Author Topic: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane? (Read 8751 times)

Coolerman · « **on:** July 20, 2011, 04:50:09 AM »

Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

I don't know how many of you read Bowling This Month,but there was a

article that could cause somewhat of a uproar.I'm not agreeing or disagreeing

with the authors point of view.I don't need or use urethane.But I know many people do.

The article appeared in the July 2011 edition.The article is titled Bowling Balls

For Pinheads a Primer:Layouts Part II.The Author is Rob Mautner,a silver

level coach who lives in Vegas.He has written for BTM for a number of years.

He is talking about building an arsenal.When he goes on to state.

"Another arsenal killer is trying to buy a ball that will allow you to play in your

comfort zone longer.This has become quite common place in the last couple

of years since ball manufacturers have begun to offer urethane balls with

modern cores.Unless you have a pretty high rev rate,or are bowling on lanes

that are totally fried,urethane balls are most probably of little use to you.That

is unless,of course,that you are under the misguided impression that they will

allow you to carry on your love affair with the second arrow for yet a few

more frames."

It seems like he may have opened up a can of worms.

__________________

mainzer · « **Reply #16 on:** August 02, 2011, 09:13:38 PM »

I have thought about a response to this topic for awhile and have came up this.

IS urethane needed? No, you can do so much with drill patterns, that you can take even an aggresive solid reactive and make it go pretty straight even on drier/shorter patterns. However Urethane on shorter/drier sport patterns adds a different dimension than a weak drilled reactive. With the Urethane piece you can get a little straighter, the reaction is smoother and easier to read, fewer adjustments are needed and you can play the outside part of the lane longer.

Just my thoughts

"Complexity lay within the artistry of execution"

+++Henry Zou+++

Founding FatherBR Inquisition
MainzerPower

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2011, 12:05:27 AM »

IMHO, a urethane piece is today a special purpose ball - one for short patterns or burnt heads, or as a ball that reads the lane smoothly for rev-dominant players. It can also be used as a spare ball, esp. when you have low revs - but a polyester spare ball is cheaper.

I would not say "you have to have one in the bag", it is rather a sensible addition for ambitious players who play longer formats, or for league when you have to play on a cost-cut THS and anything reactive would jump. It is an option, but IMO not a benchmark or must-have.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
2010/11 Benrather BC Club Champion
Confused by bowling? Check out BR.com's vault of wisdom: the unofficial FAQ section

r534me · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2011, 12:06:07 AM »

I would add that urethane balls do not suck oil off the lanes the reactive balls do. The older low flaring urethane balls do not carry the oil down as fast as the higher flaring ones do. That's an observation I arrived at by comparing my blue hammer against my natural.

I like using the blue hammer on THS because it has trained me to roll the shot well(speed matching revs). If I don't I will leave a nasty pocket split especially on the 40-41 feet THS shots.

laddog54 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2011, 01:47:22 PM »

With my ball speed to rev ratio a urethane ball in my arsenal can be very useful.

ROTO GRIP - King of Them All

Norm3v · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2011, 06:07:51 PM »

For my game, I don't have a reason to have a urethane in my bag at all times, nor do I need to have a plastic spare ball either. I'm a little under 300 revs so a 6.5 pin to pap above bridge Tropical Heat Pearl is enough of a dry lane ball for me. However, there are still times that I wish I could just stay close to that second arrow a while longer when everyone else has moved in. Also, I throw my strike ball as my spare ball because I can throw the ball end over end straight, which has almost zero chance of hooking away from me. However, I have the Vise IT installed in all of my balls and I hear it hit the lane when throwing it end over end and I'm convinced that I'm going to crack some part of it one day.

Soooo, today I ordered a Natural Pearl from my pro shop to be drilled long and strong with a thumb slug instead of the IT. I don't have enough of a rev rate to have it drilled it weaker or more controlled, and I like to work my arsenal around coverstock/coverstock prep so I don't lose anything on the backend and lose pin action. Thanks to this article which says I don't need one for convincing me to get one

.

Polish_Hammer · « **Reply #21 on:** August 10, 2011, 08:35:04 AM »

Like everything it depends. Average joe on the average THS doesn't need urethane unless maybe he bowls 2nd shift. But like many folks have echoed. it comes in handy on the short sport pattern or cheetah. I have used urethane at a couple of regionals on both the cheetah and even on the chameleon so I could stay in a certain zone longer. I gave up carry for control in a low scoring environment.

Author Topic: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane? (Read 8751 times)

Coolerman

Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

mainzer

Re: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

dizzyfugu

Re: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

r534me

Re: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

laddog54

Re: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

Norm3v

Re: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?

Polish_Hammer

Re: Arsenal Building,do you really need urethane?