Author Topic: Why did Faball go out of business? (Read 9583 times)

chitown · « **on:** May 06, 2008, 12:54:50 AM »

Does anyone know why Faball went out of business. I took about 7 years off from bowling in 97' and when I came back Faball was no longer. The last ball I bought from that company was the Violet 3-D high rev off set. That is still one of the best bowling balls ever made!

Edited on 5/7/2008 8:24 AM

KDawg77 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2008, 10:51:58 AM »

pop_1, you're in the minority on the Navy reactive, but sometimes some balls work for the rare few and not for the majority.

I loved the Ninja Master, but few others did. The AMF rep told me that my feedback on that ball was rare. LOL
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Ken
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Edited on 5/7/2008 10:52 AM

Edited on 5/7/2008 10:53 AM

JMORRIS · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2008, 11:11:07 AM »

I had success growing up with the urethane blue pearl, pink and purple Hammer's.

My friend bought a Red Reactive new when it was released. Hated it. Traded it to me, I hated it. It sat in my basement for years until I throw it out last summer.

He also had a Navy reactive that he liked, Vespi made it look good back in the day, but I was never interested after my experience with the Red.

300jd · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2008, 11:16:00 AM »

at the time
i had a red dull hammer
blue pearl hammer

truly good memories with balls
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member of the fos
long live lane 1 and thier great products

gsback · « **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2008, 01:50:31 PM »

quote:
As I recall, and I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, they did not realize the impact that the reactive resins would have and fell behind the curve by not spending the R&D time at the onset of the resin craze. Once behind, they never caught up, contributing to the demise...

I believe that was the issue. I don't know any place that has the exact order of the ball released, but I think the reaction varies from ball to ball, person to person.

I've heard nothing but bad things on the bulks of their reactives and I believe that mainly comes from the Red, Purple and Navy Reactives. I believe those were the ones that really tanked and gave Faball a bad name. That was in early 90s (1994 from what I can find).

Now I don't have all the dates as there's little out there without visiting bowlingballreviews, which actually has an extensive list. But I do agree that the covers for the bulk of the 3Ds were great. After that it seemed to go downhill as there wasn't much to brag about. The Black 2001 was good, but the Blue 2001 and Tour weren't good. I liked the Truck when it came out and still have one. I've thrown entirely too many of the ones starting with the 3Ds and beyond, that's for sure.

Knew RandyO would be here pulling for the Razors!! I liked the Ice Blue....real smooth!! Never got my Berry drilled though....sad.

Nod, it's not Chitown that caused that demise....it would be Barry!!

Chi, I do still have plenty of used ones here if interested!!

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BR.com.....going down the toilet one nugget at a time!!

g thing is back....with a vengeance!!

stormed1 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2008, 06:55:50 PM »

I had great success with the blue reactive back in the day. It was weak compared to the other companies balls and was perfect for heavy handed players.

charlest · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:06:31 PM »

While their failing to recognize the significance of reactive resins was probbaly the major fault that brought them down, I remained astounded that they could not recover their position or at least a tenable place in the marketplace by means of Mo Pinel's incredible series of balls staring with
the 3Ds (not the offsets), the 4Ds, and then the 3 D Offsets (the first major step into practical use of asymmetric cores influencing a ball's reaction.)

For medium oil, the Crimson Sledgehammer was a legend in the making. To find a new, undrilled one today, will make you a rich man in pots and brackets.

Mo's last great ball, the Truck, remains an impressive weapon that Ebonite had to force to be approved by the PBA. it slipped by the bean counters when Ebonite bought the Hammer name. I still have a 15 lb one that's as dynamic and powerful as any ball made today (and I include the LevRg and the Cell and the Twisted Fury in that list).

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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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KennyRambo · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:14:16 PM »

Could it have anything to do with Walter Ray's big contract? I thought I remembered reading somewhere that they still owed him money. Anyone remember how much they were paying him? I heard it was something rediculous, like $100,000? Not sure though.

AdrianS · « **Reply #23 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:17:52 PM »

I thought Mo Didn't want them to use his cores, so no more 3 or $D's then things went downhill
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Time for some REAL bowling!!!

charlest · « **Reply #24 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:20:53 PM »

quote:
Could it have anything to do with Walter Ray's big contract? I thought I remembered reading somewhere that they still owed him money. Anyone remember how much they were paying him? I heard it was something rediculous, like $100,000? Not sure though.

Once a company goes bankrupt and "dis-incorporates", all contracts are null and void. These are not personal contracts so no one person owes WRW anything, but I bet it sure left a bitter taste in his mouth, figuratively speaking.
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charlest · « **Reply #25 on:** May 13, 2008, 07:23:34 PM »

quote:
I thought Mo Didn't want them to use his cores, so no more 3 or $D's then things went downhill
--------------------
Time for some REAL bowling!!!

Nope. I believe he didn't care, so long as they paid him.

He is a shrewd business man. The rumor was he was paid $xx for each ball made, BEFORE expenses.
--------------------
"None are so blind as those who will not see."
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nextbowler · « **Reply #26 on:** May 13, 2008, 11:27:00 PM »

They went out of business simply the same cause that other companies go out
of business. No profit equals no money to continue.

Retro Bowler · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2009, 03:27:21 PM »

quote:
I liked the Navy Reactive, Red and the Nova Pearl.

I did not like my Navy reactive

notsohotshot · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2009, 11:38:20 PM »

For one thing management thought that reactive cover was a fad and was the last company to make one and it was not very good and from then on they were so far behind everybody else that they went out of business.

KingofKings696 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 04, 2009, 11:59:37 PM »

Now look at the trends urethanes are slowly popping out here and there visionary, Lane 1 and Im sure other companies will sooner or later pop one out. I also still love my red pearl sooo much it is actually my savior for the cheetah(struggled to keep ball right and this ball did it smooth but with a small pop on the backend you always knew what the ball would do upon release.

Author Topic: Why did Faball go out of business? (Read 9583 times)

chitown

Why did Faball go out of business?

KDawg77

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

JMORRIS

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

300jd

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

gsback

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

stormed1

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

charlest

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

KennyRambo

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

AdrianS

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

charlest

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

charlest

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

nextbowler

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

Retro Bowler

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

notsohotshot

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?

KingofKings696

Re: Why did Faball go out of business?