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Author Topic: The STRONGEST ball debate....  (Read 4070 times)

TheSquirrel

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The STRONGEST ball debate....
« on: July 09, 2010, 06:34:45 AM »
So in everyone and anyone's opinion, what are the differences between some of Utah's heavy oil balls?  Right now I consider them to be the Virtual Gravity, Mutant, Invasion and the Reign of Fire.  There has been so much discussion but not one post with all of them.  Now, please consider that surfaces and layouts are similar or close enough (Mine are).

My Mutant is strongest overall, but I am drilling a Reign of Fire this week for the first time.  Invasion is the earliest but always seems to be picky on when it wants to react in the backend, so I have decided to get rid of it.  I do bowl on various sport and house patterns.   The Virtual Gravity seems to consistently be the strongest down the lane.  I am not sure what the Reign of Fire will bring...I am hoping earlier and stronger overall than my Mutant, I may even keep my Reign of Fire at 500 Abralon.

All opinions welcome, I am toying with surfaces on the Virtual Gravity and not sure what I will do with the Reign of Fire.

 

Dan Belcher

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2010, 02:50:01 PM »
First off, since the Reign of Fire has a weaker coverstock than the Virtual Gravity, Mutant Cell, or Invasion, it will not handle as much oil as any of those balls when you have the same kind of layout and same surface grit.  (However, it comes out of the box at 1000 abralon compared to the 2000 or 4000 the other balls have, which helps it pick up more in heavier oil, but gives it less bite downlane and makes it more prone to burning up in early friction)

But beyond that, do you really need all of those heavy oil balls?  And why would you need something at 500 abralon?  I can't remember the last time I bowled in any tournament or league anywhere that I needed anything rougher than 1000, and even then, it's incredibly rare that I need to use anything with rougher than 2000 on it. And that's despite me being a lower-rev stroker (just look at the video in my profile to see what I mean).  Using that much surface means the ball will pick up too soon the lane and puke in the back for me, creating an over/under reaction and poor carry.

TheSquirrel

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2010, 03:00:01 PM »
Besides liking to drill a lot of balls, I am more of a power stroker (High ball speed, medium/lox revs).  In Michigan in most houses we see quite a bit of oil, rarely unless late in a block or getting way right in track in league by 3rd game can I throw something weaker.  I use my Mutant at 500 Abralon, anything less and it goes too long....

Overall,  I was just curious on others comparisons. I have heard some people say that they have ROF and Invasion and ROF typically plays stronger....

Dan Belcher

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2010, 03:08:53 PM »
Do you by chance have a lot of tilt or something? I've seen some seriously oily conditions before (are you familiar with the Bradley Open tournament in Lexington, KY by chance?), but never had that much trouble just getting the ball to grab the lane.

Some people say the RoF is "stronger" because they can cover more boards with it on most conditions. The Invasion is stronger as far as being able to create traction and roll and power at the pins when bowling on truly soupy conditions. The RoF tends to conserve energy better thanks to the higher RG core and slightly weaker coverstock, so it will create more angle downlane when it finds friction. If there isn't much friction for it to grab, however, it'll create less motion than the Invasion. Thats the problem with terms like "strongest." It's really vague and subject to each person's interpretation of what it means.

TheSquirrel

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2010, 03:18:52 PM »
Actually I have very little tilt, my ball speed is right around 19 mph, when playing straighter up the lane.  

Interpretation of stronger is to each their own you are right.  I just never saw my Invasion react, I don't like to "See" balls hook either.

Dan Belcher

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2010, 03:40:44 PM »
Just curious, is that 19mph at the arrows, or 19mph at the back part of the lane? (Qubica system measures at the back part of the lane, CATS the front part for example) If that's measured in the back, no wonder you have trouble getting traction.

I've never personally thrown an Invasion BTW, but for what it's worth as far as making some comparisons between different balls, my Mutant Cell is actually very, very strong downlane, but also gets a TON of natural length for me, even though I drilled it fairly strong trying to get an earlier, smoother motion.  I basically never use it on fresh oil, and instead just use it when I need to throw the ball away from the headpin and need to create a lot of backend angle.

Rotoguy300

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2010, 07:30:39 PM »
The Invasion is the strongest ball on the market period. It's so strong its almost inconvinient. Debate over.

tywithay

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2010, 08:48:07 PM »
Invasion is by far the strongest I've ever owned. I think the Pure Physics will give it a run for its money though to be honest. I am just waiting to throw it. I've seen it a couple times though and it flat out hooks.

Gunnz

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2010, 09:23:35 PM »
Hey squirrel, just curious, where do you bowl at? I too am from Michigan, southeast to be exact.  My Invasion hooks so much I can't even use it anywhere because it burns up before it hits the pins. I actually consider my fast kind of a heavy oil ball to tell the truth. And my original Shift is always dependable

clt2244

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2010, 04:20:16 AM »
IMO The Bounty Hunter is the strongest ball ive ever seen.
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Gazoo

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2010, 10:26:45 PM »
Front to back: Invasion

Downlane backend: Reign of Fire

Midlane backend: Virtual Gravity

Can't say: Mutant
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MrPerfect

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2010, 02:04:51 PM »
quote:
Does anyone know how the Prodigy compares to these balls?


Yeah, I do, it isn't as strong.

glssmn2001

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2010, 02:21:20 PM »
quote:
 In Michigan in most houses we see quite a bit of oil,  



 Where do you bowl in Michigan, I throw about 17 -18 mile an hour and am having trouble keeping a Fast from over reacting

dware300

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2010, 07:14:36 PM »
i have everyone of those balls you are talkin about and i think it depends on how u throw the ball and obviously what you are bowling on but my reign of fire is by far the strongest and covers the most boards and then my prodigy is real close the invasion for me is a bit earlier but much smoother and straighter over all

sstaz

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Re: The STRONGEST ball debate....
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2010, 08:26:46 PM »
quote:
Besides liking to drill a lot of balls, I am more of a power stroker (High ball speed, medium/lox revs).  In Michigan in most houses we see quite a bit of oil, rarely unless late in a block or getting way right in track in league by 3rd game can I throw something weaker.  I use my Mutant at 500 Abralon, anything less and it goes too long....

Overall,  I was just curious on others comparisons. I have heard some people say that they have ROF and Invasion and ROF typically plays stronger....


would love to find out what lanes your bowling at in Michigan.