Ball NPS Score: 100.00
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The Brunswick Fanatic BTU bowling ball combines the Low Differential I-Block Symmetric core with the BTU (Better Than Urethane) coverstock to offer a "urethane" ball reaction with better consistency and bigger hitting power on lane conditions with higher friction. Get the smoothness of urethane but with more!

Color: Steel All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
Coverstock: BTU (Better Than Urethane)
Core: Low Differential I-Block Symmetric (14-16#)
Finish: 500, 1500 Siaair
Hook Potential: Medium 125 (scale: 10-250)
Length: Middle 100 (scale: 25-235)
Breakpoint Shape: Smooth Arc 40 (scale: 10-150)
RG: 2.601 (for 15# ball)
Differential: 0.030 (for 15# ball)
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium to Light Oil

BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 3 -4 
Starting Top Weight: 3oz
Ball Weight: 16
 
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: 5

Pin over the ring CG 3/4” right of center grip line. ( No weight hole)
 
BOWLER STYLE:  RH - Stroker – slightly speed dominant
Rev Rate:  320-360
Ball Speed: 16-17
PAP/Track:  PAP:  5 13/16” and 3/4" up
 
SURFACE PREP
Box Finish:  500, 1,500 Siaair Micro Pad
 
 
BALL MOTION
The steel Fanatic BTU features the Low Differential I-Block core matched with our new low friction BTU coverstock formulation to produce “urethane” ball motion with improved consistency and enhanced hitting power on high friction lane conditions.

 COMMENTS

  Better Than Urethane! I drilled this ball strong looking for length knowing that normal urethane ball read the midlane and then die on the back end. I was beyond surprised when I threw this ball. It got threw the heads and did not read the midlane but I could play the exact same line as my old urethane but with a much better angle and much more hitting power. I am able to move with the shot and still get recovery when I need it This  ball is a must have!   
 

Mike Sipple
Brunswick/DV8/Radical  Regional/Amateur Staff

LANE CONDITION

Length: 40 ft.

Volume: 25ml

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Layout is pin above fingers at 4 1/2" from PAP, no extra hole


Some balls take a few sessions to grow on me, but the Fanatic BTU has been a keeper after only a few shots.  What it does is give you a real option to play outside of the oil line without worry that it will dive through the nose the last few feet. 

In addition, it does give me some added recovery when I miss outside versus traditional urethane.  So it's like "urethane smooth" with a little extra traction.  Last league session I "fluffed" a shot a couple boards right, and instantly thought "there's a washout", but the BTU came back to the pocket, AND CARRIED!

On that topic, carry has been phenomenal!  I'm used to traditional urethane balls leaving the 10 pin, but so far that's definitely not the case here.  I can line up to go "high flush" with confidence that the BTU will finish predictably; and we all know that high flush carries corners at very high percentage.  Frankly, the pin carry of the BTU has been a big surprise.

The solid steel color evokes fond memories from more "experienced" bowlers, while the people who buy a ball because it's pretty just give it "the look".  The controlled reaction and ability to play on the friction make it valuable to me.  It's gonna be difficult to not have this ball in the bag for any session where there is defined friction, as it excels on that. 

If you ever have a night when everything else looks great for 55 feet, then go crazy and leave you splits, this ball will save your night and enable you, at worse case, to control the pocket very well and still hit with authority.  I was a little skeptical at first that this one was different, but not anymore.  Brunswick is on to something with this release.  Thank you Big B!




PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

Drilled the Fanatic BTU 55x4.5x45 (pin over ring) and honestly had no clue what to expect out of this ball other than rave reviews from other staffers.  I have above average revs and speed, but a low track so lower response balls to help me keep my angles straighter are always welcome in my bag!

My initial reaction to the BTU was that it sees the lane the way a strong ball would, but with the overall hook potential of something weaker.  One of our local houses closed a couple weeks back so I am yet to see the BTU on a proper short pattern, but I have used it on 43' Dead Man's Curve, 41' Beaten Path and a heavy house shot (Stone Street).

I've been able to start with this ball right in the track on all 3 patterns and play on top of bowlers with half of my rev rate.  The carry on fresh has been average, but my pocket % has been very high due to the smooth, forgiving reaction.  After about an hour of bowling, my carry is at its best.  My moves with the BTU are about half of what they are with my other balls and I am able to see the track sooner without worrying about seeing over reaction on wet/dry lanes.  The one really interesting thing about the BTU is that the covers absorbs some oil, meaning that unlike Urethane, I am not having to constantly move right as the cover gets slick and the oil is pushed downlane.

As for the way the BTU rolls, it doesn't particularly rev up early or roll in a Zone or Diva kind of way, but the cover is clearly making contact and not hydroplaning through the fronts the way my weaker balls do.  The motion I see at the breakpoint is rounded (like my Melees and LT48) but much less responsive than any of my other reactives

In terms of overall boards covered it is more like my Freakshow and LT48 but with a much earlier/even shape.  Against old school Urethanes, the BTU is way stronger down the lane and at box finish still has a step more finish downlane than the Urethane Karma, while also being a little stronger in the oil. 

The Fanatic BTU is a totally different ball than anything in the Brunswick line at the moment.  It splits the difference between the shape of urethanes and reactives, making it a great option for staying around the track longer, while also being effective for blending out wet/dry lane patterns.  Lower track bowlers like myself will love this ball, as will those with higher rev rates, but it will also be an option for straighter players who want to stay in the comfort zone as the lanes break down. 

The BTU is to me, the most interesting ball on the market and in my bag to start the season. After two years of research, test, development behind that ball, Brunswick has come with a ball Better Than Urethane for dryer lanes or short patterns. That ball feature the Dual Flip I-block core that was in the C(system) Versa Max wraped with a brand new low friction response coverstock.

I was very curious about the ball. I have an old black Phantom and Brunswick did a comparison video with both so. I drilled the BTU to bowl on short sports patterns. I heard that ball was stronger than advertise so I drilled it 85x4.5x65. At first, I really appreciate the predictability of the reaction and the continuation through the pins that we rarely see in weaker/urethane ball. On second week night, we bowl on the 2016 WTBA 37’ Melbourne, it’s the longer of the short pattern. I put the surface at 1000 with Siaair pads and what happens was just magic! I never had that kind of reaction on a short pattern. The BTU rolls hard and shreds the rack. It gives you that little pop in the backend that classic Urethane ball doesn’t give you. Plus you don’t have to swipe it really hard after every single shot. Seriously, anyone need a BTU in their arsenal and yes it’s Better Than Urethane.

Here is the new all-purpose ball for Brunswick, the Fanatic BTU.  This ball uses the same core as the Fanatic but the coverstock is different.  The BTU stands for Better Than Urethane.  The engineers at Brunswick worked with the new formula of coverstock and came out with a coverstock that rolls like a urethane  but you don’t have the bad backend reaction of an urethane. 

I drilled this ball with 70x 4 1/4x45.  On the lanes this ball allows me to play right of everybody on the same pair and I still get an amazing finish without over reacting.  I used it in my league and I move one board right all night and pulled a 1052 for 4 games.

What surprised me with this ball is how much right I can stand on house shot and have a great reaction.  Because the coverstock is not urethane, you can follow the transition by moving left and throw it right.  The ball will recover instead of going flat on the backend.

To conclude, this ball is a must for every bowler.  This will roll like you never seen before.

BALL SPECS

Pin Length: 3 inch

Ball weight: 15lb

Bowler Style: tweener

Rev Rate: medium

Ball Speed: 16-17

Grit: 2000

Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): sanded

Lane condition: dry

Length:short

Volume: low

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc. ) both

Length: The BTU reads the lane early but is great on short patterns / sport shots short in length. The cover and surface makes it so it reacts like a urethane in the midlane but continues and hits like a reactive.

Back End: The backend is very smooth

Overall Hook: low, but that is what it was made for. It is great to play short patterns, burnt up patterns or playing down and in when they are a little fresher.

Midlane Read:early

Breakpoint Shape: arc

Comments: I was looking for a ball that I could use on short oil patterns and be able to stay under control with my speed, thus ball does that. I can play closer to the dry if not on top of the dry and still keep my speed normal. I was looking for a ball to go below my DV8 Dude that has always been my dry / down and in ball, I found it in this ball.
I also love using this ball as my spare ball, I personally have never liked plastic and this is a perfect replacement.

The Fanatic BTU truly is unique in the bowling world today. There is NO other ball out there that will do what this does. On short oil or a burnt pattern, you can stay right, and the ball will clear the heads. It gets enough down lane to save energy and provide carry that is as good as a resin ball. I've got mine drilled (3.5 in. pin) pin straight over the bridge with CG stacked directly below right under the bridge. The pin carry will blow any urethane out of the water. The light strikes created by most resin balls are still in play with the BTU. I would recommend this ball to anybody who is struggling on short oil or a bad transition. Again, there is NOTHING out there like it.