Jim,

I have the Blue/Black Polar Ice, which is SUPPOSED to be a pearl/solid urethane combination. I asked Buddies about this (I bought it from them) because the box in which it came did not say it was a hybrid. It does not look like it has solid and pearl in the cover. It "appears" to be all solid to my eyes.
 
Remember for urethanes, polish makes them go longer, but, unlike resins balls, polish makes them hook less with less backend. Resins have significantly more backend when polished!

The Mix and the Polar Ice use the same coverstock, U1S, and the same pancake core. One is all pearl, the other is all solid and the Polar Ice is a hybrid. With respect to these three, the XXXL is plastic with a true, but very weak dynamic core. Plastic normally goes longer than urethane and hooks less overall.

I see little true difference between any of the urethane balls except in length. I suspect there will be much less difference in overall hook than there will be in length, with the Solid hooking more than the Hybrid, hooking more than the Pearl, but maybe by 1 board among them. A rev dominant player may see more difference between them than a bowler with matched speed and rev rate. I doubt a speed dominant player will see any difference between them.

All 3 urethanes will probably hook more than the XXXL except on the very driest of lane conditions. Then its a toss up, depending more on the bowler than the condition. As a rev dominant bowler, I had a hard time making 10 pins with a dynamic cored, plastic ball which was drilled to maximize hook on dry lanes, with my normal release.

FYI I recently gave up on the Polar Ice as a spare ball because it hooked too much on dry lanes with my normal strike release. I went back to a plastic, pancake core T-Zone.

If I had to suggest something for you, given your statements above  and given your previous requirements for balls before your operations, I'd suggest the Mix Solid or the Polar Ice. They will hook, small but controllably, unless the area you're targeting is exceptionally dry. Both have a high gloss polish for length and control. You can always sand them to make them hook earlier and more, if needs be. This is no guarantee, just my best guess-timate.

these will be most like your old xxxl


http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/Hammer/10776/True-Blood.html

I also was considering one of those 2 to replace my "spare" ball.   I'm currently using the taboo spare ball which I love except it is a heavy 15 lbs and I've gone  down to 14 lbs so that's why I'm looking.... I know, just get another taboo spare ball in 14 but I'm trying to cut the cost etc... would the storm candidates be very similar to my taboo spare ball?   I also don't want to get use to a polyester ball after throwing my taboo which will also hook slightly and not just skid and not come back.. thoughts?
thanks in advance for any tips on this....

Some thoughts:
Urethane will always hook earlier and on more oil than plastic, even strong cored plastic. In these resin days, the difference between urethane and plastic can be almost insignificant the more speed dominant you are. For the true speed dominant bowler, both are just 10 pin balls. The drier the condition, the more use a ball like the Taboo Spare is. I had one and there I had little use for it, even on the light oil I see normally.

For the rev dominant bowler, like myself, there is a definite difference. Until you get to toasted, very dry lne conditions, where the Taboo Spare will shine as a spare ball and may hook away from a 10 pin, balls like the Polar Ice and the Mixes will have a small controllable, consistent hook when thrown like your strike ball.

the true blood has a real core in the lighter weights

FWIW, I am a slow ball speed (15-16 off hand) and rev dominant.  I have had both the XXXL (XXL for that matter) and currently roll the Taboo Spare.   I like them both but the Taboo outshines the XXXL as far as a strike ball.  As a spare ball, as long as I have a big puddle in the middle right side spares are no problem.

I like tommygn's idea of Old School leverage on the 3 piece Urethane as well.

Thanks to all whom contributed to my topic here.

I chose the Storm Red/Silver MIX. Ball came with a 0-1" pin. Anne Marie Duggan drilled it today putting the pin just a wee bit (about 1/2") to the right of the center of grip. I tried it after she drilled it and I must say it worked perfect. I bowled one game with my Primal Scream and left a 10 pin, 6 pin, 6-10 pin leave and a 3-10 split and picked them all up with ease. It appears this ball is going to do everything I hoped for.

Quote from: Brickguy221 on February 13, 2014, 10:34:47 PM

Thanks to all whom contributed to my topic here.

I chose the Storm Red/Silver MIX. Ball came with a 0-1" pin. Anne Marie Duggan drilled it today putting the pin just a wee bit (about 1/2") to the right of the center of grip. I tried it after she drilled it and I must say it worked perfect. I bowled one game with my Primal Scream and left a 10 pin, 6 pin, 6-10 pin leave and a 3-10 split and picked them all up with ease. It appears this ball is going to do everything I hoped for.

Congrats, Jim.
Is it also a 12 lb ball?

Yeah Jeff, it is 12#.

Got to use it 8 times in a league today with 100% success on leaves involving the 10 pin, 6 pin, 6-10 leave, and two 3-10 pin splits. First time I have bowled in a league since one time last August and then 15 months before that.  Shot 553 (149-204-200) for a 184 average with 12# balls. Way better than I expected to do for this 77 year old man.