What is supposed to be the "best" urethane ball? I really need something to go under my Misfit Pearl, and idk what I am looking for in urethane.

Our house shot was really wet/dry in the 2nd half of last season. Not sure what they did with it. The Hot Cell worked wonders on that shot, and then later the Shadow Ops. Despite throwing 300/804 with the Hot Cell, I think the Shadow Ops is more versatile. A little cleaner and does a better job blending out the wet/dry. I do disagree that all urethanes are so similar. I had 5 of them last year. Definitely a difference between the asymmetrics and the symmetrics. Even a difference between the 3 symmetrics I had, just smaller. More of how they shaped up.

I play on very low volume short oil lanes. Even the weakest pearls dont make it down the lane. The polish makes a left turn immediately. Plastic I throw a bit too hard & they dont shape enough to drive through the pins unless I slow it down considerably. Personally Im looking at the weakest urethane with a core & that seems to be the DV8 tactic control. My Motiv Tank rampage is pearl urethane mix & can still be a little flippy at the end. Really looking forward to some reviews of the Tactic control & for Buddies to have it on sale.

Blue Hammer remake is about the longest urethane like option and is fairly tame on the back end.  Tactic control is going to be earlier and a bit stronger overall.

Quote from: BowlingForDonuts on September 05, 2018, 12:03:55 PM

Quote from: tunaman4u2 on September 05, 2018, 11:51:35 AM

I play on very low volume short oil lanes. Even the weakest pearls dont make it down the lane. The polish makes a left turn immediately. Plastic I throw a bit too hard & they dont shape enough to drive through the pins unless I slow it down considerably. Personally Im looking at the weakest urethane with a core & that seems to be the DV8 tactic control. My Motiv Tank rampage is pearl urethane mix & can still be a little flippy at the end. Really looking forward to some reviews of the Tactic control & for Buddies to have it on sale.

Blue Hammer remake is about the longest urethane like option and is fairly tame on the back end.  Tactic control is going to be earlier and a bit stronger overall.

Yeah with the Blue being discontinued I think the weakest in production goes to the Tactic.

Wow didn't realize they discontinued it.  Glad grabbed one when I could even if I hardly ever see conditions I can use it.  The Pyramid Pathogen Plague and Lord Field Old School are both still available and probably just as weak if not weaker overall but yeah that Tactic looks like a winner.

(edit: forgot about True Motion as well.  Probably in same neighborhood as Tactic)

800 grit on the Lord Field, 1000 on the Pyramid... I like the 3000 grit on the tactic so it may go a little longer. Lane side reviewed the True Motion, its way more ball than the tactic, if i wanted a "regular" urethane piece I would go for that.

BTM has the Tactic Control stronger than the True Motion. Earlier and more back end. In fact, I think they have it as one of the strongest symmetric urethanes - and just under the Hot Cell and Widow Urethane in terms of hook.

Quote from: BowlingForDonuts on September 03, 2018, 09:44:38 PM

Quote from: jkirkerx on September 03, 2018, 12:49:35 AM

Quote from: BowlingForDonuts on September 02, 2018, 11:04:49 PM

I love to throw old urethane (have way more than I should have) but am the first to admit with my lower rev rate almost never the highest scoring option. Great for practice though due to durability and predictability.  To each their own but agree strokers thinking they need multiple urethane options is fairly absurd.

I don’t think I would do well with first generation Urethane (I don’t have the super high rev rate), but this new generation of designs is updated for today’s competitive bowling environment being much easier to use. Agree on the low reactive comment.

On that Viper, really had nothing to lose and just went with it, finding the Hot Cell being just right, reacting the same across 3 very different pairs. That ball had the best look not being over under at all, and amazed me. Tried it again at Linbrook and got better results. It was stronger up front and smoother in the back on Viper 36 compared to my HCF which was skid flip.

I got Vegas coming again and I’m gonna give the Hot Cell a try this time. 600 is better than 450 for me and I’ll take the trade off. An option that may be the stroker exception.

Honestly was more responding to early comment about league bowlers thinking they need a complete urethane arsenal.  You bowl on some challenging conditions and do tournaments so didn't have you in mind at all.  Speaking more about myself and my 10 or so urethane balls lol.

 
Ok, glad you clarified!
I actually have league bowler friends with urethane arsenals with one reactive just in case. I'll add you to my list of friends.

Yep guys with lots of hand or side rotation or people who bowl on bone dry conditions or on very flat patterns can benefit from having lots of urethane.   My rule of thumb is if getting to 200 is your goal urethane may be the ticket.  If the scoring pace is higher well unless carry is not a problem for you, you might be boxing yourself in.  There is a reason reactives displaced urethane in just a few short years.  Still don't tend to throw low games with my Crow either.  Predictable as hell.