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Author Topic: Cracked balls  (Read 15848 times)

BeerLeague

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Cracked balls
« on: September 11, 2018, 08:54:09 PM »
In the past 12 months I have lost a Ride, a Snap Lock, and an iQ Tour.  They all cracked all the way around the ball.  They are stored in my finished, climate controlled basement on a ball rack when not in use.  I do not leave gear in the car overnite.

WTF is with all the Storm stuff randomly cracking?

 

Impending Doom

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #31 on: October 02, 2018, 05:33:17 PM »
James is class with a capital C.

Rightycomplex

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #32 on: October 02, 2018, 07:10:46 PM »
James is class with a capital C.

Aye man I appreciate you! Lol if I had your hand I’d cut mines off.
James C. Jones
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leftybowler70

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #33 on: October 02, 2018, 09:40:15 PM »
And he hasn’t responded since you dropped what likely happened during his visit, and he hasn’t responded yet; hmmm.... 🤔

Tex

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #34 on: October 04, 2018, 06:56:24 PM »
I have had balls crack manufactured by every major company I have used.  Storm, RG, 900, Columbia, Ebonite... Some in a short period of time and some that were over 10 years old.. All my stuff is stored in my dining room, either in boxes or bowling bags. It was suggested by my ball rep that I put them in the original bags to reduce chance of expansion due to moisture.  I also drop the dry sacks from med's or anything else I can find to help reduce moisture. Since starting using the plastic bags and dry sacks the only balls that have cracked are ones i didn't have a bag to put them in, so no protection. I do think its bad luck and likely results of expansion and contraction of different materials. So that would make you believe the high end balls might be more prone to the problem, but I have had lightbulb type core balls crack and ones that were on the high end as well.

BowlingForDonuts

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #35 on: October 05, 2018, 12:02:14 AM »
Just curious anybody had a Visionary ball crack?  All reactives crack but guessing they are probably on the lower end of how common it is.
Here today.  Gone tomorrow.

MI 2 AZ

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #36 on: October 05, 2018, 12:27:09 AM »
Just curious anybody had a Visionary ball crack?  All reactives crack but guessing they are probably on the lower end of how common it is.

I had one crack on me but it was different from all the other balls I've had crack on me.  I was bowling league and decided I needed a different look so I went to the locker and pulled out my old Green Gargoyle.  Threw one shot with it and it came back cracked all the way around.  I don't know what happened.


With all the Visionary's that I own and use, that was the only one of theirs that cracked.  In fact, Visionary asked me to ship it back to them when I told them about it.


Edited to add, after thinking about it, I have seen or heard about other balls at our center doing this - cracking while bowling with them.  So maybe it is not all that uncommon, just the only time it happened to me.


« Last Edit: October 05, 2018, 12:29:33 AM by MI 2 AZ »
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earlyrolling

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #37 on: October 05, 2018, 12:43:41 AM »
Has anyone ever heard a ball crack all the way around while it was simply sitting on a shelf or floor?  Is there any sound at all?

imagonman

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #38 on: October 05, 2018, 01:47:30 AM »
I had my 5 month old Brute NOS sitting in a ball cup on my shelf in office I had just bowled with the previous week when one nite I'm on the computer not 7 ft. away and I hear this semi-loud noise @ about 3 AM. I thought that something hit the outside of the house or the house was settling/creaking or something. Got up to look outside....nothing of course, nada. Went back to sit down @ the PC , yada yada, whatever. Two days later go to put the ball in the bag to go to league, & whala big crack all the way around the ball. So , yeah I heard it but never thought it was the ball cracking. Emailed Brunswick, sent pics & got a NEW BTU Pearl sent 2 weeks later. Kinda worked out cuz I hated that Brute anyway.

Bowling Dan77

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #39 on: October 05, 2018, 08:43:28 AM »
Storm has a ball warranty that's clear and easy to understand.  The bridge is warrantied against cracking provided the ball is drilled properly.  Pretty simple stuff. http://www.anchorman.com/Ball%20Warranty%20Guide.pdf

The ball I purchased was drilled incorrectly - the finger holes were too close to the pin, the finger hole edges were rough and improperly finished, and the bridge was under 0.250".  What that means is the ball was improperly drilled.

After reading the replies I can tell the shop has a lot of supporters, that the employees are dedicated to their job, and that the posters to this forum respect the shop employees.  That doesn't change the fact that the ball was drilled incorrectly.

There's a written Storm Warranty procedure that states the ball in question should be returned to the original store for warranty evaluation.  I did that.  The driller told me "they all do that".  He then told me "it's up to Brian".  He added that "Brian is acting strange today - there's something wrong....".  The driller walked away to discuss the ball with Brian who was out in the bowling alley somewhere.

The driller returned and said "Brian said Storm doesn't warranty cracked bridges".  Then he asked me if I loft the ball (as if the force on the ball from lofting would cause a crack vs the force of the ball striking 4 pound stationary pins all day). 

I could see I was getting nowhere and I saw Brian standing there on his cell phone so I approached him and asked if he would address this with Storm.  He was unhappy, he resisted my appeal for at least consideration by Storm, and he took a picture of the cracks and began to walk away.   I said "don't you want a picture of the receipt so you know who I am?" and he replied "I don't care" and he walked away.  It was at that point that I raised my voice, told him he was a jerk, and walked out of the store.  I have no need for poor customer service.  When I pay a significant premium for something I expect to at least be supported if there's a warranty issue down the road.  That's not asking too much - that's what a good dealer provides to a paying customer.

I contacted Storm.  I sent pictures of the cracks.  I followed up with Storm.  And Storm is sending me a replacement ball.

If Storm had declined to replace the ball I would have simply taken this issue to Small Claims Court, and with the pictures and the Storm Warranty I would have easily won the case against Orbdrillers (not against Storm).  One look at the pictures and one review of the Storm Warranty and it's an open and shut case.

You know what would help reduce the likelihood of this issue happening again?  How about the business owner printing out the Storm Warranty and posting the pictures near the drilling equipment, along with some training to make the drillers aware of the Storm specific drilling requirements?   

This is a simple example of a business owner refusing to assist a customer with a warranty issue.  If Brian did contact Storm as ask that the ball be replaced - thank you.  That's the way it should have been handled in the first place.  I got it taken care of, and I have no further need for Orbdrillers in Mechanicsville, VA.
« Last Edit: October 05, 2018, 09:08:52 AM by Bowling Dan77 »
12 in a row - is that asking too much?

Impending Doom

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #40 on: October 05, 2018, 11:55:09 AM »
Storm has a ball warranty that's clear and easy to understand.  The bridge is warrantied against cracking provided the ball is drilled properly.  Pretty simple stuff. http://www.anchorman.com/Ball%20Warranty%20Guide.pdf

The ball I purchased was drilled incorrectly - the finger holes were too close to the pin, the finger hole edges were rough and improperly finished, and the bridge was under 0.250".  What that means is the ball was improperly drilled.

After reading the replies I can tell the shop has a lot of supporters, that the employees are dedicated to their job, and that the posters to this forum respect the shop employees.  That doesn't change the fact that the ball was drilled incorrectly.

There's a written Storm Warranty procedure that states the ball in question should be returned to the original store for warranty evaluation.  I did that.  The driller told me "they all do that".  He then told me "it's up to Brian".  He added that "Brian is acting strange today - there's something wrong....".  The driller walked away to discuss the ball with Brian who was out in the bowling alley somewhere.

The driller returned and said "Brian said Storm doesn't warranty cracked bridges".  Then he asked me if I loft the ball (as if the force on the ball from lofting would cause a crack vs the force of the ball striking 4 pound stationary pins all day). 

I could see I was getting nowhere and I saw Brian standing there on his cell phone so I approached him and asked if he would address this with Storm.  He was unhappy, he resisted my appeal for at least consideration by Storm, and he took a picture of the cracks and began to walk away.   I said "don't you want a picture of the receipt so you know who I am?" and he replied "I don't care" and he walked away.  It was at that point that I raised my voice, told him he was a jerk, and walked out of the store.  I have no need for poor customer service.  When I pay a significant premium for something I expect to at least be supported if there's a warranty issue down the road.  That's not asking too much - that's what a good dealer provides to a paying customer.

I contacted Storm.  I sent pictures of the cracks.  I followed up with Storm.  And Storm is sending me a replacement ball.

If Storm had declined to replace the ball I would have simply taken this issue to Small Claims Court, and with the pictures and the Storm Warranty I would have easily won the case against Orbdrillers (not against Storm).  One look at the pictures and one review of the Storm Warranty and it's an open and shut case.

You know what would help reduce the likelihood of this issue happening again?  How about the business owner printing out the Storm Warranty and posting the pictures near the drilling equipment, along with some training to make the drillers aware of the Storm specific drilling requirements?   

This is a simple example of a business owner refusing to assist a customer with a warranty issue.  If Brian did contact Storm as ask that the ball be replaced - thank you.  That's the way it should have been handled in the first place.  I got it taken care of, and I have no further need for Orbdrillers in Mechanicsville, VA.


Do you use grips?

imagonman

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #41 on: October 05, 2018, 03:49:24 PM »
Storm has a ball warranty that's clear and easy to understand.  The bridge is warrantied against cracking provided the ball is drilled properly.  Pretty simple stuff. http://www.anchorman.com/Ball%20Warranty%20Guide.pdf

The ball I purchased was drilled incorrectly - the finger holes were too close to the pin, the finger hole edges were rough and improperly finished, and the bridge was under 0.250".  What that means is the ball was improperly drilled.

After reading the replies I can tell the shop has a lot of supporters, that the employees are dedicated to their job, and that the posters to this forum respect the shop employees.  That doesn't change the fact that the ball was drilled incorrectly.

There's a written Storm Warranty procedure that states the ball in question should be returned to the original store for warranty evaluation.  I did that.  The driller told me "they all do that".  He then told me "it's up to Brian".  He added that "Brian is acting strange today - there's something wrong....".  The driller walked away to discuss the ball with Brian who was out in the bowling alley somewhere.

The driller returned and said "Brian said Storm doesn't warranty cracked bridges".  Then he asked me if I loft the ball (as if the force on the ball from lofting would cause a crack vs the force of the ball striking 4 pound stationary pins all day). 

I could see I was getting nowhere and I saw Brian standing there on his cell phone so I approached him and asked if he would address this with Storm.  He was unhappy, he resisted my appeal for at least consideration by Storm, and he took a picture of the cracks and began to walk away.   I said "don't you want a picture of the receipt so you know who I am?" and he replied "I don't care" and he walked away.  It was at that point that I raised my voice, told him he was a jerk, and walked out of the store.  I have no need for poor customer service.  When I pay a significant premium for something I expect to at least be supported if there's a warranty issue down the road.  That's not asking too much - that's what a good dealer provides to a paying customer.

I contacted Storm.  I sent pictures of the cracks.  I followed up with Storm.  And Storm is sending me a replacement ball.

If Storm had declined to replace the ball I would have simply taken this issue to Small Claims Court, and with the pictures and the Storm Warranty I would have easily won the case against Orbdrillers (not against Storm).  One look at the pictures and one review of the Storm Warranty and it's an open and shut case.

You know what would help reduce the likelihood of this issue happening again?  How about the business owner printing out the Storm Warranty and posting the pictures near the drilling equipment, along with some training to make the drillers aware of the Storm specific drilling requirements?   

This is a simple example of a business owner refusing to assist a customer with a warranty issue.  If Brian did contact Storm as ask that the ball be replaced - thank you.  That's the way it should have been handled in the first place.  I got it taken care of, and I have no further need for Orbdrillers in Mechanicsville, VA.

Damn skippy! Brian's got your $$ & gives 2 shits less. Find a new shop where YOU matter.

Geigs

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #42 on: October 10, 2018, 08:59:41 PM »
Milorafferty is correct on the shell shrinking, not the core expanding. I have an storm blue thunder pearl from 1997 nib. Finally going to drill it. Took it out of the box, and noticed the pin is raised above the shell a good 1/32 of an inch. That tells me the shell has shrunk. Or maybe the core has expanded pushing the pin out. Who really knows why these balls crack. So many theories. Have had a few crack over the years. Anyway, going to drill out the raised pin and put in in my mid finger so this oldie but goodie blue thunder hopefully will have less chance to crack. Hope it doesn’t crack on the press. Lol!

scotts33

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #43 on: October 11, 2018, 11:28:17 AM »
Just curious anybody had a Visionary ball crack?  All reactives crack but guessing they are probably on the lower end of how common it is.

I probably have as many VBP balls as anybody on this forum and have never had one crack. It's too bad they went out of business and didn't develop a better ball line over recent years as their old stuff was great. 
Scott

Mbosco

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #44 on: October 11, 2018, 06:38:54 PM »
Are they officially closed?

JamminJD

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Re: Cracked balls
« Reply #45 on: October 11, 2018, 11:13:52 PM »
Are they officially closed?

Unfortunately, yes. Very sad.