Author Topic: New ball.....again--- FULL Throttle (Read 6461 times)

chun914 · « **on:** December 22, 2003, 05:23:05 PM »

black/blue

dull finish

new ball every week ??

Jeffrevs · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2003, 08:24:26 AM »

freaking ridiculous....

they have a throttle for heavy, medium, lighter,...NOW WHAT ??
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JEFF
Hello, I just lowered my track !

channel surfer · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2003, 08:37:09 AM »

Probably made to hook in mudd.
--------------------
My Bowling Clinic Site: http://csbowling.vze.com

ASK A PRO:http://csbowling.vze.com/atp.shtml

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A_P_K · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2003, 08:44:16 AM »

Why, why, why keep on releaseing the same junk over and over and over again oh....Ball of the Month (Week) Club President?

Is the next ball you'll release tomorrow called the Throttle Down or Down Shift or something?
--------------------
Would you give everything up, just to do it all over again?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

channel surfer · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2003, 10:52:44 AM »

Broken Throttle.. Probably made to roll long and suck...
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My Bowling Clinic Site: http://csbowling.vze.com

ASK A PRO:http://csbowling.vze.com/atp.shtml

www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.

TheDude · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2003, 11:21:47 AM »

Actually this ball is gonna be interesting. Dull resin, not particle. I believe it's Accelerator. My throttle-r is cracking around the middle finger already. and only has a month of use.

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I am Canadian Dude! GOO BIG FIN!!! MIKA K ALL THE WAY!

channel surfer · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2003, 11:27:48 AM »

My Columbias balls never crack... Well, my Messenger ti did, but thats was well after it had about 500 games on it.. seriously.
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My Bowling Clinic Site: http://csbowling.vze.com

ASK A PRO:http://csbowling.vze.com/atp.shtml

www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.

janderson · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2003, 11:43:40 AM »

Here's the planned release schedule for the Throttles. Please don't share this with anyone. It is top-secret insider information I got from a contact deep within the Columbia ranks:

(All dates are for 2004)

jan 01: Throttle-RB (for "real bad" lane conditions. Advertising angle: This will work great as long as you think the lane conditions are "real bad")

jan 19: Throttle-MLK (special "Martin Luther King" rememberance throttle. Advertising/money making angle: great reaction for big games, but but dies too soon. Buyers will need another new throttle soon after purchasing this one)

jan 31: Throttle-EOM (Throttle "end of month". Advertising angle: for those of you who missed the Throttle-RB at the beginning of the month and can't find it in pro shops any more because it is now discontinued)

feb 2: Throttle-Groundhog (Advertising angle: If it sees any oil, you get strikes for the next six frames)

feb 4: Trottle-2x4 (Wood-grain color, the new "2x4". Advertising angle: hits like a two-by-four)

feb 29: Throttle-Leap (The throttle leap year. Adverstising angle: This ball guarantees a 300 every four years or your money bac... er wait...or you can buy the next throttle)

march 17: Throttle-Lucky (Green for saint patrick's day. Advertising angle: makes sure you carry all of those lucky strikes)

march 18: Throttle-Hangover (Ochre in color. Advertising angle: More turn for those of you too weak to generate adequate revs due to your St. Patty's day hangover)

march 21: Trottle-WTF (Otherwise it would be a slow month for ball releases. Advertising angle: none, it's new, they'll buy it)

april 1: Throttle-Gold (Gold flecked ball. Advertising angle: Find the strike "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow. April fools, it doesn't work!)

april 2: Trottle-4x2 (The awesome "4x2". Advertising angle: Exact opposite reaction you get from the "2x4" or the "retro 2x4")

april 4: Throttle-4x4 (Advertising angle: For those of you who need more "hitting power" than the 2x4 or 4x2. "hitting power" always sells)

april 5: Throttle-4BTW ("Fourth ball this week". Advertising angle: Flood the market with new balls this week and draw attention to our company)

april 21: Throttle-Choke (Advertising angle: A slightly straighter throttle to throw on the lanes you've chewed up with all the other throttles)

may 1: Throttle-Classic (Advertising angle: The first throttle came out only 6-7 months ago and they won't be able to find any in pro shops, let's re-sell the old garbage that has been collecting dust in our warehouses)

may 1: Throttle-May-Day (Advertising angle: Having problems with the lanes... going down?....)

may 3: Throttle-MOM (Advertising angle: just in time for mother's day)

may 15: Throttle-Toddler (Advertising angle: Our strongest ball ever - now your 3-year old can play the 25 board out to the three board and get a good snap back to the pocket at 45 feet)

I could not pry release dates out of my contact beyond may 15th, sorry gang. I'll keep trying

(side note - no political stance or opinion intended on the Throttle-MLK)

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(c) Copied Right! 2003 Knarly Stuff Inc.

Maelstrom · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2003, 12:51:25 PM »

LOL, that was great

Columbia, please, i'm getting tired of this.
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MAELstrom
No, not male storm...

44 Near my average and my number of balls...

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2003, 02:31:17 AM »

I always hear people complaining about companies releasing so many balls and stuff. I say release as many as they want. The good thing about being a consumer is we can buy what we want to, and NOT buy what we do not want to.

I buy quite a few bowling balls, and I can never wait to see what is next. Now, that does not mean that I am going to run and buy the next ball out or anything like that. If it is not of interest to me, then I don't get it. And, guess what? You guys don't have to get them either. Freedome of choice is a great thing.

I have a couple of different hobbies, but bowling is my primary hobby. This puts me into a situation where I buy alot of bowling balls. I figure buying bowling balls it much better than buying drugs or drinking heavily. I could be wrong, but that is how I am.

On a more serious note, do you think it is strange they are releasing a new ball now? They have the last part of the PBA tour coming up and that is a chance at more television exposure. I think releasing a ball around now is a good thing for companies because the TV audience can watch the pros use the that stuff up until the end of the tour season.

jensm · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2003, 06:43:27 AM »

I agree with EXCALIBER about new ball releases. And now seems to be a good time to come out with new products. As I understand it, Ebonite changed its release schedule somewhat this year to a big launch in August and a second catalog update in December. This certainly makes sense from a distribution as well as a marketing standpoint.

On the other hand, I think that some of the companies could keep successful products in production and stock longer. We often see people looking for balls of seasons past on this board. I know bowlers who wish they had stocked up on balls like the Stomp Black/Gold or the Trauma. Therefore it is good to see companies like Dyno-Thane expressing the intent to keep products in supply as long as there is demand for them.

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Regards,

jensm

channel surfer · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:37:55 AM »

First of all.. Bowling is a sport; Not really a hobby.

The whole "too many balls coming out" issue is really hurting the pro shops due to the fact they have to stock up on so many balls, and once one comes out, another comes out, and no one wants the one that came out before it. SO there stuck with them..

For the consumer.. It puts to much confusion with so many balls in decidinh which you need..

Heres a article on my site about this: http://csbowling.vze.com/news_ballmadness.shtml
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My Bowling Clinic Site: http://csbowling.vze.com

ASK A PRO:http://csbowling.vze.com/atp.shtml

www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.

srlunatic · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2003, 10:57:36 AM »

not really sure the argument about Pro Shops being hurt by so many releases holds water to be honest....

I am an AF type who is really out in the middle of nowhere......have a small proshop on the base I am at........and carries very little in the terms of high end equipment as alot of his sales are for kids and part time bowlers. Though he doesn't stock very many balls at all, he can order any ball out there and have it in the shop in 1-3 days. Knowing this, all it takes is a phone call to the proshop to say......I would like a so and so......please order me up one with these specs....and 1-3 days later presto...there it is....
Now this does reduce impulse buying so to speak.....though he does carry some performance equipment...(right now can think of Crunch Time, Warp Zone, Big Blue, Fear Factor in the shop)......but don't think that having companies putting out tons of balls really should effect the shop in the long run.....

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My personal savior is common sense.
How can being so RIGHT be so very WRONG?

janderson · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2003, 12:09:51 PM »

quote:
I always hear people complaining about companies releasing so many balls and stuff.

Sheesh, stop and smell the roses. That wasn't a complaint - it was poking gentle fun at the number of releases and the fact that the companies basically don't need a reason to release a new ball.

I'm not sure it hurts the pro shops - what about the bowlers? There is some great 2 year old stuff out there you can't get because the ball companies have discontinued it in a rush to get the new hyped stuff out.

quote:
do you think it is strange they are releasing a new ball now?

Obviously not. The ball companies can and will release balls whenever they want and likely for some of the reasons I've poked fun at them for.

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(c) Copied Right! 2003 Knarly Stuff Inc.

Mike Austin · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2003, 12:29:22 PM »

srlunatic,

The thing that hurts shops, is not necessarily the number of balls in inventory. If I have $20,000 worth of balls, then I do. For me, the problem comes from a customer confidence standpoint. With a Columbia slant....

The Icon 300 was a pretty good ball. This ball did what Columbia said it would, worked well on oil. But was there a significant difference between it and the WOW Solid, or the Black Game? Not really. Not enough to make people want more than one. Well, I sold this guy, Bob (just an example) an Icon 300. Three weeks later he comes in to say he loves the ball, but notices the Throttle on display. Now Bob is wondering what is wrong with his Icon 300? He thinks he just bought the latest/greatest, but finds out NOOOO they made some improvements. BUUUTTT, is it worth another $220 to buy the Throttle. I honestly tell him no, he would be wasting his money, but Bob still feels short changed.

Also, the more of one ball that I sell, the more of them that I drill, the more confidence that I have in that ball for the next person. I sold a good number of Icon 300's, and when people came in looking for a versatile big oil ball, I could suggest this ball with confidence. Now here comes the Throttle. I have sold a few, and they are pretty good also, but I don't feel that I sold enough Icon 300's, I think my customers would have been happy with them also. People don't want the Icon 300 now, because it is not the latest/greatest. The Throttle line has made the Icons worthless, and to some extent the Flipsides also. How much differnce is there between the following:
Throttle = WOW Solid
Throttle Up = WOW Pearl
Throttle/R = Wired
Full Throttle = Wicked with surface???

How much difference is there between these balls? For 90% of bowlers, myself included, there isn't very much difference. Skill level is not there to be able to tell a difference.

Think about this: Let's say I sell 100 new balls in a month. What's easier to do, sell 20 different balls or 40? (in whatever combination = 100) I only have about 450 square feet in my shop for inventory, display and work area. It's much easier to stock 20 different balls than 40 different. At one time, I had over 100 balls on display, not counting discontinued/sale balls and plastic balls. That is alot of balls. By deleting Ebonite from my display, I have knocked it down to about 80, but that is another story.

Sorry so long....
--------------------
Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@sbcglobal.net
Storm Pro Shop Staff Member

Onward through the Storm!!!!

Check out my web site - www.BirdDogBowling.com

Author Topic: New ball.....again--- FULL Throttle (Read 6461 times)

chun914

New ball.....again--- FULL Throttle

Jeffrevs

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channel surfer

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A_P_K

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channel surfer

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TheDude

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channel surfer

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janderson

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Maelstrom

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C-G ProShop-Carl

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jensm

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channel surfer

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srlunatic

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janderson

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Mike Austin

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