I have 3 balls that fall into the urethane category, but they are very different.

Black Pure Hammer.
5x5, at 1.500 grit. This is actually a resin/urethane blend ball, and I suppose it is close to the Natural. It is a great light conditiosn ball, but too strong for true dry conditions. Very smooth, despite the stacked drilling, On scorched lanes I can swing it (it tends to read early), but normally it feels at home around 2nd arrow. Not nervous on carrydown. Funny thing is that it tunrs into a hook monster when I polish it.

Slate Blue Gargoyle
Stacked leverage, OOB polish. Ball still looks like on day one, no scratches. THIS is durable. Fits well under the PH, great for dry lanes, even with its strong layout. Length is no issue, but it does not like carrydown or higher oil volumes at all, it even creates its own carrydown on soupy heads! The cover just does not absorb oil... Very versatile for true ridden lanes, but you have to know when to use and bag it.

Faball Blue Hammer
Label drill, 1.000 sanded. The classic, and a VERY versatile piece. Durable, hard - works on totally scorched lanes, but also on higher oil volumes - it creates friction though its matte surface. Overall a weak ball, not very forgiving, though, and prone to leave single pins on what looks like good pocket hits. Probably the small entry angle it creates? But IMHO even today a viable option, if you can live with a small arcing hook.

Here's a video of all of them:
http://de.video.yahoo.com/watch/5123796/13581222
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Scott,

The problem with most of those low diferential, low flare balls is that on dry lanes, they flip too hard for a lot people, no matter the drilling. While there are some very good ones, mnay selections from some manufacturers just use a medium strength coverstock on a very weak core. The core helps but the coverstock still rules. A prime example is the Tropical Storm. Look at all the people here who constantly say how strong it is. (Of course, many aren't drilled correctly and still more fail to modify the surface to add any control but still most find it unusable on dry.)

Rarely in Nationals is it dry enough to use a urethane. the only tme I saw it was when 75 -85 used a Burgundy or Black Hammer, but that was because it was their only ball for the last 25 years. When it is dry, most lanes need to played way inside and few urethanes can do that these days. Even less people have the hand or the desire to try that.

I still disagree with the strength of Riggs' article's insistence on urethanes causing carrydown. While they can (cause carrydown) when several people on a pair can use them, I find 99% of the time carrydown happens when no one uses urethane. Blaming urethane 100% for carrydown is like blaming God for the rain.

That said, I still personally prefer resin on drier lanes. So far I've only used urethane in practice but more often lately my home house is getting really, really dry. I may have to soon. Either thar or my Blue Dot, which will definitely cause carrydown!
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Most of the time my first adjustment is to move right a board or two after practice or early in the first game as the fresh backends get a little oil on them. Usually I can sit there for 2 games until the reactives tear up the mids and then I will move back left a couple of boards at the arrows to create a little angle. I just juice up the revs a bit and boom, the third game is usually the best. I have found drills are not that important. I have thrown a bullseye drilled Pink Hammer 659, label drilled Black U-dot 616, Blue Rhino Pro 649, Ebonite Gyro 608, Roto Black Grenade 605 and Blue Hammer 638, pin below the bridge Liberator 666 and Natural 675 and leverage weighted Black Hammer 664. Most of these were high series on the pair due to lane maching problems before the new Kegel Ion showed up. The trick is to get the ball to roll at the pins to carry and that can be done with any drill as long as you can get far enough out near the gutter in the friction. You have to play the friction at your feet not at 38-40 ft down the lane or the ball won''t roll enough to carry.

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ROTO GRIP - King of Them All

Edited on 3/24/2010 1:25 PM

Edited on 3/24/2010 1:33 PM