Post by: BadShot on February 27, 2004, 08:39:00 PM
rate 'em up!! list them out as long as you want to go, in order. if you haven't thrown a company's equipment, list them after your rating if you want to . . .
if responses are decent, i'll tabulate the rankings in a couple of weeks and post the overall results. have fun!!!
1. HAMMER- best all around equipment on the market
2. COLUMBIA- outstanding overall cover/core combinations, durability
3. LANE #1- extraordinary power and reaction (but i'm pissed @ them right now!)
4. TRACK- some pretty good equipment lately, although some disappointments
5. STORM- only two good balls out of five i've owned
6. AMF- haven't owned many, but they've been dependable
7. BRUNSWICK- some good balls and some bad ones, good coverstocks
8. EBONITE- six balls owned, five sucked cuz they didn't last
companies i haven't thrown, but would like to, in order:
1. visionary
2. morich
3. dyno-thane
4. roto-grip
not really interested in azo, lanemasters, neo-tac, revolution
now show me yours!!
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That which does not kill me makes me stronger . . .
Post by: Ernie McCracken on February 28, 2004, 11:44:10 AM
2. Track
3. Track
See a pattern starting to form here? lol
Post by: JPRLane1 on February 28, 2004, 12:15:50 PM
2. Ebonite
3. Storm
4. Track
5. Columbia
6. Brunswick
Four, five, and six I have only thrown a couple balls from each company so they are about the same ratings wise for me. Would like to throw a Visionary, Dynothane, Roto Grip, and definitely a Morich ball.
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I should just quit bowling, oh wait I already tried that.
Now that I am back and my Saws are sharp again, I am ready to cut some wood.
Post by: golfnutFL on February 28, 2004, 12:25:21 PM
2- Storm
3- Columbia
4- Ebonite
5- Brunswick
6- Track
I haven't had a ball from any other manufacturer in many years so I won't rate what I haven't thrown.
Post by: RaginCajun on February 28, 2004, 12:33:37 PM
1 Track
1 Track
4 Columbia
5 Ebonite
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If winners never quit and quitters
never win, then who came up with the saying,
quit while your ahead?
Post by: LeftE on February 28, 2004, 12:37:44 PM
2)Ebonite (close second)
3)Hammer
Thats all I currently own
Post by: just joe on February 28, 2004, 12:40:12 PM
2-Brunswick
3-Hammer
4-Lane #1
Would like to try Dynothane.
have also used Ebonite, Roto Grip,
not enough to rate.
Post by: LuvThatWhiteDot on February 28, 2004, 12:42:26 PM
2: Ebonite.
3: Columbia 300.
4: Visionary.
(This is just my own opinion)
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White Dot
Ancient Chinese Proverb: Man who stand on toilet high on pot.
http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/FBL/mkting.html
Post by: Strider on February 28, 2004, 01:11:31 PM
Dynothane - dependable, long lasting, very consistent rolling
Roto Grip - great bang for the buck, big hit
AMF - Nighthawk and Evolutions series were great, haven't tried the new stuff
Pretty good...
Storm - might be better, only tried some niche pieces
Brunswick - been a long time since I've thrown one
Columbia - too many retreads, don't trust their particles
MoRich - solid, but no home runs
Duds...
Lane#1 - tried a few, never matched up
Ebonite - nothing hits or lasts
Not enough info...
Visionary - only have a Slate Blue Gargoyle
Hammer - Didn't like anything during demo days. Too much flare and low rg stuff.
Track - never tried them for some reason.
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Penn State Proud
Post by: TheBowlingKid25 on February 28, 2004, 01:21:14 PM
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15 years and still going strong! 15 years old that is!
The names Warrior Princess, Xena..Warrior PrincessAM not A CHICK OF BOWLING but I wanted to be in Manda's clique
And why would I "saw" pins in half, THATS A WASTE OF PINS! I'd rather blow it over with my storm, and 21mph ball speed on dry shots.
Post by: mfd301 on February 28, 2004, 09:06:06 PM
2) Dynothane, some of the best new stuff out on the market
3) Faball for urethane stuff
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proud member of the FDNY
Post by: Doug Sterner on February 28, 2004, 09:21:27 PM
1. Lane 1 by a long shot...have only had issues with 2 balls I have tried adn they were more layout issues than the ball itself
2. Storm....love their stufff...X Factor, Eraser, Trauma, Firepower...great stuff
3. Hammer...Sling Blade and Big Blue are awesome, older Hammers were the creme de la creme
4. Roto Grip....Blue Retro and Silver Streaks are great
5. Track....Thrash is solid, Hex was great, VooDoo fantastic...but the high end stuff?? ehhh.....let's not go there
Companies I avoid....
1. AMF...only ever made 1 decent ball that I used...Grey Angle
2. MoRich....strokers paradise but tweeners nightmare
3. Dynothane....only ever tried a couple but was not impressed...Remedy, Elixir and Concept 4 did not impress me
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
The Cherry is the Bomb
but the Nugget is Golden!!!
Now accepting VISA/MC and Discover for your purchases
Post by: stanski on February 28, 2004, 09:21:58 PM
2.track- even though all they produce are oilers, polishing up some of there particles and watching the flip and hit of the morpheus core is amazing
3.storm- some very good balls but they come out with way too many and i get confused!
4. dyno thane- soaker coverstock has put them on the market
5. roto grip- make very good drier condition balls in the sonic series
6. ebonite- only ball from them i have liked has been my v2
7. hammer- havent thrown any modern stuff and that is why they are ranked this low but they're old urethanes were the best there was
8. columbia- none of they're high end stuff is very good, every ball is just a remake of some older ball, but they're low end stuff is pretty good. worst manufacturer i've tried. they really need to stop making so many balls that are so similar.
havent tried visionary, lane 1, amf, or azo
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stanski
Edited on 2/28/2004 10:20 PM
Post by: 9orbetter on February 28, 2004, 10:04:00 PM
2.TRACK
3.ROTO GRIP
4.EBONITE
5.STORM
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We all can hit the pocket,just carry the damn corners
Post by: drillbit on February 28, 2004, 10:05:35 PM
2.Roto-Grip - Love those Streaks!
3.Ebonite - V2 series rocks.
4.Visionary - Loved that Blue Warlock, too bad I had to sell it.
5.Faball - Blue Hammer, Burgundy Hammer, AnyOldHammer....
6.Columbia - Blue Aftershock says it all.
7.AMF - Nighthawk
,Bone XS
, XS Pro I 8.Storm - Bolt Pro
, Wrath9.Track - Critical Mass was outstanding.
10.Brunswick - Sapphire Pearl
, all other Zones
Would love to try:
1.Lane #1
2.AZO
3.Neo-Tac
4.Hammer - One from the new lineup
5.Any company I've forgotten
drillbit
Post by: navy beans on February 28, 2004, 10:41:27 PM
morich
storm
hammer
columbia
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Your village called, they want their idiot back!
Post by: ChinaManB on February 28, 2004, 11:07:29 PM
#2-Lane#1 - I just recently started using some stuff and am impressed!
#3-Dynothane - Love the soaker cover and the Vendetta series looks great!
#4-Roto Grip - All I have to say is SILVER STREAKS and FUELS!
#5-Hammer - What a selection to build an arsenal!
#6-Brunswick - Great lines in the Infernos and Monsters!
#7-Ebonite - V2 line looks good and the cat series wasn't bad either!
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THE CHINA MAN!
Post by: Mike Austin on February 28, 2004, 11:33:19 PM
2. Brunswick (wide variety, jealous of the Inferno)
3. Dynothane (not so many balls, not much overlap, Element is interesting)
4. Columbia (same thing over and over, but can work for most anyone)
5. Roto Grip (really like these, customers just don't know who they are)
6. Lane #1 (not much going on with them in TX, but good quality, hit great)
7. Track (pretty good stuff, not as much variety, medium to dry???)
8. Hammer (everything they have hooks)
9. AMF (probably pretty good stuff if I could get someone to buy it)
10. AZO (wish you could deal with them easier)
11. Morich (not much demand for them, but I bet they are pretty nice)
12. Visionary (no demand for them at all)
15. Ebonite (V2's and ???......)
--------------------
Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@sbcglobal.net
Storm Pro Shop Staff Member
Vise Grips Staff Member
Onward through the Storm!!!!
Check out our web site - www.BirdDogBowling.com
Post by: Brickguy221 on February 28, 2004, 11:46:33 PM
2. Brunswick..(Balls very good....Customer Service excellent)
3. Ebonite....(Balls very good....Customer Service so-so to fair)
4. Storm......(Balls so-so to fair..Customer Service good)
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on February 29, 2004, 12:30:48 AM
The rest have been left in dust. There are a couple of honorable mention companies.
Storm
Brunswick
Roto Grip
Dynothane(except the Anomaly)
The OVERHYPED....
Lane 1
Columbia 300
Ebonite
Post by: janderson on February 29, 2004, 09:19:57 AM
2. Ebonite
3. Roto-Grip
4. Dyno-Thane
5. Lane 1
6. Hammer
7. Columbia 300
8. AMF
Companies I'd like to try
1. Track
2. Visionary
3. AZO
4. Morich
Companies I avoid (personal preference)
Brunswick
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Kill the back row
Post by: DrillLord on February 29, 2004, 09:37:54 AM
1. Lane #1 - They seem to match up very well with my game. Love the C2 series and my Carbide LRG (Thanks Drillwizard!)
2. Brunswick - Have only thrown the Danger Zone HPD and the Red Fuze, but they were my goto balls when I was beginning to bowl. I would still throw some Brunswick (I would like to see what I can do with a Time Zone), but I try to stick to Lane #1 to keep from buying a ball a month.
3. MoRich - Loved my Colossus Supreme and Pearl Colossus. Only downfall was that the coverstock on the supreme was very high maintenance.
4. Columbia and Storm - I feel that their balls are very condition specific, but on the right condition they seem to work very well. Trauma ER and Cuda 2000 were the worst reacting balls that I have ever thrown.
5. Roto Grip - I have only thrown the original assault, but it didn't do much for me.
6. Hammer - Again I have only thrown the Crimson Sledge and it sucked. I like the way the new hammer stuff seems to react, the Blade series may be the best balls on the market for the price today.
Have never thrown (but I may one day):
Ebonite (only ebonite ball I have ever thrown was the clear skull)
Dyno-Thane (My brother loves his anomaly, the ball broke him out of a serious slump this year)
Visionary (Thought about getting a clear Gargoyle, but visionary is very difficult to find in my area)
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I've found that the RESET button is the easiest way to knock down ten pins.
Post by: btx on February 29, 2004, 10:20:45 AM
1. Track - Matches me well, gives me best carry and just loves the way it hits
2. Columbia - Consistency and best all around company ( too many balls
)3. Ebonite - Consistency also but die out fast
4. Hammer and Brunswick - Hate them
, just doesnt match meWould like to try
Storm though none of their ball attracts me yet
Lane 1 but i hate brunswick
Dynothane and Rotogrip
Post by: bowlerguy22 on February 29, 2004, 12:53:25 PM
2.Roto-Grip
3.Roto-Grip
4.Roto-Grip
5.Ebonite
Post by: REVOLUTIONS PS on February 29, 2004, 05:34:27 PM
1. STORM...great performance and most durable of the big guys.
2. ROTO GRIP...the Silver Streak alone justifies the #2 ranking.
3. TRACK...they stick with the high-end balls for the most part but they carry.
4. COLUMBIA...especially the Messenger series, tremendous equipment.
5. BRUNSWICK...good line but they still seem to have lots of core separations.
6. HAMMER...good performance but serious durability issues.
7. EBONITE...same as above.
Post by: no1bucsfan on February 29, 2004, 09:28:19 PM
1. Big B
2. Lane 1
3. Hammer
4. everything else
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You can always hit em hard when you've got the balls
Lefties are the only people in their right minds.
no1bucsfan
Post by: sheppy335 on March 01, 2004, 07:25:45 AM
There is nothing else needed to say for me!
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
Why does the 8 Pin laugh at me!
Sheppy
Post by: Steven on March 01, 2004, 11:17:42 AM
1) Ebonite - (12 balls owned). Covers at least as many conditions as any other company. Their asymmetric cores are very drill sensitive, so they get a bad rap when bowlers punch out the wrong patterns. Pick the right ball and lay it out correctly, and the company is as good as any.
2) Track - (4 balls owned). Excellent company. Their higher end equipment is as good as it gets. Company weakness is that they focus too much on the high end stuff.
3) Columbia - (6 balls owned). Another good company that offers a complete line-up. Their "post TEC" particle covers are much improved. Strong line-up from top to bottom, but they lack asymmetric core choices if that's important to you.
4) Storm - (20+ balls owned). Good overall line-up, but I've never considered them best of breed in any one category. They lack really good oilers. Their lower end stuff has traditionally been OK, but nothing compared to Ebonite. Storm's strength has been in the mid-range, which is what most bowlers need anyway.
5) Lane#1 - (3 balls owned). I just don't get the Lane#1 thing. Their diamond core is OK, but I just can't see building an arsenal around it, at least from a typical stroker perspective.
6) Brunswick - (4 balls owned). I've not been inspired by my Brunswick equipment. My first sanctioned 300 was with a Danger Zone Red Alert, but I sold it soon there after. But in fairness, I've seen many bowlers to do well with the line.
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"You want the truth? -- You can't handle the truth! "
Post by: Jeffrevs on March 01, 2004, 11:23:53 AM
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JEFF
Rebuilding my game one mid-to-upper-500 series at a time !!
Post by: Phillip Marlowe on March 01, 2004, 06:25:24 PM
1. Dynothane. (12 balls owned or used; teammates or friends 5) Fewer of the ups and downs. The Element is the best ball I have thrown, the Thing Returns the best pearl and the Barrage the best dry lanes ball. The Vendetta and Vendetta Particle have definite places in any bag, and the Anomaly, though not quite as advertised for me (it is for some folks I know) is one of the best carrydown control balls (if kept dull) I have seen. I didn't like the Vendetta Black. The Soaker coverstock is extraordinary.
2. Brunswick. (14 balls owned or used; teammates or friends 30+) OK, I hated the Blitz's, disliked most of the Zones, but the Monster Series has been very good, with the Frenzy, ScreamR and the Brimstone very, good. The Bruiser is fine, the SlayR is fine, the SmashR not as advertised, but on a hard-wet dry, a very fine ball. The Inferno was overhyped, but the new Zones, Time and Warp are very good. Coverstocks are very durable, even if the particles need extensive maintenance.
3. Visionary. (6 balls owned or used; teammates or friends 10) The Gryphons are good, strong rolling, consistent equipment. The Executioner and Gargoyle series were fine for the THBs I saw using them, quite forgiving. The D.C. Warlocks were silly strong.
4. Storm. (7; many, many) Frankly, I didn't like some of the Trauma line at all, the Too Hot was good, but short-lived and the X Factor was fine but over-touchy and over-rated. But their mid-priced line may be the best in the business on pure skid flip performance. The king of flippy equipment.
5. Columbia. (17 self; couple of dozen) Up and down. Some Great equipment for me (Reaction Rev, Blue Pulse, Spirit, Throttle Up), some horrible (Remake of the Pulse, Throttle R). Coverstock longevity (TEC, TEC2, UFO) is a serious problem.
6. Track. (16; many many) Last year it would have been #1. The Magic Series and the Monies...wonderful...Magic, Voodoo, Hex, EZ Money, Mojo, Money, Spell...all VERY good. Now, for me, not good. Recent equipment is either over-aggressive or doesn't last long enough to even get a read on. However, many of my friends absolutely love the Freak/Phenom series. Unfortunately, the balls in the Freak series just plain die after about 60-80 games for me and the Animal ain't. The Crunch is also not a favorite.
7. Hammer. (1; many) I've tried several, but I haven't found anything they make that is not too smooth for my tastes for the place the equipment is supposed to have in an arsenal, so I have refrained from buying. I have to say, lots of people have done very well with the Blade and Diesel series. Whoever made the Vicious Particle should be strung up by their thumbs.
8. Ebonite. (3; many) I can't say they make bad equipment, but I have yet to find a ball other than the Savage Flip that I like. The Stingers were overstrong or understrong, the APEX and Matrix line just didn't work -- too early rolling, too dead, too soon. I have friends who swear by the stuff...but, not for me.
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"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings."
Edited on 3/2/2004 11:18 AM
Post by: shark300 on March 01, 2004, 07:59:11 PM
2.Lane #1
3.Dynothane
4.Brunswick
5.Track
6.Columbia
7.Ebacrap
Post by: wally on March 01, 2004, 09:53:53 PM
1: STORM/ STORM OVERSEAS
2: MORICH
3: LANE 1
4: VISIONARY
5: TRACK
6: EBONITE
7: BRUNSWICK
8: COLUMBIA
9: ROTO GRIP
10: HAMMER
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HOOTERS RULES!!!!!! Anyone AGREE?????
Edited on 3/1/2004 10:51 PM