How would you rate the 4 ebonite bowling ball brands (Columbia, Ebonite, Hammer, and Track) 1 to 4 (1-being the best and 4-the worst) when comparing them based on best overall brand (timing of new ball releases, ball performance, current line up, etc....)? I saw a post similar to this a while back and wanted to see if any of your views or thoughts have changed now since time has passed and newer equipment has been released.

My personal preference and what's popular in my area are pretty different. My preference would be c300, ebonite, track, then hammer. Popularity in my area though is more like: track, hammer, c300 and ebonite.

Hammer
Track
Ebonite
Columbia

Track 1a
Columbia 1b
Hammer 3
Ebonite 4

Yes you read it correctly.

Track -》C300 -》Hammer -》Ebonite

Columbia wouldn't have been in my top a couple years ago but their releases in the past year have really put them back on the map.

Track's releases have just been solid with the number series balls

1. Track
2. Columbia
3. Hammer
4. Ebonite

That being said, I've been very impressed with some of the Ebonite equipment that I've tested recently, most specifically the Pivot, Legacy, and the Elevate. All are hybrids, so that might be the secret for me. Ebonite just doesn't seem to sell real well in my parts so I rated them last. As a brand, I would throw Ebonite over Hammer, though I'm still more partial to Track and Columbia.

In my neck of the woods...

1. Hammer
2. Columbia
3. Ebonite
4. Track

The only Track ball you'll see is the 400A and Columbia is starting to pick up with the Antics, Crazy Antics and Eruption Pro, but basically you're gonna see a lotta Storm and Hammer here.

How would you rate the 4 ebonite bowling ball brands (Columbia, Ebonite, Hammer, and Track) 1 to 4 (1-being the best and 4-the worst) when comparing them based on best overall brand (timing of new ball releases, ball performance, current line up, etc....)? I saw a post similar to this a while back and wanted to see if any of your views or thoughts have changed now since time has passed and newer equipment has been released.

I'm spoiled, being in Las Vegas. I get to see a bit of everything and everywhere. And despite what some say here, I see Ebonite gear in at least 5 - 6 pro shops in this town.

Now, with that said, where I also am at in Sacrament, I'm probably the only person still throwing any Ebonite gear, and I'm in the middle of phasing some of that out for Hammer.

Now, with that said, I'd say this:

1. Hammer
2a. Track
2b. Columbia
4. Ebonite

I say this because of the different performance lines each brand has, timing of releases, and (unfortunately), availability. In Vegas, you have everything everywhere, and you have not only staffers but regional reps from various brands living in town, so it makes the availability of the ball easy, as well as being able to see the performance of the ball. That makes it an even push all around.

Now, when I get out of town, that is another story. Up here in Sacramento, there is only 1 EBI staffer here; I'd have to make the drive to Reno to find a rep (Pam Buckner). There is a bit more exposure to EBI and Ebonite there, but not much.

I haven't found a single person throwing the Pivot in Sacramento; that's what makes me tempted to get one, as it may/should compliment my Cold Blood.

Variety: Ebonite is in trouble here, and they've been in trouble since the end of the Mission series (in particular, the Mission X). From there, it's been downhill. It took a while to catch up in the mid performance range after the Signals, where Hammer and Track have just been belting them out. They are finally starting to do so with the Cyclone series and Legacy, but too little/too late?

Availability: Again, easy in Vegas; 5 pro shops carry EBI gear. Sacramento? Has to be ordered in after purchase, so you couldn't walk out of the shop with a ball. I've noticed that with other equipment as well, so that may just be a regional thing. When I lived in Omaha and in Vegas, I could walk out of the shop, ball in hand, after waiting 30 minutes for it to be drilled. That's why whenever I'm back in Vegas, if I need one, I'll run to that shop, get one punched up, and fly it home with me.

Releases: I think everyone is starting to catch on to the idea of mid-season releases. It used to be that you'd only catch them in the summer in preparation for the new year, and that ball would tie you over; not necessarily so now; case in point would be after Norton won with the First Blood last year.

Overall, if they aren't already in the lab with a pen and pad, Ebonite needs to get to work on R&D fast, otherwise they are going to fall behind of not only their competitors, but the other 3 brands under their umbrella.

BL.