Since I have not posted in a while, I must first say hello to everyone. Have not been bowling much but trying to get back started.

I like to keep a urethane ball in my lineup. When all else fails, I can generally pick one up and bowl average. I see that everyone has their offerings. My brother insists that I get a Purple Hammer Pearl. He says their is nothing out like it. They are hard to find and bring a premium. I am hesitant to believe that no one else is making a comparable urethane. However, my brother is a pretty good bowler and bowls 2 to 3 nights a week. He says that he can use the Purple in most any shot and score with it.

So, what’s the story on the urethane balls out now?

I just ordered a Gravity Evolve although I expect to have to play with the surface to use it on a THS. I match up well with that core so I had to give it a spin. Considering the V2 release as my control piece, but have not decided.
Thanks
CC

I just drilled a vintage phantom.   After it lane polished the look was very similar to my purple hammer on one house shot I practice on.   The line between resin and urethane is getting more blurred as new shells come out.  Not surprising since resin is urethane with a resin additive.

To me the Purple Hammer gives the look that Storm was trying to get with Fever Pitch and Motive from the Covert Tank.   Nothing magic,  but the best urethane look I have had

Surprised nobody talks about the core specs.   2.65 rg, .015 diff way tamer than almost anything else   out there.  Shell also unique.  Doesnt lane polish to any degree.   

^^^^^^^^

So 60 games with no cleaning or surface prep. Is there any surprise with the results?

I don't recall him saying that he never cleaned the older PH.

I watched carefully. Unless I missed it, there was no mention of cleaning or surface refresh. My Purple stays consistent by using the same cleaning/surface prep regime I apply to my reactives.

60 games without a surface refresh and you are going to lose multiple boards even with an old Blue Hammer.

Surprised nobody talks about the core specs.   2.65 rg, .015 diff way tamer than almost anything else   out there.  Shell also unique.  Doesnt lane polish to any degree.

I might be in the minority on this page, but not in the competitive bowling world. I got a 16 lb Purple several months after release date. I'm more on the rev dominant side, but I have speed to help get it down the lane. It flared much more than my Pitch Black at the time, but hooked 10 boards more. I've had 2 15 lb Purples now with stronger layouts than my 16 lb was and they both flare significantly less and cover less boards as a result. I see carrydown as quick as a typical urethane and the loss in performance due to oil on the cover (even while using a shammy). I prefer the 16 lb one way more because I didn't see the effects of carrydown and it was usable from about anywhere on the lane.

I do think balls like the IQ Tour and Phantom are better (maybe even short pin them if you want the urethane look) as they offer pretty much the same kind of idea with more versatility. But one major thing to note is that you may see those kind of balls go straighter when a lot of thane is being used while the actual urethanes (or pseudothanes as I refer to them) will react about the same as they normally do, just a faster carrydown process.