Hardness has nothing to do with how much turn you can get on the
ball. That all comes from your fingers and wrist. As for how soft a
ball can be, they use a durometer scale for check for that. The
minimum requirement for how soft a ball can be is 72D at room
temperatute (68° - 78°F).

If you would like to read about ball specs, look at this page:

http://www.bowl.com/Downloads/pdf/Specs/EquipManual/EQM-
BowlBallSpecific..pdf

Brian

--- In BowlingTips101@yahoogroups.com, Antoine Jones
<bowling_aj@...> wrote:
>
> Marty,
>
> WOW, i love your inthusiastic interest in equipment. hardness is
a factor in the amount of turn you can get out of a bowling ball. the
weight block itself is a huge factor in the amount of turn a ball can
have. followed by the cover. when it comes to elasticity, i don't
think the USBC would approve a ball that was that different. now, if
a manufacturer decided to produce a ball that had a soft enough cover
it dug more into the lane for bite, i think they would sell it but
they would probably wear out very quickly.
>
> let me jump to the pins real quick. YES, i think that the pins
are very much similar to the pins of yester-year. the ABC, now USBC,
had to sanction the pins just as they do bowling balls. when it comes
to pins, they don't waver as much as they do with the balls. so the
pins you are rolling a ball at now, are the same weight, size, and
material make-up as those 75 years ago. just various density on the
plastic covers.
>
> what i am going to do is get all of my stuff together and post
more on the ball subject. i don't want to leave anythign out, so i
will post it in the morning when i have fresh mind and visual aids.
but the biggest difference in balls now is cover and core. actually,
i think i remember reading something about cores and covers on
bowl.com!
>
> Martin Carbone <martycarbone@...> wrote:
> AJ wrote, in part, : "a big part of the average
increase is equipment. the ball manufacturers are producing balls
that will do most of the work for you."
> ------------------------ reply ---------------
>
> How are balls designed to work better?
>
> Years ago I switched from a black "Ebonite"??" ball to a red
Urethane.
>
> I was able to start hooking with that ball -- because it seemed
softer -- and got near a 180 average
>
> What are the characteristics you look for in a ball now?
>
> I think hardness has to be within certain limits.
>
> I know weight is controlled -- as is a certain balance (center of
gravity?)
>
> Do they manufacture different levels of elasticity?
>
> What else is there?
>
> Is there anything on the internet about selecting a ball?
>
> Do you think the pins are the same as they were 50 years ago?
>
> Marty
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Antoine "AJ" Jones
> -Visionary Bowling Products
> -Test Staff Member
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail.
See how.
>

Jones