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.

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

Hammer is pretty popular here, though its rapidly losing ground, their covers don't hold up very well around here at all.  Columbia is making up ground, Track is semi popular, and literally the only Ebonite ball we've sold in the last TWO YEARS has been the Cyclone.  If we put any other Ebonite ball on the wall, we're guaranteed to lose money on it.

This is what I've noticed in Sacramento as well. The last ball that sold well on the shelves here was the Mission Domination/250K, followed by the Mission, Complete NV, and Total NV. Not much Gamebreaker or Playmaker sales here.

But it takes a lot to happen for 20+ year loyal customers, let alone reps, to switch, let alone think about switching. I'm one (throwing Ebonite since 1993), and Hulsenberg and MacPherson switched altogether.

BL.

Durability issues, specifically with the sanded pearls like the Taboo Blue/Silver, the Deep Purple, and most recently the Cold Blood.  They "die" after 50 games or so, and even a full resurface duplicating the factory finish with brand new abralon pads won't get them back for more than a game or two.  It's across the board as well, doesn't matter if you clean them or don't, adjust the surface or not, etc.  The solids last the longest, but balls like the Absolut Curve and First Blood last a bit longer, but just get extremely lazy at the breakpoint and nothing we do gets them anywhere close to box reaction.  I used to throw Hammer exclusively, but even working at a shop I can't afford to go through balls that quickly.  And it's not just a majority, it's every single Hammer ball.  I think my wife's Arson Hybrid is the only Hammer ball in town I've seen that's lasted for any length of time, and she only bowls once a week and doesn't put much on the ball anyway.  As a result, we just don't sell much Hammer anymore. 

Quote from: Gizmo823 on December 30, 2013, 02:19:53 PM

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

Hammer is pretty popular here, though its rapidly losing ground, their covers don't hold up very well around here at all.  Columbia is making up ground, Track is semi popular, and literally the only Ebonite ball we've sold in the last TWO YEARS has been the Cyclone.  If we put any other Ebonite ball on the wall, we're guaranteed to lose money on it.

What issues have there been with Hammers covers and what is c300 doing that's helping them close the gap?

Ebonite is seemingly last in a lot of peoples post. It has been that where here for a long while. One of their staff members who is a great bowler typically only really likes one release they have here or there. You know what it is because it will be the ball he has 2-3 of in the bag and nothing else.

I also saw this some 12 - 14 years ago as well. Ebonite was starting to string together some good releases back in the Apex days, but the rep then stuck with his Matrix Dynasty the entire time. That was his go-to ball, which was all he needed. He skipped the Apex Addiction, Apex Obsession, Apex Adrenaline, Apex Intensity, and the Apex Particle.

It wasn't until the Optyx that he switched balls, and then went back to the Matrix Dynasty.

Ebonite to me seems behind on everything they do. Videos, product, and appeal.

Ebonite, yes. EBI, no. with the 4 brands, EBI is trying to give off different vibes (no pun intended) about how each 'brand' is. The only one they have fallen behind on is Ebonite:

Hammer = all in, balls out, "LET'S DO THIS" in a Joe Swanson from Family Guy manner.

Track = Technical.

Columbia = true legacy and more.. family oriented with solid gear.

Ebonite = ?

Hammer had the torch for a very solid run. The rebranding going on seems to have slowed Hammer down locally. Track has been very solid since the number releases and the color changes. Columbia is starting to pick it up nicely in performance and appearance. Just solid equipment.

I don't know what Ebonite's answer is. But they need one. And this is coming from someone who has thrown them exclusively since 1993.

BL.

Columbia-1, Track-2, Hammer-3, Ebonite-7, yes, a seven, I know the Ebonite loyalists and apologists will be butt hurt, but Ebonite stuff isn't good. You never see it in shops, leagues, or tournaments.

i have to disagree with the ebonite comment above
the pivot is very underrated, could be color scheme is hurting sales?
but the ball is awesome.
strong ball for sure, not for me personally, but for the hook monster crowd, it should be a hit. (I believe its a similar piece to the virtual gravity)
and now the pivot point in a pearlized version.

Everything Ebonite puts out is very dark, bland and unappealing color wise.  When you have Ebonite stuff on the wall next to Motiv, DV8, and Storm, nobody will pick the Ebonite ball.  Plus when you have a decade old video strategy, "Hey, look at our brand new ball that makes our old balls look like complete trash because we're purposely playing the lanes wrong with them to make the new ball look better!" that insults people's intelligence in today's game. 

I'm required to be objective, I'm required to sell someone the best ball for them, so I consider everything when selling a ball.  But me personally, if I had to either start throwing Ebonite or quit bowling, I'd quit bowling.  Ebonite used to have the corner on the female pros, almost every single one of them threw Ebonite.  Not anymore. 

Quote from: northface28 on December 29, 2013, 08:10:28 PM

Columbia-1, Track-2, Hammer-3, Ebonite-7, yes, a seven, I know the Ebonite loyalists and apologists will be butt hurt, but Ebonite stuff isn't good. You never see it in shops, leagues, or tournaments.

i have to disagree with the ebonite comment above
the pivot is very underrated, could be color scheme is hurting sales?
but the ball is awesome.
strong ball for sure, not for me personally, but for the hook monster crowd, it should be a hit. (I believe its a similar piece to the virtual gravity)
and now the pivot point in a pearlized version.

Yes, it would be silly, which means my reason would have to be about more than the color, wouldn't it?  I work in a pro shop, I spend a lot of time here, I make videos, I'm on our city's board, I write articles for a different bowling site, and I'm the city's lane certification director . . obviously I wouldn't quit bowling over the color of a bowling ball.  Just because that's something I mentioned doesn't mean it's my only reason.  It's only relevant because I work in a pro shop, shelf appeal is very important to the consumer, and it's a pretty large factor for the average league bowler when it comes to picking a ball.  Seeing as how consumer ball selection is kind of the point of this thread, I pointed it out as one of the larger factors. 

The reasons why I would rather quit than throw Ebonite are directly related to all of that.  Ebonite doesn't sell in town, and it makes no sense for me to throw a company that we wouldn't stock.  Brunswick brands and Motiv typically react the best here in town, while Ebonite never really has, with perhaps the exception of the Mission, and V2s.  Basically, it wouldn't do anything for advertisement, and wouldn't improve my scores, which would make people wonder why I'd make a decision like that, which in turn may make them less confident in the decisions I'd be making for them and their equipment.  If I'm throwing balls from a company we don't stock, that don't react as well here as other companies, why should they trust my advice to them?  Yes, quitting is a strong statement, but logically, given a choice between that, and throwing Ebonite, quitting would damage my reputation less.  It's not meant to be dramatic or inflammatory, it's simply a statement that accurately describes my situation.  Ebonite's equipment and marketing simply isn't on par with other companies, it feels years behind. 

you would quit bowling rather than throw ebonite?
thats a bit of a silly statement, you must not like the game all that much
isnt this game all about scoring? who cares what color the ball is.
I can tell you that EBI brands sell 50% of the bowling balls in the world, compared to 25% storm and 25% Brunswick (roughly)
Just because you might not like the looks of the Ebonite line doesnt mean they arent any good, there has been some sleeper pieces out there that went un noticed
challenge was one, source was another, Pivot is an excellent piece.

If i was given the choice to either quit or use "X" brand, i wouldnt care what it is, i just love the game.
I was primarily a track person only until a few years ago, have a sampling of the other 3 brands currently, Just my opinion though

In my pro shop I would rank them as follows:

1- Storm
2- Motiv
3- Hammer
4- Roto Grip
5- Columbia
6- DV8
7- Track
8- Ebonite

Personally, I prefer Track of the 4 EBI brands as it matches up best with my style. And the Track 500 series is the best in the Track line-up. I used to throw strictly Ebonite until the One series ended. Thought the Angular One was one of Ebonites best balls made. As for Hammer, I also see ball death fairly early in the balls sold. Columbia has been up and coming recently in my mind and Ebonite needs major work. Think their shelf appeal is a huge downfall. I have a Game on, Warning sign and Pivit on my display that people won't even pick up and look at.