Can pro bowlers use more then one brand of bowling balls?

[Hammer]

A couple examples are Norm Duke with Storm and Chris Barnes with Columbia. Seeing that they are getting money using the equipment they advertise on their shirts are they allowed to mix in another brand like Norm having some Hammer balls? To me it seems like they have to stick with the brand that is displayed on their shirts. What about it folks?

[rv driver]

I've never seen a mixture of balls, and I don't know, but I assume that if the celebrity is endorsing a product and is paid to do so, there's usually a clause in the contract that stipulates they must use the brand they endorse. At least that's the way it works with guitars. Artists who endorse a certain brand are stipulated to use the brand they endorse.

[fortheloveofbowling]

Some guys cross over with the same company just different brands. Like storm and roto grip or columbia, ebonite, and hammer. I have never seen barnes ever throw anything but columbia though but i have seen pete throw some roto grip and malott throw some storm stuff. They just can't cross between manufacturers if they are on staff.

[tccstudent]

if you are sponsored you can only throw equipment from that company
even amateur staff members who only get free bowling balls are only allowed to throw the company's equipment
occasionally you may see a bowler change sponsors

[rv driver]

if you are sponsored you can only throw equipment from that company
even amateur staff members who only get free bowling balls are only allowed to throw the company's equipment
occasionally you may see a bowler change sponsors
I thought so. I bet it's in the contracts, just like with musical equipment.

[tccstudent]

I dont know much bout music equipment but I do know a few amuater staffers that had to get rid of equipment after they signed the contract

[mike_thomas93]

Yeah I've never seen anything like that out of them before. But yeah, fortheloveofbowling is right. Some cross companies like Storm/Roto and Ebonite/Colombia/Hammer/Track etc. As an example, you see bowlers like Duke and Belmo, mostly the storm staffed bowlers, they still throw roto stuff off and on, and vise versa, as Stu Williams and Wes Malott staffed on Roto Grip, but we may see them throw storm stuff off and on. Quite frankly, that's really what we've been seeing the most frequently today.

[tccstudent]

The throwing cross brands like a storm bowler throwing rotogrip has only been going on for the last few years before that you only saw them throwing the brand they are signed too

[rv driver]

Are there any tour bowlers that aren't sponsored?

[Blacksox1]

Are there any tour bowlers that aren't sponsored?

IDK for sure, but it would be a small number, if that.

[rv driver]

IDK for sure, but it would be a small number, if that.
It'd be like Talladega Nights. The jersey would say, "Me" in big letters across the front.

[classygranny]

Are there any tour bowlers that aren't sponsored?

Yes, I believe there are actually quite a few. Not enough spots available with the companies to sponsor every pro bowler. Also, some may have a smaller sponsorship than others.

[rv driver]

Yes, I believe there are actually quite a few. Not enough spots available with the companies to sponsor every pro bowler. Also, some may have a smaller sponsorship than others.
I know I sure see a lot of Storm jerseys out there. And Brunswick. Not sure I've seen an AMF in a while, though.

[Stormed1]

AMF/Global are no longer PBA registered. They decided to put the refistration fee to better use with amatuer bowlers. As far as the touring pros go it depends on their contract. I know at least in the past they could throw all 4 brands during qualidying but if they made the show they had to throw the brand they are signed with

[rv driver]

AMF/Global are no longer PBA registered. They decided to put the refistration fee to better use with amatuer bowlers. As far as the touring pros go it depends on their contract. I know at least in the past they could throw all 4 brands during qualidying but if they made the show they had to throw the brand they are signed with
Wow! Hadn't heard that! I did find out that Etonic shoes also lost their PBA status.

[Aslan]

Yes, I believe there are actually quite a few. Not enough spots available with the companies to sponsor every pro bowler. Also, some may have a smaller sponsorship than others.

True. I've heard the reason you don't see it much is that if a PBA bowler gets to the TV round, companies will usually swoop in to sponsor them. I don't know how that would work though...but I imagine if lets say Iceman makes next years finals...because, I mean, he's already at that level....but he comes out of nowhere!! I imagine Ebonite would see that he'd been throwing the Deadly Aim and approach him. And if he agreed, he'd get a free jersey and perhaps some other bowling balls to replace his non-Hammer/Ebonite ones. But I don't think they would let him use the IQ Pearl or the Slingshot.

I actually would love to see a non-sponsored guy make a broadcast and use different balls. But it's rare. Even the non-PBAers and low level PBAers often times are "ball reps" for the company either full or part time...and thus are restricted to that companies product line.

And again, it furthers the point that when it all comes down to it....it's the bowler not the ball at that level.

[rv driver]

True. I've heard the reason you don't see it much is that if a PBA bowler gets to the TV round, companies will usually swoop in to sponsor them. I don't know how that would work though...but I imagine if lets say Iceman makes next years finals...because, I mean, he's already at that level....but he comes out of nowhere!! I imagine Ebonite would see that he'd been throwing the Deadly Aim and approach him. And if he agreed, he'd get a free jersey and perhaps some other bowling balls to replace his non-Hammer/Ebonite ones. But I don't think they would let him use the IQ Pearl or the Slingshot.

I actually would love to see a non-sponsored guy make a broadcast and use different balls. But it's rare. Even the non-PBAers and low level PBAers often times are "ball reps" for the company either full or part time...and thus are restricted to that companies product line.

And again, it furthers the point that when it all comes down to it....it's the bowler not the ball at that level.
Everybody's sponsored. Got it.



Who sponsors Iceman???

[Amyers]

Everybody's sponsored. Got it.



Who sponsors Iceman???

The North Pole

[classygranny]

Everybody's sponsored. Got it.

Who sponsors Iceman???

No, I don't got it. Michael Haugen Jr is not sponsored, and I saw a lot more without sponsors at the WSOB last year.

Iceman is so awesome, he doesn't need a sponsor.

[Blacksox1]

Iceman is so awesome, he doesn't need a sponsor.

And he is good looking and rich !

[rv driver]

No, I don't got it. Michael Haugen Jr is not sponsored, and I saw a lot more without sponsors at the WSOB last year.

Iceman is so awesome, he doesn't need a sponsor.
Wonder why Haugen's not sponsored? I like him!

[classygranny]

Wonder why Haugen's not sponsored? I like him!

Not sure of the whole story...he wasn't, he was, now he isn't. If I think about it on my next lesson, I'll ask him about it, as well as the number of pros that may not be sponsored.

[Stormed1]

He was on Global/AMF staff until they dropped their PBA registration. At that point he became a free agent. Recently Ronnie Russel and Mike Machuga ended their contracts with Dv8. Russell signed with Motiv and Choogs became a free agent. A lot of times the guys that make the show that are not on staff will throw whatever pays the most contingency money for making the show so they can earn a little extra cash

[rv driver]

Not sure of the whole story...he wasn't, he was, now he isn't. If I think about it on my next lesson, I'll ask him about it, as well as the number of pros that may not be sponsored.
I'd really like to work with Michael! Seems like a nice guy. I'd like to work with Norm Duke, as well, or Chris Barnes.

[mike_thomas93]

Right. That's like what Chris Loschetter did in last year's PBA Summer Swing. He was sponsored by Brunswick before he became a free agent. Threw an IQ Tour Edition in pusuit for his first title at the Wolf Open. Today, now's he sponsored by Storm.

[rv driver]

Right. That's like what Chris Loschetter did in last year's PBA Summer Swing. He was sponsored by Brunswick before he became a free agent. Threw an IQ Tour Edition in pusuit for his first title at the Wolf Open. Today, now's he sponsored by Storm.
I've noticed that Storm sponsors a lot of people. Storm's kind of like Columbia was back in the early '80s. The Bowler's brand.

[mike_thomas93]

He used to be with Storm a few years ago. He was kinda back-and-forth with that and Brunswick. And I think global in the mix, as well

[Aslan]

Everybody's sponsored. Got it.



Who sponsors Iceman???

Currently he is sponsored by;
- The movie "The Gift".
- Gift Wrap Manufacturers of America Association
- The Greater Kansas City School for the Gifted
- Local Ironworkers 2618
- Viagra
- AARP

As to which ball company, probably Hammer since Iceman would never think of setting it aside his Deadly Aim. But I doubt a ball manufacturer would bother sponsoring him knowing that he'll only be willing to bowl in tournaments in Kansas City.

[Aslan]

Not sure of the whole story...he wasn't, he was, now he isn't. If I think about it on my next lesson, I'll ask him about it, as well as the number of pros that may not be sponsored.

Please do. That would be interesting to know. I know a lot of former sponsored pros were upset when the PBA banned the use of any other shoes except Dexter because Dexter bought the sole rights for the PBA. But from what I understand, the ball companies pretty much grab up all the higher level pros and amateurs (other than college where there's eligibility concerns). The ball manufacturers don't pay much at all…but if a company comes along and offers you free equipment and free jerseys and even a small stipend..most bowlers just say "okay". Why turn it down?

But for the televised finals…you'll probably never (or rarely) see a non-sponsored bowler. It's too good an opportunity for a ball manufacturer to get some good advertising to just let it pass by.

[rv driver]

Currently he is sponsored by;
- The movie "The Gift".
- Gift Wrap Manufacturers of America Association
- The Greater Kansas City School for the Gifted
- Local Ironworkers 2618
- Viagra
- AARP

As to which ball company, probably Hammer since Iceman would never think of setting it aside his Deadly Aim. But I doubt a ball manufacturer would bother sponsoring him knowing that he'll only be willing to bowl in tournaments in Kansas City.
Hehehehehe!

Don't forget ICEE and The International Brotherhood of Santa Claus Impersonators.