I've been on the fence with using Urethane.  It seems like the risk is not worth the reward.  In other words, urethane will definitely provide you with a much smoother reaction on dry conditions but it seems as though hitting power and margin of error are erased and don't compare to reactive balls.  Any thoughts?

In recent memory, the handful of pros that have used urethane on TV have not been successful for those reasons.  Tommy Jones is catching a lot of critics on social media due to that last shot in the 10th.  The last shot on that lane went through the nose.  He seemed to make a minor adjustment and washed out.  By no means do I think he choked (a lot of people are saying this.).  I think it just shows the downside of using urethane in today's game.  Any thoughts?

Agreed.  That's why I've stayed away from urethane.  I need something that'll provide me with the most area and urethane does not. 

I think urethane is very useful in many circumstances. My ball driller just posted a 296 game throwing urethane because he revs the ball about 375-400, and his urethane just stays smooth and direct, without the jump.

There is also a  no-thumber in my Tuesday night league that has been throwing urethane all season with success. He posted a 289 with it early on.  That being said, I don't believe it is a ball for heavy volumes unless you got a ton of hand!

I think that was an obvious overadjustment from Tommy from the 8th frame. The right lane had been the tighter of the two lanes for him while he could miss right all night on the left lane.

I throw urethane about 80% of the time (seldom see THS) and urethane is a lot more speed sensitive then reactive. I'm guessing he was a little slow with the shot in the 8th frame and he even said it himsfelf on TV. No adjustment was needed other than just throwing your normal speed. I definitely would not have moved in given how tight right lane had been for him.

I'll echo what some others have said. As a no-thumb bowlers (for now anyway    I REALLY enjoy using urethane. With my speed and rev rate, urethane gives me the ability to go up the wood or at least keep my angles a lot tighter than I can with resin.

Now, that being said, it's all about time and place. When I can just pipe it up the boards and hammer all over it, I am able to create MORE room with urethane than I can with resin. If I miss out slightly, the ball recovers without snapping. If I miss inside, I usually get a bit more hold, and then it's just a matter of carry.

On the flip side, once I have to start migrating left (RH bowler), I have to be very mindful of not chasing things too far with a urethane ball in my hand because, obviously, once I start getting too deep and/or steep, I need something that shapes the lane better.

The last thing I'll say is that one advantage of urethane, if you can throw it properly, is that it can take some of the guesswork out of lane play on tougher patterns. For me, if they're tough, I'd rather grab urethane and control the pocket than fish all over with resin and go either strike or big 4. I like the fact that when I get lined up with urethane, I can usually stay there and in control longer.

I'm a rev dominant lefty, and I'll pretty much second everything Gene said, he pretty much nailed it.

The other thing, the reaction/result Tommy had in the 8th/10th frame does happen with urethane, where you can get trapped between high and minor adj. never hooking at all. When I'm using urethane well in tournaments I'm making a lot of 1/2 or even 1/4 board adjustments with my feet. If I forget and go for 2 and 1's or just 1 with my feet it can get ugly fast.

Sidenote.......does anyone ever remember Tackett having outbursts of frustration in the past?  I know he is still young.  But the last couple tournaments he has had some emotional breakdowns that I dont recall ever seeing the past couple years.  I know this was a major.  But it surprises me a bit.

From my perspective, I think EJ has been pressing more and more.  He has been the leader of several tournaments lately and many of them he has led most of the time.  I get the impression he gets frustrated to have had such a great, dominant week then be on the verge of puking it away.

Urethane an a flatter PBA condition unless shorter for the majority doesn't make sense unless you are Jesper. 

Urethane especially the VBP Crow from my experience does make sense if you bowl exclusively on wet/dry house walls (what maybe 75% plus of the USA bowlers) where you need to blend out the puddle to the ultra friction outside.  If you are slightly rev dominant and don't like the unstable reactions you get from time to time.  See this thread.  http://www.ballreviews.com/visionary/the-crow-t313360.0.html;msg2572837;topicseen#new