I take my info from both this site and BTM before making any ball decisions. I like the way that Bowling This Month breaks the ball down into ratings for different lane conditions, and I use the info presented here for some specifics on the equipment as well as some user feedback.
However, I have to take what I read with a grain of salt, since I know that what doesn't work well for most just might work decent for me. If you took a poll here and asked how many bowlers regularly used dull particle equipment, I doubt that you would find many at all. However, my house BELIEVES in oil (and lots of), and I know that my ball characteristics need something more aggressive than the average bowler. Even with dull particle equipment, it is a very rare day when I get inside anywhere near the third arrow, so I've got a ton of lane left to work with on most conditions, provided that I can get enough backend reaction for the ball to recover. In fact, I don't even remember the last time that I played any deeper than the 12 board at the arrows in my house, if that gives you any clue. So, a ball that might be interpreted as a dud by someone else might be just what I'm looking for. That's where it helps to be able to read up on the specs, check out the feedback, and get some straight scoop from BTM too.
Most other bowlers consider the Trauma Response as a dud. Well, it's my "go to" ball, and typically what I use every night.
