LANE CONDITION

Length:

Volume:

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):


COMMENTS

Likes:
My video for the Brunswick Nirvana.Today September 22,2015 is the WWRD.
Angela Wilt
http://www.bowlwithbrunswick.com/balls/detail/nirvana/

Dislikes:


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

Bowler’s Stats:
Speed: 18.5-19 mph
Rev Rate: 425-450 rpm
Axis Rotation: 30-60 degrees
Axis Tilt: 5-7 degrees
Ball Layout: 45* by 5” by 45*

Initial Thoughts: Based on the literature, I knew the Nirvana would be close to the top of my bag based on overall hook potential. The new ultra-low RG core plus the new ECS cover at 1500 grit means that this ball will be a go-to for longer and heavy volume patterns.

On the lanes: In the first few shots, it was obvious the Nirvana is just as advertised; loads of hook with more than enough of it coming downlane. I’ve yet to bowl on a pattern that would truly let me stick with the Nirvana for more than just a game as my league patterns around here are not very heavy and/or on softer lane surfaces. That being said, while tinkering around in practice I’ve seen great reaction so long as I keep in in the oil as long as possible. For the most part this means playing about 5th arrow out to about 10-11 at the breakpoint. Since even our fresh house shots aren’t that forgiving from that angle, I can’t wait to throw it on some real length and volume. Compared to the Radical Guru Master (layout of 45* by 4.5” by 70*) the Nirvana has similar overall hook potential just with more of it coming from further downlane. Hence if you find the Guru Master to be a little too rolly later in sets, I’d suggest you take a good look at the Nirvana. Compared to my Mastermind Einstein, the Nirvana is a good 3-4 boards move inside if I want to project the ball out to the same breakpoint. Therefore if you love your Einstein but are looking for a little more reaction on heavier oil then the Nirvana is also the answer here.

Closing Summary: With all of the buzz surrounding the Nirvana, it does an amazing job of backing it up. It’s a super strong overall ball motion with plenty of downlane motion that is truly rare for such a strong asymmetric. Mine will be traveling with me quite a bit for longer and heavier patterns and I already plan on getting another one and drilling it pin down to allow me to play a little straighter to start out. Simply put, the Nirvana is a no-brainer if you’re looking for an insanely strong ball that provides a more complete ball motion.

LANE CONDITION

Length: medium to long

Volume: High



COMMENTS

This ball is the real deal! After having mine for a couple weeks, I can't get it out of my hands!

Mine is drilled 70 x 4 1/2" x 35. I've thrown it on a couple different patterns: fresh house shot, fresh 2010 PBA Viper, and second shift house shot.

On the fresh house shot, the Nirvana was awesome. With our high volume, I usually lean towards throwing balls that roll earlier, but as they break down and I move towards the middle of the lane, the early rolling balls don't have enough "giddyup" to drive through the pins. The new NIRVANA reads the mids but turns and goes through the pins the exact same as it did when I started. For shiggles, I even tried standing in the left gutter and really flipping my hand around it to see if I can go coast-to-coast. The Nirvana just didn't stop! I can't emphasize enough how much this ball drives through the pins.

On the old Viper, I was very impressed that the Nirvana was still able to play. On that 37' version of the Viper, straighter angles are best, especially on the fresh. I wouldn't have thought a big hooking ball would do the trick, since they usually force me to open my angles. With a hand position that allows me to roll a little more up the back, I was able to stay in the area between 5-10 and control the pocket and still get great power and drive through the pins. I continued to use it all four games, making small 2 & 1 moves, and finished high in our sport league on the night by more than 70 pins.

The second-shift house shot is the only place I found the slightest bit of trouble with it. This league follows a women's league that primarily throws plastic balls down the middle of the lane. By the time we get on the lanes, a good chunk of oil is sitting right in front of the headpin, forcing people to play right and using the oil there as their hold area. At the beginning of the night, the story is the same; the Nirvana rolls great on the lane and drives through the pins. When the track area starts to hook from the increased lineage, the strong cover and asymmetric core are a little too much off the friction, but there is too much oil in front of the pocket. The best plan of attack is to try and stay to the outside as long as possible and keep using the plastic-ball carry-down, so when the Nirvana starts reacting too strongly, switching to a Vandal and staying put is a better bet.

The Nirvana is going to be THE choice for strokers, crankers, and everybody in between. We all want a ball that picks up, goes, and continues through the pins. This is IT and you need to have one.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

Bobby Benton
Maryland

Brunswick Nirvana (http://www.bowlwithbrunswick.com/balls/detail/nirvana/)
70 x 5 x 35 (OOB Surface)

Personal Stats:
400-450 RPM
18-20 MPH
PAP - 5 5/8" over, 1" up
Axis Tilt - Estimated 8-12 Degrees
Current League Average: 243

Intended Use:
I used the 70 x 5 x 35 layout to provide some length, knowing how strong this cover was supposed to be. I planned on this ball taking over for my pin-up Guru with a similar layout in my bag.

Reaction:
Hook. A lot of it. So far, this ball hooks so much that I don't have much I can throw it on. It's too strong for most of the house patterns I see, but I have gotten a chance to bowl three weeks on the 47 foot Scorpion pattern with it. This is the only ball I get motion on the fresh pattern with, confirming it's overall strength.

Overall:
If you are looking for that top-end piece in your bag, the Nirvana easily fills it. Those guys that have higher speeds or lower rev rates will appreciate the Nirvana's ability to open up angles and allow you to to left to right.

BALL SPECS


Pin Length: 3"


Starting Top Weight: 3.1 oz


Ball Weight: 15 lbs 4 oz



DRILL PATTERN


Ball: 65 x 3 3/4 x 35


X Hole (if there is one): P1 Hole



BOWLER STYLE


Rev Rate: 375 rpms


Ball Speed:17.5 mph



PAP/Track: 4 3/4 over 3/4 up



SURFACE PREP


Grit: Box Finish


Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Refreshed box 500, 2000, 4000 Siaair



LANE CONDITIONS


Lengths of patterns: 41 foot house shot and 44 foot London Sport pattern



Volumes:  moderate



Type: house and sport




BALL REACTION


Length: Clean through the heads and strong read in the midlane with smooth predictable power down lane



Back End: Strong arc


Overall Hook: Strong but versatile


Midlane Read: Strong


Breakpoint Shape: arc



COMMENTS


Likes: Overall hook



Dislikes: The ball may be a little strong for drier house shots

The Nirvana combines Brunswick's newest coverstock technology with some of its heritage to make one of the most aggressive yet durable balls on the market.  This ball uses the new Composite Coverstock Technology which exhibits a few traits that are uncharacteristic of typical resin technology.  Somehow composite technology allows the bowler to stay in the same spot for longer periods of time.  It also doesn't seem to saturate itself with oil and plasticizer nearly as quickly as other coverstocks do.  I have tested this theory on two other balls using composite coverstock technology.  I found that after 40 games of use the balls do not bleed oil in a rejuvenator.  I have also noticed no loss in performance what so ever with regular maintenance.  The Nirvana uses a newer version of this technology that is more aggressive and handles more oil than that used in the past.  I found it to hook earlier and be smoother than a Mastermind Einstein.  It is also considerably more aggressive than the Mastermind it replaces.  This will be a ball that I use on some slicker patterns.  It was very good on the fresh 44 foot London pattern I used it on.  It also will be very good for players that are speed dominant, rev challenged, or those who spin the ball.  Simply put this ball gives you traction when others don't!  If you need more traction in heavy oil and are looking for a ball that will maintain its reaction longer give this new Composite cover technology a try.  You won't be disappointed!

LANE CONDITION

Length: 43ft

Volume: 24mL

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes: Strong mid-lane and back end, consistent reaction, accepts surface changes and release changes well.

Dislikes:

     I drilled my Nirvana 70x3.75x30. This ball has really impressed me. The new coverstock technology that Brunswick has produced has given the new releases a new ball motion. The new ECS cover is strong in the mids and backend and doesn't quit as it goes through the pins. What I was most pleased about is the consistent reaction as the games progress. The ball has plenty of hook in oil, but doesn't lose the "pop" down lane as the night goes on and the pattern opens up. For fun, I took my Nirvana to 4000 grit for 1 minute in the Haus. With the surface change, I was able to get the ball longer down the lane and see a huge increase in backend reaction. I haven't had time to test the ball on flatter patterns . . . I can't wait to see how it looks on something more challenging.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

BALL SPECS

Ball Weight: 15 lbs


DRILL PATTERN

Dual Angle: 30 × 5 3/4 x 40

X Hole (if there is one): Yes


BOWLER STYLE

Rev Rate: Medium , between 250-275 rpm

Ball Speed: 17-18 mph

PAP/Track: 5 1/2" over and 1/2" down


SURFACE PREP

Grit: Box Finish

Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Sanded


COMMENTS

The Brunswick Nirvana, all I can say about this ball is OMG. The ball rolls absolutely AMAZING, ball is super clean through the front due to the new Composite Coverstock while retaining energy and exploding on the backend.  I drilled mine with these angles to give me a little bit more length and more backend on the backend and it does exactly that.  The Nirvana is a ball needed in your bag for extremely tough oil patterns because it will give you the perfect roll you are looking for.


Charles Withers II
Brunswick Advisory Staff

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.