Is your PSO very brand specific?

[Phonetek]

My PSO is awesome as I've said in other posts. One thing that I found with him though is he tends to try to push certain brands more than others. I told him I wanted to get the Hammer Rip'd and he was steering me away to Storm or Roto. Those aside from a few Columbia balls are what he has on his wall. He said if you watch the pro's most of them use Storm and Roto these days. He did say he'd order the Rip'd for me if that's what I wanted but he's not sure I'd really like it.
It's hard to imagine I'd be unhappy with a Hammer ball, I've had one in my arsenal since I was 12 yrs old. I've always done well and loved them. I wish all the reviews online for balls weren't all awesome ones. I haven't seen too many neutral or negative reviews on any bowling balls.

[boatman37]

My PSO has a few different brands on the wall. He did tell me the first day I talked to him about a new ball that he was a Brunswick something. Partner maybe? Not sure what it was he said but I would say there are more Brunswicks on the wall than any others. He has about 7 or 8 balls he uses but we bowled against him the other night and noticed he started out with a Katana (it was a darker red color). Not sure if they have any affiliation with Brunswick but he doesn't seem to be too brand loyal. He did mention a T Zone or Rhino for my spare ball.

[vdubtx]

Most pro shops are run by staffers from a ball brand. Around my area, the shops are mainly Ebonite as the owner has been on staff for a very long time.

[Phonetek]

So by them being a staffer of Ebonite they are basically supposed to try to sell Ebonite first? Out of curiosity if they had seen someone bowl and they knew another brand may work better for that person, would they still stick with Ebonite or sell them the one that would work best for that bowler? Just curious.

[djp1080]

My PSO is not brand specific. However, some brands that aren't as popular as others are more difficult to get I suppose. My PSO has all kinds of stuff on his top shelf.

[vdubtx]

So by them being a staffer of Ebonite they are basically supposed to try to sell Ebonite first? Out of curiosity if they had seen someone bowl and they knew another brand may work better for that person, would they still stick with Ebonite or sell them the one that would work best for that bowler? Just curious.

Since they are Ebonite staffers they really push the Ebonite brands which include Hammer and Columbia 300. Have been to their Demo Days and while some of the balls rolled pretty well, they weren't overwhelmingly amazing where it would make me switch from Storm/Roto that I have had the most success with.

They are really good people and want people to bowl well. I don't think they would purposely steer people to their brands if the person matches up well with another ball.

[Phonetek]

My guy will get whatever I want him to get I have no doubts of that, he is a friend after all. Do they get a little something extra for selling the brand they are staffed to from that company?

[Amyers]

MY PSO is a former PBA pro who was sponsored by Brunswick. We have a Staffer from Brunswick that bowls out of that alley predominantly and he drills for two WPBA pros and a guy that bowls in handicapped events that are all sponsored by Brunswick. So you can guess which brand he carries the most of lol. He will sell anything if you ask for it but if he's recommending it's going to be in the Brunswick family of brands.

PSO's get rebates from the manufacturers for a percentage of their sales if they sell enough and the more you sell the more you get. So it's generally more profitable to sell one family of brands. He has a deal with storm/roto now too so he's selling more of those than in the past but it's still mostly Brunswick.

[J Anderson]

My PSO is awesome as I've said in other posts. One thing that I found with him though is he tends to try to push certain brands more than others. I told him I wanted to get the Hammer Rip'd and he was steering me away to Storm or Roto. Those aside from a few Columbia balls are what he has on his wall. He said if you watch the pro's most of them use Storm and Roto these days. He did say he'd order the Rip'd for me if that's what I wanted but he's not sure I'd really like it.
It's hard to imagine I'd be unhappy with a Hammer ball, I've had one in my arsenal since I was 12 yrs old. I've always done well and loved them. I wish all the reviews online for balls weren't all awesome ones. I haven't seen too many neutral or negative reviews on any bowling balls.

The owner of my local pro shop has some sort of connection to Storm/RotoGrip. His store manager is a Brunswick staffer. I think one of his other employees is on the Motiv staff. I think they tend to make recommendations based on what they are familiar with, so Chris tends to suggest products from the Storm family, and Tim will usually give a choice from Brunswick/DV8/Radical. They do sell a fair number of Hammer balls.

[mattmc82]

The rip’d looks really nice and is the closest you can find to getting the same ball as a bad a$$ bad intentions or scandal. With that said there are many balls similar from storm, motiv, Roto grip etc

[JasonNJ]

If the PSO is a staffer then they are only allowed to throw balls from their brand so it would be natural that they only recommend what they are more familiar with. You see most pros throwing Storm because I think they are most aggressive in signing staffers to throw their equipment. As for one brand being better than another, I think the technology has advanced enough that they all make really good bowling balls. Now it's just personal preference. I recently decided to switch to all Radical equipment because Mo Pinel who is the ball designer of Radical makes himself available on Facebook to answer questions and will recommend ball layouts. I just think that's very cool of a company to do that.

[Phonetek]

If the PSO is a staffer then they are only allowed to throw balls from their brand so it would be natural that they only recommend what they are more familiar with. You see most pros throwing Storm because I think they are most aggressive in signing staffers to throw their equipment. As for one brand being better than another, I think the technology has advanced enough that they all make really good bowling balls. Now it's just personal preference. I recently decided to switch to all Radical equipment because Mo Pinel who is the ball designer of Radical makes himself available on Facebook to answer questions and will recommend ball layouts. I just think that's very cool of a company to do that.

Wow I didn't even think about it but he does throw nothing but Storm and Roto balls. He's got a bunch he's only thrown for a week and turns around and sells them for the cost of plugging and drilling. Must be nice to drill whatever you want anytime you want. I'm guessing he tries them all so he can give an objective opinion on them and keeps using the ones he really likes.

[JerseyJim]

If he doesn't have it, my PSO will get and drill just about any brand of ball out on the market. Although he doesn't do the amount of business that he used to, he has displays for all of the major companies set up in his shop.

[Outerlimits]

Our PSO has a little different approach......He stocks, Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300. When I asked why not Storm, Brunswick, Radical, Track and other brands, he said I can order them. My policy is I only sell balls made in America. Now I don't know about ball manufacturing whether it takes place in the US or outside but that's his take for stocking his brands. I asked what about the accessories and things, shoes, bags, and everything else in your shop. Its all made in the US? Wasn't sure on that. Since he has a monopoly with his shop is inside the lanes he tells folks what he wants. Very few Pro Shops in my area to choose from.
While I applaude his patriotism, I really do wonder if what he says is true about where balls are made.

[Phonetek]

I can tell you with 100% certainty that Pryamid balls are made in China. My son just got his two days ago with a sticker that said Made in China. Those are exclusive to Bowlingball.com though, it's their brand. That said, I see nothing wrong with it at all. It's fine for my son's first ball. I know there is a major brand or brands made in Mexico but I don't remember which one. It would be rather ironic if it's Ebonite who also owns Hammer. I'm not sure if they own Columbia or not.

[bowl1820]

Our PSO has a little different approach......He stocks, Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300. When I asked why not Storm, Brunswick, Radical, Track and other brands, he said I can order them. My policy is I only sell balls made in America. Now I don't know about ball manufacturing whether it takes place in the US or outside but that's his take for stocking his brands. I asked what about the accessories and things, shoes, bags, and everything else in your shop. Its all made in the US? Wasn't sure on that. Since he has a monopoly with his shop is inside the lanes he tells folks what he wants. Very few Pro Shops in my area to choose from.
While I applaude his patriotism, I really do wonder if what he says is true about where balls are made.

That and he's probably signed up with the Ebonite pro shop program and can't stock the competitors brands.

But yes some balls are poured in the US, some in mexico and in China.

[bowl1820]

I can tell you with 100% certainty that Pryamid balls are made in China. My son just got his two days ago with a sticker that said Made in China. Those are exclusive to Bowlingball.com though, it's their brand. That said, I see nothing wrong with it at all. It's fine for my son's first ball. I know there is a major brand or brands made in Mexico but I don't remember which one. It would be rather ironic if it's Ebonite who also owns Hammer. I'm not sure if they own Columbia or not.

Yes Ebonitemakes several product brands - Ebonite, Hammer, Robby’s, Columbia 300, Track, VanTech, and Powerhouse I dont know all off hand.

Pyramid is made in China, from my experience and what Ive read from other. The balls are good and durable and take to surface changes okay.

Brunswick is made in Mexico.

[boatman37]

Kind of off topic but as you can probably see by my name here I am into boating. I have a Sea Ray boat and Brunswick owns Sea Ray (and I think a few other brands). A few months ago they announced they were selling the Sea Ray brand. I heard it was to focus on their sporting equipment line. Not sure if they were selling the other boat companies they own too though.

[Amyers]

Kind of off topic but as you can probably see by my name here I am into boating. I have a Sea Ray boat and Brunswick owns Sea Ray (and I think a few other brands). A few months ago they announced they were selling the Sea Ray brand. I heard it was to focus on their sporting equipment line. Not sure if they were selling the other boat companies they own too though.

Brunswick sold the bowling part of the business a few years ago to a private equity firm that kept the name.

[boatman37]

Brunswick sold the bowling part of the business a few years ago to a private equity firm that kept the name.

ok. i was under the impression they still owned the bowling line. i think they own a few brands of boat (Bayliner, Ranger, Sea Ray IIRC). seem to be slimming down then

[Jeeper_12]

My PSO seems to carry most brands and will get you whatever you like. I'd say he has more Ebonite, Hammer, and Columbia 300.