Author Topic: Urethane Experiment just about over for me (Read 4092 times)

Neptune66 · « **on:** January 09, 2011, 12:51:18 PM »

Started last year when I saw a couple of fellow bowlers using the Natural on fried lanes with some great results. Bought with high hopes and had a couple of great games, but mostly mundane results. Fast forward a year and they both gave up on theirs, and I have banished mine to my not-so-favorite house with the crummy (aka non-existent) backends. Maybe it's a better ball for houses with no substantial backend?

Granted I have very low revs and decent speed, but I just cannot consistently get this ball to perform. Either comes in at too shallow of an angle or gets into a roll too early and misses left (am right-handed). Problem is that it makes one move around mid-lane and then moves again at the backend (regular house has very strong backends). It's hard enough aiming a ball according to when it will change direction once, but when it changes direction twice (no matter how slight), it's more of a challenge. and the whole point of this ball ----at least for me--- was to have something a step above plastic and not quite as strong as my weakest reactive.

Not saying it's a bad ball. Just doesn't match up at all with my game. But.... will see what it does at the other house where it might be just the ticket to smooth out some pretty spotty lane conditions. And of course...as mentioned, barely perceptible backends.

Easy10pins · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2011, 08:15:35 AM »

I guess I am that average Joe bowler because I simply love my Liberator on fresh THS for league play.

I bowl on a fun Vegas league with many different styles of bowlers. Most of which roll straight up the middle with plastic.

I started using urethane because I got a lot of over/under with my Darkstar. The Liberator allowed me to move outside of 5 and play straight up with very little angle to the pocket. I actually shot my first 700 series with it.

Being that the Liberator wasn't drilled for me but fit, I decided to get a Natural Pearl and on league night shot around 670 with it.

For a bowler with low revs and high speed, I don't see urethane working for him/her. You need to be able to put a little hand in the ball or it will be no better than a house ball.

I use whatever ball works for me.

Edited by Easy10pins on 1/12/2011 at 9:19 AM

Djarum · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2011, 12:37:35 PM »

I'm going to really have to disagree with this. On baked lanes, I find a week resin way to speed and release sensitive to the back portion of the lane and my old AMF black angle way more predictable, even if I have speed/release error.

I've also found that older high load particle balls work quite well on baked lanes. They act almost like a urethane in that they are smooth in the dry area of the lane, and if they hit oil down lane they still have traction.

dizzyfugu wrote on 1/11/2011 9:15 AM:
Agree - one thing you have to know or learn that a classic urethane with a hard shell behaves much different from a resin piece. The core helps getting it into a roll, but urethane is much more release error sensitive than a reactive ball. A dirty back end will also affect a urethane, because the shell is less porous and its traction mainly comes from surface prep, and the core helps a bit, too.

Urethane shines when you need a smooth response to friction, and due to its hardness it copes well with dried out heads - at least better than a reactive piece. But you have keep in mind that it has to be played differently. A Natural behaves like a very tame reactive piece - the difference is even more severe if you take a true old school piece like a Faball Hammer! This allows even less error and mistakes.

DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
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Neptune66 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:06:14 PM »

Tried my Natural again last night on bone-dry lanes (late mixed league where lanes were oiled several hours, leagues, games ago).

Its just not working for me consistently --- because I don;t have that conistent of a release myself. So, yes, it's partly the bowler, but it just doesn't give me any love (forgiveness) the way even my weakest reactive stuff does.

However.... I am considering polishing it. Thinking it would get farther down the lane and won't move as abruptly as a reactive, but would maybe save a little energy for the backend---or at least the last third of the lane.

Would it be a waste of time and MY energy to try that?

Juggernaut · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:24:42 PM »

Neptune66 wrote on 1/16/2011 3:06 PM:
Tried my Natural again last night on bone-dry lanes (late mixed league where lanes were oiled several hours, leagues, games ago).

Its just not working for me consistently --- because I don;t have that conistent of a release myself. So, yes, it's partly the bowler, but it just doesn't give me any love (forgiveness) the way even my weakest reactive stuff does.

However.... I am considering polishing it. Thinking it would get farther down the lane and won't move as abruptly as a reactive, but would maybe save a little energy for the backend---or at least the last third of the lane.

Would it be a waste of time and MY energy to try that?

NOTHING is a waste of time, IF you learn from it. I know that I have jad some of the oddest combinations work for me, so it is hard to tell what is a "waste" and what isn't until I've tried it.

Smooth the surface to about 2000ab, then polish it pretty good. If it still doesn't have a place in your bag for a strike ball, maybe you'll have a very predictable spare ball.

Good transactions list in my profile

Neptune66 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:39:39 PM »

Thanks Juggernaut.

Guess it can't hurt. And it isn't so much that I need this ball to fill a niche in my arsenal. It's that I'm trying to find one for it. So... as long I can find SOME use for it, I will have accomplished something.

Right now its like a 2nd string quarterback that no one really wants to put in the game except in desperation. Occasionally it saves my ass. More often than not, it has a DIFFERENT reaction from all my other equipment, but not necessarily better.

Is good for shaking things up, if I use it for a few frames and then go back to reactive. But I can throw 8 shots in a row right in the pocket and get anywhere from 8 strikes to 8 splits with it. In short... I don't trust it (or me throwing it).

six pack · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:55:50 PM »

you have to understand where this ball fits in your game for you.if you can score better with reactive given the lane conditions then use reactive,but if not then what? I try to employ urethane as a spare ball that will save my game as a strike ball if need be.it's a nice option to have. if you don't have the hand for it no matter what then I would suggest a silver recon.

The harder I try the harder they fall

scotts33 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2011, 04:30:07 PM »

Are you bowling on carry down where lots of ball traffic with poly balls and old urethane has been used? If so balls like urethane or a cover like MOTIVator-X will not hit like a other covers or bull surface prep. They slide in the carry down and don't finish with enough continuation unless you are rev dominant which I do not think you are. Guys that like urethane are rev dominant and have less speed generally. Take that into account if you fall into a category or lane condition like I describe.

Neptune66 wrote on 1/16/2011 3:06 PM:Tried my Natural again last night on bone-dry lanes (late mixed league where lanes were oiled several hours, leagues, games ago).

Scott

Neptune66 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 16, 2011, 05:27:53 PM »

I am definitely not rev dominant. In fact, some of the guys at the lanes take great pleasure in pointing out that my ball may have had one or two revolutions on it's way down to the pins. They're exagerating for humor's (or drama's) sake, but they aren't that far off either. I am much more speed dominant, even though I've lost a mile or two an hour in the last couple years (am in my mid 50's now).

The ball was probably a mistake for me, and that's ok. But there's a part of me that is still looking for a reason to not totally give up on the ball, even if it's not the ball's fault.

If I do finally stash it away or sell it, then I want to be sure I tried everything to make it work.

Edited by Neptune66 on 1/16/2011 at 6:28 PM

six pack · « **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2011, 07:45:45 PM »

well I won't hold on to a ball that long if it's not a good match.give it a few different surface changes and if it's still not going to work sell it or trade for something that will. I think you would like a recon better then the nat.I had the recon and it's much ealier up front then the nat but did have a smooth backend.I even tried it with 4K finish no polish and it was a early rolling smooth ball. much stronger the a natural IMO. I was in the same spot you are but I sold it and found what I was looking for with the pearl nat. Good Luck!

The harder I try the harder they fall

Neptune66 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 17, 2011, 07:53:54 PM »

What kills me is last year there were a couple potential buyers for the ball, but I hadn't used it enough.

This year, they're no longer interested.

I am going to research the Silver Recon too.

Thanks.

Author Topic: Urethane Experiment just about over for me (Read 4092 times)

Neptune66

Urethane Experiment just about over for me

Easy10pins

Re: Urethane Experiment just about over for me

Djarum

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Neptune66

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Juggernaut

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Neptune66

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six pack

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scotts33

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Neptune66

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six pack

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Neptune66

Re: Urethane Experiment just about over for me