BallReviews
General Category => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: scottyboy777 on March 03, 2017, 10:55:51 PM
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Hi. Can anyone tell me who manufactures the Brunswick Mens TPU X bowling shoes? Also, between the Dexter 9 and BrunswickTPU X which would you purchase and why? Thanks.
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I'm pretty sure it's KR.
I like the TPU X for how comfortable they are but I like the stability of Dexter shoes better
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KR Strikeforce. I believe they're currently licensing the shoes to Hammer and Pyramid Bowling. I think the Brunswick TPU-X have been discontinued unless I'm mistaken.
I have both the Pyramid HPX and the Dexter 9, and rotate between them. They're very different shoes but I like them both. I'd have a hard time choosing one over the other because I could live exclusively with either. If I absolutely had to pick one, it would probably be the Dexter. I've had chronic foot problems (plantar fasciitis and tendonitis), so I prefer shoes that provide a high level of stability and arch support. The 9s are better than the HPX in this area. They also have more durable construction in the toe.
If you don't have foot problems, and you're not a toe dragger, the HPX (or whatever version you choose) is probably a more cost effective choice. They're extremely comfortable and work well. I have probably 300-400 games on mine and they're still going strong.
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I'm pretty sure it's KR.
I like the TPU X for how comfortable they are but I like the stability of Dexter shoes better
I think they're actually manufactured somewhere in China (mine say "made in China, on the tongue). KR probably owns the trademark on the design, has them manufactured to their standards and distributes them. KR had them made for Brunswick, but KR and Brunswick went their separate ways sometime last year, as far as I have learned.
I use the TPU-Xs and liked them so much I bought a 2nd pair for when my first pair goes. I also just bought a bunch of the soles I use.
I believe, as Steven already mentioned, KR is now making them for Hammer (EBI International) and Pyramid (BowlingBall.com). So the shoes now have the Hammer or the Pyramid label on them, instead of the Brunswick label. I believe they're the same shoe.
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I second all that you said Jeff I feel the exact same way, and I have also bought a second pair as well, well put.They are all the same.
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KR also makes their own branded model of the TPU X/Hammer Force/HPX. Raptor for men and Starr for women.
http://www.krstrikeforce.com/products/Mens-Raptor
http://www.krstrikeforce.com/products/Womens-Starr
As long as the visuals aren't a huge deal I would definitely go with the best deal you can find out of those four models. They're all the same.
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I second all that you said Jeff I feel the exact same way, and I have also bought a second pair as well, well put.They are all the same.
My expensive mistake was to stock up on Brunswick soles. On Steven's recommendation I went to Bowlingball.com to see the Pyramid shoes. Their soles are 1/2 the price of Brunswick's or Hammer's. YIKES! Live and learn.
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KR also makes their own branded model of the TPU X/Hammer Force/HPX. Raptor for men and Starr for women.
http://www.krstrikeforce.com/products/Mens-Raptor
http://www.krstrikeforce.com/products/Womens-Starr
As long as the visuals aren't a huge deal I would definitely go with the best deal you can find out of those four models. They're all the same.
Just curious, but -
Have you seen any internet seller's that sell the KR version?
(kind of tired of looking for all these shoes and soles after a while.)
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I use the TPU-Xs and liked them so much I bought a 2nd pair for when my first pair goes. I also just bought a bunch of the soles I use.
I've been itching to pull the trigger on a second pair of Pyramid TPX. The Pyramid version is roughly $100, and it's hard to beat that value. The Hammer version is much more expensive, so I'm wondering how long Pyramid is going to be allowed to market the TPX. I have friends with both the Hammer Force and the Brunswick TPU-X, and I can't see any real difference between the base shoes.
I'm going to Nationals later this month, and I plan to check out all the shoes at the booths. I'd like to try on a pair of Dexter 9 wides to see how they feel before staking a claim to just one shoe. I hate that I have to order a pair of shoes just to try them on. Nobody in my area carries high end shoes on the shelf.
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I use the TPU-Xs and liked them so much I bought a 2nd pair for when my first pair goes. I also just bought a bunch of the soles I use.
I've been itching to pull the trigger on a second pair of Pyramid TPX. The Pyramid version is roughly $100, and it's hard to beat that value.
I bought my 2nd pair on closeout at $99.95, same price as the current Pyramids (I think)
The Hammer version is much more expensive,
If you saw them for the price I saw - $169.95 - double Yikes!
so I'm wondering how long Pyramid is going to be allowed to market the TPX.
At $99.95 for what seems to be the same shoe, I wonder if KR has problems with that.?
Of course, many people myself included, up to now (this post) never knew that Pyramid carried the equivalent shoe, the TPX, for so much less.
I have friends with both the Hammer Force and the Brunswick TPU-X, and I can't see any real difference between the base shoes.
Have you seen any difference between the TPU-X and the Pyramid version TPX?
I'm going to Nationals later this month, and I plan to check out all the shoes at the booths. I'd like to try on a pair of Dexter 9 wides to see how they feel before staking a claim to just one shoe. I hate that I have to order a pair of shoes just to try them on. Nobody in my area carries high end shoes on the shelf.
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At the price, can you blame them? I doubt that they can get it for much less than we can pay for them online. Not many people are willing to pay $300 for a bowling ball or $200 for a fancy pair of shoes.
(PLUS I can't tell you how many people buy SST 8s and the like and then use a Slide Sock because they're too lazy to change soles.)
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Just curious, but -
Have you seen any internet seller's that sell the KR version?
(kind of tired of looking for all these shoes and soles after a while.)
Buddies and bowlingball.com has them. The latter at a better price ($89) but also a more limited size selection. Looks like they're not going to be stocking them anymore. Not sure anybody has a great deal for soles. The four bowlingball.com offerings are the most inexpensive I've seen but I don't know how well they hold up.
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Have you seen any difference between the TPU-X and the Pyramid version TPX?
From what I can see in analyzing the TPU-X and the HPX side by side, I can't see any real differences. They both appear to have the same construction, and use the same Ortholite insoles.
I was tempted to get the TPU-X when they were on closeout sale, because they were a slightly better deal than the Pyramid HPX. I just thought the solid black HPX looked really cool. Of course, that a matter of individual taste.
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Have you seen any difference between the TPU-X and the Pyramid version TPX?
From what I can see in analyzing the TPU-X and the HPX side by side, I can't see any real differences. They both appear to have the same construction, and use the same Ortholite insoles.
I was tempted to get the TPU-X when they were on closeout sale, because they were a slightly better deal than the Pyramid HPX. I just thought the solid black HPX looked really cool. Of course, that a matter of individual taste.
THANKS. I got the black with the blue trim TPU-Xs. It matches the way I feel bowling most of the time .... :)
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Well explained guys.... despite kr being the one that markets all of this, without doing your homework, it appears so complicated (Brunswick, pyramid, now hammer) That kr goes through all these companies to put a different name, to only end up having the exact same shoe ( with different prices)
As they say marketing 101 I suppose. ???
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Jeff, good clarification on the soles.... I did my homework on those, where I didn't get hosed on by Brunswick (at the time).
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Don't nuke the shoe decision. Unless you have foot or ankle problems, just pick up a cheap pair of Dexters. I got a close out pair from bowlingball.com for under $40 and have zero issues. Bowling shoes aren't like basketball shoes or baseball or football cleats. They're not going to help your performance.
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Don't nuke the shoe decision. Unless you have foot or ankle problems, just pick up a cheap pair of Dexters. I got a close out pair from bowlingball.com for under $40 and have zero issues. Bowling shoes aren't like basketball shoes or baseball or football cleats. They're not going to help your performance.
Sorry but bs. A $40 bowling shoe with slide soles on each foot is completely different than a pair with 1 slide foot
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Don't nuke the shoe decision. Unless you have foot or ankle problems, just pick up a cheap pair of Dexters. I got a close out pair from bowlingball.com for under $40 and have zero issues. Bowling shoes aren't like basketball shoes or baseball or football cleats. They're not going to help your performance.
Sorry but bs. A $40 bowling shoe with slide soles on each foot is completely different than a pair with 1 slide foot
So how many pins will his average rise with a more expensive pair?
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Don't nuke the shoe decision. Unless you have foot or ankle problems, just pick up a cheap pair of Dexters. I got a close out pair from bowlingball.com for under $40 and have zero issues. Bowling shoes aren't like basketball shoes or baseball or football cleats. They're not going to help your performance.
Sorry but bs. A $40 bowling shoe with slide soles on each foot is completely different than a pair with 1 slide foot
So how many pins will his average rise with a more expensive pair?
It is about getting a good slide and not ruining your knees. When you can adjust the shoes to match the amount of slide you need, it removes that stress on the knee that can occur when it comes to a sudden and violent stop.
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I've been around plenty of people who haven't used fancy bowling shoes and I personally haven't either and have never had any issues. I've watched plenty of old timers who never had fancy shoes and been bowling for decades and never had issues.
I'll say again if there's pre-existing medical issues that's one thing but if nothing's wrong, it's not a big deal. A shoes a shoe. Spending $100+ on shoes isn't worth it if you're not bowling on tv every Sunday.
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Don't nuke the shoe decision. Unless you have foot or ankle problems, just pick up a cheap pair of Dexters. I got a close out pair from bowlingball.com for under $40 and have zero issues. Bowling shoes aren't like basketball shoes or baseball or football cleats. They're not going to help your performance.
Sorry but bs. A $40 bowling shoe with slide soles on each foot is completely different than a pair with 1 slide foot
So how many pins will his average rise with a more expensive pair?
How many more shots will a basketball player make with basketball shoes? How many more touchdowns will a football player get with cleats? How many more hits will a baseball player get with cleats?
You're new to the site and have done nothing but look like a Richard when your posts are asking questions as to why people do things because your way is better.
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Don't nuke the shoe decision. Unless you have foot or ankle problems, just pick up a cheap pair of Dexters. I got a close out pair from bowlingball.com for under $40 and have zero issues. Bowling shoes aren't like basketball shoes or baseball or football cleats. They're not going to help your performance.
Sorry but bs. A $40 bowling shoe with slide soles on each foot is completely different than a pair with 1 slide foot
So how many pins will his average rise with a more expensive pair?
How many more shots will a basketball player make with basketball shoes? How many more touchdowns will a football player get with cleats? How many more hits will a baseball player get with cleats?
You're new to the site and have done nothing but look like a Richard when your posts are asking questions as to why people do things because your way is better.
Well a lighter cleat in baseball could make the difference in beating out a bang bang play or chasing down a fly ball. A lighter shoe in basketball could be the difference in being in the right position to take a charge as opposed to a block because his feet weren't set in time. I can go on if you'd like.
And that's a nice opinion you have of me, glad to see you're following me on all my different posts. I also find it funny you don't like what I have to say, it being bs and all, but then you got a guy, who profits from selling bowling equipment, with all these "reasons" as to why an expensive shoe is better. It's all for the bowler I'm sure and nothing to do with your income ::)
If you don't like my opinion fine, but don't call my opinion BS like you did then say I'm acting like a male body part.
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I've been around plenty of people who haven't used fancy bowling shoes and I personally haven't either and have never had any issues. I've watched plenty of old timers who never had fancy shoes and been bowling for decades and never had issues.
I'll say again if there's pre-existing medical issues that's one thing but if nothing's wrong, it's not a big deal. A shoes a shoe. Spending $100+ on shoes isn't worth it if you're not bowling on tv every Sunday.
Maybe you've just been lucky?
I've bowled at places that, when it's humid or rainy, I've needed to use Easy Slide on a Dexter #12 sole (called Black Ice) on every shot, or I'd stick at the foul line. One day during practice, I went thru a full bag of Easy SLide to bowl 3 games.
Most places are not that bad, but there is a huge range of slide and stick between different synthetic approaches and different wood approaches. Some are maintained well and other are just maintained differently. Without adjustable soles and heels, I wouldn't be able to bowl at many places. One of those was Nationals about 15 years back - zero slide and Easy slide was prohibited.
Maybe you have just been lucky but I and many others need adjustable soles and heels in today's wide range of conditions and environments.
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I've been around plenty of people who haven't used fancy bowling shoes and I personally haven't either and have never had any issues. I've watched plenty of old timers who never had fancy shoes and been bowling for decades and never had issues.
I'll say again if there's pre-existing medical issues that's one thing but if nothing's wrong, it's not a big deal. A shoes a shoe. Spending $100+ on shoes isn't worth it if you're not bowling on tv every Sunday.
Maybe you've just been lucky?
I've bowled at places that, when it's humid or rainy, I've needed to use Easy Slide on a Dexter #12 sole (called Black Ice) on every shot, or I'd stick at the foul line. One day during practice, I went thru a full bag of Easy SLide to bowl 3 games.
Most places are not that bad, but there is a huge range of slide and stick between different synthetic approaches and different wood approaches. Some are maintained well and other are just maintained differently. Without adjustable soles and heels, I wouldn't be able to bowl at many places. One of those was Nationals about 15 years back - zero slide and Easy slide was prohibited.
Maybe you have just been lucky but I and many others need adjustable soles and heels in today's wide range of conditions and environments.
I don't notice it as much anymore with approach conditions. Everything around San Diego is synthetic or at least newer wood.
But growing up, when I was in suburbs of Cleveland, bowling traveling league I'd see a lot of varying feels on the approaches. It was all part of the challenge. Had to adjust to the lane conditions as well as the approach.
Even like you said though, there's easy slide and other products that are way cheaper than a high priced shoe. But everyone is different. Personally I can put a $40 pair of shoes on or a $150 pair on and I'm not going to notice a difference.
My opinion and suggestion were based on me. I just noticed everyone else suggesting one high pair or another and was saying that you don't always need it. It's like golf, some people just get the high priced shoes, bag and clubs because they can. I merely stated that it isn't always the case.
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Michael,
Granted it isn't always the case; it's just that I got the feeling from your initial response that you felt it was never the case. I might have misinterpreted it. No problem.
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Michael,
Granted it isn't always the case; it's just that I got the feeling from your initial response that you felt it was never the case. I might have misinterpreted it. No problem.
I tend to be very direct. I did say just go for the cheap option because the original poster gave no indication of injuries and every post had been about the other shoes. I merely said get a cheaper pair. Dexter is still a good brand and you can, from what I've seen, get close out pairs on the online dealers. Getting an older model for cheaper has always been a route I take.
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Better question...
How did kr jump into the high end shoe business.
Did they buy etonics bowling bowling division or just come out of nowhere?
Like who is behind KR?
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Better question...
How did kr jump into the high end shoe business.
Did they buy etonics bowling bowling division or just come out of nowhere?
Like who is behind KR?
Given the wide range of bowling products they are responsible for, I would assume it wasn't a problem to go up against Dexter and 3G/900Global for the shoe market and find people to design and make a good product, which they did.
Having lived with both Linds, Dexters and 3G shoes for a long time, The TPU-X and its offshoots combines the best of Linds, Dexters and 3G/900G in a more affordable shoe.
But why ask why a corporation takes a different approach to an age old problem?
If you're really curious, I'd suggesting contacting KR directly.