It is not very often that I post reviews on this website, but there is no way I can let a review of the new Brunswick Mastermind pass me by.  I have drilled several bowling balls over my career, some have been wonderful and others have not suited my particular game very well.  However, this bowling ball has all the characteristics of being possibly the best bowling ball of this decade.

Out of the box, the cover appears that it might be too strong for any player with above average hand, or below average speed.  This is NOT the case whatsoever.  The Mastermind is so amazingly clean through the front, with a motion at the breakpoint that I personally feel is unrivaled.  Some equipment has that shape that is so angular that it begins to flutter down lane once the heads start to go, while other solid reactive balls have the tendency to use their energy way to soon, causing your typical flat corners midway through game 2.  This ball has not done neither for me thus far.  The breakpoint shape is so easy to see, and not to mention aggressive.  Case in point, last night during league our center decided to experiment with ICE oil.  As I watched everyone else struggle compared to weeks prior, I was able to play the basic house shot with no issues and fire games of 259 258 257 for a 774 set.

My PAP is 4 1/2 by 1/2 up. 
Average speed: 18.5
Rev Rate: 490
Layout:  55 x 4 x 45

Look forward to hearing your feedback!

BALL SPECS

Pin Length: 3-4" Out

Starting Top Weight: 2.8oz

Ball Weight: #15


DRILL PATTERN

Pin to PAP: 4"X PAP

CG to PAP: MB 4"X PAP Pin Buffer 2"

X Hole (if there is one): Weight hole P-2


BOWLER STYLE

Rev Rate: 300

Ball Speed: 15

PAP/Track: 5 3/8 H   1/4 V


SURFACE PREP

Grit: Factory Sanded

Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Sanded


LANE CONDITION

Length: 41 feet

Volume: Medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Typical House Shot


BALL REACTION

Length: 5 for such a heavy sanded ball

Back End: 8

Overall Hook: 9

Midlane Read: 8

Breakpoint Shape: Strong Arc


COMMENTS

Likes: Love this Ball. Looking for a ball to replace my Favorite oil ball the Original Nexus, also sanded around 1500. I loved the Purple/Blue Nexus because it could handle heavy oil but got through the front part of the lane clean. So for the Master mind I laid it out with a high flare drilling that still gets through the front. And the Mastermind does this perfectly. It has alot of the Original Nexus motion in it but is cleaner through the first 15 feet and has a stronger move off the dry. Reads the lane beautifully. But NOT for dry lanes unless you are extremely speed dominant. I like the new look and colors also. Has a similar motion to the Storm Sync for you Storm Nation fans out there. Watch out Storm, big B is catching up. Try, try try this ball, you will not be disappointed.

Dislikes: None so far.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

My Mastermind is laid out using my favorite asymmetrical layout which is extremely basic.  Pin is above the bridge and mass bias is 2 inches from my thumb.  Small weight hole on my axis to make it legal. 

I really like this ball overall.  For me it starts to hook in the same spot as my Paranormal Aura but does not layoff.  The Paranormal I could get to roll out.  This ball I have not been able to do.  Now saying that it is really strong and I cannot use it when the mid lane starts to break down.  It is absolutely great when the volumes are higher on patterns.  The motion is just a really strong arcing motion.  I would not attempt to use this ball on lighter volume patterns or as the lanes break down.

Another great piece from Brunswick!

The Mastermind comes out of the box at 1500 grit which will be great for heavy oil but heavy oil is not the case around my home town.  So I wet sanded the ball with 4000 so it took a little shine.  Now it's a ball that I can open up the whole lane with.  Heads start to go a little? No problem, get in and send it, recovers every time.  With the color scheme of the ball you can see it rev in the front then turn over on the back - easy to read and excellent entry angle to carry lots of off hits as well as solid pocket hits.  You want to cover lots of boards? Get the Mastermind.  You bowl on heavy oil? Get the Mastermind.  You want carry from extreme angles? Get the Mastermind.  You want to score big? You know...get the Mastermind.

Ray J. Edwards
Brunswick Regional Staff

I am a little late on my reviews. I really wanted to give a real solid review on these.

The Mastermind is the newest release in the Pro Performance. The Mastermind brings a new core and cover with a great shelf appeal. Colored in Orange, blue and black.

A little about me, I am slightly rev dominant, 12 degrees of tilt and 35 degrees of axis rotation. PAP is 4 over and 3/4 up.

My first ball was drilled 50x4.5x45. I really wanted to see how clean this ball really was. It really surprised me. I was expecting it to not be that clean, but was very clean but still slowed down to early. I put polish over top of the box finish. This got the ball farther down lane and provided a pretty good pop off the spot. When compared to a similar drill Paranormal Aura, the Mastermind is at least an arrow more hook.

The second drilled is 50x6x70. This ball has been left at box surface. Even with the 1500 grit surface, the ball sails through the front and makes a nice move downlane. I am able to chase the oil as deep as I have wanted to go so far without sacrificing great pin carry. I use this ball a lot at the one center in league. This center is a little tighter than most and this ball is great on that.

The Mastermind does need oil to perform at its best. Brunswick has knocked this one out of the park. It is by far the strongest ball they have but is stronger in all the right places. If you are looking for the a ball that hooks but still gets you down lane, this is the perfect ball for you!!

Brunswick Mastermind Review:

Ball Weight: 15 lbs.
Drill Pattern: 57* x 4” x 49*
PAP: 4 3/8” x 0”
SPEED: 18.0 – 18.5 mph (release)
TILT: 17*

I drilled the Brunswick Mastermind to be the most aggressive ball in my bag, and it has not disappointed. With the 57* x 4” x 49* drill pattern, the pin ended up in my ring finger with the PSA about 1” to the left of my thumb (I’m left handed). I did not need a weight hole, but have the option to add one if needed. I have used the Mastermind on a wide variety of lane conditions. I will post them below, as well as a brief synopsis of how the ball performed.

41 FT. TYPICAL HOUSE SHOT:

As you would imagine on a typical house shot (THS), I was able to play inside and create a lot of area with the Mastermind, with a good amount of “miss room”. The great thing about the Mastermind is that I am able to keep migrating further into the lane with my target and my feet and still have very good pin carry, which is not always true of other, high end,  aggressive balls I have reviewed and used in the past. Being on the left side allows me to stay further out longer, but having the ability to move inside and know you can carry is a valuable tool for all bowlers to have, and the Mastermind gives me that peace of mind.

KEGEL “ABBEY ROAD” OIL PATTERN:

This 40ft. Challenge Series pattern proved to be a very interesting pattern for the Mastermind. I tried it on the fresh, and found that even with 40ft. of oil, the Mastermind was getting too early of a read to get consistent pin carry. But, I bowled a (5) game block on the pattern, and by midway through game three, I was able to get further inside with the Mastermind and found a very nice ball reaction, where other balls were laboring to get back to the pocket. This was very impressive to me, and having the Mastermind to go to later in a block when others were starting to struggle with pin carry and angle to the pocket, gave me a leg up on other bowlers. In the tournament I used it, I was out of the cash cut until I took out the Mastermind the last game and a half, and ended up pulling out a check when it looked like I might not cash. The Mastermind will be my go to ball going forward on carry down and late block adjustments when I need to get further inside.

KEGEL ROUTE “66” OIL PATTERN:

This 45ft. Challenge Series oil pattern is by far my favorite oil pattern for the Mastermind. I was able to bowl a (6) game block, all with the Mastermind. The extra length of this pattern brought out the best in the Mastermind, as I was able to start deeper, around 17-18 at the arrows, and actually migrate left, out the about 13-14 at the arrows as the block progressed. Pin carry was phenomenal, and the ball never made the “herky-jerky” type of motion some balls do as the oil pattern breaks down. It was a very readable reaction, and strong off the back of the pattern. The Mastermind has to be your go to ball on longer and/or heavier blend oil patterns.

KEGEL “BROADWAY” OIL PATTERN:

I used the Mastermind on this 37ft. Challenge Series pattern, and found that this was the only pattern where I had a hard time using the ball for an entire block at box finish. I believe the shorter length of the pattern really steers away from the strong nature of the Mastermind, and I was able to get to the pocket from multiple angles, but pin carry was not as good as some of the longer or heavier oil patterns I have used the Mastermind on. But, the Mastermind takes to cover changes very well, and I applied some Brunswick Royal Shine to the cover stock, and transformed the Mastermind from a ball I had to leave in the bag, to one that dominated the Kegel Broadway oil pattern. The extra length provided by applying the Royal Shine allowed the Mastermind to get through the front part of the lane easily, while retaining enough energy to strike consistently from multiple angles. This is another great reason to own more than one Mastermind, keep one dull for the heavier patterns, and have one shined with Royal Shine for the shorter and broken down oil patterns. I was pleasantly surprised with the results after the cover change, and shows that the Mastermind really is a great all around bowling ball.

In closing, I would like to thank Parker Bohn and everyone at Brunswick Bowling. Brunswick truly has the best, most versatile lineup around. Showing what the Mastermind can do across a variety of oil patterns, from THS to long and short Challenge Series patterns, will help bowlers see the versatility of the Mastermind, and just how easily this ball can be used on a wide array of conditions. It is the first ball out of my bag on heavier patterns, and when the lanes carry down, I grab the Mastermind, move inside and have fun. I hope you enjoyed my review of the Brunswick Mastermind bowling ball, good luck and good bowling everyone. Go get your Mastermind today!

James Goulding III
Brunswick Advisory Staff

LANE CONDITION

Length:40

Volume:Heavier

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS


COMMENTS

Likes: Even with surface the ball is pretty easy to clear the fronts. Responds well late and keeps going.  The ball seems to carry very well so far.

Dislikes: Too dull at 1500 for my taste. Much better for me around 3000-4000.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS