In general, high performance balls are a total waste of money! They are mostly just marketing gimmicks for sales. In 90% of the bowling alleys across the nation, you never see the heavy amount of oil needed for these monsters to even exist!

You can make an entire effective arsenal using low differential or even entry level balls by just varying your layouts and changing the covers on them.

How many times do they post the list of balls the pros are supposedly throwing on TV, yet they are always using an intermediate ball or a ball lower than the one in the middle of their arsenal?

Every time I travel across country to bowl in various tournaments the shot is light oil or drier, or driest!

HP balls are a waste!

Everyone's experience is different.  Our house uses a 41ft medium-heavy house shot.  Entry level balls tend to not have enough to get back to the pocket.

For those of us who only get 225 revs at 17mph... I strongly disagree, lol.  I don't ever go anywhere without my Crux Prime, and I 'ball down' to an Altered Reality which is pretty damn strong itself.  Our house pattern is just 41ft Kegal Main Street as fast as I'm told.  When I bowl at a different house, I need even stronger equipment to get the ball through all 3 phases reliably.

The only issue with these tanks is that casual bowlers don't always understand what "strength" means, or when the actually need strength vs shape.  Pros don't use these, because they have 500 revs, I'm not sure it fully computes for us filthy casuals.  I think your point is well understood, in that too many people are probably incorrectly using "hook in a box" but they are absolutely imperative for some of us.

For those of us who only get 225 revs at 17mph... I strongly disagree, lol.  I don't ever go anywhere without my Crux Prime, and I 'ball down' to an Altered Reality which is pretty damn strong itself.  Our house pattern is just 41ft Kegal Main Street as fast as I'm told.  When I bowl at a different house, I need even stronger equipment to get the ball through all 3 phases reliably.

The only issue with these tanks is that casual bowlers don't always understand what "strength" means, or when the actually need strength vs shape.  Pros don't use these, because they have 500 revs, I'm not sure it fully computes for us filthy casuals.  I think your point is well understood, in that too many people are probably incorrectly using "hook in a box" but they are absolutely imperative for some of us.

Thanks Adrenaline, Twohands834 and others for the informed responses. It was a slow day and I thought I'd shake it up a bit. Only saw like 6 or 7 new ball reviews by staffers and those get redundant and boring. I knew exactly what I was posting and that it would get some responses for sure. Of course there's always that one guy you just can't have a regular conversation with. (sigh)

Speed dominant bowlers definitely need bigger balls to compensate correctly. My old teammate who was 6'-3" and 275 was the perfect example of that. He regularly "broke" the cameras  in the alley because he piped the ball over 22mph. It would make them shut down and they'd have to be reset. He threw a HP ball, drilled strong with surface!! Dude was a monster!

Thanks for the responses! LOL

Jesse James is on point; But as a few of you mentioned, their will always be ' exceptions to the rule’.  Having for so many years myself being uneducated, and overwhelming, throwing the newest  ‘Hook Monster’ , I quickly realized, that I need a balance of pieces to play the lanes properly.

But with the understanding of the pieces you have, on top of, understanding how to play the lanes and your physical game, it’s easier to adapt accordingly. Too many snow tires on the market for 88/90% unfortunately, imo.

In general, high performance balls are a total waste of money! They are mostly just marketing gimmicks for sales. In 90% of the bowling alleys across the nation, you never see the heavy amount of oil needed for these monsters to even exist!

You can make an entire effective arsenal using low differential or even entry level balls by just varying your layouts and changing the covers on them.

How many times do they post the list of balls the pros are supposedly throwing on TV, yet they are always using an intermediate ball or a ball lower than the one in the middle of their arsenal?

Every time I travel across country to bowl in various tournaments the shot is light oil or drier, or driest!

HP balls are a waste!

This is anecdotal, you live in Maryland and bowl on dirt. Trust the rest of country is much more evolved.