higher vs. lower end balls

[Amyers]

A lot of what you said here is true about the names but in the end I'm not sure that it really matters track, Brunswick, and EBI are all behind on the cover stocks on the balls. The Storm and Motiv cover stocks are just better. Not saying all of those others are bad but from what everyone tells me and I spend way too much time sitting around talking bowling at the local alleys to get the consensus that Storm and Motiv take to cover stock changes and are more versatile than the other companies on the market. Storm had better watch out though I know a lot of guys who were serious Storm bowlers who are trying out Motiv and liking it.

On the Storm smells my wife has a tropical breeze and its kind of nice when you open the bag and the nice smell comes out but I wonder what it would be like if there were two different smells in the bag.

[mc_runner]

I do agree with the Track names... it's tough to tell (particularly if you don't throw them) which ball is being referred to. As someone who works in marketing, I'll say you're right on that there isn't any way to connect or identify with the brand. Whether that negatively affects their sales is another question, and at this point it's kind of their company niche.

Brunswick, Ebonite, and those guys I personally don't really see a problem with the names. A lot of the companies have a "line" of balls with similar names. Hammer Taboo Jet Black, Taboo Deep Purple, Taboo spare for instance... and the Storm Marvel, Marvel-S, Pearl etc.

[rv driver]

the Ascent has moved to my #1 short list spot. My exchange with the tech on the phone was really, really nice. She took a lot of time with me, explaining the differences in reaction, what I might expect at one weight or another, discussing my throwing style and house conditions. And she sent a couple of unsolicited follow up e-mails. If I ever had a problem or question down the line, I feel I could trust Motiv with their customer service. She seemed truly excited about the equipment and about me as a potential customer.

That being said, the DV8 guy, while not spending so much time with me, was similarly helpful and excited about his product and how I want to bowl. I just think I like the numbers and the reaction from the Motiv a little better.

OTOH, the guy I **finally** talked to at Columbia was blasé, unconcerned about me as a customer, sounded bored, gave minimal answers to my questions, and generally turned me off of Columbia as a brand. I get the feeling that they wouldn't really care about customer follow up or customer service.

Pyramid, DV8, and Motiv were extremely communicative and helpful. Storm and Roto Grip were fairly perfunctory and gave obviously "stock" answers to my questions, although they weren't so unconcerned as Columbia. Too bad for them...

[edit] The Motiv and DV8 people reminded me a lot of the folks here at bowling ball.com in the way they promptly and openly communicate.

[Perrin]

Aslan I agree to a point. The difference I am seeing though is that with DV8 guys bought 1-2 balls and then moved on to other things or back to their old stuff. With Motiv I am seeing guys replace their entire aresenals and get rid of their old equipment.

Storm has has the majority of the market for years and the lanes reflect that. It comes down alot to the new commercial that Storm has been playing... seen the most on TV finals in the last 8 years won this won that blah blah It's easy to be seen on TV the most when you are literally paying guys to throw your gear on TV. I wish I had a link to the story but it was a couple months ago. a guy qualified for a show throwing various equipment(mostly Roto if I remember correctly). Then after qualifying Storm paid him to wear their shirt and throw Storm balls on the show.

To me it's kindof like Apple's old scheme literally giving Apple computers to schools then using the fact that schools have apple computers in their advertising campaign.

I am sure the gear and balls they make are fine and I would definitely throw one if somone gave one to me but I am not so fond of the way they do business... again like Apple

On the Storm smells my wife has a tropical breeze and its kind of nice when you open the bag and the nice smell comes out but I wonder what it would be like if there were two different smells in the bag.

just wait until summer when you open the bag after a long hot day in the trunk of your car.... gah so overpowering it turns your stomach



for the dual smells it depends. my wife has a Cherry scented ball and my daughter has lemon cake. Thankfully those two don't clash to badly but I am sure there are some combinations that do NOT go well together.

[mc_runner]

for the dual smells it depends. my wife has a Cherry scented ball and my daughter has lemon cake. Thankfully those two don't clash to badly but I am sure there are some combinations that do NOT go well together.

I had spearmint and Blackberry? sitting in my trunk. When it's hot out particularly, they combine to form a smell in my car that I can only describe as a disgusting energy drink left out for far, far too long on a hot day.

[Amyers]

I would definitely go with the ascent from everything I have seen.

the Ascent has moved to my #1 short list spot. My exchange with the tech on the phone was really, really nice. She took a lot of time with me, explaining the differences in reaction, what I might expect at one weight or another, discussing my throwing style and house conditions. And she sent a couple of unsolicited follow up e-mails. If I ever had a problem or question down the line, I feel I could trust Motiv with their customer service. She seemed truly excited about the equipment and about me as a potential customer.

That being said, the DV8 guy, while not spending so much time with me, was similarly helpful and excited about his product and how I want to bowl. I just think I like the numbers and the reaction from the Motiv a little better.

OTOH, the guy I **finally** talked to at Columbia was blasé, unconcerned about me as a customer, sounded bored, gave minimal answers to my questions, and generally turned me off of Columbia as a brand. I get the feeling that they wouldn't really care about customer follow up or customer service.

Pyramid, DV8, and Motiv were extremely communicative and helpful. Storm and Roto Grip were fairly perfunctory and gave obviously "stock" answers to my questions, although they weren't so unconcerned as Columbia. Too bad for them...

[edit] The Motiv and DV8 people reminded me a lot of the folks here at bowling ball.com in the way they promptly and openly communicate.

[rv driver]

I had spearmint and Blackberry? sitting in my trunk. When it's hot out particularly, they combine to form a smell in my car that I can only describe as a disgusting energy drink left out for far, far too long on a hot day.

See? They need to make one in "New Car Smell," one in "Leather," and one in "Pine." Then they could make your car smell good.

[rv driver]

The difference I am seeing though is that with DV8 guys bought 1-2 balls and then moved on to other things or back to their old stuff. With Motiv I am seeing guys replace their entire aresenals and get rid of their old equipment.

I've heard the same thing from other sources, as well. We don't have a Motiv dealer where I live, so not a lot of Motiv on the lanes -- a lot of Hammer and Storm -- but Motiv is picking up a good reputation. I've not seen another Ascent here, so it wouldn't be one of 250 Storm Tropical Breezes...

I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on this one.

[rv driver]

I don't think you would go wrong with either of those balls.

The Ascent is a great ball. Very controllable and made in Michigan. I am also a big fan of the neomark graphics process they use.

The Misfit(red/orange) I can't speak to directly. I can tell you that I really like my misfit(Orange/blue) but when I go it it was actually more ball than I expected it to be

Since the changes to the red/orange are supposed to make it a little longer and easier to control that would likely be a good choice also.



Motiv is building quite a reputation here in Illinois. The word is they are very consistent in reaction and I know several folks who have completely replaced their arsenals to Motiv.

Sooo... the question then becomes: "Would you buy the Misfit all over again?"

[Stormed1]

Last year when I was messing around and changing my fir I sold or traded my Motiv arsenal and tried a few different brands. I liked the Disturbed, Fusion and Diva I drilled . That being said I have been rebuilding my arsenal with all Motiv pieces. So far I have drilled a Primal rage,Tribal, Venom Shock, Ascent Pearl and Recon to go along with my Sniper spare ball. Over the next few weeks I will be drilling an Ascent Apex,Octane,Tribal Fire, Sigma Sting and Covert Revolt. Plus another Venom Shock and another Toxin (to replace the one I sold