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Equipment Boards => Motiv => Topic started by: milorafferty on July 14, 2015, 10:28:57 AM

Title: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: milorafferty on July 14, 2015, 10:28:57 AM
My original Sniper is beginning to show it's age. I noticed the bridge is cracked this weekend and the area around the pin looks to be expanding a bit as well. I'm considering retiring it and maybe replace it with the Arctic Sniper.


As I understand it, the original was straight polyester where the Arctic is a urethane blend. How much more hook will I have with the Arctic?
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: spmcgivern on July 14, 2015, 11:42:12 AM
Unfortunately, the Arctic Sniper has a significant bite to it.  I am not sure how it compares to balls like the Storm Mix or any other pancake type urethane ball, but it is a step above the original Sniper in strength. 

If you throw your typical strike shot with your spare ball, then you might need to adjust your line a little to maintain consistency.  If you throw significantly harder at your spares or flatten your release, then the learning curve is significantly less.

I am sure the surface can be adjusted slightly to assist in reducing hook, but as we have been seeing lately, the surface will have to be refreshed more often than what was once thought.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: scotts33 on July 14, 2015, 12:00:16 PM
Unfortunately, the Arctic Sniper has a significant bite to it.  I am not sure how it compares to balls like the Storm Mix or any other pancake type urethane ball, but it is a step above the original Sniper in strength. 

If you throw your typical strike shot with your spare ball, then you might need to adjust your line a little to maintain consistency.  If you throw significantly harder at your spares or flatten your release, then the learning curve is significantly less.

I am sure the surface can be adjusted slightly to assist in reducing hook, but as we have been seeing lately, the surface will have to be refreshed more often than what was once thought.

I had a poly Sniper.  Some slight cracking occurred and I got rid of it.  I now use a Storm Black/Blue Polar Ice hybrid urethane.  A friend has a Arctic Sniper.  I would rate as far as total hook rolling it normally per your strike shot.....Sniper least, Polar Ice just a tick above the Sniper and the Arctic a lot more somewhat because of ball surface OOB.   I went to the PI urethane because of my cracking issues with poly spare balls.  I have had three crack around thumb/fingers in the last 5 years.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: milorafferty on July 14, 2015, 12:05:15 PM
Thanks guys! Just the information I needed.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: Ken De Beasto on July 14, 2015, 07:44:17 PM
I also thought about picking up a artic sniper but with these comments I might not. So most of u guys are saying its more of a hooking ball than a spare ball? Cuz if I had to throw the artic sniper flat then I might as well throw my strike ball flat.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: beastmode1970 on July 14, 2015, 07:58:10 PM
I have an arctic sniper and I dont throw it any different at my 10 pins or anything any different than I did my plastic ball..  I do not flatten out my hand for my spares. I like the ball and it looks cool...
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: charlest on July 14, 2015, 08:30:43 PM
I also thought about picking up a artic sniper but with these comments I might not. So most of u guys are saying its more of a hooking ball than a spare ball? Cuz if I had to throw the artic sniper flat then I might as well throw my strike ball flat.

But the Sniper will last virtually forever, being urethane, while your strike ball will deteriorate much faster (unless you get yours for free, that is) if you throw it at all your spares.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: Ken De Beasto on July 14, 2015, 08:49:49 PM
OK sounds good I thought if I throw the artic it will hook.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: spmcgivern on July 14, 2015, 10:40:57 PM
Just to be clear, the Arctic would be a phenomenal spare ball. Just when compared to the original it has more of a move. Still moves a lot less than a weak reactive.
Title: Re: Sniper vs Arctic Sniper
Post by: J_w73 on July 15, 2015, 12:11:01 PM
I switched to the Arctic sniper and haven't had any issues.  Still miss the ten pin just as much as I did with my plastic ball. J/K.  I actually do well with it.  I have tried to use urethane before and they were always too much and I would tend to miss the ten pin to the left. The arctic sniper gets down the lane a lot easier.  With any speed it doesn't move much at all.. You really need to slow it down to get motion.