I sent the following, to Big B, Storm, Lanemasters, Lane #1, Ebonite & Track:

I will post the responses from the various companies, as I receive them.
I think it will be interesting.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


This may be the wrong department to send this to, but it is about bowling balls:

I'm a member of www.Ballreviews.com.  Members were kicking around ideas about manufacturer's web sites. What they lack, and what the user's like.

I posted the following, which I'm sending to all the manufacturers of bowling balls:

*****************************************************************************************

 What I would really like to see on a ball manufacturer's. website:

An animated ball going down a lane, with my layout set-up in the ball.

I would have to punch in my pap numbers, ball speed, revs, etc. (Maybe stats from the C.A.T.S.-type system?). I would punch in a standard manufacturer's drilling (like the drill sheets they already have), for a particular ball. Hit PLAY, and would get a fair idea of a ball's reaction.

I could punch in lane condition, throw the ball . . . then change the lane condition, and see what the ball would do.

I imagine the Brunswick Throwbot software does something along that line, when they test balls.  Why not develop an animated on-line system? I have emailed this to a few different manufacturers (Brunswick since they have the Throwbot, Storm, Ebonite, etc.), over the past several years, with no response.

Does anyone else, think this would be a great tool? It would really help "the lost" understand ball dynamics, and such.

I guess some individual bowler will have to do the development.

************************************************************************************************
--------------------
Duke Harding

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'd Rather be Lucky than Good.

STORM'S RESPONSE:

Rick,
    You have a great idea. It would really help out the bowlers that know all of their coordinates. I'll pass this info along. But I believe the $$ to develop this will exceed the value. Keep the great idea's rolling. I always love to hear new idea's. Thanks for your email.
 
 
 
 
Ernest Goedicke
Storm Technical Department
Storm Products Inc.
"The Bowler's Company"
tech@stormbowling.com
--------------------
Duke Harding

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'd Rather be Lucky than Good.

Hey Duke,

It's a great idea, but while I'm sure it's technically possible (I'm a programmer, I think everything is possible ), you will never see something like this on a manufacturer's web site.

Can you imagine the hew and cry, when Joe Bowler enters his supposed statistics and the alleged lane condition into the program, and what he sees on the screen doesn't match what actually happens when he uses his brand new toy?

As a manufacturer, all you'd get from this is headache after headache, as whining bowlers line up to complain that your product doesn't work as advertised.
--------------------
seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl