Are you devoted to one brand?

[MajorPhoenix]

Do you Have to only throw Storm? What about Ebonite? Radical? Anyone else? What is it about their brands that make you come back?


What would it take to get you to switch?

[mc_runner]

I'm not completely brand loyal but I generally throw Storm/Roto. I've in the past thrown Brunswick & Hammer. I personally tend to stick to Storm/Roto as I find their equipment tends to roll well for me and realistically, their offerings run across every scenario I would need currently.

What would it take me to switch? not much, to be honest. if current line ups didn't look great, didn't adequately fill a need - I'd look elsewhere.

[Amyers]

I was pretty much Brunswick brand loyal for a few years it was primarily what my pro-shop and coach specialized in but now the pro-shop has become more storm/roto oriented but I'm not a fan of their stuff much for my game. I'm currently exploring 900 global but really it has more to do with who is making stuff I want to try. As far as switching goes making your cover stocks understandable plays a big role and being interested at least with producing something besides the next great heavy oil ball (my issue with storm/roto) play a big role.

[vdubtx]

I am pretty much only Roto-Grip/Storm. I like the way they roll for me. I am open to other brands, but the last 4 balls I have added to arsenal were won on line and they have all been Storm/Roto balls. Can't argue with that when they are free aside from drilling costs. LOL!!

[JasonNJ]

I've recently went all Radical because Mo Pinel is really active on their Facebook fan page and he's given me suggestions on how to layout my equipment. What other brand can I go onto a Facebook page and ask the ball designer questions.

Now on the flip side. until recently I've thrown almost every brand and bought balls from every manufacturer and everyone makes good equipment now, it really is just personal preference.

[JerseyJim]

I have mostly Radical in my bag since my switch to 15 lb equipment. I did pick up a Honey Badger Claw from 900 Global which was reminiscent of my LaneMasters Terminator. In the past, I threw whatever seemed to fit in my arsenal. I think it would be easier to list the companies I haven't thrown.

[six6guy]

Nope. I tend to really review what I am wanting to do and what will give me that. I have favored a few brands over the years, but no one brand seems be it. In the past I favored Hammer and currently I favor Storm. My 4 ball bag currently has 3 brands in it.

[RobLV1]

The only valid reason for sticking to one brand today is if you are a staffer and are contractually limited. Different t brands have different characteristics, mainly in the composition of the cover materials, and all have a place. Why limit yourself, other than to try to be "cool"?

[boatman37]

In my previous bowling life I only used Brunswick but this was back in the early 90's when there wasn't much to choose from. The first ball I bought last year after coming back was a used Storm Sync that had a small crack by the thumbhole so couldn't get it redrilled. Then I bought a Hammer Black Widow Gold, then a Brunswick Rhino then a Brunswick Kingpin then lastly the Radical Conspiracy. So my 4 ball bag has 2 Brunswicks, a Hammer, and a Radical. My favorite is the Radical so will likely be my next ball too.

[skfboiler]

My first ball drilled was 4 years ago was the Punch Out from Storm. I am generally brand loyal. Once I get something and like it, it is hard for me to break away. Plus I can't get past the fragrance in the Storm balls.

[SRB57]

I was a Columbia 300 guy mostly in the 80's 90's and early 2000's. After a 13 year break and 2 hip replacements I am all Roto Grip now. I am still relearning the game and think I would get more confused with all the other choices now. I would consider Storm as they are the same company. Steve

[RobLV1]

In my previous bowling life I only used Brunswick but this was back in the early 90's when there wasn't much to choose from. The first ball I bought last year after coming back was a used Storm Sync that had a small crack by the thumbhole so couldn't get it redrilled. Then I bought a Hammer Black Widow Gold, then a Brunswick Rhino then a Brunswick Kingpin then lastly the Radical Conspiracy. So my 4 ball bag has 2 Brunswicks, a Hammer, and a Radical. My favorite is the Radical so will likely be my next ball too.

Look at the specs on the Radical Conspiracy (core). They're what make the ball your favorite, not the name on the cover.

[boatman37]

Look at the specs on the Radical Conspiracy (core). They're what make the ball your favorite, not the name on the cover.

You could be right. I still don't know enough about the technicals of ball construction to determine which ball will do what until after I try it. All I know is the Conspiracy hits harder than any of my others and I seem to have a little more room for error with it. I know my PSO loves Radical too but he does use others in the family (Brunswick for one).


I had mentioned before that he has never checked any of my stats. Last night one of the guys we bowled against asked him at the end of the night to check his. I know they found his PAP and he recorded a few shots after that from directly behind him but I left before they were done so not sure if they got all stats or stopped there. I mentioned to him that I want him to check mine some night.
All of mine are drilled similar to what the drill sheets call 'All Purpose'. Mine are all drilled pin just above the ring finger and the MB kicked out beside the thumb about 1.5" or so. So seems he likes to just drill them to a more 'average' layout. I would like to get all of my specs just for curiosity and maybe get some layout advice based on those stats. At my level not sure how much of a difference it would make but couldn't hurt. I'm just getting settled into my current release and still pretty inconsistent with it so would rather wait until I get more consistent to get these numbers

http://radicalbowling.com/uploads/downloads/Drilling-Instructions/Conspiracy_Drilling_Instructions_Full.pdf

[hondo]

I have pretty much thrown them all. I will say without any doubt that Pyramid is the best brand that I have ever used. Besides making great products they are very affordable. Only single downside - if you bowl in PBA events, they are not registered. All of the brands pass that $500,000 + registration fee along to all users of their stuff. Upside, Pyramid passes the saving on to you.

Check out Pyramid's Facebook page, they recently had some great testimonials. I concur.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPyr amidBowling%2Fposts%2F2072063182830001

[Aslan]

I've thrown every major brand...and I don't limit myself to just one brand. Agree with Rob...it limits you unnecessiarily. Most bowlers either do it because they look at bowling balls like Nascar where they have to root for one brand...for some reason. Historically, pre-internet, bowlers tended to do it because pro shops limited the brands they carried...and bowlers were thus limited to those brands.

The only advantage to brand loyalty is it is easier to build a progression style arsenal. Similar brands use similar technologies and materials...they design their releases to compliment one another. So, you can buy a Ball X Pearl, Hybrid, and Solid...and you can put together a good progression. With varying brands...you have a lot more variables to deal with.

I tend to "favor" Brunswick...I just seem to throw them better...overall. I tend to try and avoid Rotogrip because every Rotogrip I've thrown has been a horrible fit to my game. And I won't throw Motiv because they have a history of cheating.

I keep track of the best/worst balls I've ever thrown...and the list currently looks like this (best to worse):

Very Good
1. Radical
2. Brunswick
3. Brunswick

Good
4. Brunswick

Average
5. Columbia 300
6. Storm
7. Brunswick
8. Hammer
9. 900Global
10. Ebonite

Below Average
11. Columbia 300
12. Rotogrip

Bad
13. Rotogrip
14. Columbia 300

[ALazySavage]

I wouldn't say that I stick with a single brand of bowling ball, but as someone who is biased towards Hammer I have found that there are some benefits with sticking to a few brands. As Rob was saying earlier, each brand has different coverstock make-ups and there is definitely a benefit to bouncing around brands to fill your bag...on the flipside, if there is a core/coverstock combination that you really love (for me, I love the symmetrical/polish combination of the Hammer Vibe)it becomes easy when I need to replace that piece. Also, if you are someone who doesn't purchase a lot of equipment and you know that you have a good amount of success with a combination (Widow Core for Hammer, the Hy-Roads for Storm, the Cell core for Roto Grip, etc.) it can be a lot easier to purchase equipment and have confidence that you will have an idea of what you are getting.

[Blomer]

I’m pretty much loyal to Roto Grip and Storm. Started off with Storm and then messed around with DV8 and Brunswick as the new pro shop sold it and I went to a ball demo and shot well with them. But I went back to Storm and when Hype Cell Fused cam out, I bought it and since only bout Roto Grip.