Lemme start by saying I don’t go to my PSO for information. He’s not very knowledgeable of what he doesn’t stock and also not very knowledgeable with what he has. When the Hyroad X came out, he said it was a remake of the OG Hyroad. But his prices are great and he drills it how I ask him to so that’s a plus.
However, that leaves me in a position where I can’t just go in and ask him what’s best. So anyways I’m in search of a high end assym solid and was on the YouTube trying to find videos for the badger claw and the poison. And my frustration level was rising as I realized I can’t really find any ball review videos where people are discussing the ball, just watching shot after shot. But it got me thinking about where I put the most stock in for research when it comes to buying a new ball.
So to start, I’m not really a person with the extra income to just buy balls because I want them. Each purchase I make fills a need. And I’m cheap. Which doesn’t help haha.
So anyways, I’ve established that there’s about 6 things that play into me picking a ball, and I weighted it with percentages because not all things are equal.
The website: 5%. I do look at the sites and see what’s available and kinda get some technical data and see the performance chart but all in all, I don’t gather much info from them.
YouTube videos without discussing the ball: 5% sure I can see how it rolls and hits but the videos don’t give me much info.
YouTube videos with discussion by brand reps: 15%. These videos are great. They show you the ball and talk about it with the technical knowledge you’d like and often compare them to other similar balls. But I haven’t really heard a brand rep not like a ball on a review video. Plus they’re limited by what they discuss to what company the represent.
YouTube videos with discussion by freelancers: 25%. These are the nice ones. Guys like laneside reviews, average joes and tamer. They’re not being paid to push a specific product so there a bit more honest. Plus they tend to show different styles. The unfortunate part here is these guys don’t do every ball. So sometimes you’re trying to piece together multiple reviewers to come up with your best option.
Online commentary with brand reps: 30% this is where I put the most stock. Here’s is where you can communicate directly with the ones who can push the product. Give them information about you and have them help get you into something. Impending Doom is a huge reason why I even have my After Dark Pearl and now I don’t use anything else for league. If not for him, I probably don’t have that ball. The only caveat to these guys is still that they’re mainly going to push their stuff, except on these forums they’re going to give their opinions about balls outside the brand as well.
Online commentary from non brand reps: 20%. Sometimes it’s nice to get opinions about balls from somebody not paid to rep them. They tend to be more honest opinions about balls from multiple brands across the board. The harder part here is trying to decipher whose opinions to trust and whose full of.... well you know.
Just wondering what other people use. Or value
