Author Topic: THE 9's, quality issues? (Read 4370 times)

ITZPS · « **on:** March 17, 2016, 06:02:40 PM »

First I was recommending the TPUs to people because everyone was saying how comfortable they were, and then they fell apart inside a season. Then I started recommending the 9's to people because they were improved and the TPUs were falling apart on people and now the 9s are doing the same thing. Is there any shoe on the market that's worth anything? I'm looking at the Storm 900s or 901s at the moment.

milorafferty · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2016, 06:06:42 PM »

My SST 6's have held up for 3+ years and other than an insole change, look pretty much like they did when I bought them.

ITZPS · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2016, 06:09:20 PM »

My 8s are fine, but they're like strapping a pair of 2x4s to my feet, I stopped using them and started using tennis shoes because they're so uncomfortable on me lefthanded. I just plant lefthanded anyway, but people are getting bitchy about the tennis shoes and I don't want issues going to tournaments.

milorafferty · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2016, 06:26:45 PM »

Quote from: ITZPS on March 17, 2016, 06:09:20 PM

My 8s are fine, but they're like strapping a pair of 2x4s to my feet, I stopped using them and started using tennis shoes because they're so uncomfortable on me lefthanded. I just plant lefthanded anyway, but people are getting bitchy about the tennis shoes and I don't want issues going to tournaments.

I use the Dr Scholls Orthotics for that very reason. There are many places around here, usually a pharmacy, that has a machine that tells you which one to get. Otherwise, you can go to a doctor and spend a few hundred for pretty much the same thing.

Steven · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2016, 07:46:06 PM »

I bought my 9s when they first came out in August 2015. I have about 500 games in them with no shoe quality issues. I'm going to have to replace the sole/toe soon, but I've always been hard on bowling soles/toes, regardless of shoe.

I bowl with several guys who have 9s, and I'm not aware of any who have had quality issues with the base shoe. The one flaw I have seen is that the toe (for draggers) doesn't hold up as as well as the fixed toe on the SST8s. I know it's replaceable, but Dexter could have used a more durable material.

I've also had a pair of Pyramid HPXs (TPU-X equivalents) for the past few months, and while they're exceptionally comfortable, they don't have near the build quality of the 9s. If I get 100-150 games out of them, I'll feel lucky.

Steven · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2016, 03:37:53 PM »

You didn't state specifically how the 9s are "falling apart". What have been the major flaws you've seen?

Brandon Riley · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2016, 04:56:55 PM »

My TPU-X's have been great after well over 1000 games

billdozer · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2016, 05:10:44 PM »

I had the white 8s, put 5 seasons on em. Still good.

Bought the silver blue overseas...love em!

lefty50 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2016, 05:20:31 PM »

Not sure why no one mentions 3G anymore. I had a pair for 15 years (back when they were ABS Dynothane), and they were the finest possible. Could still use them, but just felt I needed a change... Just replaced them this year. I can't say I like them quite as much... They are stiffer and for sure needed break-in, but they are as good as others and holding up well... At least worth consideration.... 100 games for a pair of $150 shoes... Unreal....

ITZPS · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2016, 05:33:58 PM »

Some of them are common failure points from previous SSTs, but those are issues the 9s were designed to prevent. The actual shoe sole (not sole pads) coming apart from the shoe at the toe, the toe hold clip getting dented in and damaged, and the slide pad sections tearing or coming apart from the sole pad are the most common. Some things can obviously be attributed to normal wear and tear, nothing is going to hold up indefinitely, but coming apart inside of a season is a different story. This is why I was asking questions, as I have a limited sample size to work with of 5 pairs, but all 5 are showing issues, and the issues have been similar, and actually the 9s are having the same issues as the TPUs I've sold, while the TPUs are having the same issues the SST8s did. It may be a freak coincidence, as I only have a sample size of about 5 pairs of TPUs too, so it could all just be happenstance, but similar issues with every single pair I've sold makes me wonder. HOWEVER, I've also only once had an issue with shoes, the velcro at the toe of my 8s on my non slide shoe stopped working for lack of a better term, so the rubber sole was "flapping," but that was fixed by a power step. Customer issues also could be from a lack of care, which is what I'm hoping because I'm a little OCD when it comes to taking care of my stuff. Having to replace or repair things due to lack of care is a complete waste of money.

If yours are in good shape, I see no reason not to trust you. Thanks.

Quote from: Steven on March 18, 2016, 03:37:53 PM

You didn't state specifically how the 9s are "falling apart". What have been the major flaws you've seen?

JamminJD · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2016, 06:48:39 PM »

Quote from: ITZPS on March 17, 2016, 06:09:20 PM

My 8s are fine, but they're like strapping a pair of 2x4s to my feet, I stopped using them and started using tennis shoes because they're so uncomfortable on me lefthanded. I just plant lefthanded anyway, but people are getting bitchy about the tennis shoes and I don't want issues going to tournaments.

I feel the same way about the strapping part, I hate the 8's. I have to many sliding problems with them also. So I got the Tpu and so far OK, they are comfortable better than some running shoes.

Steven · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2016, 10:21:20 PM »

I don't doubt ITZPS's accounts of problems with the 9s. Bowlers are different and put different demands on shoes. For any model shoe (9s, SST8, TPU-X, 3G), some bowlers can go years with no issues, while others find a way to destroy the same shoe within a few months.

After 5 years of happy life on my SST8's, I tried the 9s because they were the new shinny toy on the shelf. They've been good overall. I'm not sure I'm any happier with them than I was with my SST8s, but they're holding up so far. I dig hard on my pivot step, and my 9s are showing more wear than I'm happy with. Yea, I've logged about 500 games on them, but my SST8's had about 2000 games before I saw the same amount of front shoe wear. I'll soon put on a new sole/toe combo, but that means Ill be spending about $75 per year to keep my 9s alive.

I bought the Pyramid TPX shoes because I had heard so much about TPU-X comfort. They are like wearing extremely comfortable running shoes, but they lack the rigidity and construction strength of the 9s. The front part of my HPXs are wearing much faster that my 9s, and I don't expect them to last more than a few months. If the TPU-X/HPX shoes had a more industrial strength toe area, they could possibly be the perfect shoe. Maybe they'll make meaningful improvements in the future.

MI 2 AZ · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2016, 02:39:21 AM »

Quote from: lefty50 on March 18, 2016, 05:20:31 PM

Not sure why no one mentions 3G anymore. I had a pair for 15 years (back when they were ABS Dynothane), and they were the finest possible. Could still use them, but just felt I needed a change... Just replaced them this year. I can't say I like them quite as much... They are stiffer and for sure needed break-in, but they are as good as others and holding up well... At least worth consideration.... 100 games for a pair of $150 shoes... Unreal....

My 3G Tour Ultras ripped open. The top separated from the sole at the wide part of the foot on both the inside and outside edges. It reminded me of why I always have bought my previous shoes in wide widths except for the Tour Ultras which were not offered in wides. Currently trying the TPU-X in a wide width.

Metal_rules · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2016, 08:32:21 AM »

I have had my 3G tour ultra's for over 4 years. The only issue I have had is the toe cap was starting to split from toe drag. So I glued a piece of Velcro over it, issued solved. These have been the best shoes I have had, so far.

ITZPS · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2016, 10:13:34 AM »

Well and see that was the big deal with the 9s and why they took so long getting released, all the issues had supposedly been fixed. I'm hard on my non-slide toe, at least I was righthanded, but a power step fixed that perfectly. Yeah the power step is expensive, but I was very happy with it. I'm not entirely sure the kind of issues I'd run into, as I just plant, I have no slide to speak of yet anyway, but I may still go ahead and try them. My 8s are still in good condition, but they were murdering my feet lefty which they never did righty . . odd.

Quote from: Steven on March 18, 2016, 10:21:20 PM

I don't doubt ITZPS's accounts of problems with the 9s. Bowlers are different and put different demands on shoes. For any model shoe (9s, SST8, TPU-X, 3G), some bowlers can go years with no issues, while others find a way to destroy the same shoe within a few months.

After 5 years of happy life on my SST8's, I tried the 9s because they were the new shinny toy on the shelf. They've been good overall. I'm not sure I'm any happier with them than I was with my SST8s, but they're holding up so far. I dig hard on my pivot step, and my 9s are showing more wear than I'm happy with. Yea, I've logged about 500 games on them, but my SST8's had about 2000 games before I saw the same amount of front shoe wear. I'll soon put on a new sole/toe combo, but that means Ill be spending about $75 per year to keep my 9s alive.

I bought the Pyramid TPX shoes because I had heard so much about TPU-X comfort. They are like wearing extremely comfortable running shoes, but they lack the rigidity and construction strength of the 9s. The front part of my HPXs are wearing much faster that my 9s, and I don't expect them to last more than a few months. If the TPU-X/HPX shoes had a more industrial strength toe area, they could possibly be the perfect shoe. Maybe they'll make meaningful improvements in the future.

Author Topic: THE 9's, quality issues? (Read 4370 times)

ITZPS

THE 9's, quality issues?

milorafferty

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ITZPS

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milorafferty

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Steven

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Steven

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Brandon Riley

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billdozer

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lefty50

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ITZPS

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JamminJD

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Steven

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MI 2 AZ

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Metal_rules

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ITZPS

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