Bowling in league last night.  Last shot of warm ups and decide to throw for a 10 pin.  Miss a tough right and the ball drops into the gutter.  The ball makes a spectacular jump, straight up and into the rack/arm.  I had the sick feeling... when the ball returned, sure enough; a big chunk taken right out of the front edge of the thumb slug.  I threw the ball back in my bag and grabbed the second option.

First game cards, start with front 5 strikes, draw a K high full boat on first five cards (1 card per strike, no wilds).  Wouldn't you know, ended up being out drawn by quads!  Nothing higher than a flush won games two and three...

Get home to examine the chipped thumb slug and realize, not only did it chip, but also cracking the coverstock... from edge of thumb, running towards the fingers!

Check out the picture:

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af243/sberkhous/utf-8BSU1BRzE0MTIuanBn.jpg

The black eagle was hands down my favorite ball over the past couple years.  I'm considering trying to save it with lots of plug work... hmmm.

S^2

That stinks about the ball cracking.  Might be easier/cost effective to just get another one, either single drill or NIB.

Regarding the card game, I don't assume I have a winning hand until that last card is drawn...too many hands lost on that last card.

Ouch. I feel your pain. I have a Black used, minimal games and a NIB Purple Eagle.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/9orbetter/AMF-900Global/BlackEagle2.jpg

NIB: 15.2 3.0TW Pin 2.5-3"

PM me if interested

I've seen some wicked repair jobs done with my old pro shop before he closed up shop. He repaired a Columbia 300 original Pulse that had a HUGE chunk taken out of the coverstock, it was literally 4" in diameter. Happened the same exact way as you described. I've seen this guy also drill a hole just a touch past the coverstock at the end of the crack then fill in the new hole and crack then plugged the thumb hole and re drilled it. Crack never returned and the ball is still being used 4 years later. Definitely saveable IMO.

I have another bad luck story as well. In my Wednesday night league the bowling alley has a strike pot (over $600 now) that you have to get 12 strikes in certain frames during your league match. The past 2 weeks, I had the first 11 strikes in the frames that you need, and on the 12th one, first strike in the 10th frame of the 3rd game, I rang a 10 pin. Last night, I left 1 ten pin in the previous 29 frames. I guess I'll have to try again next week. I might change balls on the 12th strike if I get there again.