BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Brunswick => Topic started by: 299_ on July 25, 2008, 02:31:41 PM

Title: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: 299_ on July 25, 2008, 02:31:41 PM: Norm has thrown almost every ball company in the game! What equipment do you think gave him the best look.. With the last 3, Storm, Brunswick, or AMF? I like the look AMF gave him, with the low flaring balls. All though the first time ever throwing Brunswick he won the tournament in Atlanta. He has won a few titles with this Storm stuff too.. what do you guys think? Thought i'd share this article as well. Congrats to Mr Duke

Norm Duke won the Bowler of the Year Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Award at the 2008 ESPYS presented by Hummer in Los Angeles which aired on ESPN on Sunday, July 20.
The ESPYS celebrate the top moments, most emotional stories and best performances of the past year in sports. Online voting determined the ESPY winners as fans were able to vote for their favorite athletes in each category. Duke beat out fellow PBA stars Chris Barnes and Walter Ray Williams Jr.
â€œTo receive recognition for the efforts required to compete on the highest level in any sport is always meaningful and I am thrilled,â€ Duke said. â€œThe opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of great athletes, and to be alongside those athletes, is one that I will never take for granted. Itâ€™s a special night for sports and I would like to thank ESPN and the PBA for making it possible.â€
Duke, who won the Bowler of the Year ESPY in 1995 and 2007, won the final two Majors of the â€™07-08 season to secure a three-season exemption despite battling injuries earlier in the season. His victories in the Dennyâ€™s World Championship and the 65th Dennyâ€™s U.S. Open made him just the sixth bowler in history to win back-to-back Majors and the 10th to win two Majors in a season.

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Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: abrown on July 25, 2008, 10:42:17 PM: what ever fits his game i think the bowlers that are free agents got the best idea theres no push to throw the new big ball out there in my opinion thats what has happened to pete the last few seasons im a fan of storm but seems he comes in and everything is hooking too much on tv for him i know hes trying to show the ball to the world but after a hour of practice for these guys to break the lanes down and then the matches leading up to it im not surprised you dont see more of the older balls like mika with the inferno ( a great ball i'll add) or norm seems to like the recent but not quite the newest storm balls thats my $.02
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" when you dislodge your head from your a@! make sure to whipe your eyes"
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: 299_ on July 25, 2008, 10:59:40 PM: great point.. you are absolutely right.. never really thought about petes decisions on shows, he has to throw the newest ball on the show when he probably didnt even use that ball the whole week. i do notice that he doesnt seem comfortable with his reaction on show.. norm duke i think he only uses 2 different balls from storm.. like with amf he only really used 2 maybe 3 balls.. he just had 5 of each of them drilled different.. he likes his equipment to flare very little. he didn't stick with brunswick long, its like he won the title and hit the high way. ball reaction look pretty good considering ive never seen norm roll a brunswick ball til then. it gave me a better idea of how the brunswick equipment rolls. any other thoughts??
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: SVstar34 on July 25, 2008, 11:01:51 PM: I'd say the best ball Norm's ever used has been the Storm Spit Fire, he's drilled so many of those to use on tour.
To me, he loves the Inverted Twin-V or he likes Cinnamon Apples
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My Arsenal:
Twisted Fury
Raw Hammer Pain
Blue Vibe
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: 299_ on July 25, 2008, 11:06:57 PM: Haha cinnamon apples must be the scent of the spit fire ball? What color is that ball? I see him throwing a dark blue purple ball by storm I think. he likes solid color balls so he can't see the turn on the ball. i think he played well with the nighthawk menace tour, they designed the ball for him and voss.
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: SVstar34 on July 25, 2008, 11:09:46 PM: Spit Fire is mostly green.

I'd say the balls he's been using the most lately have been the Shift, Rapid Fire Solid, and Secret Agent.

Rapid Fire Solid and Secret Agent are dark blue-purplish
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My Arsenal:
Twisted Fury
Raw Hammer Pain
Blue Vibe

Edited on 7/25/2008 11:10 PM
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: mmcfarland300 on July 26, 2008, 08:10:01 AM: I'd say Norm Fits the best with Storm. As far as Exempt guys go you see a lot of them throwing the older stuff because of comfort. You have to remember Pete's game is about his entry angle. The newer stuff gives him that. He has been throwing the Dimension in some regionals and has been very strong.
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: laddog54 on July 26, 2008, 08:46:53 AM: Do you blame the guys. Making money bowling is hard, you might as well get what you can get. I am in the automotive industry and guys in this buisness move everytime thet can get someone to give them more money, better hours or a demo. Some of these guys are so good they can win with any manufacturer, all they have to do is find 1 ball they match up to change drills and surfaces and off they go.
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my vote for president is green nikes
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: ccrider on July 26, 2008, 09:44:58 AM: Just curious. By what business rationale did you conclude that Parker was worth more than Norm?

Norm's best look has been with the Shift in my opinion, with the green ball coming in a close second.

CC

quote:
After Norm had left AMF to specifically throw Brunswick, he won with the Absolute. Within a couple of weeks of using Brunswick successfully, he approached us for a contract. What HE wanted, we were not going to pay, as it would have entailed him more than what we were paying Parker and that was not going to happen.

There are many guys out there that merely go to the highest bidder...

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Ric Hamlin
Pacific Northwest Product Specialist
Brunswick Bowling

www.BrunswickBowling.com
www.DBKMiniCamp.com

"A flute with no holes is not a flute. A donut with no hole is a danish."

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Those that can do. Those that can't complain.

My saying for the day: "You can take the ho out of the hood, but you can't take the ho out of the ho."
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: ccrider on July 26, 2008, 10:10:59 AM: From a cost/benefit analysis, I hardly think Parker increases Big B's bottom line as much as Norm would. Parker is hardly memorable. Norm would sell more product.

BTW, I know it is the Brunswick forum. It still does not change my opinion about Norm's best look. It is not with a Brunswick ball. It has been with the Storm Shift.
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Those that can do. Those that can't complain.

My saying for the day: "You can take the ho out of the hood, but you can't take the ho out of the ho."
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: batbowler on July 26, 2008, 10:18:15 AM: Nobody can really say that his best look is with Storm products over Brunswick for the simple fact that he only bowled once with Brunswick! Oh, that means he's has a 100% win ratio with Brunswick! Truth is Norm could win with whatever he rolls! Just my $.02, Bruce
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"Train a child up in the way he should go and when he is old he will "BOWL TO WIN" and not turn from it."
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: strikingresults-atl on July 26, 2008, 10:29:19 AM: Norm is a great player and has showed he can win with any company.
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Dannial Cohen
Ebonite Regional staffer/turbo
www.strikingresultsatl.com
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: ccrider on July 26, 2008, 10:39:21 AM: I agree that Norm could win with any product. He is certainly one of the best that there has been.

quote:
Norm is a great player and has showed he can win with any company.
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Dannial Cohen
Ebonite Regional staffer/turbo
www.strikingresultsatl.com

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Those that can do. Those that can't complain.

My saying for the day: "You can take the ho out of the hood, but you can't take the ho out of the ho."
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: ccrider on July 26, 2008, 10:48:30 AM: Have you completed a market study to determine what impact Norm winning with B balls had on sales? What about for Parker.

I am nothing more than a consumer. A ball whore, some would say.
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Those that can do. Those that can't complain.

My saying for the day: "You can take the ho out of the hood, but you can't take the ho out of the ho."
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: sdbowler on July 26, 2008, 11:14:37 AM: When you think about Parker besides being a great guy the first thing that many think of is Brunswick. Norm since he has used many different companies it is hard to place a brand with him. Every time you see Parker he is wearing something with Brunswick on it, no matter if he is bowling or not. Both are great players for the game. Hard to go wrong putting either on staff but I would have to agree with BrunsRico that you want to take care of your current staffer that has been there for a long time.
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Brunswick
Kyle
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: laddog54 on July 26, 2008, 11:24:11 AM: I met Parker last weekend in Houston and he is a wonderful guy. He went out of his way to annouce a notap 300 a youth bowler bowled in the Pro Am that wasn't even bowling on his lanes. By the way cc, take it from someone who has been bowling for over 30 years, when you think of Parker Bohn or Johnny Petraglia you think of Brunswick and vice versa.
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my vote for president is green nikes
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: mmcfarland300 on July 26, 2008, 12:01:20 PM: I have to agree Brunswick is Parker and vice versa you can't think of one without the other. I personally prefer the Loyalty that is shown than some jumping around that goes on. I understand you have to make your money while you can but I wish there was longer ball contracts with some of the exempt guys.
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: Rileybowler on July 26, 2008, 12:10:30 PM: You guys that are trying to pit Parker against Duke are probably the same guys who look for the ball that is going to hook the most. Norm does not hook the ball very much more or less on a level with Walter Ray so how is norm throwing a ball going to influence you who hook the ball a lot to buy a ball , doesn't make sense logically speaking
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Carl
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: ccrider on July 26, 2008, 03:19:06 PM: Don't get me wrong, I am all for loyalty and rewarding those loyal to you. I just can't equate loyalty with profit and loss. I have not said that Parker is a better or worse bowler or person than Norm.

If Big B has not completed any type of market study to know how winning impacts ball sales, to say that one player is better for sales than another is pure conjecture. A matter of opinion.

BTW, Parker is the bowler that I tell my 10 year old lefty to pattern his game after. Not just form, but sportsmanship. But, that does not mean that Parker sales more product than Norm would.
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Those that can do. Those that can't complain.

My saying for the day: "You can take the ho out of the hood, but you can't take the ho out of the ho."
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: rvmark on July 26, 2008, 03:55:48 PM: I think both Norm and Parker are great bowlers and both would be great staffers for any ball company. While I currently do not use any Brunswick balls I applaud Brunswick for staying with Parker, no disrespect to Norm.

Mark
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: Verbs on July 26, 2008, 04:56:10 PM: ccrider,

It not just about ball sales. It is about a companies image also. While Norm is a fan favorite on TV, Parker is a fan favorite on TV, off TV, at exibitions, at Pro Ams, etc.

This is no disrespect to Norm, but not only does Parker influnece the sales of bowling balls, but every other bowling related product that Brunswick sells.

Norm is not the outgoing type of person, everyday, that you see on TV. Not saying this in a bad way, it is just a fact. Parker is the same person you see on TV, see at an exhibition, see at a pro am, see in the grocery store.....Parker is Parker 24/7.

As BrunsRico stated cc, you are entitled to your opinion, but being a former Brunswick employee, I know how much influence Parker has not only in bowling ball sales in sales of all Brunswick bowling related products.

Verbs
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Larry Verble
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: dw23 on July 26, 2008, 05:45:52 PM: I must say that if you have ever been to an event that Parker is a part of or even in the area you know how valuable he is. I have been around Norm and he has been cool to me but he is not the embassador for bowling or for a brand that Parker is.
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DW

Edited on 7/26/2008 7:11 PM
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: NJStroker on July 26, 2008, 09:14:59 PM: norms won with track also. parker is so nice and is a great ambassador to the sport. i think norm could win with everything really.
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Im so glad people are brainwashed to think that TRACK sucks. And its even funnier when im carrying with my TRACK ball and they're going flat ten with their BRUNSWICK ball.
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: mmcfarland300 on July 28, 2008, 02:56:22 PM: quote:
You guys that are trying to pit Parker against Duke are probably the same guys who look for the ball that is going to hook the most. Norm does not hook the ball very much more or less on a level with Walter Ray so how is norm throwing a ball going to influence you who hook the ball a lot to buy a ball , doesn't make sense logically speaking
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Carl

Yeah, cause Parker throws a huge hook, please sense the sarcasm. What in the world does this have to due with hook?
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: KDawg77 on July 28, 2008, 03:06:58 PM: I truly can not believe some of the crap posted here. The whole "Parker vs. Duke for Big B" is the most idiotic arguement posted on the board (well, sort of...).

To keep this thread in perspective, the only thing keeping Norm from winning more often has been his health over the past few seasons. No matter which company's equipment is in his hands, he has the ability to win on any condition.

Why some of you dumb@sses argue with Hamlim and others in the know is beyond me? It should disqualify you from having any opinion on any subject because you're all too stupid to know when not to speak.
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Ken
Videos at http://www.putfile.com/k-dawg77
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http://khlthe2nd.bowlspace.com
http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=418&ms=2006&s=2006-2007
Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: baltimora on July 28, 2008, 03:34:09 PM: as much as i love norm, parker is more the brunswick ambassador. he has been with them forever and a day, always wears the big "b" logo, and really comes across as the consummate mild mannered representative who you couldn't imagine throwing a tantrum. this may not be true, for all i know, in real life but that is the image he represents. he just looks reliable, dependable, and likeable. that keeps him as a bankable face of the company on TV. many people find different bowlers' personalities off-putting. not to say norm is in that category but parker doesn't ever reflect negatively.
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Title: Re: Norm Dukes best look..
Post by: BigWillyStyle on July 28, 2008, 03:53:09 PM: quote:
norms won with track also. parker is so nice and is a great ambassador to the sport. i think norm could win with everything really.
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Im so glad people are brainwashed to think that TRACK sucks. And its even funnier when im carrying with my TRACK ball and they're going flat ten with their BRUNSWICK ball.

...and Hammer/Faball back in the day.

Big Willy Style
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Just my $0.02 so take it for what the Foreign Exchange values it at!
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