Spare ball

[bowl1820]

A plastic (Polyester) ball is the typical low cost spare ball, as stated the C300 White Dot is about the most common in use. There is also the Maxim and T-Zone plus a few others.

As for longevity of plastic balls, I believe it all depends on use. I just replaced my white dot which is about 9 years old, I changed my grip and decided it was time to drop in weight to match my other balls (16lbs down to 15lbs).

The only "damage" it has is just a few spider cracks around the thumb hole, which have been there for years.

Most of the time when I've heard of or seen a damaged a plastic ball. It was just because the ball hit something, a stuck pin or bounced up and out of the gutter (A good reason why you don't throw your strike ball at 10 pin's) hitting the rack or whatever in the pit.

The other times are from bowlers who roll over the thumbhole alot (The main reason why they say not to put IT's in plastic balls) when they flatten out the ball.

And those that believe the story that the reason they left a 10 pin was because it was nailed down. So they threw their spare ball as hard and as fast as they can at it.

If your consistently having problems with damaging plastic balls, then yes Urethane is a option. Some opt for Urethane though because it can double as a drier condition ball when needed.

One thing to note about Urethane is they hook more than plastic (especially today's Urethane's, which are more "reacta"thane than Urethane) so you have to keep that in mind. Plus they cost more than plastic.

[Bowlingfan92]

Thanks for the tips, being new can be so overwhelming between the many different equipment options

[djp1080]

I have heard al little about a urethane balls? How are they?

Previously used a very old Brunswick Black Beauty ball, hard rubber, for spares. Then got a Storm Mix. Later picked up a Columbia White Dot.
Didn't do well with the White Dot for some reason. Probably it was just me. The Mix does hook a wee bit and I've had much better results. The Mix does very well if I keep it polished up with Extra Shine. It's likely the small amount of movement at the backend keeps it from falling in the channel when going for ten pins whereas the White Dot would likely not hold.

[Timmyb]

I have heard al little about a urethane balls? How are they?

I have a Motiv Rebel Tank as my spare ball. Standard drill as my other balls, but my PSO polished it. A bit more expensive than a plastic ball, but If I ever get stuck a dry condition, this has a weight block to knock 'em down.

[Timmyb]

Note on plastic balls. I used my ball I got when I was 13 (I'm 50 now), a Gemtek Gemstar, for my spare ball for one year, and that was LAST year! The ball has no cracks whatsoever, and I know I've left it out in the freezing cold many time in my youth. I think they just made things better then.

[Blomer]

Any ball will crack, especially from the heat - and we in Phoenix know this from experience. My PSO told me that using an IT thumb in my plastic could cause it to crack, but I said it was important enough to me that I would take that risk. So far, after 3 years - no cracking around the thumb.

Going on 3 years with my plastic t zone ball Andy no issues. I wanted a slug put in it and the pso also said it would increase the chance to crack. I stayed away from a slug in it. So far so good.

[2handedsniper]

My Ebointe's plastics cracked alot. never had a white dot.

[Tony]

I have had one of the DV8 black plastic balls for going into the third year with no issues, I expect it's because there is a fairly low amount of use and durability of the ball in general, the pso suggested that I will bang up the thumb hole over time since I often hear it rolling over the thumb.

[Blacksox1]

Pyramid path without IT or slug.

[Amyers]

Going on 3 years with my plastic t zone ball Andy no issues. I wanted a slug put in it and the pso also said it would increase the chance to crack. I stayed away from a slug in it. So far so good.

I only stated that's what I've heard other people say I neither roll over my thumb or throw hard enough to damage one. It's hard to crack a ball at 13 mph.