Date: 17 Mar 2005 11:36:24
From: twobirds
Subject: retired balls
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Considering the desire for the manufacturers to make a buck... I certainly
understand why they develop new gear and quit manufacturing older products.
I'm not sure I understand the very short life-cycle of some products,
though.
If someone finds a ball that suits them and they are successful with, how do
they go about finding one similar enough to replace it with if it is damaged
or suffers from cover-stock death?
I think this is across the board with all manufacturers, but I've been
looking specifically at the list of retired columbia balls. Take the
Reaction Arc as an example. I don't see anything in Columbia300's current
line that seems to be a match in construction or even hook ratings. -
Another example is the very recently retired Formula. I don't see anything
in their current line that is a match. Heck, I recently purchased a ball
(on advice right here in this NG - a Messenger TI Traction) that will be
going on the retired list very soon judging by the fact that all of its
"brothers" just went on the list.
In hundreds of discussions I've read, I often see people saying (about no
specific ball, but many different ones), "That was a helluva ball. I wish
someone still made that or one like it". So, with such short life-cycles of
so many balls, how does one find a new product for replacement purposes? It
certainly isn't cost effective to buy half a dozen balls at a time to try
them out... and reviews are useless due to the fact that no two people have
exactly the same stroke or release... or for that matter, it would be
impossible to find a cross section of people who are playing on exactly the
same lane conditions to be able to give an accurate assessment of how a ball
acts. Even the manufacturers don't seem to be completely interested in
giving extensive information. They tend to make up a marketing paragraph
(all hype) and only a little bit about what condition the ball is supposed
to be for, but no real info on their testing or any actual application of
the product on a range of conditions at any range of speeds or rev rates
etc.
So, how does one make a decision when it comes time?
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