Broke my bag

[boatman37]

I have a black/orange Hammer 4 ball roller and yesterday I snapped the plastic handle off. I have about a 1.5" lip going out of my basement and into the garage. Went to lift it over this lip and the handle snapped. ugh. I highly doubt it but can these handles be bought and replaced?

Next question, any good 4 ball rollers out there I should look at? I saw a 3+1 but don't think I'd like that. Picking up a 2 baller is heavy enough. Not sure I'd want to pick up a 3 baller. I see Hammer and Storm (and I think Ebonite) all listed similar 4 ballers. I'm guessing they are probably all made by the same company and each adds their logo? Asking this wondering if there might be a difference in quality between them.

I plan to leave my old broken one in the storage room at the center so then I could have all of them there. Currently I leave 2 at home. I don't normally use most of them but one night I think they ran out of oil and the ball I really needed was at home...lol

[boatman37]

I was looking at the Storm Rolling Thunder but just read 2 bad reviews (out of 2 reviews so both were bad). Said the wheels keep breaking and the handle broke. Seems like the only options are that or the same Hammer bag I have now. Mine looks like the Hammer Premium but who knows how old. I bought it used 3 years ago when I returned to bowling. I have no complaints about it but the Storm has one large pouch at the bottom front where the Hammer has 2 smaller. Other than that I don't see much difference between the two. My Hammer bag must be older style. It looks like the current ones have a strap that attaches the top bag where mine latches in?

[RobLV1]

My wife had a three ball Hammer roller that broke a couple of years ago. We took it to the pro shop and it was replaced, no charge, no questions asked.

[boatman37]

My wife had a three ball Hammer roller that broke a couple of years ago. We took it to the pro shop and it was replaced, no charge, no questions asked.

Yeah, the reviews I read on both the Storm and Hammer stated they did honor the warranties just sucks that I would have to send it back. Maybe talk to my PSO this week to see if he can order it. That would make getting a replacement much less hassle if there is an issue. I understand all manufacturers are going to have bad products roll out, just hoping to minimize that chance.

[J Anderson]

I was looking at the Storm Rolling Thunder but just read 2 bad reviews (out of 2 reviews so both were bad). Said the wheels keep breaking and the handle broke. Seems like the only options are that or the same Hammer bag I have now. Mine looks like the Hammer Premium but who knows how old. I bought it used 3 years ago when I returned to bowling. I have no complaints about it but the Storm has one large pouch at the bottom front where the Hammer has 2 smaller. Other than that I don't see much difference between the two. My Hammer bag must be older style. It looks like the current ones have a strap that attaches the top bag where mine latches in?

I’ve had the Storm Rolling Thunder for about nine years and it still works okay. When I first got it we lived about two tenths of a mile from the alley and I would occasionally walk there on a Saturday morning, dragging the bag behind me. The handle has gotten quite finicky, sometimes it collapses on the first try, sometimes it takes three or for tries to get it to go so I can putvit in the back of the truck.

[SRB57]

I have a Roto Grip 2 ball roller and a 2 ball tote. I like to be to carry both in when there is snow or water on the ground which happens where I live. I get a little irritated when someone rolls there stuff into the settee area with snow on there wheels. I see guys with the 2 3 ball rollers and a backpack for everything else. I guess if it's warranty you will get a new one. Steve

[Ryster]

The handle on the Storm 4-ball Rolling Thunder is replaceable. It would be surprising if the handle on a Hammer bag is not also replaceable. Might be worth a call to Hammer to see if they can confirm and possibly still you a replacement handle.

[boatman37]

Just emailed Hammer to see if I can get the part. Also started thinking about a retractable handle from luggage. Wondering if they might be the same. Either way I think I will just buy a new bag but may try to fix this one to either give it away or keep in the storage room at the center. Wife says just order a new one and give the old one away to someone that needs one. But she does want me to try to fix it before I give it away...lol.

[Ryster]

The Hammer bags were manufactured by KR. KR does sell a replacement handle for the 4-ball bags, but get this...it is $40 for the replacement handle!

[boomer]

My Storm Rolling Thunder has done great work for nearly a decade, when it replaced my previous one - which I replaced not because of the wheels but because I had mistreated the previous one so my new bride bought me a new one for Christmas. :) We cleaned it up and gave it away and, to my knowledge, the old bugger is still chugging away.

[Ryster]

I love the Rolling Thunder bags. I am on my 2nd. The 1st one broke when I attempted to lift the bottom section by only one of the side handles, and proceeded to tear the side of the bottom half right off. The handle and the plastic siding of the bottom half tore right off. LOL! Now I make sure to lift the bottom using both handles. Guess the bottom sections aren't built to be lifted by just one of the side handles.

That being said, my whole family uses the Rolling Thunder 4-ball bags. If I needed a new bag, I would not hesitate to order yet another. Although, the current colors and patterns are not my favorite.

[boatman37]

I emailed Hammer last night and email KR today and have not got a response from either. Going to order a new bag tonight anyway. Thanks everyone

[Ryster]

Hammer usually takes a few days to respond. KR typically responds to emails in 2-3 days.

Which bag did you decide on?

[boatman37]

I ordered the Hammer bag last night. Still haven't heard back from them or KR. But can't wait around. Need a bag soon...lol. Tonight will be fun trying to carry it in with no handle...lol

[Phonetek]

Look at you with a 4 ball bag! A few years ago I would have never predicted it.

[boatman37]

Look at you with a 4 ball bag! A few years ago I would have never predicted it.

Oh I had a 4 ball bag already...lol. When I left around 2002 I had a 2 ball bag with my Cobalt Rhino and my Black Beauty. Threw those in the dumpster figuring I'd never be able to bowl again after my surgery and then came back in January 2018. The first week I borrowed a right handed teammates ball. The 2nd week I got a Storm Sync off a fellow lefty and rolled a 244 (we won't mention my very next game being a 123...lol). The wife saw someone on Facebook selling a 4 ball roller and 6 balls. I got everything for about $80. Sold 1 ball for $50 and put the rest on the shelf at the center for house balls. Started my collection then...lol. So my 4 baller was a Hammer Premier and I think I kept buying balls just to fill it so it would be well balanced when toting it around...lol. But it broke the other day. Ended up buying the same one again. I also have a cheap 2 ball bag that stays at the center. I plan to keep the old broken 4 ball bag at the center with balls in it that I really don't use but are still good. Probably leave my Kingpin and Squatch in there along with my Conspiracy and Black Widow Gold. Really don't use those. The Conspiracy and Kingpin have an almost identical look, same with the Squatch and Uppercut, and the BWG hardly ever comes out.

I am planning to bowl a tournament in 2 weeks. Last time I bowled this tournament they used a 47' Scorpion pattern. First time (and only time) I have ever bowled on a sport pattern. I made the cut that day but got booted in the 2nd round. Not sure if this one will be sport pattern or not so will probably take a few balls with me.

[boatman37]

Got my new bag today. Slightly different than my old one in a good way. They are the same bags just my old one was pretty old. Also ordered a Joey bag and the Vise finger tape. Tried the tape here at home and finger holes don't seem that much tighter. Will test it out next week.

[boatman37]

So I emailed both Hammer and KR a few days ago. KR got back to me asking for pics so I sent him some. He replied tonight that they only started making the Hammer bags in 2016 so they don't have any of the parts for the older bags but did offer a discount on a new Hammer 4 ball roller...lol. Replied back telling him I already got one. But it was nice of him to offer that. I wasn't looking for anything free, just wanted to know if I could get the parts from them. Hammer still has not emailed me back.

[Ryster]

KR customer service is typically very responsive and very customer oriented. We had an issue with an interchangeable slide sole on on a new pair of Hammer shoes and KR did not hesitate at all to send out a replacement sole. No questions asked. It was quite refreshing.

There have been a few times where I have emailed Ebonite, Hammer, Track, and Columbia (prior to the Brunswick acquisition) and there was typically a several day delay in responses. Sometimes their responses provided the information I needed, other times they just sort of half-heartedly replied. Storm usually responds in just a couple of days and is very customer friendly.

I have never needed to email Brunswick Although, based on your experience, it sounds like they might be kind of slow to respond. Now that they have eight brands under their umbrella I guess I can see where they may be kind of slow. Not an excuse but a possibility.

[Aslan]

Every time I read this, I read, "Broke my leg."

[boatman37]

yeah would have been nice if they had responded a little quicker. i originally emailed them both late Sunday night but didn't get a response from KR until after hours Tuesday. By then i had already ordered a new bag. I couldn't wait around as it is very difficult to move a 4 ball roller with no handle. I figured if they did have a replacement handle i would get it and keep that bag as a spare or sell it. as it turns out it was pretty much as waste of time emailing them. it took 2 days for him to respond the 2nd time too. But at least they responded and were willing to help out. Still haven't heard from Hammer. I do like the new bag though.

[boomer]

honestly? That's not too bad. I get worse response from Dell and Canon.

[Ryster]

Dell and Canon have way more customers than the bowling companies. As someone who works in IT and has dealt with those companies, my expectations for response time from companies in that industry are pretty low. Just getting a response from someone that is actually interested in helping is a victory.

[boatman37]

Dell and Canon have way more customers than the bowling companies. As someone who works in IT and has dealt with those companies, my expectations for response time from companies in that industry are pretty low. Just getting a response from someone that is actually interested in helping is a victory.

lol. Yep. I work in IT also. Spent a few years as a system admin on linux and Windows boxes and now a system security engineer.

[boomer]

Points taken - but our contract and specific number to call gets us to specific reps that don't have that many customers. :) Been dealing with them for 15 years or so, after moving away from IBM (prior to their selling out to Lenovo) and Xerox.

And in no way saying your expectations are/were unrealistic.

[boatman37]

Points taken - but our contract and specific number to call gets us to specific reps that don't have that many customers. :) Been dealing with them for 15 years or so, after moving away from IBM (prior to their selling out to Lenovo) and Xerox.

And in no way saying your expectations are/were unrealistic.

I'm ok with 2 days for replies but it has been 8 days now (including Saturday and Sunday) and still no response from Hammer. Have not heard anything back from KR since I think it was Thursday when they said they could give me a discount on a new bag. I replied telling them I had already got one and they have not responded back since then.

[boatman37]

Will get the new bag loaded up tomorrow night. Last week I left everything at the center since it was too hard to lug it around with no handle so the new bag is still here empty. I have a 2 ball bag at the center that always stays there then have 2 more balls here at home. Plan is to take those 2 with me then load all 4 extra balls in the old bag and leave it there. My 4 main balls and new bag will come home with me every week.

Hurt my back the other day and went to the chiropractor today. I could hardly walk over the weekend but felt a little better this morning. Hopefully I'm ok for tomorrow night. Not sure how I aggravated it. Might have been trying to move that 4 ball bag with no handle but it didn't really start hurting until about Thursday or Friday.

[boatman37]

Got the new bag all loaded up tonight. Has a little more room than my old one and it is much more comfortable to tug around. The handle curves forward to is more ergonomically friendly. Wheels roll very nicely too.