Steven,
Brunswick bowling ball part of the company is operating in the red but is being held up by the other side of the bowling industry.
This is right off the Lane 1 website:
Lane #1 introduces a new force in the bowling industry that outhooks all others. The BuzzBOMB is packed with our all new double sided Doomsday Bomb2 core. This Doomsday double Bomb core generates double the torque, creating double the hook on the backend.
Surrounding this nuclear power plant is our all new Pure GripTM solid reactive coverstock. This new formula grips the lanes on the heaviest oil. You won't believe your eyes when you see this midlane Hook Monster explode with a Huge Backend.
Hear the Buzz, see the Hook, watch your High Scores double with the BuzzBOMB..!!
Attn: Pro Shops
Download your "Crazy-8" Here
Color: Purple/Black
Cover Stock: Pure GripTM solid reactive
Core: Doomsday Bomb2
Hook Rating: 120 out of 120 max
Backend Hook: 80%
Flare Potential: 5+
Pin Placement: 12 O’ clock 1-5†out
15lb rg min: 2.487
15lb rg max: 2.539
15lb diff: .052
Construction: 3-piece
Finish: 1000 Grit Dull
Available Weights: 13, 14, 15, & 16lb.
According to this, the Buzzbomb had good midlane, but the hook rating is 120 out of 120 and the backend was 80 percent. Now that tells me huge backend, not rolling out, not buring up but double the hook on the back end.
When a small company puts out a flop like this, then follows up with the flop pearl, they doubled their mistake even though the BBr was a little more user friendly, they are not on the top of the bowling ball sales. Way too much negative exposure. The Agent Orange is a great ball and the Dynamo is a tremendous ball. But just like Columbia had several years ago with regards to TECball death, it took too long to get the confidence of the bowlers back before they also ran into trouble.
When you don't put out too many balls and you put out a flop, ok lets say a very lane specific ball, then many of those on the fence of throwing Lane 1, currently throwing Lane 1 or may one day throw Lane 1, gets the bad exposure and look elsewhere to buy their next ball.
In all fairness, if many more bowlers threw or just what the Dynamo being thrown by a quality bowler, not pro, but not the 160 bowler, they can see the potential in this ball.
If Lane 1 skipped the Buzzbomb and went right to the Dynamo series, I think the sales would be off the chart and many more bowlers throwing th Dynamo then are throwing the Dynamo now.
Thats why I think the Buzzbomb was a dud.
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Nicanor (Ten On The Deck)
