The 2017 urethane ball thread

Bowling ball related topics including new products, arsenals and comparisons.

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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by mrbean »

i know. i really wanted to throw the dark phaze when it came out, but i can't afford to pay $250 for it.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by TonyPR »

Don't pay too much attention to undrilled RG, it's the after drilling numbers that count.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

TonyPR wrote:Don't pay too much attention to undrilled RG, it's the after drilling numbers that count.
I wanna get that Pure Roll and put the Aggressive Full Roller layout on it from the Wiki.
http://wiki.bowlingchat.net/wiki/index. ... ymmetrical" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If done right the RG should stay pretty much where it is but the Diff should rise above .060.
Now that will be a smooth rolly ball!
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by mrbean »

if you can't find one check out http://bowlingballexchange.com/index.php
you might be able to trade or buy one there.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

mrbean wrote:if you can't find one check out http://bowlingballexchange.com/index.php
you might be able to trade or buy one there.
Found a cool Facebook site dedicated to ordering international balls.
They are trying to get me a "Pure Roll" with my spec requirements right now.
They can pretty much get anything.
They respond fast to chat.
https://www.facebook.com/IBbowling/?hc_ ... ED&fref=nf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

Check out this Vintage Urethane review of the original Brunswick GRIZZ by Lane Side Reviews and listen to what they say about how early and strong this old school ball is!
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

Lane Side Reviews is reviewing the new Motiv Rampage Tank:

[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by ICURNVS »

I sold My crow to Scotts33. To much oil to be very effective on the shots I see week to week, but he likes it quite a bit.

That said, on a Medium / Med light the Crow is a very good option.

Video I did for Visionary for The Crow.
[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by scotts33 »

The Crow is NOT a light-medium oil ball I would opt for the Motiv Tank Rampage for that kind of condition to light oil for the majority of players.

The Crow is a medium oil ball.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

scotts33 wrote:The Crow is NOT a light-medium oil ball I would opt for the Motiv Tank Rampage for that kind of condition to light oil for the majority of players.
The Crow is a medium oil ball.
I would agree, the Crow is strong.
Last night in league there was so much oil that I simply could not get my Dark Legend Solid or my Rack Attack to roll and both balls are at 1000 grit!
They just kept skidding.
I moved right and had to go down and in and aim and even then they would not roll up.
I got 6 light hit splits in game 1 and the same in game 2.
Both games 40 pins under average.
In game 3 I did something that makes no sense, I pulled out my Crow at 500 grit.
First shot was Brooklyn!
It was that strong. I had to find a whole new line in the oil.
I finished that game above average.
So The Crow is a heavy roller for me when reactive will not even grip.
I am not sure how this happens.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by MegaMav »

Nord wrote: So The Crow is a heavy roller for me when reactive will not even grip.
I am not sure how this happens.
Visionary isnt opposed to putting additives in urethane.
See: Midnight Scorcher (Particle Urethane)
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

MegaMav wrote: Visionary isnt opposed to putting additives in urethane.
See: Midnight Scorcher (Particle Urethane)
I wish I could get my hands on one of these Midnight Scorchers!

I actually spoke to Jason at Visionary Bowling about the design for a future very strong urethane.
Something with a 2.46 RG and a .060 diff. Basically a heavy rolling core for lower rev bowlers like myself who don't really benefit much from reactive balls.

His reply was this:
"We actually released a urethane particle for those exact bowler styles. It was called the Midnight Scorcher, and it did exactly that.
The ball was fantastic for the older generations, and they bought a bunch of them.
But bowlers who grew up in the reactive era hated it, because it did not have the recovery or hold on errant shots, and didn't carry quite as well as a reactive.
However, you could throw the ball on a flood, and as long as you were somewhat consistent, you would hit the pocket all night long."
scorcher-ball.png
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Last edited by Nord on June 10th, 2017, 5:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by MegaMav »

Nord wrote: I wish I could get my hands on one of these Midnight Scorchers!
I have one, single drill, fully plugged. 15lbs.
Due to my non-contractual association with Radical and Brunswick I shouldnt throw it.
I've been hanging on to it, but I have my Brunswick Mammoth for a beast particle ball.
If you want it you can make me an offer via PM, but I'm not in a rush to sell it, they're not easy to find.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

MegaMav wrote:
I have one, single drill, fully plugged. 15lbs.
Due to my non-contractual association with Radical and Brunswick I shouldnt throw it.
I've been hanging on to it, but I have my Brunswick Mammoth for a beast particle ball.
If you want it you can make me an offer via PM, but I'm not in a rush to sell it, they're not easy to find.

Cool! I sent you a PM. I am interested!
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by BigDog »

I regularly use urethane balls on all but the heaviest oil tournament conditions. I have a lot of hand and some nights I find that I have a better look and can carry more consistently with urethane.

I picked up a Crow last year and found it to be very effective. I have it at a 2000 grit surface had it accidentally drilled at about 90 x 4 x 25 (long story) and found it to hook as much as many of my reactive balls. In fact, I like it so much I have ordered another one. The thing to remember is that urethane balls transition earlier and don't have the same response to friction (snap) as reactive so you generally cannot swing them as much.

These are the balls I use listed in order of "strength". All are 16 pounds.

AMF Angle LD (orange) polished drilled at 1/4 oz. finger 1/4 oz. side
AMF Angle (original black) 4000 abralon drilled at 1/4 oz. finger 1/4 oz. side
AMF Cobra (black) 2000 abralon drilled at 1/4 oz. finger 1/4 oz. side
AMF Hype 4000 abalon drilled at 4 x 4
Visionary Crow 2000 abralon drilled ~90 x 4 x 25

And I recently picked up an undrilled Visionary Red Sorcerer blem and had it drilled 65 x 4 x 65. I started it with a 2000 abralon and it was way too strong for my summer league. I have put it up to 4000 NEAT and have had good results so far. I haven't compared it to the others yet but it is seems to be a bit stronger than the Hype.

Sorry for the long text but I get excited when people start talking urethane!
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

BigDog wrote:I regularly use urethane balls on all but the heaviest oil tournament conditions. I have a lot of hand and some nights I find that I have a better look and can carry more consistently with urethane.

I picked up a Crow last year and found it to be very effective. I have it at a 2000 grit surface had it accidentally drilled at about 90 x 4 x 25 (long story) and found it to hook as much as many of my reactive balls. In fact, I like it so much I have ordered another one. The thing to remember is that urethane balls transition earlier and don't have the same response to friction (snap) as reactive so you generally cannot swing them as much.

These are the balls I use listed in order of "strength". All are 16 pounds.

AMF Angle LD (orange) polished drilled at 1/4 oz. finger 1/4 oz. side
AMF Angle (original black) 4000 abralon drilled at 1/4 oz. finger 1/4 oz. side
AMF Cobra (black) 2000 abralon drilled at 1/4 oz. finger 1/4 oz. side
AMF Hype 4000 abalon drilled at 4 x 4
Visionary Crow 2000 abralon drilled ~90 x 4 x 25

And I recently picked up an undrilled Visionary Red Sorcerer blem and had it drilled 65 x 4 x 65. I started it with a 2000 abralon and it was way too strong for my summer league. I have put it up to 4000 NEAT and have had good results so far. I haven't compared it to the others yet but it is seems to be a bit stronger than the Hype.

Sorry for the long text but I get excited when people start talking urethane!
Wow! What a totally cool collection of vintage bowling balls. It is great that you use these balls and enjoy them on modern conditions. I get excited as well about urethane. I have an AMF Angle Plus at stock grit and really love it on lighter conditions. It is amazing how these older urethane balls do not lane shine at all. They are so hard and durable.

I agree that The Crow is pretty darn powerful. Just tonight in league my Guru Supreme was having a very hard time grabbing consistently. I really had to thread the needle with it to get it to turn to the pocket. After an under average first game I pulled out my Crow at 360 grit and played 9 1/2 down and in and The Crow was hitting like a tank. I had 9 strikes in that second game. The Crow has a surprising amount of back end reaction. It gets good length and then turns over and starts rolling hard across the lane. The Crow is very continuous.

I also just picked up a Brunswick Grizz urethane which I hear is strong as a beast and has real grizzly claws. It is supposed to be very, very early, set and then roll straight like a charging mother bear who's cubs have been threatened! I am picking it up tomorrow. We'll let you know how it does.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

Well after Laneside Reviews cool review I found a Grizz in excellent shape on Ebay and drilled it up and tried it in league tonight.
We bowl on Brunswick Anvilane with the Big Ben pattern.
Tried the Grizz during warm up. Threw 7 shots with it.
Huge disappointment, the ball would never roll. Just skidded the whole way.
Tried over second arrow, outside of second arrow and inside of second arrow.
Nothing more than a spare ball. Zero grip and zero roll.
Never turned over.
When I got home I hit it with 180 and then 360 and will try again next week.
But I don't think it will make a difference.
I don't know how they got this ball to grab on a modern lane, or why they said it needed oil and was so strong.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by mrbean »

i saw that roto grip plans to release the "hot cell"
its a urethane ball with the nucleus core.
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

mrbean wrote:i saw that roto grip plans to release the "hot cell"
its a urethane ball with the nucleus core.
Here is the page for it: http://www.rotogrip.com/balls/hotcell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks very interesting.
I like this new move by the manufacturers to produce strong urethane balls.

Here is a pic of the Hot Cell
Hot Cell Urethane Ball.png
Here is a video of it in action

[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: The 2017 urethane ball thread

Post by Nord »

Quick follow up on The Grizz:

After the ball failed to roll on two different modern house shots (Kearny and Parkway) I hand wet swirl sanded the ball on 4 sides with 180 grit abralon.

I then took it back to Kearny and tried it, not expecting much since the ball was such a super fail at the finish it had on it when I first got it used.

Wow! This ball was now out of control early and rolly!
Lol! 180 is way, way too much! Ha, ha. I could barely get it up the lane.

I called Brunswick and they said the stock finish on The Grizz was originally 320 wet sand.
So I took it to the pro shop and had them hit it on 4 sides with 320 wet sand.
I will give it a try next week and see what it does now.

Looking carefully at the Laneside review of The Grizz, they had their test ball at 180/360/800.
No wonder they were saying "this ball needs oil!"
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