The Strongest Plastic Bowling Ball Ever!? Black Widow Vis-A-Ball Review

[@disgustedvet9528]

For my many years as a league bowler my strike ball was also my spare ball . Just flattened it out for spares .

[@sparethoughts6845]

Not uncommon at all. That's actually quite common. Lots of pro bowlers still do the Ole "flatten your wrist" on a reactive ball for spares

[@thomastaylor2513]

I did the same thing still do

[@imbadger1640]

My dad uses a plastic ball for strikes and spares and he averaged 188 for 34 weeks straight with it and it’s 20 years old

[@Wandamiancrucifixplat]

I just backup

[@Wandamiancrucifixplat]

I backup with my spares

[@martinboyd3672]

As a lefty who likes to play the gutter , I have used plastic a lot on dry house shots , have had a 287 with a t-zone and a 279 with a maxim .

[@laserdisque]

I bowled my one and so far only 300 game with my Brunswick Laser plastic spare ball from the 90s. (This was in January 2022). Lanes were super burned up and it was reading perfectly.

[@robertwillingham1965]

Start with the Mix, sometimes have to finish with the Ice. A few weeks back the Mix was hooking too much during practice, so I went with the Ice for all 3 games and shot a low 700. Can't control resin, plus I don't like standing way left and pushing it right. Much more comfortable playing more right. I've been interested in plastic with a core for a little flare, but it wouldn't surprise me if I struggle to control it!

[@JabuticaJenkins]

I certainly love my Black Widow resin, but a plastic stock Widow just feels wrong... but it looks so right!!! great work with that layout, seems you got it to do exactly what you wanted! #ROADTO60K Good luck!

[@pbatommy]

You make every ball look good. I once had to use my TZone as a strike ball on very dry lanes.

[@Eric42RandomVideos]

I use my tzone as a strike ball regularly😂. I bowl with a lot of rev but not that much speed. About to get a Brunswick twist

[@Combo2604]

Tzone pearl 2024

[@kroycewicz21]

Surprised you haven’t done this yet, it’s been out for quite some time, my buddy has one. Great vid Packy

[@traviskirk3834]

I have used my plastic ball as a strike ball and with the first game with it was 230 on the burn. It was a Geico plastic ball that you would see the pro bowlers like you ( my favorite 2handed Lefty) using on tour in the early 2000's. When I got it I sanded it to 1000 trucut with the trucut sanding pads from creating the difference and I fluff it like I do with my faball urethane balls.

[@shorty808100]

My plastic storm spare ball came with a 1500 grit finish on it out of the box

[@loridheath2062]

Yes, I have used my Widow spare as strike ball especially when the lanes are toast and I am bowling on the burn. It has worked well. Stays in my bag. Mine is drilled pin in between the ring fingers.

[@baseball_rocks]

Yeah I once threw my friend's storm basketball plastic and went 248 with it. It was 3rd game and the lanes were completely burnt with 10 to a pair. Went right up 10 to flush the pocket almost every ball.

[@jareddrake619]

I have the Old Black Widow Spare and The Spy from Radical... They're pretty much interchangeable, I lean a little towards the Spy personally though.. I tell myself the Fleck particles in the cover and having dynamicore makes a difference, but who knows

[@grandmasteryoda9893]

so how good do the spy carry?

[@nonamephinsyt]

I have only ever used plastic house balls. They always hook just fine for me. Am I the only one?

[@feddyvonwigglestein3481]

Used my Mix on 36' Viper two weeks ago in my last game in the tournament I was at. Was my best look, as it turned out..

[@jspur7507]

And this is because I had a friend named Jim years ago andf I noticed that he always got strikes most of the time and I figured out that he was actually getting a good rotation on the end of each shoot, and he only missed 10 pins a small amout of the time depending on lane conditions --- although he did go into a slump, but I believe that it was because of he bowled too much and never took much time off for rest. Anyway hope this helps you all.

[@jhill6033]

I throw a high rev finger tip ball and these dry lanes been killing me! I also was a flatten the wrist to throw your spare guy also. So I bought this Vis- A ball to start being more consistent with spares and out of frustration with dry lanes I started throwing it as my strike ball and started doing ok! Its not drilled to hook though and I have been trying to use my thumb in the ball to keep it from going Brooklyn. So I was gonna buy another one and drill it to hook but decided on the Spy.

[@hurricanewarning11]

How do you compare this ball to the spy?

[@jessnicholascenterfireecon8382]

I still have an old Lane #1 XXXL Starburst, which was plastic over the symmetrical Diamond core those balls originally came with when Brunswick made them. I used to occasionally use it when the lanes were fried --- and then there was that one time I used it at Nationals for what ended up being my second-highest game of the tournament that year. Yes, that means I struggled just as much as you think I did.

[@wms702]

That's my Spare/Burn Up ball too.A 16lb.. It never fails to pick up some amazing spares and absolutely demolishes full racks on the Burn.

[@nordattack]

I love throwing plastic! Especially older softer plastic like my Yellow Dot Bleeder. "Have you ever used your spare ball as a strike shot?" I am a 1940's style Full Roller. What is a spare ball? ;)

[@stephenmwoo]

Amen!

[@joepalmer9877]

Fluid like motion Packy!!! Smoooooth!!!

[@bobbybooey4948]

LOLOL slapping and running it out on first shot out the box. Pure Packy classic moment right there. 425+ for 2 with a plastic ball is rather amazing. I like the way it looks. I do not own a spare ball. I try to break my wrist and throw it straight at the spare........and hope it works lol. You make using a plastic ball for strikes look way to damn easy

[@danielq2358]

...in league I was 474 for 2 games with a white dot...

[@samuelpancake4084]

Yep it's my spare ball but with old wood lanes that have no oil it's a good ball for that

[@garydiamond9615]

So which did you like better for strikes the widow plastic, or the spy?

[@AndrewWarrenPatriotsfan]

A buddy of mine got a T-Zone Glow Bowling Ball- Ocean Reef for his spear ball. He tried to use it as a spear shot but he bairly stuck. It was because are alley had a sport pattern instead of the house pattern. The house pattern for him he does better striking with that ball.

[@MidnightDolphin]

I've used my spare ball as a challenge, but I haven't HAD to use it. Random thing, I watched Keven throw the first shot of the Missouri State team event (or whatever they called it lol). He threw on my lane too, I was very happy the rest of the day lol

[@craigheverly9868]

yes im a lefty also i have used a storm mix as a strike ball

[@jmfoty4280]

As an older guy, shooting for strikes with a plastic ball was an old normal. In fact, I bowled with hard rubber for many years, then plastic and finally urethane. I carried one ball in my bag for decades, all conditions, all shots. A Columbia White Dot was my strike & spare ball for 14 years. I turned to reactive resin around 1995 when I started bowling tournaments as a 45 year old.

[@hasbeenbowler]

When struggling with my game back in the day, I'd throw the Blue Dot. Shot 765 in league with a Blue Dot, maybe 1989ish?

[@jmfoty4280]

@@hasbeenbowler I bowled 712 with a hard rubber "Dick Weber ball" in 1977. It was only the second sanctioned 700 series in the house in 15 years.

[@Swamprowdy]

Well there's still "bowlers" using plastic for 50 years or more with a lifetime of about 150. And some of them still try to give advice to 220-230 average players.

[@ripvanrevs]

@@Swamprowdy How do you know those bowlers aren't averaging 230 with a plastic ball?

[@horseshoe_nc]

I have an old Ebonite Clear Wolf. It is a good dry lane / short pattern strike ball. I can also use it for spares, just pull a Norm Duke and take hand out of it.

[@mikecochrane2789]

shot a 300 with that ball, hooked a ton for plastic and hit hard.

[@ManaSpryte]

Reminds me of my Buzzsaw Starburst XXXL. Still got it in my bag.

[@Bdawg122x]

I have a phaze 4(15) and a raw hammer(13) both are strike balls but my raw is used for spares I just lower revs and straighten it out down lane.

[@JrFreak300]

I've been using an Ebonite Optyx for years on the house shot league. 5 or 6 300s and 2 800s using it. I picked up one of these in hopes of carrying the corner when the Optyx isn't.

[@fracturedraptor7846]

I throw around thirteen. Gives me great control but sadly on short or light patterns is means I have to throw my Venom Shock from the left corner to the right gutter, and the Widow Ghost just gets halfway down the lane and screams " YOLO! ". Bought me a Pitch Black to solve that problem. Until I bowl on lanes with more oil I think it'll serve me well. Until it arrives I'm going to try to throw my old Columbia 300 Scout more. It doesn't hook nearly as much so I should be able to throw it from the middle and do fine.

[@kimlanglewis152]

A good part of the time in my league, I am using my Hammer Taboo spare, as a strike ball. I shot my first 300 in league with another plastic ball, and that was the Hammer True blood.

[@bowlingbob6962]

How is it in comparison to the spy? Do you see more early hook? Or is it cleaner through the fronts?

[@TheHouseBowling]

Might have to give a comparison!

[@bowlingbob6962]

That would be a great idea, I would love to see a video comparing the two.

[@jasonsmith3537]

Excellent video!! Was wondering how this ball has been...

[@markwkarriker]

I’m recovering from a back injury. I’m bowling this summer league using my spare ball only. My theory is to work on foot work, my body mechanics and follow through. My PT actually came to the alley and filmed, and made some suggestions to keep me bowling..

[@anthonywilson7500]

I've used a t zone to roll a 701 in league before was a fun night

[@mcthe2handedbowler392]

I used the Black Widow viz a ball to shoot 723 in league on a FREASH house shot!

[@igoramaral95]

How does it compare to the spy? Seems a little cleaner

[@TheHouseBowling]

Cleaner because of surface I’ll drill up a spy and get a comparison in the next week or two!

[@Flamingpins]

I used to bowl at a center that had a double shift. The oiled the lanes for the early shift, 37ft and 17mls, needless to say there was no oil for the second shift. I used the black widow spare the whole season

[@TheHouseBowling]

Ooh i usewd to bowl the couple shift league, not exactly the highest scoring lol

[@MrICURNVS]

I have a widow spare... great for 10 pins.. but if they get fried.. it will strike and get through the pins

[@random3rsifO_O]

I have used my plastic ball as a strike ball, one night at leauge they put a short viper pattern on our lanes, it is an older pba layout but I had to use it becuase all my other werent working so I finished with a 233

[@Bloodth3Butcher]

I did use my all-white Mix from Storm as a strike and spare ball for a game. I was attempting to use a Rhino to bowl straight on a burned up sports shot (told by guy behind counter) and failed miserably haha. Couldn't hit the sweet spot consistent enough so I switched to the Mix and went up 10 like this. Clean 216.......I am not that great, I just couldn't believe it worked 🤣

[@zmull9180]

Love the content man. Keep on keeping on fella! ✌️❤️😁

[@Erick-yl3zi]

What I envy about a two hander, aside from their flexibility, is they don't have to worry about working a thumb out when they punch a new ball. Automatic thumbs up, it's Packy after all.

[@williamwilliams8039]

Yes I've had to use my spare ball many times as my strike ball on our house shot when the other bowlers burn the inside of the lanes down and I have to move outside of the 5 board to have any chance of hitting the pocket. I love the looks of that BW spare ball might just have to get myself one of them.

[@freakazoid2959]

I use a Blue Dot with the Competitive core very often on short patterns.....on normal house shots i use this as a spare ball.

[@tank_9er]

What would be the reason for not wanting to use urethane? I'm just curious I'm looking to purchase another ball soon...thinkin purple hammerb🤔

[@TheHouseBowling]

Too Short of a pattern where urethane would force me in and plastic from straighter might be a better option!

[@nvanderb]

You should do a challenge where for your strike shot you have to throw plastic but on spares you have to use the most aggressive ball you have like the gem or proton physix

[@f1kartracer147]

yep muse a 30 year old blue dot when the lanes dry out it works very good

[@justinphan2052]

What layout did u have on your ball? Thanks

[@GenGamesUniverse]

I'm glad to see the viz-a-ball being shown in games in this video, it makes me want to pull the trigger on getting a Simpsons viz-a-ball bowling ball from eBay which is in near mint condition (has been drilled) and comes with the "Bowling Club" bag.

[@b.j.thomas8606]

Problem: Real wood lanes. Old. New oil before league on Tuesday but no more until the next Tuesday. I bowl there on weekends and it is crazy Scorched! Never know what you'll get from lane to lane. So i'm looking for a ball to use on these conditions plus for spare shots. Thanks!

[@funsavernetwork]

It is so hard to believe that you did not have more splits and dead 7's

[@Skeer0]

I want to see you throw this on a televised event just so I can hear the reaction of the announcers like "wtf!"

[@jazlarvonsteich]

I'm a rev dominant (48 yr old) righty two hander who can't bend as much as I'd like. I have two Radical Spies - one dull, one shiny. Also just picked up one of these. Drilled it stronger than the Spies, hoping it would fit between them. But it's actually the weakest of the 3. Still useful. Anyway, shot 300 with my shiny Spy on a house shot tournament Good Friday on the fresh. If I'm having trouble controlling the back end and urethane is too much (which is most of the time on house), then plastic it is. Sometimes I go straight to plastic.

[@Thejustplaincool]

I'm right there with you, only further down the road. I'm a 58 year who had to become lefty 4 years ago. I also throw 2 handed, and carry the same arsenal as you and a T-Zone into the center. I found that the BW just gives me a bit of a different shape, but not much more total hook.

[@ripvanrevs]

I've been using my C300 White Dot on most house shots. 758 and 736 a few weeks ago.

[@laserdisque]

This ball should fit nicely in your lineup between the 86 year old Mineralite and The Spy

[@brianlevandowski3167]

I seen South paw Luis G JR winner of the bowlero event throw a 300 with a pink plastic at a tournament. Plastic has the most COR for coverstocks, the carry from the task mask is good!

[@brianm6117]

I was actually just looking into this ball last week. I don't necessarily intend on buying another ball right now, but if I'd win one on a tip board this is the one I'd pick. I throw about 15.5 and around 380 to 400 revs, so I figure it would not be my every day ball, but when bowling torched lanes it could be my go to.

[@tomhalliley8546]

Going back to 1980, the Columbia 300 Yellow Dot Bleeder would hook😁

[@thebigeasy8609]

Let's see bowl off between the Black Widow Spare ball vs Radical The Spy. Should be very interesting.

[@coopergates9680]

On one lane in practice, my high set is 836 with a Brunswick Axis. Struggled to get that ball to match up outside of that house, though. You have any rubber balls besides the Mineralite?

[@Swamprowdy]

4 games or 5? Scoring in practice doesn't mean anything.

[@coopergates9680]

@@SwamprowdyNice put down. That was for 3 games lol

[@ripvanrevs]

Does scoring in league or tournaments really mean anything? Not really!

[@ronwest217]

In the early 70's, we soaked them in Methyl Ethyl Ketone to add friction to make them hook.

[@s859012]

Another one like this was Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot, but this one has a stronger core than Pathogen Blue Dot.

[@traviskirk3834]

I still have the original black widow. I think about getting it redone and doing a video on it vs the original black widow urethane.

[@TraumaER]

I didn’t know they put weight blocks in spare balls now.

[@BiriRamen]

damn, that ball looks NICE going down the lane though. pretty ball design.

[@kordova6805]

You don't have to give away anything, you've already given us so much good content! Thank you :)

[@kordova6805]

Oh and btw I finally took the time to like every single one of your videos.

[@btk03z19]

I'm a no thumb 2 finger bowler.... I carry a 217 avg over the last 5 years despite being 50% on my 10 pin spares.... I am so streaky on throwing my plastic spare ball at 10 pins due to the fact that I have a natural flip on release, so I either over flip and miss inside or I flatten too much and dump in gutter..... on paper it looks like I could throw normal speed/power at 10 pin as this core will slightly compensate for my natural aggressiveness flip... how would I drill this for 10 pin spares?

[@BARBELLS-AND-BUDS]

Radical the Spy vs Hammer The Black Widow Vis-A-Ball? Which one is better as a spare ball, but primarily which one is better as a spare ball that strikes?

[@drgnflms7]

After the last drill you did I was kind nervous for you... haha

[@whattheheckman3004]

I used an Arctic Sniper with side weight and some 2000 grit to win a association singles event with 747. I also used a Team Storm spare to shoot 300 in league one night. How does this compare to the Radical Spy? I feel like I want one of these “plastic with a core” balls in my arsenal.

[@kennythao9558]

Lanes I bowl on are so dry my spare ball hooks more than it should 😂🤣

[@doomusrlc]

This is the kind of thing I may try to get in the summer league next year (it's a league where we pay for a new ball over the course of the league - I'm getting a new reactive one this season), this or the Radical The Spy. Something just to try but don't want to pay for up front in one shot lol

[@rappingtoad6168]

Who needs fancy reactives and urethanes when you can have the Vis-A-Ball?

[@jaymzuk]

Bowled a make up league match one week after regular league, shot 750 for 3 with a pink DV8 spare ball

[@isaacclarkracing]

I bowl at a center with very light volume oil house conditions, I throw a maxim with my feet at 15 out to 5 and it's honestly better than any ball (I hope to get a urethane soon)

[@deadpolymers3416]

I would guess the Ebonite Optyx series were some of the strongest plastic balls.

[@edt1cv2]

I've had to use an old Galaxie 300 as a strike ball before when I was on a sports pattern league

[@thomastaylor2513]

Always and my strike spare ball is a old Columbia blue dot

[@haynlavaboy]

about 2 months ago, switched to a blue dot and i'm averaging over 190 on challenge patterns, got tired of the purple hammer crybabies. eventually will go back to my purple hammer but it's fun right now when i'm getting my plastic ball to "hook" on a 44ft pattern and the crybabies struggling to hit the pocket with their reactives🤣

[@supersentallupinurmouf]

I use my pitch blue as a strike ball sometimes..... so yeah I have used my spare ball to strike

[@Cody7Lee]

I use my white dot spare in my youth leaguei shoot 230 with it becacuse the lanes where dry. I was stading the middle dot on the lanes i hit the 10 pin with it we where bowling agaist the bye team they move us to a different pair of lanes

[@jetupny6260]

Thanks for making this video.

[@xavierzarazua6389]

Last year on my school league we were in a tournament and the lanes were very dry so the whole day I was using my tzone as my strike ball

[@thomastaylor2513]

Your getting some good pin action with that plastic ball

[@jspur7507]

Oh boy: I Feel like Calumbo: Just one more thing..." I keep forgetting to add something important. But Also Remember that if your ball has Enough Carry', and "if your ball turns the right amount without over hooking" then it can hit the Nose or anywhere in between and at the end of the day you still most of the time will get as strike, and that's because it's the Revolution-rates that make all of the difference in your game. And so you can throw your ball as straight as you want to ,and if it's still got a good revolution rate than it willl be a strike at the end of the day.. good luck.

[@FlatOutFE]

Entry angle and a rolling ball is more important.

[@TheScottmadison1982]

Don't know if it's still the same, but might be a good ball for the greater Ozarks open in Springfield. One time I had my ball coming back with burn marks it was so dry...

[@TheHouseBowling]

Those marks are actually belt marks from the back of the lanes!

[@TheHouseBowling]

However, the ozarks is hoooking sometimes!

[@GhostofKaiser]

Have had one since November (still undrilled). That said, ball is all core (and an all-timer at that). This should be really good for Wolf or 33’ Cheetah.

[@TheHouseBowling]

Why leave it undrilled?

[@GhostofKaiser]

@@TheHouseBowling Had plans to sell when its release date kept getting pushed back, but never got around to it. That said, it’s being drilled up later this summer. I’d been using urethane for my spares prior.

[@aaronrose5118]

Used my storm clear football spare ball last 2 weeks on league went 732 first night 714 2nd week

[@shinjiecary01]

I use my plastic ball on wolf. I love wolf with that ball.

[@muphmangler5673]

Packy if you read this. Is the motiv ripcord a good ball?

[@hysterheister0947]

How does this compare to a normal spare ball?

[@dawdlinghydra41]

The amount of times i had to use my tzone at my local alley i sad. Their oil is either super dry or super heavy. My tzone is the only thing thatll stay on the lane when they are dry and leaves me with terrible deflection and lots of 10 pins

[@dadbod4life]

I love hammer, my favorite strike ball is a redemption pearl. I think I just found my new spare ball!!

[@stompingpeak2043]

Yeah if you want plastic to hook you'll need to put at least below 1000 surface. Then throw slightly slower. You'll get snap

[@MrRoss3291]

If my teams doing well in my 2 leagues I will and have been throwing a 9lb house spare ball and I won't lie it strikes more than my urethane n 2 reactive I bring

[@officialrooster]

This ball may be strong, but have you tried the Hammer True Blood? THAT ball hooks like a reactive!

[@traviskirk3834]

The only clear ball I want is a clear rose.

[@TheHouseBowling]

The rose ball looks sick!

[@kyllerplayze1015]

I wanna try this

[@TheHouseBowling]

Might need to go get one??

[@mlhundt2064]

Have used my batman vis a ball many times at USBC open game 6. :-)

[@dubweezy]

The cool thing about viz a balls is that you can sand it and turn it into a cue ball.. Lol

[@bretkennedy5564]

The viz a ball is a strike ball for me , It is amazing but i am high rev and low speed, It is perfect for me