I purchased a New Standard yesterday and will be putting it to the test tomorrow and Saturday night.  Here are some observations on the way it is presented to the buyer.

The box was marked with these numbers:  Weight, 15 lbs., 2 oz.  Top weight, 2 5/8.  Pin, 3 3/8.  These numbers were all precisely correct.  Usually a ball box is marked as having a pin distance of 1"-2", 2"-3", etc.  This one said the distance was 3 3/8" and it was exactly that, and marked correctly.

The ball was nestled in between two large pieces of styrofoam with a ball cup under it.  The ball was in a black drawstring bag embroidered with Lane Masters.  Included were a small bottle of cleaner, and small bottle of polish, and a Ziploc bag with a small sheet of 400 grit sandpaper and a small sheet of 800 grit sandpaper.  Polish and sanding instructions were included, along with a drill sheet and full color ads for both the New Standard and the Yeah, Baby!  The surface prep sheet defined a sheen finish as 800 grit, and the full color ads stated that both balls come with a sheen finish.

It is an impressive presentation, and there is no noticeable charge for it.  I quibble a bit with the notion that the ball is 800 grit.  It looks to me more like between 1000 and 1200.  This is the surface prep range where differences in grit level are the most apparent.

The cleaner has a strong smell of acetone, mixed with grape.  In doing my sniff test, I cleverly dropped the bottle on my basement floor, spilling about 2/3 of the contents.  The basement floor is painted cement.  The cleaner promptly dissolved the paint.  The acetone smell blew away quickly, but my basement still smells like grape.

I have high hopes for the ball itself.  My pro shop guy does a large volume of business, and has some high profile clients.  He has been very impressed with the production standards on this ball, and has gotten excellent feedback from the bowlers he has put into one of these balls.  I'll post bowling feedback after I've used the ball!

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top

I didn't notice what his posted price was for this ball.  I've achieved kind of a preferred customer status at this shop, and I always get good prices.  I don't believe the ball has premium pricing though.  I think it's in the upper mid-price range.

Shiv
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Listening to the monotonous staccato of rain on my desk top

About the best price I've seen is blockbusterbowling.com.  And they are pretty fast about shipping.  I ordered on Friday night and got the ball Tuesday.  Of course, Lanemasters is in California and I'm in Washington.  The only problem I had will probably sound ridiculous to all of you, but it's important to me.  I asked for 15.lb exactly and they sent 15lb 3oz.  I gave that one to my husband--he's not as picky as I am--and called Lanemasters direct. I used a $25 coupon that was in American Bowler magazine and it cost just under $170 and that did include shipping.  But, they sent 15lbs. exactly.

Is that the legends ball cleaner from lane master? That stuff is strong indeed. I notice alot of times the plastic caps crack from the cleaner.
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Montreal, Quebec.