BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Roto Grip => Topic started by: Mustang Guy on May 12, 2005, 03:10:19 AM

Title: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: Mustang Guy on May 12, 2005, 03:10:19 AM
I see this question pop up a lot, so I thought I would comment on it.  Roto Grip feels we can have a complete product line with 3 lines of balls & 3 balls in each line.  At any given time we might discontinue a ball and people feel it leaves a gap.  

I don't believe this to be true.  

I think on any given night you should be able to take a ball, adjust to the lane conditions and score well.  Maybe on a Sport Pattern League it might require a specific ball, but even then we are athletes and able to adjust how we play this sport, I.E. hand positions, ball speed, rev rate.  Saying we have a gap would be like saying if you didn't have a 5 1/2 Iron you would be in trouble on the golf course.

My main point really is this; If Roto Grip would release a bowling ball, discontinue it 1-2 years later and then release a new ball with a different color that reacted the same, wouldn't that seem pointless?  Why not just keep the ball in the line?  I am sure most of you might say, "Well manufacturers re-release balls to increase sales when the ball has slowed down."  

That is why we discontinue a ball, but I feel I am cheating my customer by coming out with the "exact same thing".  

In closing I just want to say that as the game changes with new bowling centers opening, different ideas presented, heavier oils, and different lane patterns arise; Roto Grip will continue to be innovative, changing our equipment, and trying to stay ahead of the competition.  When a ball comes out it does replace a ball that was discontinued in the Line, but not the same reaction.  

Let me give you an example:  

For those of you who loved the Solid Black Silver Streak, we tried to compliment that ball with 2 releases.  

First, Roto Grip released the Retro Resurrection, matte finish instead of polish with a higher RG and differential.  Similar, but not the same.

Second, we released the RS-X, lower RG and a higher differential.  Similar, but overall stronger than the Silver Streak.  This ball had our new coverstock on it, so it was even earlier giving this ball a great name that I think will hang around for a while.  

For those of you who are sorry to see the Silver Streaks go, take a hard look at the RS (Roto Star) line.  In my eyes they are better than the Silver Streaks ever were.

Point of the story - We don't replace, we come out with something better!    

I have seen a lot of threads on this topic and I wanted to clear that up.  I'd love to hear your feedback on this topic regarding not only Roto Grip, but other manufacturers as well.  

Thanks,
--------------------
Roger Noordhoek
Technical & Customer
Services Manager
Roto Grip, Inc.
888-450-6920
RogerN@rotogrip.com
www.rotogrip.com


For all your Roto Grip Logo Merchandise please visit www.rotogear.com
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on May 12, 2005, 11:22:11 AM
NICE explanation Roger!

I like your stance on the releases, as ofcourse what a company wants to do is improve upon earlier releases----not necessarily stay the same.

-EX-
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: bowlingmytmouse on May 12, 2005, 01:24:39 PM
Roger,
  I totally understand your point of view and I appreciate you clarifying it to the board.  I am one who has missed out on the Silver Streal Solid, but I do like the Ressurection and RS-1, these balls are a whole lot without a big price tag.  But I wonder how a limited production re-release would do for sales.  I could see a lotta people waiting on a ltd. release of the Global Assault, and Silver Streak Solid.  Point is yes Roto has done a great job on improving their pieces, but sometimes you can't beat "ol' faithful".  But I know this is a business and there are so many great pieces it is hard to gripe and moan about one that is going away.  But if you could, do you think that you can give a heads up when a ball might phase out?  That way I can stock up  Everyone that I know who throws Roto Grip loves them and so do I, I don't even feel right throwing another company's ball even if its a friends it makes me feel dirty. lol.  But I have heard that there is some complaints from those on staff that feel the covers just aren't aggresive enough, is Roto going to try to get a stronger cover to compete with companies like BIG B?

BMM
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Roto Grip forever!!!! What else is there??
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: ashzero on May 12, 2005, 01:47:17 PM
Roger,

Like EX said, great explanation!

I personally think that Rotogrip's cover are plenty aggressive (esp. the newer covers).  But my question lies in the core design.  Any plan to come out with strong mass bias to compete against say...Track or Morich's strong asymmetric designs?  I personally find that those balls 'seem' to hit harder and carry better for me personally.
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: D McLaughlin on May 12, 2005, 01:56:54 PM
Roger,
All I can say is "WOW!"  Who would have thought a ball company would NOT rerelease the same ball in a different color, different name and of course...claim it is a "new" ball reaction?  I commend you and Rotogrip for stepping up and saying, "Hey, we want your business and appreciate your loyalty.  We do whatever necessary to keep that...but not at the expense of deceiving our clientele and therefore basically ripping them off and calling them morons in the process."  ANY chance, miniscule as it may have been, of me considering another ball company was just tossed right out the window with that candid statement.  AMEN ROTOGRIP!!!!!!!
--------------------
Weekly bowling league...$25
Pitcher of beer....$6
Taking a Lane#1 user's wallet with a RotoGrip ball that costs half as much....PRICELESS!!!
Some balls are overpriced and over-hyped....for everything else...there is RotoGrip.
www.rotogrip.com
----------------------------------------
Losers always whine about their Buzzsaws.  Winners go home and thank their RotoGrips.
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: Mustang Guy on May 12, 2005, 03:08:06 PM
You're all very welcome.  I'll touch on a couple of follow up questions posted here.  

Regarding a limited run of a discontinued ball, that is always an option.  The SD73 has been a popular ball and we have made a lot of re-releases (only one in the U.S., but at least 5 overseas).  I wouldn't count out the possibility of a re-release on our Solid Silver Streak.  

As for the coverstocks, the Oracle Vision and RS-X are a perfect example of that.  We did extensive testing in some current product with our new coverstock against what we were making.  It wasn't the "answer", but man were they a lot earlier, AND more continuous.  

As for companies like Brunswick, Ebonite, Columbia & Storm; I'm not going to sit here and say that we are ever going to be as big as they are.  Roto Grip is and always will be a secondary brand for Storm Products.  I look to keep up with and excel past companies like Hammer & Track.  

Do I think some of our products are better and out perform the larger companies?  Definitely!

We just don't have the type of resources they do.  This company has grown each year since I started here and even before when it was just Hank.  The best part is that we grow while bowling ball sales slow down.  This means that more and more people are using our products, and not just buying more bowling balls.        

Asymmetrical Weight Blocks

I feel we have a great weight block in our High Performance balls (Cyclotron).  It might not be as strong asymmetrically as the X-factors or the Morich and Track balls, but do you feel that makes that much more of a difference?  I think for the competitive bowler that extra might help.  Now if we are talking about the other 90% of the bowlers in this world, it won't benefit them.  Most bowlers aren't consistent enough, me included!  

I am pretty much with Phil C. on this one...Coverstock.  That extra .07 in MB strength just doesn't convince me that I can carry more with ball A over ball B.  

I will say that we are in the process of working on a few new cores.  One High Performance ball that should be stronger asymmetrically than our past products.  

Thanks,

--------------------
Roger Noordhoek
Office Manager
Roto Grip, Inc.
888-450-6920
RogerN@rotogrip.com
www.rotogrip.com


For all your Roto Grip Logo Merchandise please visit www.rotogear.com
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: bass on May 12, 2005, 03:51:30 PM
Roger,

A great explanation all the way around.
I first started throwing Roto 2 1/2 years ago mainly because I liked the idea of 1 weight block with 3 different coverstocks on it. To me it seemed like a good idea because if I liked how the ball rolled because of a certain core mixing in a different coverstock would help create an arsenal from ONE company rather than comparing apples to oranges.

With Roger's help along the way I feel I've got a pretty good arsenal to choose from. Some of my equipment is from the Discontinued selections(i.e. 2 Pure Fuels and 3 Silver streaks(with 1 NIB to go))to go along with some RS-'s(X and 1's). Its VERY,VERY rare that I leave the Roto Grip line.

Even though I'm not on their staff they go out of there way to help me whenever possible and I like to return the favor.

If I've got a question concerning a ball or layout, Roger or Hank as gotten back to me in a very short amount of time to try and help me.
This makes me feel like a member of a team and I want to help that team in any way I can.

Roto Grip Forever!!!!!!!!

Mike Thill
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: Jeffrevs on May 13, 2005, 08:26:47 AM
Sherm, wet/dry 41ft ....RSX or a Rush
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JEFF
"Chance to squint at a sky so blue that it hurts your eyes just to look at it."
Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: Ric Clint on June 08, 2005, 01:20:51 AM
This is some great stuff!

TTT



Title: Re: BOWLING BALL "RELEASES"
Post by: CharlieBrown on June 10, 2005, 10:07:17 AM
quote:
I've had several Roto "blems" and have never been able to see anything wrong with them.


Just picked up a NIB SD-73 blem, it has 8.5 inches pin placement!

Ryan you should pick one up yourself! It looks beautiful!


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The Angry Bowler