When did bowling balls get so ugly?

[Buster76]

As I mentioned in my first post on the site, I am getting back into the sport of bowling after a 20 year absence. I stopped by the pro shop the today to get a new bag and shoes. While there I was checking out some of the balls on the shelf and this begs me to ask when bowling balls got so damn ugly!

I know form follows function, but if the PSO told me one that a couple of the uglier balls in the shop were perfect for my style of play I think I might actually have to think twice about it. Has anyone here flat out refuses to purchase a particular bowling ball, no matter how good the reviews based on how it looks?

[RobLV1]

Form only follow function if you are a Bauhaus nerd who loves old VW Beetles. Buy a bowling ball for what it does, not what it looks like!

[classygranny]

Not sure if I would "refuse". But I might ask if there were options that are quite similar. Then I could pick the option that fits my visual eye if I absolutely couldn't stand the look of a ball.

I've come to dislike the solid color balls as I find it easier to see how the ball is reacting as it travels down the lane if it has a varied color pattern. I'm not partial to green, but two of my balls are mostly green...I got over it.

[Timmyb]

The Hammer Black Widow Dark Legend is by no means a pretty ball. Matter of fact, the only thing cool about it is the spider logo. That being said, it's the baddest thing in the bag right now for me.

If you're picking a ball based on looks, change your sport.

[Buster76]

Buy a bowling ball for what it does, not what it looks like!

But that's exactly what form follows function means........form or appearence is not as important as function.

[Buster76]

The Hammer Black Widow Dark Legend is by no means a pretty ball. Matter of fact, the only thing cool about it is the spider logo. That being said, it's the baddest thing in the bag right now for me.

If you're picking a ball based on looks, change your sport.

I just looked up that ball and it actually one of the better looking modern balls I have seem. It actually looks like it was designed with its core market in mind (an adult male), when so many other balls look like they come staight out of some Japanese anime cartoon.

[Blomer]

Some of the ugliest balls out there look the nicest as they roll down the lane!

[Tony]

Back 20 years ago weren't most balls just solid colors with some sparkles ?

[J Anderson]

But that's exactly what form follows function means........form or appearence is not as important as function.

I always thought the expression meant the form, i.e. shape of an object, was determined by its function.

One of the reasons that balls with random patterns of two or more colors are popular is that it makes it easier to see the transitions from skid to hook to roll. So even if the manufacturer's intent was just to make a ball that looked interesting, the result is actually useful.

[Timmyb]

I just looked up that ball and it actually one of the better looking modern balls I have seem. It actually looks like it was designed with its core market in mind (an adult male), when so many other balls look like they come staight out of some Japanese anime cartoon.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....