Quote from: AlonzoHarris on December 16, 2016, 02:21:40 PM

Quote from: billdozer on December 13, 2016, 07:27:48 PM

If I ever were to get a motiv these days....this would be the ball to test....

Just dang..

Bill - Why this over say the Trident? I'm searching for a new big ball and thinking of trying one of these two. I like my Primal Fear enough I'm willing to try another Motiv.

Just a lot of success seen with that core. 

Yet to see a trident in any of my 3 leagues. But there were a ton of jackals and Carnage's ....all guys liked them.

Alright, that's fair. Do you think the Ghost will be stronger than the Alpha Crux?

Also sick of the storm solids lasting like 30-40 then they don't work and they doink 10 pins like crazy....I enjoyed that jackal oil test video...and If they truly last that long my tenure with Utah may end sooner than expected. 

Inknow I sound like AMF300crazy guy

Dying, bro.

So just the Solids?

Quote from: AlonzoHarris on December 16, 2016, 04:05:57 PM

So just the Solids?

Eh, to me lately a lot of Storm/Roto Grip stronger (mostly on the backend... but that's what they're known for) equipment loses a bit of it's luster fairly quickly. Diligent maintenance helps but it's still sooner than the other brands. I stuck with Roto Grip for a few years but have been branching out again lately. It's not bad product by any means, just more time-consuming than others.

I noticed that happen with my Hy-Road Pearl. Considering giving Track and Hammer a try. Digging Motiv as well though. I feel like 900 Global really is just making a circle if the issue is with the coverstocks.

I haven't noticed ball death from storm or rotogrip, but the only high performance ball I have from them is a Sinister drilled weak, and man does that thing still kill after a few hundred games! Goes long on these old wood lanes and snaps. I've never seen anything murder the pins like it does. Off topic, but is there anything out there similar to the cage core?

I agree with billdozer's assessment regarding Storm balls.  My Storm Fight was a pin destroyer as he said for about 40 + games, then nothing.  Had it checked for oil (none), resurfaced to no avail.  Now use it for a boat anchor.  Moved on to Motiv all the way!
Damn Motiv is putting our some great pieces.

Bill and others,

Regarding this 30-40 game window "of death", I assume you are cleaning these monster oilers after each session, but are you guys refreshing and res-surfacing these balls as well, every 9-12 games?

I'm wondering why you're seeing this extreme reduction in performance, when you really shouldn't be. Most coverstock react well to the necessary maintenance. Even when performance isn't identical to new, it should be within a 90-95% wind of new, with both finish and oil absorption prevention.

Quote from: charlest on December 17, 2016, 02:18:53 PM

Bill and others,

Regarding this 30-40 game window "of death", I assume you are cleaning these monster oilers after each session, but are you guys refreshing and res-surfacing these balls as well, every 9-12 games?

I'm wondering why you're seeing this extreme reduction in performance, when you really shouldn't be. Most coverstock react well to the necessary maintenance. Even when performance isn't identical to new, it should be within a 90-95% wind of new, with both finish and oil absorption prevention.

Yes, even after de-oiling (NuBall oven) and resurfacing it just doesn't seem like they're retaining overall motion/pop off the spot. It helps but the last few higher end Storm/Roto Grip balls I've and my teammates have had experience a fairly quick dropoff. Cleaning after every session is a virtual certainty on my part, and the others keep up with it just as well.

Although I don't know if I would go so far as to call it an extreme reduction in performance, but it is noticeable.

I guess it depends on how sharp your eye is. 90% of original is good for a very used ball, say 100-150 games, but it could be noticeable. Of course this is all theoretical, as we don't have a Throbot and Kegel lane with the computer to measure oil and hook and angle. 95% of original should be a board or less and hardly noticeable. If the reduction is more, it is a shame because I had though that most strong coverstocks were now being designed with rejuvenation and maintenance in mind.

Storm and Roto-Grip do have a reputation for some very strong balls, But so do Motiv and Brunswick and theirs seem less problematic or at least fewer people have  talked about their loss of performance.

All in all, though, quite a shame for such expensive balls to lose so much performance so early/quickly.

I clean and maintain by equipment as rigorous as anyone. Everything is wiped between shots, and throughly cleaned at the alley before going home. I adjust covers on the spinner to refresh the surface on every ball approximately every 20-30 games. 
 
There are very few balls I've owned that ever suffered complete "ball death". As charlest stated, every ball suffers some degradation over time, but thats normal regardless of manufacturer. 
 
The last ball I couldn't revive no matter what I did was the Storm Reign of Power. The ball was a monster at first, but noticeably mellowed out after a short period of time. I tried every corrective measure possible to no avail. I finally gave up.
 
It's unfair for me to make any sweeping Storm conclusions, but that experience turned me off to buying Storm higher-end equipment. There are too many other choices.