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Author Topic: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls  (Read 3912 times)

Necromancer

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Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« on: January 22, 2009, 01:47:07 AM »
Ok, it is 2009 is it not ladies and gentlemen?  This is not the 1900's where you buy what you see and if you don't like what you see, you don't buy.  This idea will blow your minds and may give some hardcore bowlers a hard-on or something!

With shoes, you can go on NikeID and create your own shoe (colors, specs, initials, etc.).  With computers, you can custom built your entire system from scratch by picking out the parts on a site like Newegg.com.  With clothes, you can pretty much wear anything and any combination in the world.  With houses, you can have a builder custom built your house from scratch.  With cars, you can go online, pick what features you want and have it built for you and sent within a month.  ARE YOU THINKING WHAT I'm THINKING????!

With bowling balls, you can only buy what is there with exception to pin placement, top weight, and other minor details that vary from company to company.  

MY IDEA:

-Create a company that has the patents/rights to use a similar core and coverstock for all the greatest bowling balls ever made.  The more the better. (Don't worry we aren't talking about Elite here hehe - KEEP READING!)
-Now you have a site or company that allows you to mix and match cores and coverstocks!!!
-Basically you go online, and you can pick any core from the last 20 years or so.
-Then you can pick any coverstock in the last 20 years.
-You are then able to desire a range of pin placement for that ball.
-As long as the ball meets the specs, you are good to go!

-At checkout, the ball will ask you what finish you want (sanded, polished, grit)
-And voila, your dream ball has arrived!  Imagine for example having the V2 core with a C300 SuperFlex coverstock!  The possibilities are endless!

Now you ask price?  Well just like custom cars, houses, SHOES... there will be a premium.

However you are getting a 1 of a kind ball!  I would expect balls sales of $300-500 would be reasonable.  

Just imagine putting your dream combos together across different manufacturers during different time periods!  Of course, the cores and coverstocks would be tweeked a little to meet patent laws and such but it is already done in the electronic industry.  

DISCUSS!!!
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Current Arsenal Gallery
H: Brunswick Fury, Columbia 300 EPX T1
M-H: Storm Shift Gravity, Hammer Black Widow
M: Storm X-Factor Vertigo
M-L: Storm Recharge
S: Viz-A-Ball White
Bench: Brunswick Target Spare Zone, Ebonite 14 Fun Ball
GEMS: Brunswick Quantum Helix, Brunswick Quantum Double Helix

2008-09 Year 215.000 2008-09 Tourney 177.360 Last Tourney 182.667
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Resolution 2009''s Greatest Show on Wood

Edited on 1/22/2009 10:47 AM
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Current Arsenal Gallery
H: Brunswick Fury, Columbia 300 EPX T1
M-H: Storm Shift Gravity, Hammer Black Widow
M: Storm X-Factor Vertigo, Ebonite Predator
M-L: Storm Recharge
S: Viz-A-Ball White
Bench: Brunswick Target Spare Zone, Ebonite 14 Fun Ball
GEMS: Brunswick Quantum Helix, Brunswick Quantum Double Helix

2008-09 Year 215.000 2008-09 Tourney 177.360 Last Tourney 182.667

Hall of Fame BR Member Since: April 3, 2001

Currently Retired from Bowling

 

Oskuposer

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2009, 09:49:26 AM »
Warranty?  Guarantee? Performance? NOT WORTH IT
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Kiall Hill
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Necromancer

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2009, 09:51:26 AM »
quote:
Warranty?  Guarantee? Performance? NOT WORTH IT
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Kiall Hill
Visionary test staff


Well the ball will have a 3 month warranty.  There can't be any guarantees of anything because everything is created by the customer.  That is the catch.  Just like in other fields, the choice is up to the customer.  There is no warranty if you go to NikeID and create a shoe with pink/purple design and have the back of the shoe with "Gay" on it and are given the promise you won't get beat up or harrassed.
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Current Arsenal Gallery
H: Brunswick Fury, Columbia 300 EPX T1
M-H: Storm Shift Gravity, Hammer Black Widow
M: Storm X-Factor Vertigo, Ebonite Predator
M-L: Storm Recharge
S: Viz-A-Ball White
Bench: Brunswick Target Spare Zone, Ebonite 14 Fun Ball
GEMS: Brunswick Quantum Helix, Brunswick Quantum Double Helix

2008-09 Year 215.000 2008-09 Tourney 177.360 Last Tourney 182.667

Hall of Fame BR Member Since: April 3, 2001

Currently Retired from Bowling

NoseofRI

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2009, 09:53:00 AM »
Not to mention it cost $1000s to produce 1 custom bowling ball, hence the reason for mass producing.  As if the ball manufacturers costs weren't already high enough.  

GREAT IDEA /sarcasm
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Dan Belcher

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2009, 09:54:50 AM »
I don't think anyone could argue against the mere idea of being able to mix-and-match any core/coverstock combo at will.  The argument, however, would be against the logistics of this since is just plain isn't realistic.  The cost involved in getting rights to all the different cores/coverstocks from different manufacturers, etc. would be bad enough, but then factor in the manufacturing costs of doing everything custom one-at-a-time and you're looking at some ridiculous expense.  Also, this would be a nightmare for USBC approval, etc.
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bowlerdawg

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2009, 09:55:17 AM »
i like the idea, but you are catering to a rather specific audience who actually knows what the hell is going on

so all the planning and execution of said ball would probably end up costing more than advertised, and i don't think sales would be very good.

once you get said bowlers dream combo, then he's going to be set for a while.

still a cool idea


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noturcuzin

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2009, 09:58:01 AM »
Cool idea! Do you get to name it yourself?
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JOHN BELUSHI:1949-1982  
 
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Oskuposer

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2009, 10:00:07 AM »
might work for special clientel but not in the long run.  Good Ideas I hope one is actually useful one day.
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Kiall Hill
Visionary test staff
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los2003

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2009, 10:11:27 AM »
This isn't a bad idea nothin would really be mass produced for it and it would have a niche market I assume there may be a 4 to 6 week wait on orders but it's good.. Now if we could some how get the bowling ball companies to agree..
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Necromancer

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2009, 10:16:49 AM »
Good discussion guys!  Here is my bandaids for this idea:

-Bowling companies get a share in the sales (depends on their popularity in choice - if the V2 core gets chosen more than a Inferno core, then Ebonite gets more money)
-This would eliminate the hassle of getting patents or making look-alike cores/coverstocks
-Yes it would be a niche market - but so is custom shoes.  NikeID's cost around $100 for a shoe that otherwise would cost $50.  So 2x markup for customization.  Same for bowling balls.  A retail ball of $250 would be about $500.
-Obviously, you can save money and get a used custom ball from someone on here, ebay, etc.
-Ball names would be yours but the companies used for core and coverstock would also be listed on the ball.  Example V2 and C300 SuperFlex: V2(Ebo)/SuperFlex(C) would be etched near the serial number.  
-There would be an area where you can place any logo, name, design you want.  So for my ball if I wanted to call it "NECROMENTUM" then it would be placed on the ball area designated off and a picture of my face would be there underneath hehe.

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Current Arsenal Gallery
H: Brunswick Fury, Columbia 300 EPX T1
M-H: Storm Shift Gravity, Hammer Black Widow
M: Storm X-Factor Vertigo, Ebonite Predator
M-L: Storm Recharge
S: Viz-A-Ball White
Bench: Brunswick Target Spare Zone, Ebonite 14 Fun Ball
GEMS: Brunswick Quantum Helix, Brunswick Quantum Double Helix

2008-09 Year 215.000 2008-09 Tourney 177.360 Last Tourney 182.667

Hall of Fame BR Member Since: April 3, 2001

Currently Retired from Bowling

another300

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2009, 10:25:29 AM »
Just think of that ball you really liked but hated the color.  Or really liked a color of a bowling ball but it didn't perform as you'd hoped.

For $250-$300 I would "build my own ball".

Great idea but not cost efficient.
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KingofKings696

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2009, 10:28:05 AM »
Thatd be one ugly ball, lol J/K I wouldnt mind this and Im sure these 1 off balls would sell to multiple people I for one would love to get a diamond core in a weak core such as an avalanche or dry/r. Also since the companies are already making the covers/cores all they would have to do is pull the cover from main production and place it in the mold and pour the cover it seems as if it really wouldnt affect production too much. Look at companies such as Kinetic or Motiv and some of your other small companies they probably arent producting that many balls.
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leftyinsnellville

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2009, 10:37:44 AM »
My dream ball would be 900 Global's S75 coverstock around Columbia 300's ARC core.  

If you can add custom aromas, like with Storm balls, I'd have this one smell like money!

I'd call it Fifth Power!
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ILBT!

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los2003

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2009, 10:44:08 AM »
I hope in reality it will be vailable.. I don't think you will be able to cross companys but atleast within the company..ie ebonite core with different ebo covers so on and so forth.

quote:
My dream ball would be 900 Global's S75 coverstock around Columbia 300's ARC core.  

If you can add custom aromas, like with Storm balls, I'd have this one smell like money!

I'd call it Fifth Power!
--------------------

ILBT!

( o )( o )

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another300

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Re: Revolutionary Idea for Bowling Balls
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2009, 10:49:56 AM »
Only other question would be, will it be legal to use in USBC competition?
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