Playing Your "A" Game by Rob Mautner

[Aslan]

Maybe I wasn't very observant back then or maybe it was because I was just a once a week league bowler, but I don't remember seeing people bringing three and four balls for league until the 90's.

I agree JAnderson. I remember the first time I saw a 2-ball bag was in the urethane era. I went to a league night with my Grandpa and Uncle and there was ONE guy with a 2-ball bag. I only remember it because as a kid I asked my Grandpa and Uncle (within earshot distance of the rest of their team), "why does that guy have 2 balls?". Needless to say, the team all started laughing and made varying comments. At the time I didn't know why it was such a funny question.

However, soon after that, I do remember my Uncle carrying 2 1-ball bags with him to league night. But like I said/asked....why would you need multiple balls before the invention of reactive resin coverstocks? Can you really get that much difference in reaction between multiple urethane balls? I always thought urethane balls were essentially better plastic balls and just went straight.

[bowl1820]

Can you really get that much difference in reaction between multiple urethane balls? I always thought urethane balls were essentially better plastic balls and just went straight.

Sure Urethane balls were quite powerful on the older conditions and lanes and you had different layouts, weight holes, surface changes, solids, pearls, different types of urethane.

They were more than just better plastic balls, people today are just judging them by use on today's conditions.

So You could easily have multiple balls.

[J Anderson]

I agree JAnderson. I remember the first time I saw a 2-ball bag was in the urethane era. I went to a league night with my Grandpa and Uncle and there was ONE guy with a 2-ball bag. I only remember it because as a kid I asked my Grandpa and Uncle (within earshot distance of the rest of their team), "why does that guy have 2 balls?". Needless to say, the team all started laughing and made varying comments. At the time I didn't know why it was such a funny question.

However, soon after that, I do remember my Uncle carrying 2 1-ball bags with him to league night. But like I said/asked....why would you need multiple balls before the invention of reactive resin coverstocks? Can you really get that much difference in reaction between multiple urethane balls? I always thought urethane balls were essentially better plastic balls and just went straight.

I can remember years ago Nelson Burton Jr. commenting on pro bowlers having new balls drilled to match the lane conditions better, long before reactive resin and high tech cores. But they were trying to earn a living by bowling, not just bowling in one or two leagues.

And if you think urethane and plastic just go straight, ask Mike White to throw his White Dot the next time you see him.

[sprocket]

Here's what I had that I can remember:

Blue dot - straight over label
White dot - straight over label
Yellow dot - 3/4oz finger weight, 3/4oz pos side
Black U-dot - 3/4oz finger weight, 3/4oz pos side
Slate U-dot -3/4oz finger weight, 3/4oz pos side
Blue Hammer - Axis weight
Nail - true axis weight

Concerning axis weight on the Hammer balls: I seem to remember there being two different types of axis weight. One way tipped the top of the bulb core (not sure if that's the same as the pin) to the PAP and then a weight hole was drilled between the PAP and the label to make it legal. That's what the Blue Hammer had. The other method was to put the bulb on the PAP and then drill the weight hole right though it. That's what the Nail had.

Blue Angle - some type of leverage weight I think
Pearl Red Hammer - axis weight like the Blue Hammer
Original urethane Beast - not sure on the layout
Firebolt S/O - 3/4oz finger weight, 3/4oz pos side
Thunderbolt D/B - this one came with several recommend layouts. I can't recall what it had. I bowled 300 the second game with it though.
Angle L/D. - stacked leverage. Worst ball I have ever owned.

Some of these ball were retired and replaced by others.

[RobLV1]

And speaking of Nelson Burton Jr., he just set a new house record last week at age 71: 878! My guess is that he didn't do it with a urethane or plastic bowling ball, and that he didn't just have one ball with him... just sayin'.

Rob Mautner

[bowl1820]

Here's what I had that I can remember:

Angle L/D. - stacked leverage. Worst ball I have ever owned.

The "Angle LD", The First ball I bought and had fit to me! Now I liked it had it for a long time.

LD stood for either Limited Dressing or Limited Distance, it was a short oil ball.

[Aslan]

I can remember years ago Nelson Burton Jr. commenting on pro bowlers having new balls drilled to match the lane conditions better, long before reactive resin and high tech cores. But they were trying to earn a living by bowling, not just bowling in one or two leagues.

And if you think urethane and plastic just go straight, ask Mike White to throw his White Dot the next time you see him.

Mike White and Iceman disappeared about the same time. Iceman is back…Mike still gone. The rumor I've started is that they had a torrid love affair on a cruise ship for bowlers who prefer other male bowlers…and Iceman pushed him over the railing (like that chick not too long ago…separate story, Iceman not involved).

Of course…he also could just be busy.

Hopefully Iceman didn't kill him because he's the only one within 90 minutes that can drill tri-grip and I need his services in a couple months.

[tccstudent]

Actually I kidnapped him because there is no one anywhere around here that does the tri grip drilling

[J Anderson]

Mike White and Iceman disappeared about the same time. Iceman is back…Mike still gone. The rumor I've started is that they had a torrid love affair on a cruise ship for bowlers who prefer other male bowlers…and Iceman pushed him over the railing (like that chick not too long ago…separate story, Iceman not involved).

Of course…he also could just be busy.

Hopefully Iceman didn't kill him because he's the only one within 90 minutes that can drill tri-grip and I need his services in a couple months.

In case you can't wait until Mike shows up again, here is a video he posted back in 2012.

[J Anderson]

In case you can't wait until Mike shows up again, here is a video he posted back in 2012.

http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads...-of-my-bowling

Just realized I forgot the link. For some reason once a thread gets past the first page I can't edit a post.