Ball Review: Wild Card
Date: 11/04/09

Bowler Information:

Initial ball Speed: 16.5 - 17 mph
Tilt: 10 Degrees
Axis Rotation: 30 Degrees
Rev Rate: 300-340 RPMs

Coverstock - Connexion Solid
RG min - 2.469”
Differential - .045”

Drill Specs:
Pin to PAP - 5”
Degree From VAL: 70"
Vertical Pin Orientation: Down
Drill Angle - 65"


Surface:

OOB 2000 Siaair Micropad

The Wild Card is a new generation of benchmark ball from Brunswick. With this new release they have taken the Connexion coverstock in the solid form and placed it on the Paragon Core. This ball gives the bowler a midlane read with more response than Brunswick fans and bowlers in general have seen from Brunswick in the past on the backend. With the slower response layout I choose I was looking for a smoother rolling piece to read lanes with and keep me in play when the pattern is wet dry and I can't get to the pocked with other balls. This ball gave me a predictable read in the midlane with plenty of hook and pin action that is definitely better than smoother rolling balls that Brunswick has had in the past. Connexion coverstock definitely has improved continuation at the pins when compared with Powerkoil 18 or Activator coverstock. I got everything I asked for and more with the Wild Card. In spite of its large hook potential, I could see this ball being the go to ball across a variety of lane conditions as it is already become the first ball out of the bag for me in a short time. When you need a ball to conquer the lanes pull out the ace in the hole...the Wild Card.
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Chris Garrett
Upstate Pro Shop
Greenville, SC - 1-866-490-9980
Upstateproshop@charter.net

PBA Member
Brunswick Advisory Staff
Vise Regional Staff

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Brunswick Corporation.

Ball: Brunswick Wild Card

Layout:

Pin 5” from PAP, above ring finger
CG on midline, ¾” to right of grip center
No XH

Initial Surface Preparation:

Box finish

Purpose:

I’ve been looking for something that I can use to open up the back end on heavier medium conditions where the fronts are tight and I can’t really give away a lot of the pocket.  Over the course of a tournament season, I see a number of “modified house shots,” where there is more volume than usual on the outside part of the lane.  On conditions like this, the Siege and Wild Thing tend to over-read the midlanes, and the Wild Ride and Rattler don’t pick up the friction quickly enough.

Why this ball?

The Wild Card caught my attention because of its combination of a solid version of the ConneXion cover and the low-RG Paragon core.  What I was hoping to get with the Wild Card was the same basic breakpoint shape and movement through the pin deck that I’ve seen with the Wild Thing, but with an earlier midlane read.

Observations:

I’ve thrown the Wild Card a few times at a center with five-year-old Pro Anvilane, in a second-shift league.  The Wild Card gave me a decent look to the pocket, but I really had to watch the speed if I wanted to get the corners out.  So I changed my alignment to use more of the dry on the outside, and this did the trick.  I didn’t lose the pocket, and I got enough midlane help to where I could carry.  I did have to make sure I maintained this more open alignment as the pattern broke down, for while the reaction was still serviceable through the oil, my carry was better when the ball hit more friction.

I also used the Wild Card at a center with HPL in front and older wood in back, on a fresh house condition.  The Wild Card did a great job of blending out the ball reaction from front to back.  The ball was clean through the front, picked up the midlane nicely, and was very strong through the pins.  I also had more leeway to miss in the oil, because of the higher friction in back.  As the condition broke down, I was able to make proportional moves to the left, and still get good recovery from the dry.
 
Conclusions:

The first time I threw the Wild Card, I was reminded of the general reaction shape of the Ultimate Inferno remake, with a few key similarities and a few noticeable differences.  Like the Ultimate, the Wild Card has that prototypical midlane read for which the Zone and Inferno lines have become known.  Also like the Ultimate, the Wild Card carries best when it can get all the way to the dry boards.  Unlike the Ultimate, though, the Wild Card won’t over-bounce when it hits friction too early in the ball path.  In addition, when the transition forces me inside, the Wild Card retains energy well enough to turn the corner and still strike, while the Ultimate tended to labor down lane for me when I had to give up the pocket.

For me, the Wild Card has been doing a good job of filling the “strong and sharp” spot in the bag.  Because of its combination of power and forgiveness, I expect this ball to see quite a bit of action as the tournament season progresses.

NOTE:  The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
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Ray Salas
Brunswick Amateur Staff
http://www.brunswickbowling.com

I have finally thrown this enough to post a review. I drilled mine 75x6x30. I wanted a stronger ball drilled weaker, more for THS. I polished it some and it is great. The WC is about 2 stronger than my Wild Thing drilled 65x5x35. I like this ball alot. It is smoother than the WT and C System but does hook a little more. Also carries very well. Very predictable(trademark Brunswick). I have just drilled another one as well. I drilled it 70x1 1/2x40. Hit it with 4000 then polish. I needed this ball for the one center I bowl at. Needed to stay closer to the track longer and it fits the bill great. Haven't thrown it much but will post more later. If you are looking for a ball that hooks and controls the breakpoint, look no farther than the Wild Card.
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Adam Baer
BRUNSWICK ADVISORY STAFF
VISE REGIONAL STAFF
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation

I have had my Wildcard(s) for about a week now and have had the opportunity to throw them quite a bit. Both are drilled differently - one with my favorite drilling pin in the palm, cg kicked out with a hole and the other has the pin way above the fingers with no weight hole. Both have box fnishes on them as well.

The pin in the palm WC picks up an early rolls but still has a continuous motion down the lane. My pin up WC gets down the lane pretty long with more of an angular motion in the back. They compliment each other really well so it's easy for me to go back and forth between the two.

Both are a GREAT addition to any arsensal that is lacking this type of equipment.
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Stefanie Nation

BRUNSWICK WILD CARD

LAYOUT: Pin 4" from PAP, slightly above fingers, CG stacked about 2"right of grip center. No extra hole used.

FINISH: Box finish (2000)

OBSERVATIONS: What I was hoping for was a solid with a little more angularity than most Brunswick solids. Typically reading the midlane has never been a problem with Brunswick equipment, however, creating more angularity late hasn't been too easy for me.

This ball is DIFFERENT than it's predecessors! After using it for a few months I can honestly say that this one is my favorite Brunswick solid in a long time. For the "typical house shot" I have found it best at 4000 where the ball recovers very strong late.

Recently I bowled on a VERY LONG AND FLAT PATTERN. I adjusted the cover back to 2000 in anticipation. The Wild Card was the ball choice over the Diamondback for this reason. Both read the lane at roughly the same point, however the Wild Card responded faster to the friction on the back end. This allowed me more room to "miss" and still find pocket.

SUMMARY: Both this ball and the Diamondback have been great on house shots to blend out the pattern front to back as well as side to side. The difference is that this (Wild Card) cover and core seem to do better when the lanes are on the slick side. I gave one to my son for Christmas and it's his "go to" ball whenever the lanes seem spotty or his game isn't quite "on" and he always finds a way to score with it. I plan to use mine more and more because of it's versatility. Dull to shiny this one is a keeper!


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Lane Carter, Strike Zone Pro Shops - Salt Lake City, Utah
Brunswick Pro Shop Staff

www.brunswickbowling.com

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

Ball Name - Wild Card

Bowler Specs

Right Handed
Tweener
15 MPH
4000 Polished Surface

Description - The Wild Card introduces Connexion Solid Coverstock to the Wild Series of bowling balls.  This coverstock along with the Paragon Core is destined to be another success.

Drilling - This ball is drilled 4 x 5 with not weight hold.  This drilling will give the look of a basic "over the label" drilling.

Reaction - The ball is exactly what I expected.  Clean thru the fronts, easy pick up in the midlane, and a smooth continuous arc on the backend.  This ball's reaction helps me keep control of the pocket and does not over react at any time.

Overall - I like this ball and will drill another with a stronger drill and different coverstock.

Thank you to Billy O, new product rep Brian Bever, and all the good folks of Brunswick.


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Roger Harley, Jr
IBPSIA Certified
USBC Certified Coach
Brunswick Advisory Staff

***The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Bowling & Billards Corporation***

The first thing that comes to my mind about this ball is pure control. This is one the balls first out of my bag to read the lanes. Drilled this wild card pin in the middle finger and cg kicked out. This layout made this ball extremely smooth. Recently got back from USBC Nationals and was able to use this ball all thought doubles and also for about a game in team. This ball just absolutely read the lanes perfectly!!!!!!!!!