The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

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

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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by Nord »

jimmydanny wrote:Finally got my 900G Shadow Ops, just tested some 5-6 shots on a well-worn 41ft 4.5:1 25ml shot, and this ball MOVES! Can't wait till tomorrow to test it on a fresh pattern!
Cool!
Get back to us with results.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by bowl1820 »

Okay here's my reaction video of Pyramid Bowling's New Pathogen Plague urethane bowling ball.

It's not all strikes!! :o

[youtube][/youtube]
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by MegaMav »

Its a plague alright.
It also shares the same color as one of the most infamous plaque strains.

I realize this thread is popular on here, but dont you guys think this is getting ridiculous?
Micro analyzing a vanilla cover with different core shapes.
I just shrug at it. Its the early 90s all over again.
Seems like a huge waste of time to me. Carry on.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by scotts33 »

MegaMav wrote:Its a plague alright.
It also shares the same color as one of the most infamous plaque strains.

I realize this thread is popular on here, but dont you guys think this is getting ridiculous?
Micro analyzing a vanilla cover with different core shapes.
I just shrug at it. Its the early 90s all over again.
Seems like a huge waste of time to me. Carry on.
I couldn't agree more Eric. Time to work on the physical aspects and bowling technique...gain some ball speed rather than trying to cut down on total hook by using urethane with slow ball speed. Entry level resin should help.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by Nord »

bowl1820 wrote:Okay here's my reaction video of Pyramid Bowling's New Pathogen Plague urethane bowling ball.

It's not all strikes!! :o

[youtube][/youtube]
First off, this is a urethane ball thread, so no resin trolls please.
We are loving our low flare urethane balls and how they are helping us be more consistent and become better bowlers because we are required to do the work, not the ball.
I have never, and I repeat never, found a resin ball that helped my game or made me bowl better.

Now to the Plague video:

A beautiful, smooth as silk ball reaction.
This is the way I like to see it.
It is just the bowler now.
If you made a great shot your were rewarded, but if you were slightly off your target line it was still ok, nothing real bad happened because this ball's reaction is so mild and controlled.
I love urethane and I love its control.
Great video!
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by MegaMav »

Nord wrote:First off, this is a urethane ball thread, so no resin trolls please.
Time for this thread to take a break, see you in April.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by krava »

I need to go and read about all this, I haven't read none of it. I have a Brunswick BTU that I spent like $200 on and haven't used it at all in a league. I certainly haven't used it since I finally figured out how to throw the ball correctly about 2-3 months ago.

If people know about urethane someone tell me the difference between the BTU and this Storm MiXX I believe that I have. Mine is blue/yellow I believe. I bought the storm Mixx to use as a spare ball and also use it when the lanes get dry. I haven't seen the lanes get dry enough for me to ever use it. Maybe if I stopped moving left.

I think that urethane is good when the backends are out of control and over hooking or when the lanes are extremely dry. I have a ball drilled low flare for when the backends are out of control and never ever saw the Storm match drilled low flare just jump off the backend.

Got to get to bed and go to dallas to get stuff. I don't want my main ball to mess up. The glue or whatever that is in the finger grips is coming loose. I got that ball like 2 years ago and haven't done anything to the tips since then. I think you have to fix them every few months or something?

Scanned the 6 pages in like 10 minutes or felt like 10 minutes. Didn't see anything bad. I will see if I have time sometime this week to grab the BTU and put it against another ball and see the results.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by gunso »

Neither the BTU or the Mix are anything like urethane.

The mix is a really hard urethane with a pancake core intended for spare shooting. It is an option for spare shooting that is more durable than plastic but might hook a board or 2 more than plastic.

The BTU was Brunswicks try of creating a urethane look with a mild resin cover. That didn't really work in my opinion. It is much cleaner through the fronts and with a much quicker change of direction than urethane.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by JohnP »

The glue or whatever that is in the finger grips is coming loose. I got that ball like 2 years ago and haven't done anything to the tips since then. I think you have to fix them every few months or something?
After two years, yes the grips should be replaced. The main problem isn't the glue releasing, you can cure that with a couple of small drops of super glue. The problem is that the gripping surface of the grips has probably been worn away enough that the spans have changed. -- JohnP
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by Nord »

I have been experimenting with different grits on my True Motion with the Axis drill.
This layout and ball is a different beast from what I am used to.
Totally unlike any ball I have ever used.
But, it is doing wonders for my game.
After some experimentation with house shots, I took the True Motion up to 1000 grit and used it at Parkway tonight.
1000 grit was the ticket.

I was able to camp with right foot on 11 1/2 and roll up 7 all night and the ball would just gently arc in time and time again.
Light hits would carry, or leave single pin spares and high flush was a strike every time.
If I missed inside then the ball would see too much oil and slide too long.
If I missed right it would come in light, or if it was flush, it would leave a 10 pin.

As the series went on, I found I had to move a 1/4 board left with my foot when the ball started going high, then after 5 shots, or when the ball stopped going flush, I could move back right that 1/4 board and the ball would square up perfectly not going high anymore.
Basically I was moving back and forth a quarter board with my foot and the shot would sustain.
I never had to change my target.

The True Motion hit very hard even at my slow speed.
It was pretty amazing to watch such a slow ball kill the pins so hard.
But here is the most important part of what this ball has allowed me to do that no other ball ever allowed.
The layout on this ball has allowed me to totally take advantage of the house shot rather than fight it like I always do.
I can take advantage of the free hook outside and create more entry angle then I normally can produce.
Now the house shot is my friend.
Finally a ball I can stand right with and funnel the ball to the pocket with all night.

I think this is one of my favorite balls now because it has so much control and lays off so much.
This Axis layout allows this ball to just arc so subtly, rolling the whole way, but not rolling out.
This ball does its job and when it doesn't, it is all me, not the lane, or the oil, or the ball.
I actually think I will be able to raise my average using this ball.
I was 9 pins above my composite average tonight for the series.

Crazy huh?
A ball that does not flare or hook raises my game... :lol:

Here is a look at the flare on the ball.
I have noticed that sometimes it gets two, or even three tight rings, almost on top of each other.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by krava »

So the Fanatic BTU isn't urethane?

http://www.bowlwithbrunswick.com/balls/ ... natic-btu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"The steel Fanatic BTU features the Low Differential I-Block core matched with our new low friction BTU coverstock formulation to produce “urethane” ball motion with improved consistency and enhanced hitting power on high friction lane conditions."

https://www.bowlingball.com/products/bo ... -only.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
that one says it is

So If I use this ball, it isn't urethane and won't mess the lane pattern up? This ball is probably similar to like a Storm tropical heat but this will start a lot sooner then that?
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by Nord »

krava wrote:So the Fanatic BTU isn't urethane?

http://www.bowlwithbrunswick.com/balls/ ... natic-btu/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"The steel Fanatic BTU features the Low Differential I-Block core matched with our new low friction BTU coverstock formulation to produce “urethane” ball motion with improved consistency and enhanced hitting power on high friction lane conditions."

https://www.bowlingball.com/products/bo ... -only.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
that one says it is

So If I use this ball, it isn't urethane and won't mess the lane pattern up? This ball is probably similar to like a Storm tropical heat but this will start a lot sooner then that?
This is a weak reactive designed to be smooth downlane.
It still has backend though and will not roll early like urethane.
It is not a urethane ball.
If you want a heavy rolling urethane reaction, you gotta get a heavy rolling urethane ball.
There is no substitute.
If you want a weak reactive that wont jump as much in the backend, then the BTU should be fine.
But beware, if the backends are not clean, then the BTU, like most reactive balls, will not react.
Carry down can kill a reactive ball's punch while urethane can roll right through the carry down.
It all depends on what reaction you are trying to achieve.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by bowl1820 »

krava wrote: If I use this ball, it isn't urethane and won't mess the lane pattern up?
Note: All bowling balls "mess" the lane pattern up, whether it's Particle, Resin, Urethane, Plastic etc. They just change it in different ways.
I have a Brunswick BTU that I spent like $200 on and haven't used it at all in a league. I certainly haven't used it since I finally figured out how to throw the ball correctly about 2-3 months ago.
Suggestion: Don't buy a ball if you have no clear cut need for it or don't know what it's needed/used for.

Too many bowlers buy balls just because they hear "it's a great ball" and figure they must need one too.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by JJakobsen »

Here is the 900 Global Shadow Ops on a fresh 44 foot 24ml pattern:
[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]

This ball is a beast in my eyes! Give it a little and it moves little, give it a lot, and for a urethane.. DANG! this thing moves a lot!

EDIT: 44 foot 24ml 3.3:1 pattern
68.2353°N 14.5636°E is where it happens!
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by stevespo »

bowl1820 wrote: Suggestion: Don't buy a ball if you have no clear cut need for it or don't know what it's needed/used for.

Too many bowlers buy balls just because they hear "it's a great ball" and figure they must need one too.
Oh great, now you tell us this! Where was this advice for me 30 balls ago?

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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by Nord »

jimmydanny wrote:Here is the 900 Global Shadow Ops on a fresh 44 foot 24ml pattern:

This ball is a beast in my eyes! Give it a little and it moves little, give it a lot, and for a urethane.. DANG! this thing moves a lot!

EDIT: 44 foot 24ml 3.3:1 pattern
Well, you got some big hand buddy!
I think you could get plastic to move.
But, that said, this ball really hooks.
I would like to see a straight, down and in shot, up second arrow, or slightly right of second arrow, to see how the ball holds a line and arcs in.
An old school urethane shot.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by JJakobsen »

Nord wrote: Well, you got some big hand buddy!
I think you could get plastic to move.
But, that said, this ball really hooks.
I would like to see a straight, down and in shot, up second arrow, or slightly right of second arrow, to see how the ball holds a line and arcs in.
An old school urethane shot.
I played it down 7th board, and it acted like a regular urethane, except it snapped more in the back than a regular urethane would. I guess the amount of reative resin in the mix (20%) and the insane core does its part to achieve this.

Definitely an interesting ball!
68.2353°N 14.5636°E is where it happens!
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by JJakobsen »

Image
Here is the ball and layout. 40º x 4 1/2 x 40º
68.2353°N 14.5636°E is where it happens!
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by Nord »

[quote="Here is the ball and layout. 40º x 4 1/2 x 40º[/quote]

Looks like a Sarge Easter Grip.
Attractive ball.
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Re: The 2018 Urethane Ball Thread

Post by JJakobsen »

Yup, calcified ring finger tendon, 10 years and counting! It looks good, hooks good, hits good. Very happy with my choice of first ever urethane!
68.2353°N 14.5636°E is where it happens!
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