BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Brunswick => Topic started by: Long Gone Daddy on August 30, 2013, 08:36:41 AM
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Can't help but notice that on the Big B forum all the talk is about the Strike King. Nothing about the pro performance stuff. Walk into my local pro shop and they have a Paranormal Aura and Meanstreak Beatdown and a Ringer. Meanwhile every Storm Hammer, DV8 ball made is on display. Brunswick falling behind the others in buzz and performance?
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The new Beatdown looks great. I've not thrown one. My Aura Mystic is more ball then expected. It is stronger then my paranormal with both almost drilled identical. The Mystic and Endless are closer in reaction then I expected. Having both is over kill. I'm going to sell the Mystic.
I'd love to add a Beatdown but I'm not seeing enough oil in leagues or tournaments to do it.The Strike King is really that good all around.
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I think LGD was referring to the case where there are significantly more balls from other manufacturers being displayed than Brunswick. Either the pro shop doesn't deem those balls worthy or there isn't a want for those balls begging the question; are Brunswick balls not measuring up?
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Brunswick has been in the dumps since they moved to Mexico. They were on top with the Zone line, and did pretty well with the Inferno line. Ever since then, i never even considered buying a Brunswick ball.
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I think it's really market dependant. In my shop i have 2 brunswick guys, one does pretty well with them, the other doesn't really know any difference. I have seen alot of DV8 stuff lately but the majority of the stuff I sell is Storm/Roto.
Now about 40 minutes from me, brunswick has a solid following as the shop owner is on staff. I think that also plays a big part to display scenarios. I'm a Storm VIP shop, so of course i'm going to push that product to receive the rebates, but i won't tell someone not to buy any other brand. I think every brand makes quality products, it's just a matter of matching up with them in my opinion.
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A shop not displaying something means very little in the overall market. Proshops can only carry so much stuff. With many having a Storm/Roto deal, or the EBI gold membership ect for rebates they are obviously going to keep those stocked for the rebates as mentioned. since they had the Beatdown the Mystic may have already sold. Or maybe since it is marketed to be "less" then the previous 2 Auras they were afraid to stock it.
My local shop is an EBI gold member. They stock heavily in those 4 brands with a little Brunswick/DV8 and that is it. Still that is 6 brands to have in stock not counting Radical. They will occasionally have a Storm/Roto ball on display and a few other brands when the urge hits I guess. Still its is 95% EBI.
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A few things could be happening here: We've all just finished summer (bowling-wise) and all I hear about is how dry the conditions are where people bowl. That could lead the discussion towards the Strike King.
Many bowlers, like myself, cut waaaaay back on bowling during the summer, except this year I bowled on a sport league with WTBA patterns. These are a challenge for me, and pretty much squash any high scores, and combined with almost zero practice, I haven't had too much to say EXCEPT that I really like the Beatdown and Mystic Aura. These are very nice additions.
My shop owner is a long time Storm staffer, who has zero problems with me selling the Brunswick line because he sees their quality is still second to none. A few weeks ago I saw our distributor pick up 9 balls that had cracked all the way around, and not one was Brunswick. Cracking can happen with any manufacturer at times, but no one was jumping off the wagon for these companies...
People see their friend bowl well with "Ball X" and guess which one they are going to buy? Brunswick is enjoying a very good sales year, but people only see what their particular shop seems to sell most of. The sky is not falling!
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Brunswick is still selling great in my area. I do see a lot of certain brands sell better than others in certain areas.
To note on performance side, the new ones are very good. I cannot put the Mystic down. Absolutely loving this ball. The Beatdown has not been in my hand much, but going to try and use only that ball this week in leagues to show it off some. A lot of buzz about this ball in my shop.
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You guys touched on the pro shop aspect but completely ignored the lack of buzz on this forum about the Big B balls. Perhaps Radical and DV8 are garnering all the attention. More buzz on the Motiv forum also. Like I said, its all Strike King on here.
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You guys touched on the pro shop aspect but completely ignored the lack of buzz on this forum about the Big B balls. Perhaps Radical and DV8 are garnering all the attention. More buzz on the Motiv forum also. Like I said, its all Strike King on here.
It seems we rarely see any buzz for Brunswick here -- or even much on FB -- compared to other brands. Yet some of us love the old and new stuff for that signature Brunswick roll. I can't out my Ringer down or my Versamax. They even knocked my Gold Rhino Pro out of the bag! A Strike King is tempting me, as I think it is what I wanted from the Meanstreak (length and a strong angular response to friction on lighter oil).
I see guys excited about the DV8 stuff but the company is attracting a different type of bowler with their marketing. What will be really interesting to me is to see what comes of Radical.
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There is a lack of buzz on a lot of equipment at any given time on here. No matter what we think of this site or others, it is a small sample of the bowling world.
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New bowling balls are getting boring because the companies just come out with them too fast !!! And not that much changes about them..
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DV8s sell like crazy! Big b not so much...I do see more radical than big b now..which is odd.
Everyone had the first nexus, and I havent seen much since..oddly enough.
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When the Aura's and Meanstreaks first came out, there was a pretty good buzz for Brunswick. Now, next to nothing. None of the pro shops in my area ever really carried Brunswick on the shelves, so it's hard to say if they are any less popular here.
In my area, Roto and Storm are pretty much what you see on the racks. DV8 and Track next. A decent handful of Global and Hammer also.
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DV8s sell like crazy! Big b not so much...I do see more radical than big b now..which is odd.
Everyone had the first nexus, and I havent seen much since..oddly enough.
Yeah, I got the first Nexus also. Nice ball. Bought the new Nexxxus and am not impressed. Might try the Meanstreak Brawler next but to tell the truth, I'm thinking of starting to go to Motiv or 900G equipment. Big B just ain't, well, ain't.
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Track has a good line up now..I think best since the numbers series started.
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DV8s sell like crazy! Big b not so much...I do see more radical than big b now..which is odd.
Everyone had the first nexus, and I havent seen much since..oddly enough.
Yeah, I got the first Nexus also. Nice ball. Bought the new Nexxxus and am not impressed. Might try the Meanstreak Brawler next but to tell the truth, I'm thinking of starting to go to Motiv or 900G equipment. Big B just ain't, well, ain't.
Chet, it may have to do with "match-up" with the bowler plus the conditions a bowler bowls on as I have the newer Nexxxus and absolutely LOVE it. This Nexxxus plus the Versa-Max and Meanstreak are one of the best 3 ball combinations I have ever had, especially for the conditions I bowl on.
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personally had some hits and misses with big b...hit copperhead favorite ball of all time still have it use on wood lanes...absolute inferno.....misses evil siege....versa-max over hyped piece of dead weight my pits play with it....that's why staying away from big b for long time...went back to hammer.....now i do have a dv8 i like not love that's brutal nightmare...not a ball for a stroker...but with coverstock adjustment to 2000 abralon use it occasionally during league.....
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Brunswick stuff is great right now. Brawler is a Great ball, the Ringer is a great ball, Strike King Great ball. Maxed Out Great ball. DV8 stuff is awesome as well. It's all about the area you get your stuff drilled and ,who your pro shop person is on staff with and who else they are willing to carry..
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Thought I'd chime in on the subject though I rarely do.........
Big B is spending a lot of time and resources into developing their "sister" brands; DV8 and Radical Technologies. Currently those brands are on fire, and bowlers desire the latest and greatest products from those companies. Radical is just unveiling its new lineup, with offset core technologies from the originator himself, Mo Pinel.
So I ask, if you were the decision makers at Brunswick, why would you waste extra resources and marketing capabilities to fight against companies that you already own and oversee, and gain profits from just the same? I think "Big B" is striking while the iron is hot with the other companies, while still producing new products, although not at the same pace as a company like Storm or Columbia.
The Meanstreak Brawler is probably their best ball right now; I actually haven't met a person that doesn't like it and hasn't lined up with it with the correct surface adjustments. It is smooth, transitions well, and hits extremely well. From what I have seen thus far, the Beatdown carries on the tradition but handles volume and length at a much greater margin.
I drilled up the Mystic Aura, my first "high end" Brunswick ball that is their current pro-performance recommendation. Normally, I wait for discount lists and close out products in order to test their high end stuff. The Mystic is much stronger than I anticipated, even with surface adjustments and polish. OOB was far too much, even on medium-heavy tournament conditions. Currently the coverstock is at 1k abralon, with Black Magic polish; it still needs a bunch of head oil to get down the lane.
Big B is playing the game correctly; why eat into buzz and profit margins against your other companies? Sit back, wait, and follow through-- they will start bringing out more balls soon.
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The new stuff is performing very well thus far! The Aura Mystic is a real head turner and currently is my favorite piece! It has great recovery from the right and is very quick off of friction. It has a strong snappy ball motion that is rarely seen from a ball that can handle some oil. Many staffers like myself and bowlers may have not had enough time to get to throw the new stuff just yet. I believe you will hear more about these pieces and there will be numerous success stories once league season really gets cranked up. The Meanstreak Beatdown is also very good when the lanes are fresh and there is enough oil for it. Bowlers may be reluctant to try the Brunswick stuff but they are and have been great performers in the hands of those who use them. Give Brunswick a try and remember we are here to help in any way we can not to provide false opinions and create empty hype! The technology is new and has continued to improve over the last few years! No remakes coming from the boys in Michigan!
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Just from what I see, and my own experiences. Brunswick stuff tends to be hit and miss for me. Over the years I have thrown balls from every company, and it seems that in the 90's Brunswick worked awesome for me, but Storm, Columbia, Ebi, etc. not so much. In the past 5-10 years though, it been all Storm/Roto. I seem to match up best with thier cover/core combos the best. Dont get me wrong, there have been a few Storm/Roto Duds (Hyroad, Nomad Dagger, Mars) to name a few, but I have had WAY more success with them than failures.
BTW, for me a ball that I consider a failure is one that I throw several times, change the surface, and cant to get a good read on the lanes. And if I pull something else out, and it works, then the ball goes in the bye bye pile. And I do it with everything I have....
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Again, all I can say is look at the buzz over on the Motiv site about the Rage, the Tribal, etc. Here on Brunswick everybody talks Strike King, Slingshot, and not much else. Guess we'll have to see how it all shakes out.
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I love my Mystic, love the new Endless Nightmare......I'd love some oil to try them on and make a video with......since I'm not seeing that in league or tournaments let me tell you how great the Strike King(s) I have drilled really are...... lol
I have eliminated almost all of my mid to upper level equipment for use during league because I can't use it. My brothers Beatdown just came in today. It looks amazing. I want one. I'm not buying one because I don't need any more balls sitting around waiting for use.
There is likely more people on here that are Motiv fans then Brunswick. In either forums it is most of the same people talking, not any one new. Motiv makes some really pretty bowling balls. I have bought several. I have only loved one. The rest were just ok. Pretty, but ok. Didn't do what I was expecting and worth more to sell then to sit around next to the other dust collectors. This forum is a very small sample of actual bowlers and of sales.
I will be using my Mystic this week. I've changed my release to help with the drier conditions. If not it then it will be my Slingshot. Looking at 17.5 mph up 10 with a lot less tilt.
Just like this, anything with tilt and you will start off crossing 25 at the arrows and hope to stay right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqldpv159bE
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Correct on the mid-to upper level performance from Brunswick; as the Mystic was touted as the most angular Aura in the line-up, I haven't found a house pattern that I can line up to with it. The ball is simply too strong. Now, if I ball down to a Loaded Revolver or possibly a Meanstreak Brawler, that would be fine.
I would think this is similar to the Motiv offerings right now; for league patterns and THS, they work well. But for tournament bowlers and heavier/longer volumes of oil, I think the total lineup of Brunswick offerings is a better fit.
Again, Brunswick isn't just realeasing "Brunswick" balls...... you'll have to add into the equation the forum "hits" and discussions that DV8 and Radical are also offering up.......... and that would be far more "chatter" than is what is currently coming out from the Motiv and similar camps.
Please understand, I am in no way a representative of Brunswick; I am a mercenary when it comes to bowling equipment. Whatever works, is affordable (cheap?) and available to me, thats what I use and am interested in pursuing. But, Brunswick does "measure up"........ just not in the typcial fashion.
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My point is made weekly. The three topics, oops, make that the first dozen topics in this forum bear it out. Just sayin'. I've always been a Big B man and will probably be picking up a Meanstreak Brawler or Beatdown to replace the disappointing Nexxxus. My C 2.5 has a better reaction and hits harder than that flop. Pro shop op confirmed it when he said many people bought the Nexxxus and dumped it as it went too long before a move, no matter what you did to surface.
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A little off the subject, but I think the solid Nexxus was the best ball in that series for tournament patterns. I used it a bunch to win a summer sport singles league last year, and it was the only ball in my bag that gave me a look in the Easter High Roller.
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+1. Track has improved substantially.
Track has a good line up now..I think best since the numbers series started.
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For whatever it is worth The Strike King is one of the best dry lane balls you could put in your bag. I throw 99% storm & roto but storm & roto doesn't make a ball that rolls like a strike king. I'm sure I can do a little surface and a stronger layout on another strike king that would give me a different look on other conditions.
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That's funny LGD you say that about the Nexxxus me and a friend thinks its amazing. Its our very underrated best deal under $80 find. Mines at box with a 5 3/4" pin to pap below the bridge and mb by the thumb. (roughly 70x5.75x60) I wanted the pin down to help keep it from being too strong on the backend and the ball is perfect. It goes loooong but still recovers strong down lane. Its my go to ball as I get to game 2 or 3 and need to move in.
Most bowlers find more success with entry and mid level equipment because it rolls better on THS and drier versus most of the big balls which in many cases don't like most THS shots without making some surface changes.
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I have an ulti Max and it looks phenomenal. Is spotty in it's actual performance but I keep thinking a monster set some time. Last week a great first game in a practice set!
A Nexxus to drill. I have seen many using the Nexxxus but usually with too weak a pin position for the condition(I thought).
My Strike King RULEs on light oil!
Bowled with a fellow lefty with DV8 about a week ago and they looked great!
Regards,
Luckylefty
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I have two drilled ultimax and one nib. Its a great ball. Stronger then expected but really been very beneficial this year.