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Author Topic: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations  (Read 7403 times)

ITZPS

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Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« on: July 14, 2015, 09:54:12 AM »
I saw a post a while back complaining about how cookie cutter all the staff ball reviews seem to be, them basically being here's a bunch of technical stuff that may or may not mean a thing to you and then a more articulate version of, "oh wow, best ball ever!"  I'm about to write my reviews for the Sky Rocket and Optimus Solid, and really wanted to take those comments to heart and try to write a review that will be relevant.  However, there are also a few things the reader needs to keep in perspective:

Just because the ball is good or bad for me doesn't mean it will be the same for you.

Technical information as far as layout and surface prep are virtually useless information due to a myriad of variables without any further explanation or comparison.   

Staffers are usually people who are knowledgeable enough that they can virtually guarantee themselves a good ball reaction through layout and surface prep that works for them and fits their game.  Every review they write could be the honest truth, and let's face it, everything looks good on a house shot. 

So what are the things that you look for most in a review?  What do you consider important information, and what do you think just clutters everything up? 
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tkkshop

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #16 on: July 15, 2015, 05:15:12 AM »
Storm staffers write their own reviews. But incentives are dolled out for every forum that they go to. Some are honest, but 96% are, "this ball is the ONE." You can always tell when it's time for the releases. Brunswick, Storm, and 900G spam all the forums.

JustRico

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #17 on: July 15, 2015, 05:23:26 AM »
It's not one specific brand they are ALL basically required to post reviews as well as post on social media forums often...they are graded by it

I'm seriously not sure this effects ball sales but they seem to believe so
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Bowlaholic

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #18 on: July 15, 2015, 07:24:23 AM »
The only ball reviews I read are the ones done by BTM.  The reviews are performed by a Stroker, Tweener, and Cranker on heavy, medium, light oil stating what changes were made to the cover for what type of bowler style.
Granted every bowler's stats, type of lanes bowled on, amount and type of oil used, etc., are different, but the BTM reviews give you some idea of how the ball will react/function accordingly on their test criteria.
When I purchase a ball based on BTM reviews, it usually works for me as it was described in the review.   

ITZPS

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #19 on: July 15, 2015, 07:41:29 AM »
Thanks for all the replies.  Few responses or some information.  Rico is right, staffers are all required to write reviews, and they all write their own.  A lot of staffers don't get the balls for free, so while BTM may have the resources to try a few different layouts with a few different bowlers, the staffers only get what they order and pay for, so buying several different balls to throw just to write a review or post a video isn't something that's going to happen very often. 

I also realize nobody reads the reviews anymore, I don't even read other reviews to see what the other staffers are saying about the same balls I'm going to be writing about because I feel the same way.  A lot of it seems cookie cutter or exactly what I expected them to say.  I think there's a way to say what the ball does and doesn't do without praising or criticizing it, and that's what I'm going to try to aim for. 

On the experience side of it, both my Optimus Solid and Sky Rocket have seen several different patterns, in addition to both being used at Nationals, the Optimus I even redrilled for my other hand, so it's seen several different conditions on BOTH sides of the lane, so I feel comfortable offering my opinions now.  Thanks for the comments!
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todvan

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #20 on: July 15, 2015, 04:16:27 PM »
The only ball reviews I read are the ones done by BTM.  The reviews are performed by a Stroker, Tweener, and Cranker on heavy, medium, light oil stating what changes were made to the cover for what type of bowler style.
Granted every bowler's stats, type of lanes bowled on, amount and type of oil used, etc., are different, but the BTM reviews give you some idea of how the ball will react/function accordingly on their test criteria.
When I purchase a ball based on BTM reviews, it usually works for me as it was described in the review.

I REALLY like the way BTM reviews bowling balls.
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St. Croix

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #21 on: July 15, 2015, 07:57:52 PM »
Tamer Bowling has decent reviews, too. As with BTM, Tamer reviews cover ball reaction with a cranker, tweener, and stroker on a variety of oil volumes.
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jensm

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Re: Honest ball reviews and realistic expectations
« Reply #22 on: July 16, 2015, 05:48:29 AM »
I put high value on a review that clearly states on which condition(s) the ball in question worked well, and on which condition(s) it didn't work well.
Regards,

jensm