more porous than the typical reactives and will absorb oil faster, but nowadays they all soak it up pretty fast.  Oil absorption is one cause of balls losing their "hook" and drive through the pocket over a period of time. So, depending on your ball manufacturer, they will recommend certain types of oil removal.

Brunswick, for example, recommends using the Revivor or Rejuvenator method and has tested their various coverstocks and found it safe and effective.  Our shop uses this method on all bowling balls because we've found some of the other available methods much less effective.

I believe that either type of ball, if meticulously maintained, can last a very long time.  If you're that kind of person, then base your decision on how much oil you're seeing regularly...  Slicker conditions, and a particle-pearl will be more forgiving; drier conditions, and a pearl reactive may hit and carry better.  Good luck.





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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah

Any particle ball will still create friction sooner, if the surface prep. is the same, but it would be more subtle if the reactive ball is fairly dull.

Both may APPEAR to roll the same, but you can't discount the fact that whatever load of particle is still there. The particle ball should recover from "skid" slightly sooner.

The particle ball will still be more porous in my opinion, too.

Have you ever had a couple of your pieces of equipment seem to react the same even though they are different?  It's because the BOWLER is the #1 factor in how the ball reacts (speed, rev rate, axis tilt, rotation, etc.) sometimes this is referred to as "ball motion".
#2 Is surface - After all, this is what's in contact with the lane.
#3 Core - RG, differential, etc.
#4 Layout

Sometimes #3 & #4 can be reversed with some bowlers, I suppose.


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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah

Edited on 11/28/2007 2:10 AM

different layout makes a bigger difference on asym balls and even more on stronger MB asym balls... just wanted to say that.


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"Have fun and bowl well!" - Grayson
"Some things are made so even idiots won't fail using them.... But I aks what about the genius?" - Grayson

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