Are all plastic/spare balls the same?

[NewToBowling]

Meaning the only reason to pick one over the other is looks?

Some may want plain others may want the zombie. Is that all there is to it?

[Perrin]

They are not. Most have a standard pancake core but there are some that have a regular core. The hammer ones come to mind Taboo spare and True blood.

but if you are talking. white dot, Maxim, T-Zone then yes they are all the same.

the OTB balls are all the same but they have a slightly different surface than a regular plastic ball.

I have heard people say the OTB surface has an effect on the ball but for that to be true you would have to be at one of the extremes... either very slow ball speed or very high revs to notice a difference.

and if you do OTB you cannot resurface the ball without adversely impacting the image. (to get rid of nicks and similar.)