I threw a lot of Lane 1 gear back in the Big B days. At that time, I could pretty much count on my Lane 1 stuff to be just slightly smoother than their Big B cousins. My Cherry Bomb Pearl was pretty much an Inferno. My Uranium Solid was pretty much an Ultimate Inferno, and so on and so forth; however, there were a few balls Lane 1 came out with that just worked better than anything else I had seen. To this day, the Lane 1 Bullet was the resin ball I've ever used on dry lanes. Likewise, the original XL gave me a look I've never quite found in another ball.

Still, in the end, all companies make good stuff. If you think that a particular company's gear gives you an edge, buy it even if the price is a bit higher than the competition. If you don't think the product is worth the extra cost, go with the cheaper option. We are all big boys and big girls; I've never understood why so many people worry about what other people spend on equipment. Unless the person buying the expensive ball owes you money, why do you care?

Oh, Lane 1 had a cult-like following for a long time. Back then the boards were full of back-and-forth beefs between the Lane 1 fan boys and the haters. I always found it stupid. Again, use what works for you. It's the same with golf balls. Some guys spend $40-50 a dozen, and some guys buy the 18-pack for $11.99. Is one guy right and the other guy wrong? No. It's just about your own cost-value analysis. I liked Lane 1 stuff back in the day, but now I tend to throw 99% Storm. Do what works for you.