Channel Surfers Bowling

As the sport of bowling grows, more demands are needing to be meant, and bowling ball companys are always busy doing this. But, some people think that companys are working harder than they need to be. A lot of bowlers are getting annoyed with a new ball coming out from the same company every month.

Almost every bowling ball company is putting a new ball out almost every month. And it does get annoying. When a new ball comes out, people get it, then a month later(or even less), they put another ball on the market better than the last. If you would have known, you could have just gotten that ball, then another one comes out after that ball. It gets very fustrating.

We decided ask bowlers what they think about this topic. Here's what they have to say:

In today's bowling world it seems the equipment has taken the industry over. With over 10 major ball manufactuers each with 3-4 top end balls in a running lineup. That makes for 30-40 balls for the average consumer to look through and find possible likes or dislikes. Since most average bowlers don't know about the style and technique that makes a bowling ball what it is they ask there local pro shop operator. The others that know will looks for the specs that would match their game (on paper). Right there are 3 reasons why they need to slow down on the amount of new balls they produce. For a proshop operator to inventory 3 copies of each ball in 4 different weights, that's roughly 400 balls, would be asking too much. Most shops use an ordering system. How many bowlers do you know that like to wait a week for even 3 days for a ball? Given that news balls come out every 2 months, how can we ask the proshop operator to turn 400 balls in 2 months, and then move the old stuff out of the way becuase 400 new balls are coming in. I know a few proshop operators that would be very happy if that were to happen...

Dave, FL

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Yes, bowling ball companies are putting out balls too fast. The first thing it's hard just to keep up with them and what they are suppose to do. What is the big difference between balls? Will the changes make that big a difference to your game? Just by the time you have everything figured out something new arrives and your back to square one because either the ball you wanted is discontinued or supposedly obsolete. To make matters worse, some ball manufactures release the same ball and only change to name and color. This adds to the confusion making it look like a totally new ball.

Robert, TX

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I was interested in trying Brunswick when they first came out with the Zone line. Last time I checked, they had over 100 different Zones. It was impossible for me to research that many balls to find the ones that would work for me. As a mater of fact, with that many, they must have been condition specific. Just didn’t make sense to me to carry that many balls. I switched to Storm about the time they came out with the Eraser. I followed that purchase up a year or so later with the X-IT. I was really pleased with the Storm line. Fewer balls to choose from and each line covered all the conditions. Only had to research about 4 balls in each line. Now though it seems like Storm, Columbia, Track, Ebonite keep coming out with new equipment every month. By the time enough people have used and reviewed the equipment, its discontinued and a new cycle starts. Guess it’s good business for the manufacturers. If people weren’t buying them, they wouldn’t be making them. For me, I’ll stick with Lane 1 or Dynothane. Easier to research and the equipment stays around in case you want to purchase another one instead of trying to find its replacement.

Anonymous

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No one likes to believe that a $100-$200 investment is obsolete within six months. When the ball companies start touting a "new improved" version of the ball that was the "best one yet" just six month earlier, a consumer can feel duped. But, you've got to hand it to these companies that have bowlers running out to by the latest new ball. They have convinced a certain portion of the population that newer is better.

What I would prefer to see instead of the latest lane condition specific ball being manufactured, is a remarketing of the current balls to different types of bowlers. The ball companies could get a whole new round of sales off of older balls by remarketing them to a style of player. How many times do we see a bowler picking up the wrong ball for his/her stye of play and the conditions they are playing on?

SE Rice, IL

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They are killing us! I buy the Threat from Track, 2-4 weeks later, the Thrash comes out! I am stuck with Threats now because it becomes stale after 2 months. Storm Came out with the X-factor, the Deuce, and the Reloaded all within 6 months of each other. The X-Factor was an awesome, ball, the Deuce was a compliment to the X-Factor... why can't they just stick with these 2 balls? I have 4 of each in stock, I can't sell them! I have to buy the Reloaded now because everyone wants that one now! I never sell more than 1 or 2 of a new ball at the regular price! I am never stocking more than 1 of each new ball that comes out. I refuse to get stuck with the 1st ball in a line of many. Dynothane & Rotogrip are doing it right. Ebonite & Hammer is good because they spread them out, but they come out with 15 balls at once. Brunswick is spread out... too bad there balls aren't selling well in the East. Why do they have to flood the market?

Anonymous

The main idea is that companies are putting to many balls out at a time. Therefore, when looking for a new ball, your choices are above belief. Another thing is that when you get the ball two months later it's discontinued. However, when it becomes discontinued, the balls price goes down. So there are a few advantages to this huge ball cluster that bowling ball companys have created.

By: Channel Surfers Bowling

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