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Author Topic: Mastermind Strategy  (Read 19945 times)

BallReviews-scodaddy21

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Mastermind Strategy
« on: June 16, 2016, 11:51:29 AM »
Strategy is a crucial part of any sport and bowling is no different. The Brunswick Mastermind Strategy pairs the Relativity Solid Reactive coverstock with the Modified Mastermind Asymmetric core to offer a ball that has a strong and controllable hook motion when used on medium to heavy oiled lanes. The ball motion of the Mastermind Strategy is similar to the one produced by the original Mastermind.

Color: Blue/Violet/Orange All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
Core: Modified Mastermind Asymmetric
Coverstock: Relativity Solid
Finish: 500, 2000 Siaair
Reaction: Strong and controllable hook motion
RG: 2.504**
Differential: 0.048****
RG and Diff are based off of 15 lb. balls
Hook Potential: 240 (scale 10-250)
Length: 105 (scale 25-235)
Breakpoint Shape: Angular
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy Oil

 

TBohannon

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #16 on: August 25, 2016, 11:42:57 PM »









Strategy is a crucial part of any sport and bowling is no different. The Brunswick Mastermind Strategy pairs the Relativity Solid Reactive coverstock with the Modified Mastermind Asymmetric core to offer a ball that has a strong and controllable hook motion when used on medium to heavy oiled lanes. The ball motion of the Mastermind Strategy is similar to the one produced by the original Mastermind.

Color: Blue/Violet/Orange All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
Core: Modified Mastermind Asymmetric
Coverstock: Relativity Solid
Finish: 500, 2000 Siaair
Reaction: Strong and controllable hook motion
RG: 2.504**
Differential: 0.048****
RG and Diff are based off of 15 lb. balls
Hook Potential: 240 (scale 10-250)
Length: 105 (scale 25-235)
Breakpoint Shape: Angular
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy Oil


Length:

Volume:

Type (THS,

Likes:

Dislikes:


I drilled this one 50 x 4 x 35 pinup slightly off to right of fingers. Ball is very smooth and controllable. Ball is quite strong off the spot definitely as strong as the original mastermind.


Tom Bohannon
Brunswick Advisory Staff

Brandon Riley

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #17 on: August 26, 2016, 02:15:05 PM »
Drilled my Mastermind Strategy 55x4.75x65 (pin below bridge) to compliment my Brainiac which has continued to grow on me as one of the staples of my tournament bag.  The Strategy gives me traction in the midlane with a heavy roll that sets up in front of the pins.  Our local house has been kind enough to lay down 43' Dead Man's Curve all summer and this ball has been an absolute killer on fresh.  Most of my other stronger balls are too responsive downlane on fresh sport patterns, causing mediocre shots to hook through the face.  The rollier shape of the Strategy gives me more forgiveness and predictability on fresh allowing my marginal shots to be 9 counts from around the pocket instead of 7-8 counts from hooking into the pins.
The only negative of using a pin down solid ball playing inside on long patterns is that the carry is just so so.  I personally am more comfortable moving in and circling the ball more than staying up the back to the right so this ball fits right into my wheel house.  As a player who typically struggles on fresh, this ball has been an absolute godsend by giving me a look that the "clean through the front/explosive on the backend" balls cannot offer.

To compare this ball to anything in my bag, it is a step more early/even than my Guru Supreme (the wall killer) and is a great option for fresh in my tournament bag.  It starts up a few feet sooner and is a couple stronger than my Brainiac, which is drilled very similarly and is the perfect step down once the Strategy either starts up too soon (forces me too far left) or begins to labor around the corner.  In terms of overall hook it is close to my Vandal Smash and Melee Hook, but with an earlier, lower response shape reminding me most of my Hell Raiser Revenge.
I recommend this ball for tournament bowlers looking for help on fresh sport patterns.  This ball will be a step stronger and flatter off the spot than your benchmark ball, giving it that perfect shape for keeping you out of trouble while tricky patterns settle in for those first couple of games.
Brandon Riley
Brunswick Regional Staff

jpbowl300

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #18 on: August 29, 2016, 02:13:50 PM »
A really well designed, predictable rolling ball to complement the Mastermind line.  Mine is OOB finish, drilled pin under ring finger, and I've found it to work well on any volumes medium to heavy.  I have slow to average ball speed, and don't have any problems with this ball hooking too much.

In fact, it picks up just enough on the fresh to kick out the corners while still giving me the feeling that I'm in control of the ball reaction.  As the midlane begins to transition, and this drilling causes the ball to burn up a bit, I can then move to an ultimate Nirvana and open up the lane nicely.

I've used this ball primarily on Kegel Autobahn (42'), with good success on the fresh.  Highly recommend it if you're looking for an aggressive asymmetrical that you can manage confidently.  A nice enhancement and upgrade to the original Mastermind.

Jeff Poholsky
Brunswick Advisory Staff

Brian Green

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #19 on: September 06, 2016, 10:46:32 PM »
Bowler Stats
Left Handed
pap 5 over 3/4 up
axis tilt 17degrees
rev rate 425-450
ball speed 17.5-18mph

Ball Specs
15lbs
pin 2-3
top 3oz

I drilled my Mastermind Strategy 65 x 5.5 x40  this put  the pin in my middle finger and the cg about 1/2in off my grip centerline..   no x hole was needed....   

The Mastermind Strategy is the ball I go to once the heavier oil patterns  I see in tournaments  starts to transition...  this is a ball I can throw when I need to move in and get around it but it still has enough teeth to cut through the oil and make it back.   The great thing about the Mastermind Strategy is that it continues through the pins better than any ball in its price point......

The Mastermind Strategy is a ball Every Bowler Should have in their bag
Striking Effects Pro Shop - Simply the Best

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Brunswick Advisory Staff 2016

bigtdog69

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #20 on: September 12, 2016, 03:18:53 PM »
Bowling Ball – Brunswick Mastermind Strategy
Coverstock – Relativity Solid
Factory Finish – 500 Siaair, 2,000 Siaair
Ball Layout – 60 x 5 5/8 x 60

The Mastermind Strategy is going to be a benchmark ball for most bowlers in my opinion.  The Strategy is very similar to the original Mastermind but continues through the pins much harder than the original.  Like most Brunswick balls the Strategy gets through the heads very clean and reads the mid-lane very well.
My benchmark ball has been the Mastermind Brainiac.  The Brainiac gets down the lane further than the Strategy and when the Brainiac sees friction it snaps harder than the Strategy.  The Strategy reads the lane about three to four feet earlier than the Brainiac and has a stronger mid-lane roll and is smoother off the spot than the Brainiac.  However, it drives through the pins just as hard as the Brainiac.
When I need a ball to read a little earlier and not snap as hard off the spot the Strategy will be the ball I choose.  The Strategy is going to be a great ball for medium to heavy oil especially when the Absolute Nirvana, or any of the other balls in the Nirvana line, are too much hook.  I am very excited about this release because it’s a ball that fills a gap that I have had in my arsenal.

Troy LaBrie
Brunswick Regional Staff

jpeery13

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #21 on: September 15, 2016, 08:47:39 PM »
Likes: Another great Brunswick ball that has an even roll all the way down the lane.  I also like that it is smooth when it checks up to the pocket - NO skid/flip.  It has a rough cover stock and I was thinking that it was going to really hook but it was so tame and didn't overhook like I had thought - great control through the whole lane.  I am left handed - it is 15-lb and the pin is at 11:00 to the upper left of the ring finger about a half inch away from the finger hole.  I'm really liking the whole concept that Brunswick is bringing to the public.  You have control of the ball and not the ball having control over you.   

Dislikes: Is that I don't own more than one.

TamerBowling

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #22 on: September 24, 2016, 09:31:21 PM »
LANE CONDITION

Length: 40ft

Volume: medium THS

COMMENTS

Check out our complete review and video:
http://tamerbowling.com/brunswick-mastermind-strategy-bowling-ball-review/


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

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DV8lefty

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #23 on: September 28, 2016, 07:43:03 AM »
Left handed

Average: 230

Rev Rate: 390

Pattern Length:39'

Volume:22 ml

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS




The Mastermind strategy has a great ball motion, and tremendous hitting power! This ball seems to pick up the pattern much better than other balls with some type of surface to it. The Mastermind strategy has a much better response for getting into a roll much quicker, picking up the mid-lane and the ball still has plenty of energy for changing direction on the backends and driving through the pins.
I have drilled mine 4 1/2 inches off my axis point, with a small weight hole right on my axis point, to help keep the ball smooth throughout the motion on the lane.
So if your looking for a strong rolling ball for that heavy oil condition, this is the one!





Gene J Kanak

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #24 on: September 28, 2016, 10:12:44 AM »
LANE CONDITION

Length: 42 feet

Volume: Medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes: Very easy length; good energy retention; strong move off the spot

Dislikes: The big move down-lane can lead to some ugly misses.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

I was fortunate to receive a Strategy from Ron Bragg and the other nice folks at Brunswick after my beloved Mastermind Intellect (underrated ball) was no more. I've heard many people claim that the the Strategy is like the original Mastermind. To me, it's actually more like the aforementioned Intellect.

I enjoyed the original Mastermind a great deal. It was early, smooth, and never too jumpy. The Intellect was a perfect next ball up when the original began to struggle making it back with energy. For me, that's just how the Strategy is. The Strategy gets through the front of the lane with ease on most patterns before reading the mid and really exploding in the back. Where the Strategy and Intellect differ for me is in the shape they take as they move on the back end. Where the Intellect was flippy (at least at box finish), the Strategy is a bit  smoother, which promotes better movement through the pins and better carry.

I haven't tried any surface adjustments yet, but that will be coming soon. I'm guessing that will make the ball just a bit earlier and smooth out the backend a bit, which could make this ball just about perfect!

Brunswick_fan_BrandonH

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #25 on: October 18, 2016, 04:27:04 PM »
BALL SPECS

Ball Weight: 16 lbs


DRILL PATTERN

Dual Angle Layout: 40 x 5 x 70

X Hole (if there is one): P3


BOWLER STYLE

Rev Rate: Higher, between 370 and 410 rpm, 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 – 2000

Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Sanded


LANE CONDITION

Length: Multiple

Volume: Multiple

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Multiple


BALL REACTION

Length: 7 / 10

Back End: 8 / 10

Overall Hook: 9 / 10

Midlane Read: 7 / 10

Breakpoint Shape: Great length with strong backend motion


COMMENTS

Likes: This ball is good in heavier oil conditions and has good length

Dislikes: None

The Mastermind Strategy is as good as the Original with more backend reaction. This ball matches up well on heavier oil conditions or where you need a stronger overall motion. Even with the box 2000 surface and a pin under drilling drilling with a strong 1st angle of 40 degrees, my Mastermind Strategy goes 40 - 45 feet before starting to hook and has great continuation through the pins. Plus, I can keep chasing left to stay in the oil on a house shot without losing downlane reaction. The changes to the coverstock formulation from the original Mastermind and the use of composite technology will help keep the ball hooking longer before having to have the oil extracted. Also, this ball doesn't lane shine as quickly which will allow the surface adjustments to last longer. This ball would make a great first ball out of the bag and when it starts to hook too much, you could go to the Mastermind Brainiac to get more length. I have been able to use this ball in league and on longer sport shots.

Here is a video of me throwing the Mastermind Strategy:
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piper3595

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Re: Mastermind Strategy
« Reply #26 on: January 23, 2017, 12:56:11 PM »
The Mastermind Strategy is by far my new favorite ball in my bag. This ball has that original Mastermind shape but is more continuous through the pins. This ball can cover a lot of boards as the original did but a more continuous ball motion that creates better angle through the pins. This ball shoots through the front part of the lane further than the original did. This creates the ability to open up your angles more with this ball and not lose pin carry while doing so. This ball is my go to when tackling a fresh heavier oil lane condition. This ball has quickly become a favorite of mine and is a must have in anyone’s bag. Stop by your local pro shop and pick one out today.   

Greg