Maybe you're better off with clearance or used balls or entry level

[fokai73]

I can make one purchase for more than one of these highly priced balls if I wanted to. but for almost 10 years I've had great success with clearance stuff. Balls between $40 and $80 helped me earn cash to honor scores. Anything over $120 I start SMH and debate hard with wars in my head. Just like my choice of cars, I'm practical lol.. I don't need a 5 series, tesla, etc... one truck, one hatch back is all I need. The kids can fit and my bowling balls too, and it works lol. The wifey can drive the X5 suv, cause I love my hondas.....

Maybe I'm cheap when it comes to bowling, but there are better places I can put my money into. Retirement, kids, kids education, etc. plus I look at bowling this way, I'm not good enough for the PBA, I bowl tournaments less than 10 times a year, I bowl one scratch league with a house shot, and I don't bowl sport patterns often enough to warrant a regular priced ball that may be good or may not be a good match up. I'm not the only one. The highest average bowler (234) buys used and clearance stuff too. Only his 4 ball roller is NIB. He even bowls more tournaments than I do and more action type leagues. there are many more others like myself that I know of that wait for clearance or buy used.

Also with many house shots, many bowlers can benefit with today's entry level balls. High performance at a good price point. 900 global released two new boost balls and I can see this two balls as "it's all you need" balls for those once a week league bowlers. 2 balls for the price of one, almost. Few years ago, Storm came out with the breeze solid and pearl. These two balls were suffice for the two leagues I bowled that year and the year after. And both balls were my spare ball too, which made it easier to carry a tote bag and my shoes. These balls were given to me a month apart and performed well those seasons against the vivids and invasions of the bowling world.

Lastly, before league ended I noticed bowlers were pulling out timeless and code blacks. Few months before that, Quantums and Hammer new releases. All high end stuff at a premium price. Well, most of these bowlers still finished no better. Still the same bowler when league started, same bowler prior to two seasons ago. Average the same, poor spare shooting the same, and lighter wallets. My $49 ball beat out the timeless and code blacks. First side action paid for my ball and the second one was bonus. then again on sweepers took 2 of the four action money and took sweepers to cap it off. Though, there's a bowler with a quantum green who actually did very well for himself this season, but I think a lot of bowlers are over stacked with high end stuff that may be too much money and too much ball for their game. And speaking of used balls, those bowlers I gave or sold my balls to, all seem to do much better with them than when I owned them. lol

[Amyers]

I'm personally not a huge fan of buying used simply because I see way to many balls for sell with only 5-10 games on them lol. I have no problem with purchasing last years models and discontinued balls. I do try to only purchase clearance balls that I've seen roll. Some balls are discontinued for a reason. I also don't tend to buy high end balls anyway though I tend to purchase the more middle end to low end. I really don't need to spend an extra $100 to buy a hook monster meant for conditions that I'll never bowl in or only 2 twice a year at best

[Blomer]

Personally, I rather buy new than used. I ndertsnad the arguments for buying used, but I research the balls I buy and make sure they fit my needs. If someone is selling a ball after shorty getting it, makes me wonder why? I also don't want plug holes all over my gear. People may be able to roll used stuff better than some who buy new ones, but it's not so much the ball than it is the bowler.

[foreverincamo]

I buy new, but at discounted rates on EBay. Never pay retail.

[Tony]

I've gotten deals, won ball, over the past few years but also purchased a few balls, the way I see it , I'm just catching up after getting my first ball in exchange for a drink, then traded balls twice before "buying" my first ball. I traded labor installing a new lane call system in exchange for the ball and I used that ball for 8 years, so for a drink and a few hours of labor I bowled for 14 years.
It was a cool lane call system too, and it's still in service today, each pair has a phone handset, welded plastic with an armored cord ( like a pay phone ) all the bowler does is pick up the handset and it calls the desk and comes up on the screen what pair they're calling from.

[mishatx]

Man for the cost of a full plug and redrill, you're most of the way to buying a new ball as it is.

[chip82901]

I'd rather buy new equipment. I'm not a fan of plugs all over my stuff. Most prices aren't too bad considering if you get them from a pro shop, drilling is usually included minus grips and slug. If you have a military base nearby that has a pro shop in it, you'll actually get it even cheaper. For instance, I bought my Street Fight from Hill AFB in Utah. Think I paid $155 for it drilled. The same ball, an hour south, at another pro shop, was $185 drilled. Basically, it covered my fuel to go get it and back (I live about 2.5 hours away from a decent proshop lol)

[fokai73]

I can understand why bowlers don't like to buy used. The prices have gone up and a lot of times it's not worth it. But, bowlers in my area have access to cheap to free PSO's. Also, many don't plug all three/four holes, just the thumb or fingers only - it just depends. Speaking of PSO's.... Many have been forced to move or close shops at bowling alleys. Many of these PSO's now work out of their garage.

[foreverincamo]

I've saved a ton of money buying great balls from eBay. Paid as little as $5 and as much as $75, including shipping. Out of 13 balls, 11 are from eBay established sellers.

[Aslan]

I've mainly bought balls on clearance at either bowlingball.com or Bowlerx.com.

I can get new balls, maybe 6 months to 2.5 years old (in terms of technology) for $57 - $110...shipped.

Used balls are hit or miss. Usually, by the time you buy them for $55...pay another $25 to ship em...then another $15 to plug em...you're already in about $95. You can get a new ball on clearance for that with free shipping.

The downside to my strategy is:
1) You have a limited amount of choices (whatever is on sale/clearance).
2) If you order more than you need...and save them for when you need them...there is the risk they will crack. I've had 2 NIB/pre-drilled crack...one was under warranty; one wasn't.

At the end of the day...you're still paying another $55 to drill them...which is why I have so many undrilled. Buying them is only a little more than half the eventual cost.

If I were to buy NEW...new releases...I'd go with a pro shop...cuz they will usually give you a discount on the drilling if you buy the ball from them. Thus far, I've only ever done that once...with my Scandal Pearl. It pained my cheap 'butt' to have to pay $265 for a ball...but in fairness; it's the best ball I've thrown to date.