BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: MI 2 AZ on August 12, 2013, 09:32:12 PM
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A senior bowler told me that while bowling in another center in Tucson, she was told that she could not use her rubber bowling ball. Apparently, they have banned rubber bowling balls. I am assuming only for that center as I was not aware of any USBC ban on them. Any others here aware of a similar situation and what damage will a rubber bowling ball cause to either the lanes or equipment?
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My guess is maybe the rubber balls have a big issues being picked up by the ball return at that house when not wiped off regularly. House I grew up in had that same issue, but never banned them.
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Which center in Tucson?
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They are military retirees, so I am going to assume the center on DM.
Edited to add:
After thinking about it a bit more, I am not sure if that was the same couple who was talking about DM. Earlier, someone was talking about bowling at DM where the price of open bowling was whatever the outside temp happened to be at the time. They mentioned they paid $0.97 per game because that was the temp at the time. I am not sure if that was the same couple who later was asking me about a ban on rubber balls because I was not paying attention to who was talking about the open bowling earlier.
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The only damage a rubber ball will create is to the patience of the mechanic when there is a ball call every ten minutes every time she bowls.
I'm gonna guess she bowls at a center with Brunswick A-2 pinsetters. If the lift rods on these machines aren't adjusted properly hard rubber balls usually need a little help. A few times I've seen the mechanic send it back sanded to 220. Makes for an interesting conversation at the desk when the bowler wonders what happen to their ball.
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I have a ebonite XL-5 rubber ball that I carry with me for those 'super extreme' dry lanes I encounter once a year when I don't want to change hand positions.
On synthetics, at the end of the day, you can see where I played all day as the ball leaves a thin ball track on the lane if there is not enough oil in the heads/midlane as I guess the rubber leaves a bit on the lane like a tire on the road.
Kinda of a catch 22 since I don't use it unless the lane is fried, and it doesn't leave a mark unless the lane is fried.
Anyway, some of the older machines have issues removing the rubber from the lanes on the strip cycle and they have to double or triple strip any pair a rubber ball has been used on.
More work and expense for the center, thus they "dislike" rubber bowling balls. And I have been in centers that also "prefer" or "request" that you do not throw rubber balls.
But I also got a hold of a XXXL recently and haven't have to use the XL-5 in a couple of years.
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There were a couple of super soft rubber balls out like the LT 48 that actually made black marks on lanes, much like a pair of soft black rubber soles can do on a tile floor. Lane men hated that too. Generally hard rubber balls shouldn't be a problem anywhere. I still have a black diamond in my garage. Havent thrown it for several years, but it out performed my plastic ball on some conditions.
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I beleive it has to do with the marks they leave on synthetic lanes. My father, before he had a stroke, threw nothing but LT-48's. When the centers in our area went to synthetics they told him he couldn't throw it anymore. He was forced to move into Urethane. I am guessing this center probably went through the same thing and just decided to ban rubber balls altogether.
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The only damage a rubber ball will create is to the patience of the mechanic when there is a ball call every ten minutes every time she bowls.
I'm gonna guess she bowls at a center with Brunswick A-2 pinsetters. If the lift rods on these machines aren't adjusted properly hard rubber balls usually need a little help. A few times I've seen the mechanic send it back sanded to 220. Makes for an interesting conversation at the desk when the bowler wonders what happen to their ball.
As a former pin chaser at a center with A-2's that was the first thought that popped into my head when I saw this thread's title. Second was the other observation about the softer rubber balls leaving black streaks towards the end of the pattern.
Never sanded a rubber ball since it was almost always an issue that occurred during a league, but many of the 15-16 lb. urethane house balls would get that treatment. Maroon scotchbrite and a thorough wipe down with lane cleaner....
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Not a mechanic, but hard rubber balls were the equipment of choice when the A-2 was introduced. Never saw any problems. Pretty sure it relates to the black marks the super soft rubber balls made on synthetics.
I have seen ball calls when the lanes were totally flooded regardless of what ball surface was being thrown. Also remember guys sanding down urethane balls so much that they grabbed and threw accelerator belts.
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Not a mechanic, but hard rubber balls were the equipment of choice when the A-2 was introduced. Never saw any problems. Pretty sure it relates to the black marks the super soft rubber balls made on synthetics.
I have seen ball calls when the lanes were totally flooded regardless of what ball surface was being thrown. Also remember guys sanding down urethane balls so much that they grabbed and threw accelerator belts.
2 things... maybe 3...
A) The amount of oil used now and then is completely different... I don't think oil was pushed around on wood lanes like it is on synthetics either, it just disappeared between the boards...
B) The type of oil is completely different. More solids that hold up better to aggressive cover technology versus older mineral oil based conditioners used in old wick based machines.
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I beleive it has to do with the marks they leave on synthetic lanes. My father, before he had a stroke, threw nothing but LT-48's. When the centers in our area went to synthetics they told him he couldn't throw it anymore. He was forced to move into Urethane. I am guessing this center probably went through the same thing and just decided to ban rubber balls altogether.
The problem I would see with that, obviously, is that if the ball is USBC approved, regardless of coverstock, how would the house be able to dictate what a bowler can or cannot use during a sanctioned league?
Yes, I realize the house is the house and theoretically they can do "anything they want", but one issue I could see being raised is that if the house wants USBC certification, they have to abide by USBC rules, and USBC rules say I can use any and all approved equipment, including rubber balls. I could see somebody, somewhere, making a stink about it to the local association, and the center getting into hot water with USBC because they're arbitrarily banning approved equipment simply because their lane men or mechanics don't want to do their job.
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I beleive it has to do with the marks they leave on synthetic lanes. My father, before he had a stroke, threw nothing but LT-48's. When the centers in our area went to synthetics they told him he couldn't throw it anymore. He was forced to move into Urethane. I am guessing this center probably went through the same thing and just decided to ban rubber balls altogether.
The problem I would see with that, obviously, is that if the ball is USBC approved, regardless of coverstock, how would the house be able to dictate what a bowler can or cannot use during a sanctioned league?
Yes, I realize the house is the house and theoretically they can do "anything they want", but one issue I could see being raised is that if the house wants USBC certification, they have to abide by USBC rules, and USBC rules say I can use any and all approved equipment, including rubber balls. I could see somebody, somewhere, making a stink about it to the local association, and the center getting into hot water with USBC because they're arbitrarily banning approved equipment simply because their lane men or mechanics don't want to do their job.
You might be correct, but what happens when the house finds "some reason" to ban you from coming in?
As a business, they can refuse to serve you, and can have you removed from the premises.
So go ahead, file that protest to use your rubber ball. Then you are going to have to find a new place to use it in.
(This is not a theoretical model either. I was told this is EXACTLY what would happen.)
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Thanks for the replies and info.
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txbowler,
Your center must put out a pretty wet shot that you find the XXXL similar to rubber.
I told a story out here of bowling on weekends at a center that put out a head shot.
The reactives actually would hit the end of the pattern(15 and at the arrows) when first thrown on and jump up and land sideways 3 boards sideways and then roll out into the gutter at 35 feet.
XXXL's were still pretty hooky, but fingertip rubber balls made me make the weekend shot look like a juicy 10 to 10 top hat!
All of a sudden 600 to almost 700 was possible. However the rubber never worked in league on Monday thru Friday!
Regards,
Luckylefty
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I was bowling a money singles league in 94 when my equipment didn't get back to town with me from a tourney. Went to the garage and found a black diamond and an old yellow dot were all I had. I took them both out to the league which was a 6 gamer on first generation Brunswick Armor Plate synthetic. I threw the yellow dot the first three and shot about 630 without much carry. Used the black diamond the next three and shot 675 playing a touch deeper than I did with the yellow dot. I was high in the league for 3 that night. I tried the black diamond again in an early scratch league about 8 years ago on old anvil lane. Started with a 160 playing about 8 board. Moved into 12 and shot 500 the last two. Carry was as good as with my Inferno. Very condition specific though. Not how short the oil is, but more about overall volume, and how worn the surface is.