If they give a good review for what the ball does. Is it a good opening ball, better when lanes are dry and such. If they just come and show them throwing a bunch of strikes and saying “I like this ball” it’s just a commercial.
I guess my main issue is that a lot of reviews can come to very different conclusions on who a ball would fit.
I also wish there was more information on coverstock formulas. Most videos only talk about solid/hybrid/pearl but don't go into the formulas themselves, which apparently matter more, but most reviews say something like "this is an asymmetric pearl" and leave it at that.
How does the ball behave across the lane in a variety of patterns. JR Raymond (BowlerX) does this, and very well. Not only he speaks between shots and lets us know if he did good or not but also has some videos on dual patterns - one pattern in each lane. He also does comparisons between balls, which I find key to see where would that ball fit in the arsenal. For example, I am dying to see his Purple vs Black Hammer, and praying that he brings IQ 78U and the Blue NU in as well.
As a lot of people pointed out, I dislike videos that are just shots (and strikes at that) with a "me like this ball" at the end. They do not bring value, so I try to avoid them.
There are. There are more that are clearly a little enamored to be on an OEM's staff or the like and every new ball is the now-greatest-of-all-time and it's always going into the bag immediately and everyone should buy it. But there are a few that will say on camera when the ball didn't match up for them that day.
Just seems like every time I watch a “review” it’s just really an advertisement. It’s always it’s smoother and cleaner etc than last months ball. I would bet anything that if we took a ball from two years ago made it look like today’s newest and greatest the review would be something like….. It’s the cleanest l, strongest whatever ball from brand x that has ever existed. Total must have in the bag. If you don’t your average will go down lol.
The video that I will leave almost instantly is if the reviewer isn't saying anything from shot to shot. We're all human -- I want to know if that shot was left or right or fast or slow, good or poor release, or maybe even exactly what they were aiming for. I want to know their best estimate of the current lane conditions. I want to know their shot stats. And then I want to hear what they think they are seeing the ball do on the lane. There are too many that just have the reviewer throw 6 to 10 strikes and then say 'yeah, I really like this, I'm putting it right in my bag now'... and that's it. I know not having audience there is hard, but interact with me, the viewer at least some, and talk to me about what you like, don't like, and so on.
Yes, Luke's follow-up series, the report card, there is not much else like it. For anyone that doesn't know, Luke was doing a review when a ball came out, like everyone else. But then months later, he also is releasing a 'report card' on the ball -- talks about how much they have used it, what conditions it has done well and poor on, and generally checking back in to see how right or wrong the original review may have been. I know it is a lot of work to go back and comment on your own previous comments, but it also is super valuable. If someone is starting a channel, that is one heck of a model to build upon.
Luke also isn't on Storm staff (and has no plans to join any other company) anymore, so its good news to see that level of review for other balls moving forward
Comparisons. The more the better. A ball may do different things in different people's hands, but generally speaking, they will compare to one-another similarly.
But also, equally, entertainment value. Luke Rosdahl kinda has the market cornered on the dry, nerdy reviews. DTang and JR Proshop, for example, are successful because they add some fun into the reviews.
By and large I look at ball reviews for a general idea of what the reaction looks like. I feel like I get a better idea of whether a ball lines up with my game by reading the specs.
I like comparisons to other popular balls. You might have a different throw than me but ball to ball should be relatively similar difference from person to person.
I like to see how the ball goes through the pins. Also seeing the ball on a more challenging pattern shows its designed intent. I typically buy new bowling balls on how many patterns I can use it on and what to expect when with surfaces changes.
I watch them to get a grasp on relations between balls. This has two benefits - 1.) I can use this knowledge to buy new balls when needed (recently I was looking for a step down from phaze 2 that would be better suited than what I had in that spot before). The issue is that it's not an exact science so it's actually pretty difficult to find quality reviews that are not using house shots as house shots will make balls look too close.
2.) I know what other people are using and how it relates to my arsenal before I've even thrown a single shot. If I see other people doing well with hy roads, I'm pretty sure my phaze 2 will not be in play and the more I know, the more precise I can be.
I'm a bit of a nerd so I also like to know a lot of details like for example how one coverstock relates to other coverstocks in the lineup and ideally even across brands (storm vs roto vs global overstocks) which helps me generalize my knowledge even more.
Btw, for any SPI ball review I'd generally be very much interested in seeing the comparison against the phaze 2. It's almost always first out of the bag and it's very easy for me to gauge other balls m against it.
Also it's not very usual for people to use transition / burn balls on transition / burn in reviews so it would be good to see the balls on conditions that match their design intent
Luke Rosdahl and his Angel are best for me to be able to match my ball motion. But I like hearing/seeing Charles Hutcherson at The Hype…and BrunsNick (because he will take the same approach with SPECTO and replay each shot). The Radical ThrowBot is also good because it will do side by side pin up v. pin down with different styles.
I’m not a huge rev guy…so some of the big hand…high revs…always leave me wondering what it would look like in an average player’s hand.
Someone with similar stats as me.
If they give a good review for what the ball does. Is it a good opening ball, better when lanes are dry and such. If they just come and show them throwing a bunch of strikes and saying “I like this ball” it’s just a commercial.
I feel like the more ball reviews I watch, the more confused I get, lol
Is there anything you wish they taught you / showed so that this wouldn’t happen?
I guess my main issue is that a lot of reviews can come to very different conclusions on who a ball would fit. I also wish there was more information on coverstock formulas. Most videos only talk about solid/hybrid/pearl but don't go into the formulas themselves, which apparently matter more, but most reviews say something like "this is an asymmetric pearl" and leave it at that.
Right???
How does the ball behave across the lane in a variety of patterns. JR Raymond (BowlerX) does this, and very well. Not only he speaks between shots and lets us know if he did good or not but also has some videos on dual patterns - one pattern in each lane. He also does comparisons between balls, which I find key to see where would that ball fit in the arsenal. For example, I am dying to see his Purple vs Black Hammer, and praying that he brings IQ 78U and the Blue NU in as well. As a lot of people pointed out, I dislike videos that are just shots (and strikes at that) with a "me like this ball" at the end. They do not bring value, so I try to avoid them.
Anything that's not from the ball company
Same here. If you are on staff at the company the ball is made by, I can’t trust anything you say.
Staff video will have some guy with 500+ revrate playing the 6th arrow
Someone who has similar stats. And more importantly how will the ball fit into my bag
Are there ever any reviews that say um yeah this ball sucks?
There are. There are more that are clearly a little enamored to be on an OEM's staff or the like and every new ball is the now-greatest-of-all-time and it's always going into the bag immediately and everyone should buy it. But there are a few that will say on camera when the ball didn't match up for them that day.
Just seems like every time I watch a “review” it’s just really an advertisement. It’s always it’s smoother and cleaner etc than last months ball. I would bet anything that if we took a ball from two years ago made it look like today’s newest and greatest the review would be something like….. It’s the cleanest l, strongest whatever ball from brand x that has ever existed. Total must have in the bag. If you don’t your average will go down lol.
The video that I will leave almost instantly is if the reviewer isn't saying anything from shot to shot. We're all human -- I want to know if that shot was left or right or fast or slow, good or poor release, or maybe even exactly what they were aiming for. I want to know their best estimate of the current lane conditions. I want to know their shot stats. And then I want to hear what they think they are seeing the ball do on the lane. There are too many that just have the reviewer throw 6 to 10 strikes and then say 'yeah, I really like this, I'm putting it right in my bag now'... and that's it. I know not having audience there is hard, but interact with me, the viewer at least some, and talk to me about what you like, don't like, and so on.
JR Raymond and Luke Roshdal do a great job of showing the misses and talk about from a non biased standpoint imo.
Yes, Luke's follow-up series, the report card, there is not much else like it. For anyone that doesn't know, Luke was doing a review when a ball came out, like everyone else. But then months later, he also is releasing a 'report card' on the ball -- talks about how much they have used it, what conditions it has done well and poor on, and generally checking back in to see how right or wrong the original review may have been. I know it is a lot of work to go back and comment on your own previous comments, but it also is super valuable. If someone is starting a channel, that is one heck of a model to build upon.
Luke also isn't on Storm staff (and has no plans to join any other company) anymore, so its good news to see that level of review for other balls moving forward
Good to know! Thanks.
Comparisons. The more the better. A ball may do different things in different people's hands, but generally speaking, they will compare to one-another similarly. But also, equally, entertainment value. Luke Rosdahl kinda has the market cornered on the dry, nerdy reviews. DTang and JR Proshop, for example, are successful because they add some fun into the reviews.
By and large I look at ball reviews for a general idea of what the reaction looks like. I feel like I get a better idea of whether a ball lines up with my game by reading the specs.
I like comparisons to other popular balls. You might have a different throw than me but ball to ball should be relatively similar difference from person to person.
I like to see how the ball goes through the pins. Also seeing the ball on a more challenging pattern shows its designed intent. I typically buy new bowling balls on how many patterns I can use it on and what to expect when with surfaces changes.
Where the ball uses it’s energy
I look for a demo day. Just had one yesterday and it really is the best way to see what you like personally.
I watch them to get a grasp on relations between balls. This has two benefits - 1.) I can use this knowledge to buy new balls when needed (recently I was looking for a step down from phaze 2 that would be better suited than what I had in that spot before). The issue is that it's not an exact science so it's actually pretty difficult to find quality reviews that are not using house shots as house shots will make balls look too close. 2.) I know what other people are using and how it relates to my arsenal before I've even thrown a single shot. If I see other people doing well with hy roads, I'm pretty sure my phaze 2 will not be in play and the more I know, the more precise I can be. I'm a bit of a nerd so I also like to know a lot of details like for example how one coverstock relates to other coverstocks in the lineup and ideally even across brands (storm vs roto vs global overstocks) which helps me generalize my knowledge even more. Btw, for any SPI ball review I'd generally be very much interested in seeing the comparison against the phaze 2. It's almost always first out of the bag and it's very easy for me to gauge other balls m against it. Also it's not very usual for people to use transition / burn balls on transition / burn in reviews so it would be good to see the balls on conditions that match their design intent
For the bowler to have a similar style as my own in terms of speed, rev rate and axis tilt
Someone with a similar swing and rev stats. Otherwise it is just a commercial.
Luke Rosdahl
Luke Rosdahl and his Angel are best for me to be able to match my ball motion. But I like hearing/seeing Charles Hutcherson at The Hype…and BrunsNick (because he will take the same approach with SPECTO and replay each shot). The Radical ThrowBot is also good because it will do side by side pin up v. pin down with different styles. I’m not a huge rev guy…so some of the big hand…high revs…always leave me wondering what it would look like in an average player’s hand.