Author Topic: Zen U Review (Read 12197 times)

StormAndrew · « **on:** November 22, 2022, 08:23:21 PM »

Zen U features the famous meditate core found in the Zen pearl and Zen Master. This time it comes as urethane. My first impression of this ball was it is very impressive. It is not as early as typical urethane and provides plenty of shape and continuation down lane. When the Pitch Black is too early and you want to open your angles up the Zen U will be an excellent option to go to. Also, for those who like to throw urethane on house conditions this will be one of the best urethane balls to choose as it is provides plenty of entry angle to kick out those pesky corner pins.

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnFURW8zCw

mancebi · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2022, 07:57:00 AM »

Early control of urethane with a step up in reaction down lane. If you like the look you have with a pitch black but just can't get it to go threw the pins the right way. The Zen U is the perfect ball for you.

rcgilmore · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2022, 09:21:10 AM »

Ball Review Zen U
RG: 2.56 Dif: .027 Cover: The New S35 Urethane+ Solid 1000 Grit Finish
PAP 5 3/8 over 1 5/16 UP, Medium/Ball Speed Rev Rate 255-300 Layout: 4 x 4 x 2

The Zen U is here! The newest release in the 900 Global Zen lineup and what a surprise. I;m not even sure what to say but wow! This ball is what I was looking for in the Zen Master as a solid Zen. I didnâ€™t not expect this ball to do what it does. The Zen U has that Zen shape that I really like. The Zen U is strong and quick of the friction and has strong continuation through the pins. The Zen U hooks way more than you would expect. It has enough teeth to handle oil and can be played straighter being a bit firmer. Itâ€™s a bit latter than the Zen and Zen Soul, however, still has that smooth motion on the backend picks up and just keeps going. The Zen U is a keeper for sure.

Luke Rosdahl · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2022, 08:23:11 PM »

Zen/U Review by Luke Rosdahl

The Zen/U puts a different twist on the Zen line. The core is the Meditate LD core, and while itâ€™s the same shape as the regular Meditate core from the other Zen releases, the density has been reduced to create a higher RG of 2.56 and a lower differential of .027. The S35+ urethane cover at 1000 grit gives it a urethane look, but with a twist. The differential is just shy of an IQ Tour differential, which allows the ball to flare a small amount and get some ring separation to get fresh cover exposed to the lane on every rotation. The result gives the Zen/U traction early in the lane like a regular urethane ball like the Pitch Black, but also gives it some punch or motion on the backend. For me it acts like an earlier and smoother Phaze 2.

I used a 4 x 4 x 2 layout on the Zen/U, and left it at the box surface. Iâ€™m left handed with 17mph speed and about 375 revs. Being a lefty means of course that urethane is a big part of my toolkit, and while Iâ€™m a big fan of my Pitch Black, if itâ€™s too early and smooth, and reactive balls are too long and sharp, I havenâ€™t had anything in between until the Zen/U. Not only does the Zen/U allow me to move inside, it affords me the opportunity to almost play the lanes like itâ€™s a reactive ball. Something that acts like urethane in the fronts and a smooth reactive ball down lane could be a game changer for me.

jshoe97 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2022, 10:17:52 PM »

The Zen U features the Meditate LD Core wrapped in the S35+ Urethane cover. The Meditate LD core is a lower density version of same shape core found in the rest of the Zen series. Decreasing the density of the core lowers the differential and increased the RG. This makes the Zen U a little bit easier through the front part of the lane and a little bit faster off of the friction downlane. The S35+ Urethane cover is very similar to the Tour Thane cover found on the UC3 in that it does absorb oil and has stronger chemical bonds with the lane oil and surface of the ball than traditional solid Urethane like the Pitch Black. The Zen U for me is an incredibly unique piece. When I get forward with my hand position, it shapes very similar to my Pitch Black. When I start to add axis rotation, the ball really comes alive and shapes like a slower response IQ Tour. Iâ€™ve already gotten a chance to throw this ball a ton on a wide variety of conditions and love what I see so far. When compared to the Pitch Black, the Zen U is cleaner, faster and stronger overall. When compared to the Fast Pitch, the Zen U is a little earlier and much stronger overall. Be sure to stop into your local Storm VIP Pro Shop and drill your very own Zen U today!

Review Video: https://youtu.be/FmfRaRxXPmg

Awiegand3 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2022, 05:04:14 PM »

The all new zen u is the newest addition to the zen line. This Urethane cover wrapped around the zen core is a 1.2 punch on the lanes. This ball fits perfectly in between the rubicon uc3 and the pitch black. This maybe my new favorite urethane ball on the market. Get your hands on one of these zen u from your local pro shop today

Anthony Wiegand

k1ngsizepapa · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2022, 08:56:56 PM »

Core: Meditate LD Core
Cover: s35 Urethane+
Finish: 1000 Grit
RG: 2.58 (14 lbs)
Diff: 0.027 (14 lbs)

ME:
Right-Handed Tweener
Speed: 12-13 mph
Rev Rate: 315
PAP: 4 7/8 Right 3/8 Up

Ball Layout: Pin Over Ring 4 5/8 inch pin to Pap 2 inch pin buffer

Most ball companies have been pushing the boundaries of technology when it comes to Urethane bowling balls in recent years. Many times it has been difficult for them to find useful blends of urethane and reactive covers or to match more powerful cores with their urethane covers. 900 Globals new Zen U takes a proven core strength and makes a great adjustment to fit it with their new Urethane + blended cover.

The characteristic of this ball's motion is definitely much closer to reactive than urethane for me. No other urethane ball has allowed me to play as far left as I do with the Zen U. That being said this ball is such a great balanced piece that I think everyone should have it in their bag. That's a statement I reserve for balls like the Phaze II and the original Zen. There are definitely bowlers who you watch and instantly know that there is no need for urethane in their bag. Not this time.

I tested the Zen U on our high volume house pattern. I lined up where I would normally play with a pitch black. Then I had to make a big mother may I step left. I quickly had to get the "I'm throwing Urethane" thought out of my head. I kept waiting for the Zen U to stop coming around as I moved left. I kept waiting for the Zen U to stop going through the pins as I moved left. The night ended before that happened.

The really astounding thing is that the motion of the ball never seemed wrong. From when I was playing the track to when I was in and really wheeling, it read the right part of the lane and still went through the pins. With my ball speed I couldn't get really straight with the Zen U but I've seen it work for other bowlers in that part of the lane as well. This ball is special.

TrevorRoberts · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2022, 10:30:39 AM »

Lane Condition
Length: 40
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS

Title
Storm Zen U Ball Review by Trevor Roberts

Review
The Zen U is the newest urethane ball from Storm! After drilling it, I was excited to see how it stacked up against both my current urethane and reactive balls. Compared to my Pitch Black, I could stand much further left and curve the lane with a lot more ball speed. Typically, when I am trying to curve urethane, I have to slow way down to give it time to hook. With the Zen U, it hooked more down lane naturally, so I did not have to slow the ball down to get it to hook. When I threw it against some reactive balls - the Fate and Hyped Solid - the Zen U was very slow response and gave me more control. I believe this ball can be used in many different instances, moving left when on a short pattern or playing further right when you need a controllable, smooth option.

Social Media
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https://linktr.ee/TrevorRobertsBowler

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Bowler Stats
Trevor Roberts
4 Time PBA Regional Champion
2016 PBA Southern Regional Rookie Of The Year
Storm Products / Turbo 2n1 Grips / Bowlifi Staff Member
Right Handed
Rev Rate: 400
Speed: 16
PAP: 5 1/2 up 13/16

Bowl_Freak · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2022, 12:36:21 PM »

I recently just drilled up 2 this past weekend. One 4" pin 3000grit and a 5.5" pin polished. Bowled on Sat in a small sweeper and gotta say these balls are just as advertised. A step up from the Pitch Black which is good. 269-265-257 out of box. I havent seen many out there yet but I'm sure they will be a staple in many bags.

StanleyW · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2022, 10:16:52 PM »

Zen U - Ball Specs
Cover Stock: S35 Urethane Cover
Finish: 4000 Grit
Core: Meditate LD Cor
Color: Black
Layout: 70 x 4 x 10
RG: 2.56
Differential: 0.027
Intermediate Diff: N/A

Review
The 900 Global has done it again. ZEN BALL GOOD!!! The Zen U features the Meditate LD Core with the all new S35 urethane covers to provide a quicker response time compared to traditional urethane. As a mid to low rev player the Zen U was the first urethane ball, I was able to shape without losing striking power. I tested this ball on a 42 feet typical house pattern. I was able to play the track area and left of the track area with great success. The Zen U was stronger than the UC3 for me, which will make it a great one two punch. This is a great ball for all levels of bowlers. Order one from your local pro shop today! My ball review videos are posted on YouTube channel Stanley Waite.

Stanley Waite
900 Global Staff Member
Dover, DE

Kyle.Johnson88 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2022, 03:23:20 PM »

900 Global Zen U
Cover: 1000 grit abralon S35 Urethane+â„¢ Solid
Core: Meditateâ„¢ LD (Symmetrical)
Color: Jet Black

Review:
The Zen line has already become a GOAT line similar to the Hy-Road and Phaze lines. It is awesome that SPI decided to wrap urethane around this great core. Fitting in almost perfectly between the UC3 and the Pitch Black, the Zen U really is something special. It is hard to say anything could be smoother than the Pitch Black, but this ball is right there with it. Definitely less angular off the spot than the UC3 by quite a bit, but stronger through the beginning and middle parts of the lane. This ball will be in most seasoned league veteran and tournament players bags. It is a must have for competitive play for that added edge over the competition.

Kyle, Joel, & Dean Johnson
900 Global Pro Shop Staffers
joel@parklanes.net
kyle@parklanes.net
Dean@frontierfuncenter.net
www.900Global.com
#GoGlobal

Bigmike · « **Reply #11 on:** December 23, 2022, 10:27:04 AM »

I drilled my ZEN U up at a 35 x 4 x 65 which put the pin in the ring finger. I lightly touched up the cover with a fresh 1000 pad since it urethane shined very quickly. We chose this layout because it a control/rolly drilling for me. My experience with the urethane offerings the past few years have been to try to get the pin really high like in the 1" to 1/2" pin buffer range and the ball sails thru the breakpoint when I have done this. We were hoping to get the urethane balls more usable by getting them to roll as quickly as possible.

I really do not have much to compare it to urethane wise but do have a couple of lower end releases to see what it rolled like in the HUSTLE USA and ELECTRIFY G-O. On our house condition, the ELECTRIFY G-O was a much better look swinging it into the friction down the lane. The HUSTLE USA is a similar version but smoother due to its hybrid cover. The ZEN U was playable for me (275 rev rate-16.5 mph) staying closer to the oil line. It did recover well if I got it out of that box around the track but usually was a flat ten or thin seven. I was able to go to a stronger release and get it to corner a little better and hit better.

I see the ZEN U as being an option for lower rev players who want to use urethane to keep the ball in play especially on tougher conditions. The ball is controllable and when you get your angles closed down and figure out where the 2-3 box is to keep it in, very usable. Drill this one up to keep for tougher conditions where a 9 is a good count and keeps you in the hunt until the lanes open up.

Michael Slatky · « **Reply #12 on:** December 26, 2022, 10:09:21 AM »

900 Global
Zen U
Coverstock: S35 Urethane +
Finish: 1000 Grit Abralon
Core: Meditate Symetric Core
RG: 2.56
Differential: 0.027

Layout: 4 3/4 x 4 x 4 - 2LS
Layout Extras: 2 1/8 Finger Depth, "X" - 4 1/2 D and 1 Inch Left
Tester: PAP 6 1/2 R, 1 1/4 D

Review:
The Zen series continues on with the Zen U. This new Urethane + ball is sure to impress those that enjoy urethane based gear as well as those that desire to test the waters a bit and have been hesitant when it comes to urethane. The Zen U tackles both shorter sport type patters as well as your typical house shot conditions.

I've enjoyed the OOB 1K Abralon finish on the ball and maintain that surface at this time. Compared to the 900 Global Boo-Yah and the Honey Badger Urethane the Zen U provides a tad more length and shape then the Boo-Yah. This makes the Zen U perfect for when you need to bump inside and your Boo-Yah is buring up in the front part of the pattern and can't trip the corners.

The 900 HBU provides an asymmetric option in the urethane line. However, it may have a tendency to hit a longer roll phase and begin to leave those corners as well. The Zen U nicely combats that occurrence by being a symmetric piece that has a great skid, hook, and roll balance built-in.

The Zen U is a homerun and is one of my favorite balls in the bag for both sport and a variety of THS conditions. Be sure to grab one today!

Michael Slatky
900 Global Staff Member
York, PA

bowlstorm3 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2022, 07:05:29 PM »

900 Global Zen U
Coverstock: s35 Urethane+
Core: Meditate LD
Layout: 4.5 x 4 x 2

The new urethane ball in the Storm family is the 900 Global Zen U. The Zen U has the all new s35 Urethane+ cover wrapped around the Meditate LD core. This new cover is designed to be more responsive than traditional urethane. I have tested the Zen U on a traditional house pattern, a modified 39 ft house pattern, 38 ft Marshall Holman, and 42 ft Mark Roth. Keeping the grit closer to box, the new Zen U can definitely open the lane up more than traditional urethane. As the oil carries down and the fresh surface wears off the urethane cover, I gradually creep right and have a more traditional urethane look out of this ball. There is a definite reaction difference from the Pitch Black, which is earlier and less responsive down lane. I do get some Fast Pitch feels out of this new Zen U due to the cleaner nature of the cover. I think this will be a great option for tournament players that need a more responsive urethane or league players looking for another option to tackle those tricky over/under house patterns.

Onefrombills · « **Reply #14 on:** January 22, 2023, 05:39:24 PM »

Ball Specs:
Ball Name: 900 Global ZenU
Cover Stock: S35 Urethane+ Solid
Weight Block: Meditate LD
Color: Jet Black
Finish: 1000 Abralon
Layout: 4 X 4 X 2

Bowler Specs:
Right-Handed
PAP 4 7/8" Over 3/8 up
Rev Rate 300.
Speed at release 15
Fragrance: N/A

Review:
Welcome back to another ball review and today we are talking about the 900 Global ZenU. In my many years of throwing bowling balls and being excited for a certain ball to come out. So being honest I was not looking forward to throwing this ball. I know thatâ€™s not what you expected me to say, BUT urethane and I have never matched up before and its mainly to my low rev rate and being more up the back of the ball. So, whatâ€™s the deal with this one to be different. I spent many days and hours talking with fellow staff and high-end players and we decided to go and give this ball a try. Biggest decision on going with this ball was its not just another urethane. From the first ball that went down the lane I knew this was a special piece. If you know me at all I really hate that term for a ball, but in this case itâ€™s the only word that fits. The ball stays online but what opened my eyes was when it exited the pattern and reacted and had a motion to the pocket. This ball will be in my league and tournament bags for sure. Being a low rev rate guy and seeing this reaction I see this as a ball for the players that bowl tournament and understand the use of Urethane and when its best to be used.
YouTube video of the ball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLR8R7AYHro&t=18s

Author Topic: Zen U Review (Read 12197 times)

StormAndrew

Zen U Review

mancebi

Re: Zen U Review

rcgilmore

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Luke Rosdahl

Re: Zen U Review

jshoe97

Re: Zen U Review

Awiegand3

Re: Zen U Review

k1ngsizepapa

Re: Zen U Review

TrevorRoberts

Re: Zen U Review

Bowl_Freak

Re: Zen U Review

StanleyW

Re: Zen U Review

Kyle.Johnson88

Re: Zen U Review

Bigmike

Re: Zen U Review

Michael Slatky

Re: Zen U Review

bowlstorm3

Re: Zen U Review

Onefrombills

Re: Zen U Review