Some advice on a advice please...??

[dutchlefty]

Hi,

My Columbia 300 Rival from 2007 has been well used and just out of curiosity i asked my local ball-pusher if he had something in store that is alike the Rival..He adviced me the Hammer Epidemic..
I got a bit surprised. ''though it is a polished/pearl ball is has quite the same reaction as your Rival'' he said.
''comes good through the oil but has a bit snappier hook reaction''

To me these balls look totally different (both by the numbers and the looks ). What do you think ?? any logic in his opinion ? And if not... What could be a nice replacement??

Looking forward to your reactions and opinions

Be Good and Bowl Well..Dutchlefty

[jimlc2001]

Looking at the comparison on Bowlingball.com, the perfect scale is similar, so the number of boards covered should be close. Viewing the RG and Diff, the Epidemic will flare a little more, go a bit longer and have a more angular hook to the pocket than your Rival. Pretty much what the shop owner said.

Why are you replacing the Rival with another ball that provides a similar reaction? You can get it resurfaced for a lot less than the price of a new ball.

[billf]

With the coverstock and cores being different the numbers and visual will be different but the stronger core with a weaker cover will react similarly to the strong cover, weak core. I have the same question as above for the same reason

[dutchlefty]

Thanks Had not thought of that, though the ball has lost some bits and pieces from around the weight-hole. I'm not sure i what grade this influences the balls reaction down the lane...

[billf]

It won't have much influence at all. Look how big the weight holes are and most of those only removed a couple of ounces at most.

[dutchlefty]

Looking at the comparison on Bowlingball.com, the perfect scale is similar, so the number of boards covered should be close. Viewing the RG and Diff, the Epidemic will flare a little more, go a bit longer and have a more angular hook to the pocket than your Rival. Pretty much what the shop owner said.

Why are you replacing the Rival with another ball that provides a similar reaction? You can get it resurfaced for a lot less than the price of a new ball.

Thanks again for the advice..I had my Rival resurfaced. I specifically asked for a surface that would match a fresh house pattern best. Out of box the Rival is 4000 grit abralon. He brought it down to 2000. What a difference !! Had to adjust a little to find the pocket again, after that there was no stopping this ball..Bowled with it in last saturdays tournament with very good results