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Author Topic: Wood vs synthetic ball choice  (Read 4566 times)

lilpossum1

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Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« on: September 30, 2014, 10:07:04 AM »
In theory, I would think that a pearl or polished ball would work better on wood because of the increased friction, and a solid would work better on synthetics with oil being the same. This does not seem to be the case for me however. I have been throwing my primal rage on both, and I have been having a little bit of trouble with carry on wood lanes. I brought out my old reliable Roto Grip Outlaw, and my carry went up immensely on the wood lanes. The same thing happened at the end of the league last year when I brought out the outlaw. I shot better than I had the whole league. Any ideas?
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avabob

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2014, 11:00:16 AM »
Oil volume and pattern will have a bigger impact on ball choice than lane surface.  If the wood surface is still in relatively decent shape, the hard urethane lane coating will react similar to synthetics.  If wood surface is older you are looking at playing the track area, and moving deeper than you might on synthetics.  Biggest difference on wood is that trying to cover a lot of boards as the shot breaks down becomes problematic.  Less axis rotation with less out angle works better. 
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lilpossum1

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2014, 11:42:54 AM »
The house is old, and I almost think the lanes are older. In our area, we joke that it is the only indoor alley where we have rain delays. I took a walk down to the end of the lanes Sunday because the lane man said the reason the pins lean occasionally is because of the pin deck. Sure enough, there are chunks taken out of the pin deck. The lanes before the pin deck look good though
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tommyboy74

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2014, 05:36:01 PM »
Quote from: avabob on September 30, 2014, 11:00:16 AM
Oil volume and pattern will have a bigger impact on ball choice than lane surface.  If the wood surface is still in relatively decent shape, the hard urethane lane coating will react similar to synthetics.  If wood surface is older you are looking at playing the track area, and moving deeper than you might on synthetics.  Biggest difference on wood is that trying to cover a lot of boards as the shot breaks down becomes problematic.  Less axis rotation with less out angle works better. 

+1.  I think avabob makes a great point here.  Wood naturally will have some friction because of the materials, but the urethane coating can still make it play similar to a synthetic surface.    With very few wood houses left around my area, there is one where I actually had to use some stronger solids a few times due to the lane reacting more like a synthetic with less friction.  However, 1 place around here has older wood lanes that have a lot of friction around the track area.  That's when I can go to a weaker hybrid or pearl and have some fun opening it up.

So even with wood, you may still have to play it more like a synthetic house.  Adjust accordingly and you'll be fine.
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lilpossum1

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2014, 07:49:13 PM »
The first 15 feet have an overlay, but after that I don't think  there is a coating. My theory is that the smoother reaction helps to blend the unpredictability of the shot being laid down with a squirt bottle and a mop on top of the Thursday and Friday league shot, plus the Saturday open bowling
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avabob

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2014, 08:37:09 PM »
The overlay is going to make the heads essentially synthetics.  Still going to play like a track shot as the heads go.
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billdozer

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2014, 09:31:17 PM »
I always live by this..

Synthetic = solid
Wood = pearl

At least on THS and modified THS...all bets are off on sport!
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charlest

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2014, 11:20:01 PM »
Quote from: billdozer on September 30, 2014, 09:31:17 PM
I always live by this..

Synthetic = solid
Wood = pearl

At least on THS and modified THS...all bets are off on sport!

Then you'd be wrong.You're living by an assumption that depends on everyone doing as you expected. It is not ALWAYS the case. You have to see what is done, as Bob said above. The oil volume interacts with the lane surface, worn or new, to overrule any assumptions.
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charlest

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2014, 11:21:22 PM »
Quote from: avabob on September 30, 2014, 08:37:09 PM
The overlay is going to make the heads essentially synthetics.  Still going to play like a track shot as the heads go.

Again, Bob, you're making an assumptions. I've see overlays that were years old and truly worn beyond the expected. they were worse than the oldest wood.
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northface28

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2014, 11:39:39 PM »
Quote from: billdozer on September 30, 2014, 09:31:17 PM
I always live by this..

Synthetic = solid
Wood = pearl

At least on THS and modified THS...all bets are off on sport!

Caveman to the core.
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northface28

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2014, 11:41:40 PM »
Quote from: charlest on September 30, 2014, 11:21:22 PM
Quote from: avabob on September 30, 2014, 08:37:09 PM
The overlay is going to make the heads essentially synthetics.  Still going to play like a track shot as the heads go.

Again, Bob, you're making an assumptions. I've see overlays that were years old and truly worn beyond the expected. they were worse than the oldest wood.

I practice at a graveyard with guardian overlays that are peeling up that you can see from 35 feet away. Terrible surface, just terrible. Really helps me project the ball though or more well maintained surfaces.
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billdozer

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2014, 01:26:58 AM »
That's what works, or is my starter ball then I change accordingly. 

Guardian sucks, plain sucks...the alley with guardian around here is fun to "adjust" on..you gotta make a triple adjustment as it breaks down super fast. 

#cavemanlife
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avabob

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Re: Wood vs synthetic ball choice
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2014, 11:08:40 AM »
  A couple of houses around here that have 15+ year old anvil lane play almost like a wood track shot. 
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