what influences you to buy use a certain ball?

[Joker]

Saw this on another thread and thought it be a fun topic. What influences you to use a certain manufacture's product?

a. staff members
b. ball reaction
c. company name
d. seen on tv

[Shaneshu87]

i was raised throwing hammer, that influences my purchases it's kinda like my "home Team" not that i haven't owned other company balls, i even tried switching to DV8, but i always find my self coming back to hammer. i have loved, and owned, every Black Widow ball ever made, still own a NIB BW Pearl. i love the widow series because of the reaction, so that influenced my love for that series, and who doesn't fear a black widow? lol

[mc_runner]

- what I am looking for a ball to do
- reaction videos/review videos/demo/personal recommendations

those are most important, third is
- history with the brand

[CaptainXeroid]

I started off with pro shop recommendation, WAY back when I got a Wine U Dot to hook when my Bonanza Yellow Dot wouldn't. Then it was word of mouth...what were other folks throwing. These days it's mainly past experience(Columbia), but the next ball will probably be based on specs & reactions videos.

[Aslan]

None of the Above

e. clearance price (% off regular price)

[Amyers]

I find most videos useless as they have guys throwing 18 mph with 400 revs throwing the ball doesn't show me much. I try to watch people bowl who have similarities with my game and my pro-shop guys recommendations. I don't know that price plays a large roll if I really want/need it I'll pay for it. If I don't I'm not buying it regardless if its a good deal.

[RobLV1]

#1 - core numbers
#2 - core shape
#3 - cover material

[Aslan]

None of the Above

e. clearance price (% off regular price)

I just think it's kind've a paradox.

I mean, if you're a beginning bowler...buying a better ball isn't going to help you. Yet, if you're an advanced skill bowler...you should be able to make any ball work well with a couple minor adjustments. So who does a "shiny new ball" help?

It's kinda laughable really. Twice a year (usually summer and fall) each ball manufacturer releases a few new balls. And EVERY video is the same. EVERY video talks about how you REALLY need this ball and it's gonna help you dominate the world and it's just so much better than any other ball ever made...a MUST own. Then 6 months later they release it's replacement because that ball wasn't so good but this NEW release...WOWSERS does it hit well!! Don't believe them? Watch this professional bowler with a 450rpm rev rate and pinpoint accuracy as he throws strike after strike after strike...after we edit out the ones that don't strike!! WOW!! Ya can't argue with that!!

The bottom line is; they haven't made a step change in bowling ball technology since reactive resin. And there's not a huge horizon to make the next great leap. There's only so much you can do to a round hunk of resin really. Especially when you take into account that the USBC has certain guidelines in terms of top weight and such. You could make the funkiest core in the world that causes the ball to zig-zag...but it likely wouldn't be leagal to use.

What really sucks...for a numbers geek like me is....it would be AWESOME to see a database where every score in the USBC is linked to the ball that was thrown. So you could go into the database right now and say, "okay, last 12 months...which balls had the most...X?"

Examples (fictitious):
- 900 Games- Rotogrip Asylum (1)
- 300 Games- Hammer Deadly Aim (143)
- Highest Average Score- Brunswick Fortera Exile (204)
- Highest Average Score/MSRP (Value Rating)- Storm Tropical Breeze (1.59)

Wouldn't that be interesting? Probably not something you could do for EVERY bowler in the USBC at EVERY center. But what about just the PBA? Couldn't their stats folks keep track of what balls were used during which matches? Oh well, just thinking outloud.

[Amyers]

#1 - core numbers
#2 - core shape
#3 - cover material

How does this work for you? As far as core numbers go are there numbers you would like no one makes now? I'm not being a smart arse I'm no expert on numbers or the history over the last twenty years.

Core shape helps to determine the numbers does it not? How do you know one shape will be beneficial over another? Seem like this is the same as number one and is just as subjective picking by the color unless you've thrown that shape before and then it's not something new just a variation.

Cover material I understand although I hear some people think the newer covers make a difference others think there really hasn't been anything new in 15 years or more.

Just interested in hearing you expand on your thought processes a little more.

[Stormed1]

1. What condition i'm intebding to use the ball om.
2.Core asymetric or symetric , rg and diff
3. Coverstock - solid,pearl,hybrid
4.Desired reaction shape

Price does not come in to play. If I need and want it I will find a way to pay for it