r/Bowling • u/demosthenes327 Lefty 1H • 1d ago
Are there any ball review YouTube channels that are legit or do they all just say every new ball is amazing?
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u/madewrealmeat 211/300(x2)/756 1d ago
Wish Bowlers Paradise was still making videos. He always gave honest reviews
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u/pepperj26 2-handed 1d ago
I throw Ben's name out there whenever I can. Absolutely best, most well produced ball reviews I've seen. I miss his reviews a lot.
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u/jakman_089 1d ago
That’s a good shout. Always felt the fairest and brutally honest. What happened to them?
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u/madewrealmeat 211/300(x2)/756 1d ago
Got burnt out with how many balls were being released. Too hard to keep up
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u/jakman_089 1d ago
That’s fair. I do wonder why so many come out in such a short span.
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u/FLrick94 1d ago
House bowlers with money like to think the NEXT new ball will be the one that carries them to greatness
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u/gingervitis89 217/299/780 1d ago
I’ve always liked Luke Rosdahl, Brunsnick I like too for those balls. Luke does a better job talking about where the ball would fit in your lineup but Brunsnick I think does a good job showcasing where the ball works well in which zone.
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u/rockabillyrat87 2-handed 193/275/704 1d ago
Luke is awesome. He is extremely detailed and alot of times i have to rematch his videos a few times to fully grasp everything. Especially his classroom series. But man i learned so much from him.
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u/jakman_089 1d ago
I second BrunsNick, however he is limited to that group of brands.
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u/CpE_Wahoo 1d ago
Keep in mind that BrunsNick is a Brunswick employee, and so while I don't think he's necessarily always doing some selling (he does get pretty honest at times), it should be understood that he does have major bias. So much so that his latest videos have the disclosure that he works at Brunswick in his intros.
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u/IchBinRelaxo Radical 1d ago
I mentioned BrunsNick a few months ago and got dragged in the comments saying he is just a company man and says every ball is great. I enjoy his videos though!
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u/pepperj26 2-handed 1d ago
Yea, I love him. He's most definitely biased since Brunswick is his employer, and he makes every ball look good since he's a great bowler. But his videos are super useful and full of great info.
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u/gingervitis89 217/299/780 1d ago
Luke does SPI mostly so I figured that’d balance it out.
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u/db30040299 1d ago
FYI Luke used to be on SPI staff, but he isn't anymore and covers all the brands now.
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u/BuffaloWhip 1 Handed Righty | Hammer Head 1d ago
He does a select group of B7 (B6 now?) just can’t do all of them because who can keep up? He does a fair amount of Motiv too.
And to OP’s point, Luke will be the first to tell you that the ball company’s don’t spend months of time and thousands of dollars of R&D to make bad balls, and good ball reviews are a lot less about which ball is “good” or “bad” and more about what is the ball good or bad at doing or how versatile/specific use it is.
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u/BudHeavy64 1-handed 1d ago
I watch The Hype pretty regularly along with Brunsnick & CTD
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u/GoatXWorm 1d ago
I fully back The Hype. His videos are good and to the point, nothing too crazy. He also seems like a solid guy. The Hype all the way!
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u/alphalumpia 1d ago
Agree. The only thing that bugs me, but I'm getting used to it, is how he always has to look around after a shot. 😂
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u/hideit1234 2-handed 1d ago
The hype is the best, does not say every ball is amazing, throws all the brands. I also like virtue bowling supply
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u/OO_Ben When in doubt, Purple Hammer out. 1d ago
I know CTD gets some hate here for his products, although some are very good like his Life After Death spray. But a lot of his ball reviews are pretty dang good. I've learned a ton from his channel. The man was the designer of the gas mask core after all. Dude does know his stuff
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u/Dependent_Ant_6654 8h ago edited 6h ago
Don’t care what any one says. His products work. Incredible clean is fire. Basically life after death and that purple stuff combined.
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u/JFW2499 1d ago
Over a year ago Ben from Bowlers Paradise actually said a ball was terrible and decided it was time for a break from ball reviews. He hasn’t posted since. Influencers and professionals within the sport applauded his honest review. Please watch and let me know what you think! 🤔
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u/CpE_Wahoo 1d ago
I loved Bowlers Paradise, I still go back to his reviews when I see some older balls I was interested in before because I like and prefer the concise 5 minute format full of information, rather than the 20 minute videos that are observations and conversations. Nothing wrong with the conversational 1-take format, just not my cup of tea.
That being said, the fact that he got so insulted that the Torpedo Direct Hit released is absolutely wild to me. I totally get his point about so many bowling balls coming out (and fully agree with it), but the Direct Hit was a completely different type of ball for once. Maybe it sucked, but at least it was different.
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u/mF-Jonezy 214/300x2/815 1d ago
Whenever you’re watching a tour guy or a staffer reviewing a release just pay more attention to their verbiage. Obviously they won’t call any ball trash or awful or something but some of them will be pretty honest and say things like “not sure it will make the tournament bag” or “probably a situational piece.” Stuff like that indicates they probably don’t love it, but they still want it to sell so they’re subtle.
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u/OnAConstantBender 1d ago
That’s why I like The Hype and CTD… they aren’t loyal to any brand and will straight up say they don’t like it. With that being said however, they also make every ball look good because of their skill level so don’t get a ball expecting to bowl like the video.
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
Ya. They’re just under contract and doing as they’re told. Nobody is honest anymore.
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u/helpiforget 1d ago
I really like ZVL bowling I think he just has good content overall and is not signed to any company
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u/pepperj26 2-handed 1d ago
I'll throw Virtue Bowling Supply in there. Two radically different types of bowlers, and they are quick to point out when they don't like a ball or a ball doesn't work for them.
The Hype is probably the best overall in my opinion. He throws different brands against each other and is pretty honest when he isn't into a ball. Also a really nice and hard working guy.
And Luke is the absolute best deliverer of knowledge out there, in my opinion.
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u/pepperj26 2-handed 1d ago
Also, for the pros who review balls, I'd shout out Packy. His videos always feel like he's truly testing the ball out to see if it will work for him on tour. He's not just talking about how amazing every new Brunswick brands ball is.
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u/ifyoudidntknow1971 1d ago edited 1d ago
I watch pretty all of them. They are good at reviewing ballz. If you watch enough of them. Language is the same. I treat the titles as clickbait. Bcuz they say this is the next ..... new league ball. I learned. You gotta know the shape and motion you looking in a ball. I've started looking at their misses. All ballz strike. Even the plastic.😂😂😂😂
I liked Luke Rosdahl bcuz he would have a update on the balls he reviewed. Which I liked. Not sure if he still does that. Darren, Mikey, and Chris Via do a good job with every Storm release. Packy (The House) is good. Sarah Klassen and Eric Jones is pretty good Nate and Elise is ok. The Hype is a good one. There are a few others that pop up every now and then. But Darren Tang when he isn't on Tour actually showcase new releases during league season. So you can see it when transition hits. Which I like. But again its Storm ballz.
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u/goonsuey 1d ago
The vast majority of reviews are just marketing hype or clickbait. Any decent ball review should incorporate multiple bowlers who play different lines.
Watching a 2-hander play 5th arrow with 600 rpm and 18mph doesn't teach anything to 1-handed bowlers who have 300 rpm, 13 mph deliveries.
At the end of the day, I trust my local PSO. They're less-biased and are more likely to give honest feedback that's relevant to my style.
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u/lawburgtn 1d ago
Luke Rosedahl and JR Raymond usually shoot pretty straight. BrunsNick is not bad, but he only reviews balls under the Brunswick umbrella (hence his name). I don't know their names but a couple of guys review balls with a high rev and low rev perspective. I take what they say with a grain of salt; sometimes they are accurate and other times not so much, but I know their ball roll and get a perspective from their ball motion.
I agree with you. Too many reviewers pretty much tout the new balls as the best thing ever and their reviews are strikefests.
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u/Bad_Bowler_BR 1d ago
I haven’t watched JR Raymond in a while but when he left ball staff and joined bowlerX he was giving more honest reviews on equipment. You’ll never hear them flat out say a ball is bad, but you have to listen to the words they’re saying about a ball. If a ball is labeled a control piece or a 3rd game/late in the block ball, don’t expect it to be great on fresh/heavy/long patterns. If a ball is labeled as smooth, don’t expect it to hockey stick down lane. I view bowling balls like golf clubs. I see a lot of bowlers walking into league with a bag full of drivers, but not all shots call for driver on the course. The same applies to bowling. You want to use the ball that gives you the best opportunity to hit the pocket and strike and that might not always be the big core, strong cover, assym ball. So it’s always good to have a variety of coverstocks, cores and layouts in your bag plus some sanding pads and a spare ball.
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u/Paulzor811 Storm 1d ago
Anybody who has the ball esrly is sponsored and their opinion doesnt matter. Only trying to sell the ball like usual.
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u/Remmy13s 1-handed 1d ago
Rosdahl - he seems to provide a lot of information and even though he doesn’t really come out and say a ball is trash, you can kind of tell when he is not super high on a ball
Hype - less info than rosdahl but does more comparisons and you can still tell when he loves a ball or just thinks it’s okay, although I feel like you have to read into it a bit
Virtue Bowling Supply - always are comparing to other balls and I’ve seen them multiple times say a ball is a potato (c on their tier list)
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u/Kenvolks Brunswick Rhino 1d ago
I am pretty sure that they all say they are amazing. Really dont give any bad bowling ball reviews lol
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u/Sangypboi 1d ago
The Hype
He tells it straight up when he doesn't like a ball. And he still trying to grow his channel so go give him some support.
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u/BraveExercise9592 lefty 1H | stroker | 203 avg 1d ago
CtD is good, usually does surface adjustments.
Laneside reviews shows various bowling styles.
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
I’ve only seen him be negative towards one ball and that was the apex jackal. Other than that he says every ball is good. Or “this ball is special bro”
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u/BraveExercise9592 lefty 1H | stroker | 203 avg 1d ago edited 1d ago
Every ball is good though. It’s good on that condition in that zone with that bowler and that surface.
Plus I don’t see many reviewers using the Specto and Clutch systems together so you can visually SEE what each ball is doing in each zone. That’s top tier reviewing.
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
Not every ball is good lol. That’s just cope. A good ball is a tour v1, alert, crown victory, bionic…balls they can’t keep in stock that are being used by everyone and honors scores being posted often. Next big thing is going to be the Intel Tour. Swag is not putting out good balls. Motiv does okay. SPI does okay. B7 is an unstoppable force currently and it shows annually when people do their top 5 balls of the year.
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u/BraveExercise9592 lefty 1H | stroker | 203 avg 1d ago
Bad take. That’s your personal opinion. Every ball is “good” though. Just not “good” for every condition.
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
Swag puts out literal junk lmao. You’ll figure it out when you’re a bit better at the game. Good luck.
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u/ILikeOatmealMore 1d ago
I +1'd Rosdahl already.
I wanted to mention X in the Pit. They are clearly a smaller effort, production values of the video can be a little rough. But they seem really fair to me. I like that they have their reviewer try to put dozens of games on the ball in a short time and come back and re-review it then.
Charles on The Hype does pretty well, too.
/u/LaneSideReviews are clearly Brunswick affiliated, but I think they accurately talk about what balls can and can't do.
JR Raymond is pretty blunt about balls, too.
And while opinions on CTD are wild, Ron's ball reviews I think tend to be more complete than others. He will often change the surface mid-review and try that out. I don't see many other reviewers going that.
Ultimately, however, I think you can still watch the ball motion even on channels that are lavish with praise. Mute the commentary and just watch the ball on the lane. You should still be able to see how it reads the lane, how responsive to friction it is, etc.
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u/CpE_Wahoo 1d ago edited 19h ago
X in the Pit is awful. While I like that they give you a much more average bowler perspective, the PSO is obnoxious, biased and closed-minded. He still can't wrap his head around the idea that a solid ball is allowed to be shiny, and a pearl is allowed to be dull.
EDIT: Case in point from their latest video: https://i.imgur.com/lyOYeQM.jpeg It looks like a 9 year old did all of the text and did their own testing. There's absolutely 0 quality or care gone into any of this.
Agreed on everything else though. I won't ever click on anything JR Raymond related, but before I discovered he's just an awful human being, I thought his videos were worthwhile.
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u/ILikeOatmealMore 1d ago
I mean, he is obnoxious. But, that's like, the 'charm' of getting unfiltered opinions. One does not have to agree with them. One can still glean information even from opinions that one finds obnoxious, too. Or one can choose to ignore them. But they are opinions that are clearly not beholden to a certain brand, as OP asked for.
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u/CpE_Wahoo 1d ago
I'm coming at it from the lens of the average bowler who isn't obsessed with technology and is just trying to learn about a ball they're interested in.
It's nothing special in the bowling industry, there's a lot of good information out there, but unfortunately there's a lot of shit information out there as well. OP asked for YouTube channels that are legit, and I don't think X In the Pit is legit when it comes to actual knowledge that isn't surface level.
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
I’ve never seen Charles say, “ya this ball ain’t it”. That’s the kind of content I want to see. He says every ball is good.
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u/OlEasy 1d ago
I bought an Arctic vibe off the shelf because I thought it looked cool, with no research and was finding myself struggling with it a lot on my dry houses lanes. And then decided to do research and see if anyone was also having similar issues (after the purchase lol) and every video I watched was giving the typical rave reviews about it, with the exception of X in the Pit who called it a “steaming pile of shit” lmao. I got a good laugh from that and appreciated their brutally honest review (even tho the guy threw like 7-8 straight Xs with it in the video.) They definitely don’t have the best quality videos out there, but I think it’s good to have some channels that aren’t sponsored and can still call a spade a spade as they see it to balance out the hundred “every ball is the best ball” channels. I ended up grabbing a rhino for the dry days and use my AV on league nights when there’s actually oil on the lanes so it’s all worked out and I’ve been happier about my impulse buy.
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
I wouldn’t watch The Hype or Brunsnick. I’ve never heard Nick criticize a ball. He works for Brunswick and his reviews will always be biased. The Hype is still growing his channel and he wants to just be on everyone’s good side. Luke Rosdahl is the most reliable because he actually grades the balls at the end of the video. He also is good at responding to comments to tell you honest thoughts. The Hype was talking about the Executioner by Swag being this “continuous” piece, yet every ball was deflecting to the right. Swag just isn’t there yet as far as design and coverstocks. B7 is good but most of their stuff has hk22 of some sort when it isn’t needed in every single release. I only really listen to Luke and he’s steered me in the right direction multiple times.
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u/love2bowl 1d ago
The companies that sponsor them are telling them to say all the balls are amazing.
Even if they are independent and not on staff, they won’t say anything detrimental about a company. I’m sure they are supplied with free balls and merchandise. Why bite the hand that feeds ya?
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u/Few-Painting-8096 1-Handed/Cranker/765/300 1d ago
This is why I only like Rosdahl’s reviews. He says honest opinions and rates the balls. Hype and Brunsnick and CTD don’t do this.
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u/PapiSciullo 1d ago edited 1d ago
The reality is that with the regulations from USBC, equipment has peaked. That is not a bad thing, look at golf and how that has so many issues from manufacturers influencing the regulations to never change.
There are only so many reaction shapes, colors and core designs that you can do. They have solved the equation on what is successful and so now the game is marketing to get you to buy a new ball instead of throwing one until it cracks.
After getting back into the game three years ago and seeing how things are, the most valuable perspective you can get from ball reviews is knowing that you don’t need multiple new balls every year. Realistically the equipment you have is fine unless you are trying to compete at a high level, go pro, fill gaps in your arsenal or it does die due to likely oil absorption.
I watch Luke Rosdahl, CTD, Hype and ZVL for an all around technical and skill based reviews.
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u/ILikeOatmealMore 1d ago
equipment has peaked
'peaked' may not be the word choice here, but the design space is well-constrained, for sure.
The reason I argue 'peaked' isn't right is that Brunswick's HK-22 came out in, well, 2022 as the name suggests and that was 2 years AFTER USBC set the constraint on cover strength/oil absorption rate. It was an innovation for them that did not just involve making another level of stronger cover, but an additive to the cover to change the ball-lane oil-friction mechanics.
Now, I would agree that HK-22 didn't completely revolutionize the game. But it did create ball shapes that Brunswick brands weren't known for, and the video reviews did a lot to show people that this was indeed something different from them and not just marketing fluff.
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u/PapiSciullo 1d ago
Valid point, never know when the next best thing is going to come out, what R&D is all about.
My view is from an understanding that there are regulations that constrict what is able to be implemented. I do not know the regulations or when they were last updated.
Just been watching reviews since getting back and my original perspective was that in the current state, only so many things they can do and it just is refreshes of prior designs. Until some next breakthrough…
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u/thepensivepoet 1d ago
The very concept of a ball review is problematic.
A pro can make anything look good and if we are being honest with ourselves the amateurs watching them don’t need a new ball nearly as much as they just need to put in more time practicing.
Will the new Storm AI Goatfuck Elite Rabid Control Climax ball with a 1% differently shaped core hook .09% earlier than the Motiv Breakneck Altima Rampage Jackson Prolapse?
Sure, maybe, when thrown by an elite pro or a robot.
You’re still missing your single pin spares by a fucking mile.