When Does Reactive Resin Die?

[Gordon325]

Hello,

This is my first post at BBdotCOM

I currently have a Storm Virtual Gravity (Original) when I first got it I was more of a cranker and I have toned down quite a bit to get more control in my game. At first my average shot up dramatically, I went from a 166 (with my super beast) to a 188 (with the VG) and hovered there for a while. Towards the end of last season and all this season my average has been falling it currently resides at 172. Though my throw has changed I still have a decent line with my VG it just seems to had died A LOT in the back end. I have had it since Feb. of 2009, I have bowled well over 400 games with it, and I have had it fully resurfaced 3 times (not counting small touch ups to the surface here and there) I feel I have maintained my ball fairly well and DO NOT want to blame my dropping average on a ball, but not much else has changed in the last couple years. Does anyone think this could be a contributing factor?

Last year my goal was to hit 600 and I would come close every week 580's 590's 570's even a 599, until I finally did it and hit a 644.

This year my goal has been to keep my average and I am struggling to even hit 540.

I plan on getting a Storm Crossroad anyhow (as my birthday is in a couple weeks and I'm sure that is what my fiance ordered online the other day {saw the bank withdrawal}) but I don't want to just shun my VG away unless its time has truly come...

Opinions?


Thanks

-Gordon

[bowl1820]

Sounds like you've did most of the maintenance items, but have you tried having the ball deoiled? After 400 games the ball may have become oil soaked.

There is also the possibility the conditions have changed, you may just need to change the surface texture to better match up with it and your style.

[TheJourney]

The ball could have ran its course but like Bowl1820 mentioned, doing a oil bath could help rejuvenate it. It will help cleanse it and give it some new life. It is something to at least try until you get your crossroads. Good Luck with the rest of your season!

[Gordon325]

I have submerged it in hot water a few times if this is what you mean? I will give it another bath and maybe bring the grit to a 1000 abralon see if it comes back a little.

Sounds like it must be dying tho....it was a great ball. Thank you guys!

[bowl1820]

I have submerged it in hot water a few times if this is what you mean? I will give it another bath and maybe bring the grit to a 1000 abralon see if it comes back a little.

Sounds like it must be dying tho....it was a great ball. Thank you guys!

There's a little more to it, than just submerging in hot water for getting the oil out.

First you should sand it to a lower grit, this is to "open up" the pores. Then place it in a bucket of hot tap water with about 2-3 teaspoons of Dawn dish detergent. Then reach in and scrub the ball surface with a wash cloth/hand etc. for a few minutes. You might need to repeat this a couple of times, till it looks like you got the oil out.

After that put the ball in a bucket of fresh water and rinse to remove any soap residue. Sit the ball out to dry, then return the ball back to the surface you want.


Here's the original instructions for doing the "Hot Water & Dawn" method.
1. Have the ball wet sanded to about 400-grit to open the cover's pores.
2. Fill a tub or bucket (5 gallon buckets work well) with hot tap water and about 2-3 teaspoons of Dawn dish detergent.
3. Wash the ball using a wash cloth or a scotch brite pad (burgundy or green) for a few minutes.
4. Remove the ball from the soapy water and rinse the tub (or bucket) clean and refill it with hot water (no soap).
5. Place the ball in the water and wash it clean with a clean cloth or new scotch brite pad. You will probably notice that a soapy film will appear in the water. This is residue that was trapped in the coverstock (much like the oil and dirt was).
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until no soapy residue remains, This make 2 or 3 times to achieve, depending upon the amount of soap that was used. You don't want to use too much soap, but you need enough to cut through the oil and dirt.
7. After the soap has been completely removed from the coverstock, allow the ball to air dry at room temperature.
8. Have the ball wet sanded with 400-grit paper and then follow the steps to bring it back to its factory finish as described in our resurfacing section.

[DanielMareina]

Although, taking the oil will bring it part way back, it will only last 50 games at best. The original virtual gravity had such a pourous coverstock, that it didn't have the longevity of a lot of bowling balls. People that didn't maintain them saw it die after 150 games, while most people got between 200-400 games out of it. I would love to tell you that you can bring that ball back to life, but in my experience, it may be dead. That was my favorite ball out of the box, but longevity is important too. Your crossroad (assuming you get it) will last you a TON more games. That coverstock is versitile, and one of the longest lasting coverstocks I have ever had. I owned three Hy-Roads over it's time in production, and I put well over 500 games on each of the first two, and am working my way toward 200 with the newest. All three still worked for me when I gave them away. My Crossroad has about 75 games on it, and still looks brand new.

[Gordon325]

Thank you everyone,

@Bowl1820 Yesterday I did the deep cleaning, sanded it down to 500Ab then cleaned it as stated above with soap and a scotchpad, then re-did the surface back to 2000ab (which is where I had it) Seems to have gotten a little bit of its personality back but still nothing like it was 2 years ago or even last year. Thank you for the cleaning tip though I will be using this method for my other balls as well.

@DanielMareina I am glad someone has had the same experience with one as I have. I also loved this ball out of the box as I stated before it shot my average through the roof, it was predictable and read the lane like no other.. and now it's a dud. I am actually now debating between the crossroad and the frantic (as she says she has not gotten me my gift yet) They both have the same cover stock the frantic goes just a little farther down the lanes from what I have been told. unless you know otherwise. I have been told by multiple people that they are both good balls and can't decide which one i want to get haha.

[DanielMareina]

The Frantic will get down the lane farther. It is less angular into the pocket than the Crossroad, and much less aggresive. Personally, I love both of those bowling balls, and use both regularly, but I would say the Crossroad is a more versitile ball. The core in the Frantic is nice, and has a good snap into and through the pocket, but the Crossroad has a smoother and more reliable transition at the end of the pattern. If you are going from the Virtual Gravity to the Frantic, it may not me enough ball for you. You will be really happy with either one, but personally, I like the crossroad better.

[Gordon325]

Thanks for the input! You're right going from the VG to F might be a culture shock to me. haha. Maybe I should stick with my original impulse and go with the crossroad.... plus it smells like Caramel...who doesn't like Caramel ...

[DanielMareina]

No one that you want to assosciate with ;)

[martin]

just wondering, Brunswick Anaconda is Activator Plus coverstock, is that reactive resin or particle coverstock?

[bowl1820]

just wondering, Brunswick Anaconda is Activator Plus coverstock, is that reactive resin or particle coverstock?
Its a reactive pearl.

[martin]

so it's reactive? hmm sometimes i do wonder if my ball is "dead".. been using it for about a year (over 700-800 games i guess).. it's not hooking as much as it used to.. yes the lanes i play on have changed from short oil to long oil, but when it dries up, my ball is still not hooking as much..

[bowl1820]

so it's reactive? hmm sometimes i do wonder if my ball is "dead".. been using it for about a year (over 700-800 games i guess).. it's not hooking as much as it used to.. yes the lanes i play on have changed from short oil to long oil, but when it dries up, my ball is still not hooking as much..

Just so you know "particle" balls are reactive resin too, they just have different loads of particles added to them.

As for your ball not hooking, yeah thats alot of games. It could be losing it, have you ever deoiled and resurfaced it? If not that might help some.

Also its a Pearl! Its not going to hook as much on long oil, as it does on short.

[DanielMareina]

Pearlized balls don't die as early as matte finish balls because they are usually polished, and the polish cuts down on oil absorbtion. Most of the time, resurfacing will bring a pearlized ball back to life, while matte finishes need to be de-oiled and resurfaced. That is a lot of games on a ball, but a good resurface (down to 220 grit and back up) will probably bring it back to most of it's previous ability.

[martin]

Just so you know "particle" balls are reactive resin too, they just have different loads of particles added to them.

As for your ball not hooking, yeah thats alot of games. It could be losing it, have you ever deoiled and resurfaced it? If not that might help some.

Also its a Pearl! Its not going to hook as much on long oil, as it does on short.

well.. deoiling, do you mean like putting it in warm detergent water? never done that before.. never resurfaced it also.. mine is not really pearlized actually.. i usually clean it with the "Clean and Dull"

[martin]

Pearlized balls don't die as early as matte finish balls because they are usually polished, and the polish cuts down on oil absorbtion. Most of the time, resurfacing will bring a pearlized ball back to life, while matte finishes need to be de-oiled and resurfaced. That is a lot of games on a ball, but a good resurface (down to 220 grit and back up) will probably bring it back to most of it's previous ability.

thx 4 the tip.. maybe i'll try that..

[bowl1820]

well.. deoiling, do you mean like putting it in warm detergent water? never done that before.. never resurfaced it also.. mine is not really pearlized actually.. i usually clean it with the "Clean and Dull"
As for deoiling yes the hot water and detergent or having a pro shop use a revivor. Clean'n dull is a great cleaner and does a good job.

Now what do you mean by "mine is not really pearlized actually"? The brunswick Anaconda is a pearlized ball.

Anaconda

Activator® Plus Coverstock

The Anaconda is the first ball with Activator Plus coverstock available at the Advanced Performance price point. Activator Plus is a more aggressive version of the original Activator coverstock formulation that maintains the durability and longevity of ball reaction that are characteristic of the Activator coverstock family. The rough-buff, pearlized version of Activator Plus coverstock used on the Anaconda creates more traction in the oil, increasing the ball’s midlane and back-end hooking action, while still being clean through the front-end.

[martin]

As for deoiling yes the hot water and detergent or having a pro shop use a revivor. Clean'n dull is a great cleaner and does a good job.

Now what do you mean by "mine is not really pearlized actually"? The brunswick Anaconda is a pearlized ball.

Anaconda

Activator® Plus Coverstock

The Anaconda is the first ball with Activator Plus coverstock available at the Advanced Performance price point. Activator Plus is a more aggressive version of the original Activator coverstock formulation that maintains the durability and longevity of ball reaction that are characteristic of the Activator coverstock family. The rough-buff, pearlized version of Activator Plus coverstock used on the Anaconda creates more traction in the oil, increasing the ball’s midlane and back-end hooking action, while still being clean through the front-end.

hmm never had mine deoiled or resurfaced.. only routine cleaning..
well, what i really meant was that when i clean it, i usually make it dull (with the clean n dull) and not make it shine with a polish cleaner..

[bowl1820]

hmm never had mine deoiled or resurfaced.. only routine cleaning..
well, what i really meant was that when i clean it, i usually make it dull (with the clean n dull) and not make it shine with a polish cleaner..

You might give resurfacing a try and have it taken back to the O.O.B. surface. (which is 500/rough buff)
((which means its sanded with a 500 abralon pad followed by brunswick Rough Buff))

Also Clean'N Dull is a good deep cleaner, I have used it for years. But it doesn't make a ball dull, the name is a little misleading. It leaves shiny balls shiny and dull balls dull.

[martin]

You might give resurfacing a try and have it taken back to the O.O.B. surface. (which is 500/rough buff)
((which means its sanded with a 500 abralon pad followed by brunswick Rough Buff))

Also Clean'N Dull is a good deep cleaner, I have used it for years. But it doesn't make a ball dull, the name is a little misleading. It leaves shiny balls shiny and dull balls dull.

maybe i can try that.. :)

hmm i see.. but my ball used to be more shiny than now.. maybe it's because of the long usage and not the cleaner i guess.. :D

[MICHAEL]

I can relate to your problem. I had a Alien that had lots of punch and kick into the pocket when NEW, but now less then 6 months later flat. I even had a good friend that is a cranker throw it and he had the same conclusion. (The ball just died)! Same thing with a mutant cell ball, great kick going into the pocket, but after several months it died.
I have had the oil removed, sanded with various girds, polished, you name it. I now use them as my spare balls. Work just as well as my cheap plastic. I always clean my balls, as every many should after using them, I even wipe them after each throw. So I wish I knew the secret as to why they became dead and limp going into the pocket!

[jaydee]

I clean my balls with standard reactive ball cleaner after every set, have never had a ball die on me.

[Gordon325]

I have given up on the VG... I am now the proud owner of a Crossroad.

[martin]

maybe even with that many games, my ball is not really dead after all.. went bowling last sunday.. since the finger holes felt loose, changed them from my other ball to the anaconda.. and it works! the ball is reacting as it should.. seems like the finger inserts are the ones that were "finished" and causing me not getting the "lift" on the ball, thus that lack of hook..

[eugene02]

maybe even with that many games, my ball is not really dead after all.. went bowling last sunday.. since the finger holes felt loose, changed them from my other ball to the anaconda.. and it works! the ball is reacting as it should.. seems like the finger inserts are the ones that were "finished" and causing me not getting the "lift" on the ball, thus that lack of hook..

I've read the poster in the pro shop stating that once every 60 games or a couple of months you should change the finger plug as the plug gets sink in after a long usage..

[martin]

I've read the poster in the pro shop stating that once every 60 games or a couple of months you should change the finger plug as the plug gets sink in after a long usage..

i never changed mine for months.. maybe that caused some of my problems.. lol..

[eugene02]

i never changed mine for months.. maybe that caused some of my problems.. lol..

should try changing it than try to play again! see whether that's the problem!

[martin]

maybe even with that many games, my ball is not really dead after all.. went bowling last sunday.. since the finger holes felt loose, changed them from my other ball to the anaconda.. and it works! the ball is reacting as it should.. seems like the finger inserts are the ones that were "finished" and causing me not getting the "lift" on the ball, thus that lack of hook..


should try changing it than try to play again! see whether that's the problem!

i did and it works.. :D see my previous post that i quoted again here.. :D

[eugene02]

i did and it works.. :D see my previous post that i quoted again here.. :D

that means its partially true i guess! finger plug is important!

[martin]

that means its partially true i guess! finger plug is important!

VERY important.. lol