Bowling Ball Reviews

[Max49]

Before I buy almost any tool or electronic device or most any thing , I like to read the user reviews. Sure, I take them through a filter but I find this is still probably the best way to find how other buyers like the product.
Not so with bowling balls at least not from bowlingball.com What good is it if every ball they sell gets nothing but 5 stars?

I used to buy balls from them but now it seems all the drillers can sell you the ball drilled with finger tips cheaper than getting it online and then paying some one to drill it for you.

[NewToBowling]

The reviews mostly come from brand staffers. Look up a DV8 ball and majority of reviews from DV8 staffers, etc

[Max49]

;) well no wonder they all get 5 stars

[dnhoffman]

Honestly the ball reviews are worthless- and if all you bowl on is a THS then getting more consistent with your game, learning how to adjust to those conditions, and ultimately layout a new ball to do the work for you on conditions you play on is where you'll finally benefit from equipment

[Tony]

The ball reviews and video's are not much help in learning about a ball, mostly what seems most informitive is watching other bowlers use the ball and talking with them. The PSO is a good source of what ball will do in a given bowlers hands if the PSO has watched the person bowling and has a good idea of the goal you have for the ball.

[NewToBowling]

The reviews mostly come from brand staffers. Look up a DV8 ball and majority of reviews from DV8 staffers, etc

Although it seems they hide their associations now you can clearly see most are staffers. Check out Roto Grip Haywire reviews:
http://www.bowlingball.com/products/bowling-balls/roto-grip/12203/haywire.html

Click on any of the "More reviews by etc" and they clearly only review their brands. Like this person:
http://www.bowlingball.com/userReviews.aspx?User=tVmOz2viV2k6dY5IETjUdrZ3lICL 2jmgRW34jc%2bFjDw%3d

So yeah, pretty useless to read the reviews.

[bowl1820]

Yes, the majority of ball "reviews" anymore on the bowling websites are just by staffers. they do it because it's part of what's required to be a staffer and most are useless copy paste jobs of company marketing materials. Some try to dress it up a little with some personal info, but still they don't really tell you anything.

Now there are a couple of staffers like BowlingTechGirl (once kown as:Motivgirl and posts on here) who do some decent reviews and videos.

Laneside reviews does some good video reviews, usually show a couple of different styles using a ball. Rob of LSR has become a Brunswick staffer so they tend to show mostly Brunswick product now, but are still good to watch.

As for "ordinary" bowlers reviews, they have pretty much disappeared. A big part of those you don't miss because, they were just the typical "It hits like a truck" which told you nothing.

As for others most just don't get balls often enough to be writing reviews all the time. so it's hard to find a good one on a current ball a person might happen to want to know about at that moment.

and some just don't know how to write a good review so don't do one, (thats why theres template on this forum a user on can use to help make a more helpful review. though most never notice it or use it.)

As for "5 stars" there really are no "Bad" balls, just bad match ups between ball, bowler and condition. And the big part of reviews just show when everything matches up.

As for bowlingball.com (Who own this site ) reviews most are staffers and most work for bowlingball.com. the "ordinary" bowlers just don't post reviews.

It's like most products the ordinary user just don't bother reviewing things (unless they just totally blown away by something or they want to complain)

[AlexNC]

I watch the videos as mentioned above, but when I am considering a purchase I will also read the bowling this month reviews. I also make it a point to get the opinion of my local pro shop.

[BrianG]

I also like to watch the videos and I try to find someone with a rev rate and speed that is close to mine but I will not buy a ball based on videos or written reviews. I always go to my PSO to see if he thinks the ball is a good fit for my game.

[Maine Man]

Your local pro shop is a great resource to use, especially if you want to know about more than one ball, or compare equipment across different brands. Also, talk with some bowlers of a similar style to your own who may be using a ball you're thinking about purchasing. Word of mouth is still a big part of the business.

[foreverincamo]

My PSO has all but given up on trying to keep up on new releases. He says there are just too many balls released every year to memorize them all. He'll order anything you want. It's up to you to know what you want and why. Fine with me.
I watch Laneside Reviews all the time. Those guys seem to give an honest review.

[Amyers]

My PSO is an expert on the Brunswick equipment he likes anything else it's up to you to know. I like the Laneside Reviews and Tamer Bowling has some good ones too. I try to make sure I've seen most of the balls I buy used by someone with close to my style. I will also look at Bowling this Month's reviews.