Ultimate Inserts Buyout by Brunswick

Written By: bowlingball.com | Written On: Friday, December 8, 2017 | Updated On: Wednesday, January 16, 2019

bowlingball.com 12/15/2017

There is lots of news that broke out in the bowling industry over the last month, and it has truly made a major impact on bowlers. Brunswick Bowling bought out Ultimate Bowling Products. This buyout has not only made an impact on the community of bowling, it has made an impact on an amateur and professional level especially. Here locally in my city of Las Vegas, it’s had major implications and sent bowlers scrambling.

I am going to be the very first person to admit that I’m always looking for ways to build and go forward in the world, especially when growing as a person in the bowling world.. Whether that’d be getting staffed, new equipment, or vice versa. Ultimate Bowling Products was the lesser known of the major insert brands in the sport (Vise, Turbo). They made a major splash into the sport, signing many major names to their brand, including one Jason Belmonte. Jason even quoted saying, “He has never had a blister on his fingers since switching to Ultimate Inserts.” That’s a very powerful statement from a very popular bowler.

I’m one who can certainly vouch for Ultimate Bowling Products as I’ve had my bowling balls with Ultimate Inserts at one time this year as well. Their product has truly shown that it can hold up and is very durable. Their grips are made to hold up longer than Vise and Turbo. But the beauty about bowlers and about the world we live in, is that everybody has their personal preference and their own comfort zone. Now what happens when you take a bowler like Jason Belmonte out of their comfort zone along with hundreds of other bowlers who are staffed by companies other than Brunswick who were under Ultimate? They now have to go back to square one.

All bowlers in the world know what their comfort level is, what they need to have to get the bowling ball feel comfortable in their hand, to make the best shot possible and have your right or left hand hold up as long as possible. So for the Jason Belmonte bowlers’, and the amateur staffers who were not under a Brunswick staff contract, but under Ultimate, they now have to throw something else.

Here in Las Vegas, there are many, many bowlers signed under all the major bowling ball companies as well as Ultimate. Once the buyout occurred, their staff contracts with Ultimate went away as well. One pro shop here was an Ultimate Bowling Products certified pro shop until the transaction occurred. I have heard from various bowlers who are Brunswick staff who are not happy with this, as they have their personal preference with Vise or Turbo, not being a fan of Ultimate. It’ll be very interesting to see how all this folds out.

For Brunswick, it’s a win as they have now grown their brand more, and Ultimate Bowling Products partnered with one of the elite brands to ever be seen on the lanes. As always, for more elite articles and big time breaking news, subscribe here at bowlingball.com. It’s where bowlers go.