| .Bowling balls have really come a long way, | | | | In 1981 Ebonite developed the technology to |
| from the round stones that may have been | | | | produce a polyurethane cover stock, however |
| thrown at pin like stones by the caveman, and | | | | this was a higher cost process, and Ebonite, |
| most assuredly be the ancient Egyptians, to | | | | fearing that the bowler would not pay the |
| the "resin particle cover stocks" with | | | | estimated $80 sale price, sold the |
| unimaginable weight block shapes that are | | | | manufacturing rights the AMF. The result was |
| driving up averages today. | | | | the production of the "Angle", and the modern |
| | | | era of bowling balls was born. This new cover |
| The Dutch introduced a game similar to what | | | | stock allowed more friction or "grip on the |
| we play today to America during the colonial | | | | lane, resulting in a ball that was more |
| period, possibly. This game evolved into the | | | | controllable, predictable, smoother roll, and |
| game of "nine pin" which became a very | | | | was easy to hook or curve into the strike |
| popular gambling game, the authorities of the | | | | pocket. The cover stock was also "adjustable" |
| time eventually banned the sport of "nine | | | | as to how aggressive the hook or curve was, |
| Pin". In order to skirt the ban on "nine Pin" | | | | by varying how it was finished, need less |
| it is popularly believed that a tenth pin was | | | | hook, polish the ball, need more hook, sand |
| added to the deck, thus the game we know as | | | | the surface. The "urethane balls are durable, |
| "ten pin bowling". The ball used for these | | | | last a long time, require less maintenance |
| games and up to the very early 20th century | | | | and still perform well, especially on "dry" |
| was made of a very dense hardwood, lignum | | | | lane conditions. |
| vitae. In 1905 the first rubber ball, named | | | | |
| the "Evertrue" was introduced, about this | | | | The 1990,s saw the introduction of the |
| time the 16-pound maximum weight limit was | | | | "reactive resin cover stock" bowling ball, |
| imposed. Then in 1914 the "Mineralite" ball | | | | and the stampede to higher scoring began. |
| was introduced by the Brunswick Corporation, | | | | This group of cover stocks have a sort of |
| then a maker of billiards balls, and was | | | | "tackiness" that seems to grip the lane, this |
| successfully promoted, touting its | | | | allows for greatly increased hook potential, |
| "mysterious rubber compound". These types of | | | | and a ball that seems to deliver more energy |
| bowling ball, and variations of it, were the | | | | and hitting power to a larger strike pocket. |
| mainstays until about the 1970's. | | | | These bowling balls won't bowl for you, |
| | | | however they will make a good bowler a lot |
| During the early 1970's polyester/plastic | | | | better. You no longer have to be exactly |
| bowling balls were introduced. The | | | | precise, but rather bowl in an area. |
| characteristics of these bowling balls are | | | | |
| low production costs, which allows lower | | | | Building on the huge success of reactive |
| costs for bowlers buying their own equipment, | | | | resin cover stocks are the newer "particle |
| durability, many color or design choices. The | | | | reactive resin cover stocks" which are even |
| disadvantages are that these balls do not | | | | more aggressive on the lanes. |
| "grip" the lane very well and usually go very | | | | |
| straight, however the tendency to go straight | | | | To take advantage of these new high tech |
| does make them very popular as a spare ball, | | | | bowling balls you need to check out the pro |
| and many are used today just for that | | | | shop at your bowling center, or find out |
| purpose. Most bowling center have a selection | | | | where the good bowlers in your area buy their |
| of house balls for the patrons to use, most | | | | equipment, you need to buy from someone who |
| of those balls are either hard rubber or | | | | really knows how to fit a ball to you and |
| polyester bowling ball. | | | | your particular style of play, and then drill |
| | | | that ball to match. |