- Core Type: Light Bulb
- Coverstock: PowrKoil 18 Pearl
- Finish: 500 Siaair Micro Pad; Rough Buff; High Gloss Polish
- RG Max: 2.567
- RG Min: 2.52
- RG Differential: .040
- RG Average: 4.9 (center heavy 1 - cover heavy 10)
- Hook Potential: 100 (low 10 - high 175)
- Length: 120 (early 25 - long 235)
- Breakpoint Shape: 85 (smooth 10 - angular 100)
- Description:
POWRKOIL™ 18 COVERSTOCK: PowrKoil 18 coverstock is a proven performer in the bowling industry. Aggressive in the oil and strong off the dry, PowrKoil 18 is a perennial favorite among all styles of bowlers. The Karma Blue / Green Pearl uses a pearlized version of PowrKoil 18 which provides more mid lane traction for a smooth continuous backend motion.
CORE: The Karma Blue / Green Pearl incorporates a familiar light bulb shape Medium RG Performance core that provides easy length through the heads, mid-lane stability while maintaining axis rotation for a strong continuous backend motion.
BALL MOTION: With its High Gloss box finish, the Karma Blue / Green Pearl will provide excellent length with a medium to quick response to friction at the breakpoint. The Karma Blue / Green Pearl is great ball for rev dominant and slower ball speed players on light oil conditions.
REACTION SETUP: The Karma can be drilled using the standard drilling techniques developed for symmetric bowling balls.
LIGHTWEIGHT ENGINEERING: At Brunswick, the unique core shape of each individual ball is used for weights from 12 to 16 pounds. This approach to lightweight ball engineering provides bowlers with consistent ball reaction characteristics across this weight range.
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: Approx 2"
Starting Top Weight: 3.0 oz
Ball Weight: 16 lbs
DRILL PATTERN
Dual Angle Layout: 55 Deg x 4 1/4" x 70 Deg
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: Higher aka Cranker
Ball Speed: 16.50 mph
PAP/Track: 5 3/8" over and 7/8" up with a high track
SURFACE PREP
Grit: Box - 500 & Rough Buff
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Polished
LANE CONDITION
Length: Multiple
Volume: Multiple
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS and Kegel Challenge Patterns
BALL REACTION(out of 10)
Length: 8
Back End: 7
Overall Hook: 7
Midlane Read: 6
Breakpoint Shape: 7
COMMENTS
Likes: This ball gets down the lane, and makes a strong continuous motion
Dislikes: None so far
From what I have heard, this is the Danger Zone Ice with new colors which I never had the original. The drilling that I used was to get the ball to start up earlier down lane and have a smoother transition. The ball clears the heads and continues through the pins on the Kegel patterns. With the peal cover, it is a great compliment to the solid cover Karma allowing it to get down lane further before reacting to the friction. Another great performing ball in the affordable performance Series!
Brunswick Advisory Staff
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation
Edited on 8/17/2011 at 8:44 AM
Left hander
High rev rate
Condition: THS late shift
My Karma Pearl came with a 3 inch pin with a top weight of 2.8. I drilled it with the pin almost an inch above my ring finger and slightly to the left. The cg was kicked slightly but no hole was needed. This is one of my weaker drillings I use. I used this after my late league one week. During the league I was using my Karma solid and bowled a nice 760. During game 3 I noticed it losing some hitting power as I had moved inside quite a bit. After league I got on the same pair with my Karma Pearl, played exactly where I finished with the solid, and Bam dead flush. I'd say its a good 5 boards difference than my Solid(my solid has a stronger layout), but has that backend motion the solid lacks when they start to burn up. I highly recommend this piece for lighter volume conditions.
Brunswick Eastern Region Staff Member
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Tweener. PAP 4 3/4 right, 5/8 up. 325 rpm, 17mph.
Drilled my Karma Pearl 5.25" - PAP which put the pin above the bridge, with the cg kicked out about an inch. The intent of this ball was to find a ball to fit between my Solid Karmas and my red/blue Damage with a similar layout. The Karma Pearl and Damage both have a pearl PK18 coverstock, just the Karma Pearl has a different core with a much lower rg.
The Karma Pearl ended up being much more aggressive in the backend than the Damage. As expected, it rolled up a little sooner than the Damage, but when it got to the breakpoint, it just wanted to dive left. On super burn this ball was fine, but it didn't quite have the chops to get really deep. I took it down to 4k to differentiate it from the Damage and it served a bit more of a purpose, but in my opinion is more of a gap ball
I drilled up a second Karma Pearl 4.5" - PAP with the pin down and a 1" pin. It is a little more even than the pin up, and was intended to match up to my Avalanche Green/Blacks. This ball is much more aggressive downlane than the Avalanches are, and again has the potential to lope a little more in the midlane resulting in squirt if you try to swing it. Again, not quite the ball I was hoping for, but I can definitely see it being useful on wooden walls.
When I look at ball reaction I want a finish that matches up to the oil volumes I see on the lanes, plus creatres shapes that I feel that I can repeat leading to good hitting power. The Karma Pearl's high gloss finish suits it for beat up lanes, but the shape I got was too snappy and a bit squirty. The ball really wants to kick left at the breakpoint and for that is a problem because the ball is strong enough to get me in the puddle, will yo yo off the dry but if pulled in the oil does very little. I like smoother shapes, because I think it gives me the greatest chance of getting to the pocket and striking, but this ball in box finish was a bit unpredictable. Without the polish it was a little better, and taking it down to 2k or lower would defeat the purpose of buying this ball because you could just pick up the solid (which is a stronger and more predictable ball).
From my experience, the Karma Pearl in box finish overlaps with the Damage and I like the Damage better because I see more predictability out of the Damage. If you are thinking about sanding the Karma Pearl just go out and buy a solid, it is a really good ball, while the Pearl has been a bit squirty for me.
This ball does flare and finish a lot more than the Avalanche Green/Black (a ball I really liked).
Any questions, send me a message!
Brandon Riley
Brunswick Advisory Staff
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer and not of Brunswick Corporation.
Edited on 12/08/2011 at 1:00 AM