1998
BJI
BALL GUIDE
A guide listing the criteria that play the most vital role in a bowling-ball purchase
today. Compiled by Mike Riggins & Jerry Francomano.
K E Y
(ct) = Cover Type,
(blc) = Box Lane Condition,
(csa) = Cover Stock Aggressiveness,
(csv) = Cover Stock Versatility,
(cd) = Core Design,
(cv) = Core Versatility,
(fpd) = Flare Potential RG Differential
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- Price: (1) $149 or less; (2) $150 to 199; (3) $200 to 239; (4) $240 and up.
- Box Lane Condition: Ideal lanes for "out of box" ball.
- Cover Stock versatility: the ease with which a bowler can alter the surface via sanding and/or polishing.
- Core versatility: The ball's inherent drilling flexibility re bowler styles & lane conditions.
- Flare Potential/RG Differential: A rating which combines the amount of flare and hook potential.
- All numerical ratings range from 1-100.
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AMF Bowling Products (804) 730-4300 & FAX: (804) 7300-1313
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
AMForce 1 (3) R Light 50 60 2C 50 50 Great for toast.
AMForce 2 (2) R Light-Med. 50 60 2C 60 55 Heavy Hitter w/Control
AMForce 3 (3) R Medium 80 75 2C 75 70 Length & Big Snap
AMF Force 4 (3) R Heavy 80 75 2C 60 70 Big Arc Hook
Bull Whip (3) R Med-Hvy. 75 70 2C 60 70 Some length/Hook
Whip Dull (3) R Med-Hvy. 75 80 2C 65 65 Strong roll/Hook
Pearl Whip (3) R Light-Med. 70 65 2C 65 65 Good skid & hook
RPM Ultra/C (2) R Medium 60 70 2C 60 60 Good roll & hook
RPM Ultra/C Pearl (2) R Light-Med. 60 55 2C 60 60 Good skip & flip
Ballistic Bowling Balls (313) 947-1115 & FAX: (313)947-1550
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
The Boomerang (2) R Medium 75 75 2C 70 75 Big backend & hit
Brunswick (616) 725-3300 & FAX: (616) 725-4680
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Attitude (3) R Light-Med. 70 70 2C 65 70 Heavy roll/hook
Attitude (3) R Medium 70 70 2C 70 70 Heavy roll big hook
Speed Zone Blue Vapor (4) R Light-Med. 80 60 2C 75 75 Skid/flip/heavy.roll
Blue Streak Speed Zone (4) R Med.-Hvy. 80 80 2C 75 75 Roll/hook Heavy roll
Defense Zone (3) R Light-Med. 75 80 2C 70 70 Longest Zone hook
Combat Zone Tracer (3) R Light-Med. 75 65 2C 70 65 Good skid w/hook
Combat Zone (3) R Med.-Hvy. 75 80 2C 70 65 Good roll w/hook
Danger Zone (3) R Med.-Hvy. 75 80 2C 70 70 Exel. roll & flip
Petraglia L48Gold (1) R Med.-Hvy. 75 80 2C 65 65 65 Rhino Pro Core Danger Zone Cover
Rhino Pro X (1) R Light-Med. 75 60 2 60 60 Great Skid/Hook
Rhino Pro Deep Purple (1) R Light 70 60 2C 65 65 Skid/Flip
Rhino Pro Forest Green (1) U Light-spotty 50 70 2 60 55 Urethane Control
BTV (Brunswick Technology Ventures) (616) 725-3300 & FAX: (616) 725-4680
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Double Heliz Quantum (4) R/U Stripe Light 65 50 2C 30 70 Great Length/Flip with Dry to Play
Helix Quantum (4) R/U Stripe Light 60 50 2C 30 70 Good length/Snap with Dry
Raven Quantum (4) R Light-Med. 80 80 2C 70 80 Clears Heads Well & Booms Back
Sage Tour Quantum (3) R Light-Med. 75 60 2C 75 75 Great for House Cond/Big Snap
Sage Quantum (3) R Light-Med. 75 60 2C 75 70 Little less Length & Flip Than Tour
Columbia PRODUCTS (210) 344-9211 & FAX: (210) 349-8672
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Pearl Boss (4) R Light-Med. 80 60 2C 60 70 Needs some head oil/Heavy Hook
Steel Blue Boss (4) R Med.-Hvy. 80 75 2C 60 70 Covers Boards on Oil/Bag it Dry
Primal Rage (3) R Med.-Hvy. 75 80 2C 75 80 Versatile Cover & Strong Core
OutRage (3) R Med.-Hvy. 80 60 2C 75 80 Good Roll & Hook on Tight Lanes
Rage (3) R Med.-Hvy. 80 60 2C 75 75 Works best with some dry back ends
Blue Pearl Pulse (3) R Light-Med. 75 60 2C 70 55 Works great on wet/dry
Red Pulse (3) R Med.-Hvy. 75 80 2C 70 55 Great ball for tighter line on oil
Blue After Shock (3) R Med.-Hvy. 75 80 2C 70 85 Breakpoint can be tuff to control
Super Cuda/C (2) R Medium 75 80 2C 70 70 Great multi-purpose ball
Super Cuda/C Pearl (2) R Light 75 60 2C 70 70 Good choice for Control/power
Super Beast (1) R Light-Med. 75 60 2C 65 65 Deadly in house on wet/dry control
Purple Beast (1) R Medium 60 80 2 55 55 Long time choice for 1st 2-piece reactive
Pearlized Beast (1) R Light 60 60 2 55 55 Companion to Beast for drier lanes
C/Beast (1) U Medium 55 50 2C 65 60 Polish for control on toast-wet/dry
Shadow/C (1) R Light 75 60 3C 50 50 Great length and hit on lighter oil
Shadow/R (1) R Light 60 60 3 40 45 Excellent length w/quick snap on dry
Dyno-Thane (702) 644-5630 & FAX: (702) 644-7044
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Concept XXTra (3) R Medium 80 80 2C 70 70 Scuff for oil/box wet/dry-smooth
Maximum Risk (3) R Heavy 75 80 2C 75 75 Heavier flare/hook at backend
XTC (2) R Medium 75 80 2 75 80 Good skid/big backend
XTC Tour Nugget (2) R Light 75 80 2 65 60 Box-great control/sand smooth oil
Cubic R (1) R Light 65 60 3C 40 45 Great length & control hook
Ebonite International (502) 886-5261 & FAX: (502) 885-7791
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Were Wolf (3) R Heavy 80 80 2C 75 80 Aggressive Wolf-great hook
Sea Wolf (3) R Medium 80 75 2C 70 75 Super ball on most house cond.w/some oil
Red Pearl Wolf (3) R Light-Med. 70 60 2C 60 70 Great as long as a trace of head oil found
Red Wolf (3) R Heavy 70 80 2C 60 70 Even polished-look for some oil in heads
Shock Wave (2) R Light-Med. 70 80 2C 60 75 Very aggressive skid flip ball
Tidal Wave (2) R Medium 70 80 2C 65 70 Strong hook- most versatile of Waves
Wave (2) R Light-Med. 70 80 2C 55 60 Smooth arcing reaction/great control
Jaguar (1) R Medium 70 60 2C 65 70 Length w/strong flip-even on carrydown
Cougar (1) R Medium 60 80 2C 60 60 Versatile ball w/aggressive arc
Panther (1) R Light 60 80 2C 50 50 Medium hook - works well light polish
Stinger Pearl (1) R Light 60 60 2C 55 65 Great on light w/flyin' back ends
Stinger Reactive (1) R Light 60 80 2C 55 65 Box finish great on light w/carrydown
Stinger Urethane (1) U Medium 40 50 2C 55 50 Box good on med./polish for toast
Gyro Pro Sanded (1) R Light-Med. 55 80 3 40 40 Smooth arcing ball
Gyro Pro Polished (1) R Light 50 50 3 40 40 Wet/dry-length w/small flip
Gyro Urethanes (1) U Light-Med. 40 50 3 40 40 Med or light oil w/ dry backends-small arc
Faball (410) 633-1980 & FAX: (410) 633-1967
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Super Hook Red 3D (3) R Heavy 85 80 2C 75 80 Very aggressive cover hookinest 3D yet
Super Flip Blue 3D (3) R Light-Med. 80 60 2C 75 75 The skid & big flip of the 3D's
High Rev Violet 3D (3) R Med.-Hvy. 80 80 2C 75 70 The original still does a great job
Burgundy Hammer (1) U Heavy 60 50 2 50 50 Clears heads better than blue hooker
Blue "Hooker" Hammer (1) U Heavy 55 50 2 50 50 Most urethane hook on oil-bear to polish
PC2 Hammer (1) R Light-Med. 75 65 2 55 55 Excellent performer/entry level/control
PC3 Hammer (1) U Medium 55 50 3 40 40 Hooker cover w/roll and control
Lane #1 (315) 432-1650 & FAX: (315) 433-8559
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Buzz Saw/C (3) R Heavy 75 80 2C 65 75 Quick revs and strong back end on oil
Pearl Viper (2) R Light-Med. 75 60 2 60 70 Strong for length & breakpoint control
Power Play Bowling Products (330) 452-1800 & FAX: (330) 452-1133
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Norm Duke Gold Adv. (2) R Med.-Hvy. 70 80 2C 70 75 Big flare w/strong/control hook
Norm Duke Silver Adv. (2) R Light-Med. 70 70 2 70 75 Great length/strong-smooth hook
Sports Tec (919) 776-9544 & FAX: (919) 776-9548
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Inferno (1) R Light 60 75 2C 65 60 Lots of performance for Econo 2Pc
Storm Products (801) 723-0403 & FAX: (801) 734-0338
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Thunder Road (3) R Heavy 80 80 2C 75 75 Condition friendly cover/great from box
Blue Thunder Pearl (3) R Medium 80 60 2C 75 75 Strong out of box for skid hook
Thunder Storm (3) R Heavy 75 80 2C 70 80 Ball likes oil/can be polished for med.
Forest Fire Storm (2) R Hvy.-Med. 75 80 2C 60 70 Still a very aggressive ball for oil
Fire Storm (2) R Light-Med. 75 60 2C 65 65 Midlane length/smooth-strong hook
Lightening Storm (1) R Light-Med. 75 80 2 55 60 Midlane roll and smooth hook
Meteor Storm (1) R Light-Med. 80 60 2C 55 75 Excellent length/big snap
Pacific Storm (1) R Light-Dry 70 55 2C 40 60 Length like a 3 Pc./big hook
Tropical Storm (1) R Light-Med. 55 80 2C 50 55 Sand/polish as needed-good ball for $$
Teal Pearl Storm (1) R Light-Dry 45 50 2C 55 50 Still around & great for carpet bowling
Track (210) 55-0073 & FAX: (210) 525-0073
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Triton Heat (3) R Med.-Hvy. 80 70 2C 65 75 Clears heads well/turns corner strong
Ocean Blue Triton (3) R Heavy 75 70 2C 60 65 Rolls/hooks early--needs head oil
Hot Coral Triton (3) R Light-Med. 75 70 2C 60 75 Cleanest Triton in heads/sharper flip
Synergy ETS (2) R Medium 80 60 2C 75 70 Versital drills for various conditions
Synergy Solid (2) R Heavy 80 80 2C 70 70 Strong on oil/tight back ends
Synergy Pearl (2) R Med.-Light 75 60 2C 70 65 Less aggressive cover/length & flip
Sensor XCel (2) R Med.-Light 80 60 2 60 60 Great length & control for boomers
Sensor C (1) R Light 65 70 3C 50 50 Super on toast for heavy hitters
Sensor II (1) R Light-Med. 65 60 2C 60 55 Good mid-roll and hook
Sensor II Plus (2) R Medium 65 60 2C 65 60 Longert and flippier than Sensor II
Metallic Blue Sensor (1) R Light 60 60 3 50 50 3 Pc length/hit darn near 2 Pc
Visionary Bowling Products (314) 388-3446 & FAX: (314) 388-0109
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Warlock Blue (3) R Medium 70 75 2C 65 65 Good length, strong/smooth flip
Sorcerer (2) U Hvy.-Med. 65 50 2C 65 65 Earlier roll and smoother hook
Wright Distributing (801) 375-2442 & FAX: (801) 375-5609
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
The Champ (1) R Light 60 70 3 35 45 Great for toast/cute logos
NEW ARRIVALS AND LAST-MINUTE REVIEWS (Supplied by the Manufacturers)
AMF BOWLING PRODUCTSBALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Whiplash (3) R Med.-Hvy. 85 85 2C 70 65 Revs up early, strong backend
Slam (1) R Light-Med. 70 70 2C 65 60 Easy skid,strong snap (release date: Feb. 14)
BALLISTIC BOWLING BALLS
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
The Bomb (2) R Med.-Heavy 80 75 2C 75 75 Heavy Roll & Explosion
DYNO-THANE ENTERPRISES
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Special EFxPearl (2) R Medium 80 80 2C 75 80 Good length/big backend
Xxtra Swirl (3) R Medium 80 80 2C 75 70 More length than original
LANE #1
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
BuzzsawC Pearl (3) R Med.-Light 78 70 1C 75 65 Goes longer w/more backend
STORM PRODUCTS
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Flame (1) U Dry 35 50 3 40 40 Excellent length on Sahara conditions
VISIONARY BOWLING PRODUCTS
BALL PRICE (ct) (blc) (csa) (csv) (cd) (cv) (fpd) THE SKINNY
Warlock Orange Pearl (3) R Med.-Light 80 75 2 65 75 Very aggressive w/o violent snap
K E Y
(ct) = Cover Type,
(blc) = Box Lane Condition,
(csa) = Cover Stock Aggressiveness,
(csv) = Cover Stock Versatility,
(cd) = Core Design,
(cv) = Core Versatility,
(fpd) = Flare Potential RG Differential
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- Price: (1) $149 or less; (2) $150 to 199; (3) $200 to 239; (4) $240 and up.
- Box Lane Condition: Ideal lanes for "out of box" ball.
- Cover Stock versatility: the ease with which a bowler can alter the surface via sanding and/or polishing.
- Core versatility: The ball's inherent drilling flexibility re bowler styles & lane conditions.
- Flare Potential/RG Differential: A rating which combines the amount of flare and hook potential.
- All numerical ratings range from 1-100.
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