What Is A Hybrid Bowling Ball And Why Should You Consider Purchasing One?

As a first step in the hybrid coverstock game, you’re looking for the best ball that does both coverstocks well. A good hybrid coverstock will give you more of a solid reaction – first reaction – to medium oil conditions and some back-end response – the second reaction – on low oil conditions.

The best balls for low oil conditions are also great for medium oil conditions.

The best balls for medium oil conditions are also great for low oil conditions.

A good hybrid coverstock will give you more of a solid reaction – first reaction – to medium and low oil conditions and some back-end response – second reaction – on high oil conditions.

The best balls for high oil conditions are also great for medium and low-condition balls.

The best balls for high-oil situations are great for medium, low, and high-oil situation balls (high oils).

And finally, when it comes to hybrids, there’s no such thing as “best ball” (at least not yet). A ball that performs well in one situation may very well perform poorly in another scenario — mainly since so much depends on the size/shape/sizing of your mindset . . . . . I mean, that sounds like a lot to think about but isn’t too difficult at all! Let me know what you think!

What are Hybrid Coverstocks?

Hybrid coverstocks are considered innovative materials that offer the front-end reaction of a solid coverstock and the back-end reaction of a pearl coverstock.

Hybrid balls will give you the front-end glide you seek on Medium oil conditions and respond at the Breakpoint to the Pocket, similar to pearl reactive ball coverstocks.

How do they differ from Solid and Pearl coverstocks?

Creating a hybrid coverstock, which attempts to combine the characteristics of two or more coverstocks, can be a simple act of rearranging molecules. Still, this process can also be very complicated.

There are many different ways to create a hybrid coverstock, and in this article, I will focus on three ways that you can use for creating a hybrid coverstock.

The first way is by using the solid portion of the coverstock as a building block that you can then add to the pearl portion of the coverstock through chemical alteration.

The second way is by adding polymers such as polystyrene beads to your solid alkene portion with specific polymers that turn it into a pearl-like structure when heated.

The third and final way has been used since ancient times. It involves combining both solid and polymers in one vessel and allowing them to react together or allowing one polymer to react with another polymer to form a new polymer molecule.

Read More: How to Properly And Safely Dispose of a Bowling Ball?

Hybrid Plus Solid and Hybrid Particle Reactive Balls

There are several types of bowling balls, particularly solid or pearl reactive balls, which can be improved by adding a hybrid ball. The term “hybrid” refers to two or more balls in one unit.

We need to define what a hybrid ball is. A solid bowling ball is a ball that achieves the front-end reaction of a solid coverstock at the Breakpoint and the back-end reaction of a pearl coverstock at the Breakpoint but has less spin than either one.

The classic hybrid combination occurs when you have a solid bowling ball with a good spin that responds well to medium oil conditions and has good lane speed and bottom-end response while not losing too much top-end than either one.

A hybrid coverstock will have far less top-end than either type of coverstock, so your lane speed is not affected as much by the increase in top-end rate as it would be by having an excellent back-end reaction and low bottom end.

This can find this type of coverstock in many different brands. It does not happen very often, but we see it from time to time when bad weather prevents us from reaching other balls for testing purposes.

It’s important to note that any should consistently demonstrate any variation in top and bottom ends and breakdowns in response between each type of coverstock before choosing which one you want to use on your particular machine.

In addition, I believe it’s important to note that there are many types of balls manufactured with pure polypropylene that are not hybrids because they do not achieve good reaction at both breakpoints while remaining effective on medium oil conditions (which is why polypropylene tends to dominate today).

In contrast, there are many varieties of polyester with solid properties and some hybrids made between them (although they tend to have a low breakup point) such as Super Polytex™, but also include others such as Weatherlite® (polyester/styrene), Kukri®, Pure Coverstock®, Pearl Indoor® (polyester/styrene), etc.).

Hybrid covers are often made by combining various paints or waxes; most commonly either PPG™ Polyurethane or Shellac® Polyurethane where the latter is made from shellac, which was once derived from pine tree sap; both these types react perfectly on medium oil conditions at both breakpoints while still maintaining excellent response at low pressure while being quite effective on challenging surface conditions such as concrete /

How do they perform on Medium Oil Conditions?

The best balls for a hybrid bowling ball are predictable, carry both light and heavy oil over the length and react well to back-end reaction.

Hybrid coverstocks combine the sensitivity of a smooth ball with the reaction of a pearl coverstock. They work well in medium oil conditions such as short lane conditions, middle lane conditions, and high lane conditions.

Balls with a hybrid coverstock will find their way to the Breakpoint when they encounter medium oil. However, they will respond primarily to back-end reaction on Medium oil conditions while still having enough speed and feel to keep up with medium oiled balls in middle lane conditions.

The allure of a hybrid coverstock is that it gives you mid-lane sensitivity and back-end reaction at the same time because it is a combination of a smooth ball with reactive pearl material that allows you to use both reactions together.

How do they perform at the Breakpoint to the Pocket?

First, the terms “hybrid” and “coverstock” used to describe how a ball reacts at the Breakpoint and Pocket will be defined here.

Hybrid coverstocks: You can find hybrid coverstocks in bowling balls, but you won’t find them exclusively in bowling balls. Many of them are “reactive.” They work well in medium oil conditions and can be used for different bowling styles.

Hybrid coverstocks are often classified by how many layers they have — or, more specifically, the number of layers between the inner and outer core. There are two types of hybrid

 coverstock: pearl, which has one layer between the inner core and outer core; and pearlite (PE), which has two layers between the inner core and outer core.

Pearl is typically a classic pearl, meaning it’s a very smooth ball with no internal porosity. While some balls may have visible porosity due to the manufacturing process (such as when they are formed using low pressure), most manufacturers don’t include this type of porosity in their products since it provides little benefit over standard pearl balls for style and performance purposes.

Most manufacturers agree that these balls give about 50-55% more distance than classic pearls in medium oil or faster conditions where the Breakpoint isn’t as sharp (which is referred to as soft Breakpoint).

Pearlite has two layers between its center seam and the outer seam. It offers about 65-70% more surface area than standard pearls in medium oil or faster conditions where the Breakpoint isn’t as sharp (which is referred to as soft Breakpoint).

For example, some pearlite bowlers use a 3-layer version of pearl for fast events like Sunday Night League or various style leagues such as RRD Events. Another example would be Pearl 3 Plus which comes in three different outer cores with adhesive to attach them while maintaining their unique properties! Some other examples would be Pearl Light – Gold, Pearl Light – Silver, Pearl Light – Black, Pearl Light – Blue, Pearl Light – Red, Pearl Light – Green, etc., etc., etc…

Pearlite is considered an intermediate material because it offers less surface area than standard pearls but provides more glide than classic pearls without losing any speed or responsiveness.

Because of this varying glide level, you will find that these balls will perform at different levels depending on ball speed/oil condition/

The Right Hybrid Ball for You

The right bowling ball for you depends on your style of play, the amount of oil you want to manage, and the amount of spin you want to generate.

I break down what a hybrid coverstock is, what makes a coverstock good in hybrid bowling balls, and how to choose a coverstock for your style of play.

I also discuss what to do if you are unsure which type of coverstock would work best in the hybrid ball. If you are unsure where to start looking for a bowling ball that works best for your style of play, or if you need advice on buying the right hybrid coverstock, make sure to read this article first.

Conclusion

Hybrid balls offer the mid-lane reaction of a solid coverstock and the back-end reaction of a pearl coverstock. The response of hybrid balls is similar to pearls on medium oil conditions and responsive to the Breakpoint similar to solid coverstocks.