Solid/hybrid/pearl just doesn't matter anymore... and company reps are even starting to admit it.

Quote from: blesseddad on October 18, 2014, 10:23:05 PM

Is int just me or have you also seen this recent pattern?

Ebonite recent releases are all hybrids or solids (no pearls)
Columbia recent releases are all hybrids or pearls (no solids)



Until the Blur line, this was almost a dead lock, no?

BTW, Blur does not really count in my eyes as they seem to be farther down the performance chart. Guessing we will not see many Blur products at WSOB...

Thought the Eruption Pro and Throw Down are both solids?  Anyway.........do not think that solids have been selling very well lately.  Antics line was not very popular.  Enigma was sort of a dud.  Freeze Solid was not a huge seller.  The balls that seem to roll best right now are the pearls.  Freezes, Eruption, Violent Eruption, Take Down, Vow.  If they are the best sellers; then why do anything different?

Its not that they aren't popular.  They have someone with zero marketing talent trying to sell, name, and develop the balls.  Its like columbia and ebonite get the left overs.   Hammer gets all the cool cores..for some reason.

Quote from: J_Mac on October 18, 2014, 10:42:42 PM

Solid/hybrid/pearl just doesn't matter anymore... and company reps are even starting to admit it.

Indeed!!!

"You don't buy a ball; you buy a ball reaction."

If only that was true for the majority of bowlers. Unfortunately most people buy ball marketing not ball reaction....

As a long time Columbia brand "loyalist" I too, have been less than pleased with most of their latest releases. I am not sure what Ebonite's strategy is as it relates to
their Columbia line of balls. For me (a stroker), I find that they
are more "control" pieces---very good on fresh, flatter patterns. However, once the shot breaks down, I often have to resort to another brand. The hitting power is just not there for my style, regardless of different drill angles and surface or release changes. On THS, they rarely come out of the bag at all.

I would like to see Ebonite create a wider range of reactions in their Columbia line.
They can definitely use a strong pearl, one that is coupled with a larger diff core. At the upper end, they could use a strong "oiler". I cannot use the Blurs or the Eruption Pros unless the lanes are very, very dry--which is not very often. At the upper end, the Antics, N'Sane Antics and the Enigma were not very strong "oilers" in my hand.

Current Columbia 300 "Solids":
N'Sane Antics
Throw Down
Disruption
Blur Solid

I don't really see the lack of balls with solid coverstocks.

As to the cores, doesn't each brand have their own individual R&D team? It's hard to say EBI is behind the lack or surplus of what another brand has IMO. They all know who they are targeting and I doubt EBI is saying who can use what in their balls. It's a business and the purpose of a business is to make money.

I don't know why the Antics line isn't selling. The Antics line is incredible in my opinion. And don't be surprised if you see another one in the near future. I have heard several people complain about C300. They don't like the fact that they use the same cores for so long. However , the resurgence core has been proven time after time. They do have a few newer cores out now as well. As for the solids , C300 has them available. Rather it would be a solid , pearl , or hybrid cover.It's very important to get the proper surface on it to match the specific bowler , and oil pattern. That's my personal opinion anyways.

Agreed. Also, Ebonite seems to be steering away from its Columbia brand when it come to adding new balls in the higher performance category. Instead, they are adding them to their other brands ( Ebonite,Track, Hammer). Disproportionately so as of late. A quick inventory will reveal this apparent trend. Disappointing.