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