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

Piece of advice for house shot is think middle of the road and pick balls that have been out for at least 2 years and are battle tested like OG Hy-Road, IQ Tour or Venom Shock.  Mediocre balls don't stay on sale for long.  Basically avoid the latest hype unless you need a really strong ball for heavier oil in which case cutting edge tech can make sense.  If you really want to get the most bang for your buck also check out Pyramid's balls as well.   Been impressed with my Path spare ball longevity and my Path Rising.

My after dark pearl playing straighter is greater up 5 has been lethal for me

As a general rule for my son and I, we always try to go to any demo days that may interest him, ball/company wise. Use their Facebook pages or pro shop info to find them.

Let’s him try stuff and just take notes on what it does or doesn’t do for him. So in the future, we have something to go back to if he’s looking to fill a spot.

Always take a ball that’s close to what he’s looking fill so have a valid comparison to something.

Time when we get there or squad to sign up for depending on conditions ball is for. First squad if looking fresh, last if looking burn.

He hated the idea at first, but now loves doing it. Even if not in the market for anything. He’s a Storm guy through and through. But if you let him pick a ball or two from say EBI, he knows what he’d take based upon having tried them.

This won’t help with what you’re looking for now, but just an option to consider for the future.

Added:

He always goes through the balls twice now. Once on fresh, then back through to see how they react once things break down. That has made a huge difference in some balls to him. Some that he didn’t like on fresh came to life once the pattern started to open up.

man i wish that were an option.  but here in southern cal, bowling isn't huge so they're not really doing demo days own here.

random question though, do they just have balls drilled in different sizes and weights? 

At demo days, ball companies will have 14, 15, and 16 lb equipment to throw (they might have a ball of a lower weight to throw).  They utilize switch grip technology for both fingers and thumb, and the spans are listed as small, medium, and large (I don't remember the exact span numbers).  One of those 3 spans should be close enough to where you can throw the ball and get an idea if you will like it or not.

makes sense.  ive been back bowling for a couple years now and haven't seen 1 demo days in the san diego area

You know, before I was on staff, a long time ago I used to be a PSO. I had been an Ebonite guy for 10 years at that point. I knew the product line, could put a quality ball reaction in your hand (the V2 had a lot to do with that but I digress), and felt comfortable recommending what fit your game. Now, at that time, I was also selling a lot of Rock Ons, Traumas, Night Hawks, whatever fit the customers want. Reason I did that was because good ball motion is good ball motion, no matter who's factory it's coming from. As a 900 Global staff member, I can get you into almost ANY ball motion you want.

But if you want me to go all PSO on ya, I can too. *I* do not get anything tangible out of me recommending my product and I'm sure as heck not going to try to put a ball in your hands that will roll like crap and thus sour you on our product. Not every ball we out out works as expected, and that's true for every company. If you can name a company that hasn't put out a bad ball ever, I'll eat a ball box and put it on YouTube.

People will say "Oh, he's talking about the Claw so much because he's a staff guy" but it's that good. Period. The S71 cover is now on 6 out of 14 balls still in the line. It's the new S70, the R2S, the Powerkoil, the cover that just works. Not too early, not too squirty. Ryan Ragland has a great YouTube channel and he's a tweener, not a while lot of hand, but a great looking game. Go check out his video of the Claw and compare it to other balls.

You know, before I was on staff, a long time ago I used to be a PSO. I had been an Ebonite guy for 10 years at that point. I knew the product line, could put a quality ball reaction in your hand (the V2 had a lot to do with that but I digress), and felt comfortable recommending what fit your game. Now, at that time, I was also selling a lot of Rock Ons, Traumas, Night Hawks, whatever fit the customers want. Reason I did that was because good ball motion is good ball motion, no matter who's factory it's coming from. As a 900 Global staff member, I can get you into almost ANY ball motion you want.

But if you want me to go all PSO on ya, I can too. *I* do not get anything tangible out of me recommending my product and I'm sure as heck not going to try to put a ball in your hands that will roll like crap and thus sour you on our product. Not every ball we out out works as expected, and that's true for every company. If you can name a company that hasn't put out a bad ball ever, I'll eat a ball box and put it on YouTube.

People will say "Oh, he's talking about the Claw so much because he's a staff guy" but it's that good. Period. The S71 cover is now on 6 out of 14 balls still in the line. It's the new S70, the R2S, the Powerkoil, the cover that just works. Not too early, not too squirty. Ryan Ragland has a great YouTube channel and he's a tweener, not a while lot of hand, but a great looking game. Go check out his video of the Claw and compare it to other balls.

I know you can man, and i appreciate everything you've done for me.  I had a 758 with that AD Pearl the other week.  i haven't been under 600 with it either.

It was more so a post about seeing what other people take into account.  I'll have to rewatch one of his videos, i keep up with the stuff he posts on the 900 global fan page on facebook too.

and while we're on the s71 subject, i don't think i'm going to end up with the claw this go around, however over the next year or so, replacing my dare devil trick and no rules pearl is my next agenda (both good balls but have weight holes and I hate plugs lol).  I posted another post in the miscellaneous about clearance online balls and a 900 global ball is on that list

Man, I sounded like I needed a nap in that post...#crankydoom

Lol it’s all good man

Man, I sounded like I needed a nap in that post...#crankydoom

And by the way, when you start doing ball review videos, you’ll be 45% of my decisions haha