Versitility is the point of going with one company Satyuros. That way when I need a ball to do something that all of may current balls can't then I have guidelines that I can choose from. I'd rather get balls from one company that way I now what to expect when I need to a particular ball to do something or I need to attack a lane condition. I think it would be easier to have 4 or 5 balls and change how they're thrown or their surface instead of have 15 balls from different companys to be good on any condition. Less is more in this sport anyways.

The new line-up is solid. There might be very tiny gaps between the Buzz and the Terminator Rebellion as well as between the Hornet and the Buzz. Nothing major though. Depending on how that Buzz is drilled, I think one of those gaps can disappear. For example, get it drilled a little strong so you can get away with it on a little heavier than medium and the gap between it and the TR won't really exist. And then you can still use it on light-medium conditions until the Hornet becomes the optimal ball of choice.

In other words, you shouldn't need another ball to fill those gaps. Just make sure the layouts give you the strength you want out of them. If you have less revs than most take that into consideration.

the guy at the Pro Shop where i go said that he would throw anything that Roto-Grip sold if they carried it. and he's die hard Hammer. he's switching to Roto-Grip when they get another new supplier at the beginning of the new season. myself i want to try them. and i agree with ya denis. just got to find what ya looking for.

I think it all depends on what company you go with sometimes its trial and error. Bowling balls are like like shoes kinda of some people feel more comfortable with other companies shoes than others.

I tried Brunswick and Storm before but i jsut didnt like the reaction i got out of them, probally very good balls still but just didnt fit my game. Columbia i seem to get best reaction for me and i just seems to fit my game. Though still not stoping me to try other ball companies to see what they have to offer.

I think I agree with Brandon there. For me, Ebonite seems to be a no-no. Although they make some good equipment and some of their balls might be an exception to this, they just don't roll very well for me, or hit they should. I have yet to throw Storm, MoRich, and Visionary, but it seems Lane Masters, Brunswick, and Columbia do fine for me. I don't intend to throw any balls from anyone but those 6.

I have to say though, that it's probably easier to build an arsenal from one company for a few reasons. You don't have to look at so many balls that way. It's unlikely that you'd be unable to have a ball for most conditions from one company. Also, I think building from one company almost eliminates the possibility of duplicating a ball reaction if you aren't sure about which ball to choose.

How is going to one company being versatile...? That's like saying "Well I'll just throw MoRich" even though nearly their entire line up is high end reactive bowling equipment. Not every company has every type of bowling ball in their equipment lineup. Ebonite has a lot of pearl now. You don't see many of them that are particle or solid. What if you want a pearl ball? Columbia and Brunswick don't offer a lot of pearl in their lineup, and what they do, it's fairly low end. Yes, for the most part, sticking to a single company would probably work. With so many different ways to layout bowling balls and alter surface, you can practically make anything work. But that's wherein the disadvantage would lie; why try and force something along to make it work when you can just simply choose something else that's built for it? That's like trying to scuff up a high end pearl ball that's drilled to go long and skid-snap when bowling on a flood. You wouldn't do that. And keep in mind, none of us are pro; or at least by saying that, none of us our likely sponsered. We don't get bowling balls handed to us for free, where we could drill up 6 of the same ball 6 different ways and if you still didn't like them, it wouldn't make a difference. We have to pay for every ball we purchase, so why not make each purchase a smart one and aim for exactly what you want?

Satyuros, not everyone will have 13 balls at their disposal. Most will carry a couple to four. And, as I said earlier, you have to look for what you want a ball to do, how it reacts, and how it matches your game. That narrows it down quite a bit.

Although I have a pearlized ball, it will be a long time until I purchase another one. It just doesn't fit me, and until I can learn other lines, and bowl on weaker shots, I can't use it.

Reactive balls seem to fit me better, and you are right, there are many ways to drill them and adjust the surfaces. Most bowlers aren't going to do that. They want the reliable set of balls to match their game and help them improve.

It's like the comfortable pair of slippers. The balls just have to fit.

If you know your game, the choices are really very few. The problem is getting to that knowledge and comfort level.

Amateur,
Thanks for all the help with the Lane Masters balls. I did notice some tiny gaps in it but I'll have to deal with them when the time comes. And thanks for the tip about drilling the Buzz stronger. If I go with the Lane Masters arsenal I have posted then I'll definately keep that in mind.

Dennis,
Thanks for the Lane Masters link that helped out a lot. I really like their presentation of their bowling balls. It's the best so far. And I did see your name flash up with the 300 game so congrats.

Satyuros
First, pretaining to your point about how every company doesn't carry every type of ball. This is true. But to be a better bowler, wouldn't be easier to adjust to a line of balls that a company makes in order to fit those balls. By knowing what to expect from a company's line of balls it enhances your game. Because now you actually have to think about what you're doing, why you're getting that ball, how you are going to throw it, what line to use, what conditions to look out for and what conditions it excels on. Instead of having 11 balls for different comapny's to use, why not have 3 from the same company that fit your game, and you know will all deliver instead of the old guessing and checking.

And although your "forcing" example could happen. In the realm of reality, it is very unlikely.

As for purchasing a balls, why go with the multi-company route. There's so much reasearch involved and then places like this get repeated threads about "What ball should I get?" Pluss you get blasted with all the marketing about the newest balls and you should get them becuase they are the newest and the best on the market. Why do that when there are perfectly good older balls that work just as well i.e. the Ebonite Turbo X.

Why not go the one company route? That way it narrows the choices and allows you to find an exact fit for what you are looking for, very little reasearch and you have the price. Have you looked at any of the prices for the Roto-Grip balls that I chose. The most expensive was the Cell at 104 dollars. All the others are considerably cheaper and will probably deliver just like the Cell does.

Besides isn't a smart buy when you purchase a ball from a company that you are bowling exclusively from and know what to expect because you know how those balls work (granted there may be variations between the converstocks but you still know what to expect i.e. Lane Masters balls have thicker coverstocks and are a bit stronger than other bowling balls). And it fits your game becasue you know all of the things to expect from that brand of ball.

Essentially, you aren't forcing the ball to change at all. You are forcing yourself to be a better bowler. I'd rather be a versatile bowler with 3 balls than a versatile bowling ball buyer with 11 balls.

I am a strong advocate of letting the ball do all the work (you can ask a few of the guys on here, they know). But when you really need so many balls to make your game work, what's that say about your ability. So you have the money to go out buy a new ball and get it drilled to match the conditions you're bowling on. I've seen those types of bowlers fail time and again. As a matter of fact, I had two on my state team, and I still beat them with my BW solid (in all three categories), and they had 6-7 balls to work with and couldn't get anything going.

Besides those small gaps in the arsenal are for learning experiences so that you can be versatile, hence perform better.

Anyways, now that I've written a book, let's get back to the topic at hand. I need opinions and experiences with either Roto-Grip balls or Lane Masters balls. And advice on how to have the most versatile arsenal with either of those company's. If everyone thinks that both are sound arsenals then all that's left is for me to choose and slowly start syphening out the balls that I have with new ones and going from there.

I would say before you decide on doing a Lane Masters only arsenal, try one or two of their balls out. I've heard of several bowlers who used many of their balls and it just didn't match up with their game.

As for going with just one company, I would say try several different companies before settling on just one. I started out using only Brunswick, and they worked well for me, but decided to try different companies and am glad I did. I found some really great equipment from some of them.

Also going with the one company route, you won't necessarily know what to expect from a ball compared to others in your line up until you get it drilled and throw it. What the company says it is suppose to do and what it does for you are two very different things. Some people can't used pearls, or polished solids, many can't use particles, some rarely need dull equipment no matter what conditions they face.

Cal I haven't decided to go with Lane Masters yet. I've gotten a lot of help involving Lane Masters and how to get the best possible arsenal with them, but I'm still leaning towards Roto-Grip. It seems like people don't know a lot about them and their balls save a few people that I know that throw the Cell. But nothing about any of the other balls that they have out right now. I like them, and I have a Cell so I can guess how the others will perform. As for the part about the ball not doing what it's expected to do, that margin of error is lowered even more by going with one company. And if I was going to go with Lane Masters I would get a ball and see what happens. I think I would be abole to mesh with it just fine.

I'm not really knocking the multi-company thing, it works for some people, but I'm going to try the single company thing. And personally, I think I'm going to go with Roto-Grip. I still don't know. It just seems that everyon is up in arms over Lane Masters.