BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Brunswick => Topic started by: AlonzoHarris on August 26, 2016, 03:23:26 PM
-
Many times in a series there is that one that stood out as the "best" one where the core and cover just matched so well. I have no experience with any of the Mastermind series and if I was to dabble in it, is there one that I should definitely check out?
-
The original Mastermind and the Brainiac are my two favorite. And since the new Strategy is very similar to the original, I would go with the Strategy if your looking a little more ball, or the Brainiac if you're looking for something more skid-snappy.
-
The original Mastermind and the Brainiac are my two favorite. And since the new Strategy is very similar to the original, I would go with the Strategy if your looking a little more ball, or the Brainiac if you're looking for something more skid-snappy.
Thanks for the input!
-
I have a friend that really likes the Mastermind Einstein. It's super versatile in terms of motion and cover changes for various conditions.
-
For me, on house shots, the Einstein was most versatile, with the new Strategy handling a tad more oil more easily.
-
Mastermind
-
If you can get your hands on the original Mastermind, do it! My all-time favorite ball! It's going to need a little more oil than some of the others (I would assume), but its got everything you would want out of a strong, med-heavy oil beast.
-
My synopsis of the Mastermind series:
Original: Rolly, even - great ball for staying straighter for med/heavy fresher lanes
Genius: Weaker version of the original
Intellect: Great for staying straighter on heavy flat patterns
Scholar: Sharpest off the breakpoint, a little too responsive for me on most surfaces
Einstein: Benchmark of the series - perfect blend between Brainiac/Strategy
Brainiac: Similar length to Scholar but much more predictable downlane
Strategy: Slightly stronger version of the original - for med/heavy fresh lanes
My favorites are the Brainiac and Einstein, which split the difference between my tanks (Grudges, Gurus) and midrange equipment
-
My synopsis of the Mastermind series:
Original: Rolly, even - great ball for staying straighter for med/heavy fresher lanes
Genius: Weaker version of the original
Intellect: Great for staying straighter on heavy flat patterns
Scholar: Sharpest off the breakpoint, a little too responsive for me on most surfaces
Einstein: Benchmark of the series - perfect blend between Brainiac/Strategy
Brainiac: Similar length to Scholar but much more predictable downlane
Strategy: Slightly stronger version of the original - for med/heavy fresh lanes
My favorites are the Brainiac and Einstein, which split the difference between my tanks (Grudges, Gurus) and midrange equipment
Very nice and informative reply! Thanks! Where would you see the Grudge Hybrid in the picture?
-
The mastermind series is great because the balls just roll so sweet and with the exception of the scholar are very controllable high performance balls. The grudge hybrid just wants to go left and like my nirvana, is simply too much ball for the majority of conditions that I bowl on based on my speed/rev rate
-
The Mastermind Series has been one of my favorite. My favorite out of the line is the original but this strategy is a very close second to me since its close to the original. If your looking to drill your first ball in the Mastermind line I would suggest the strategy as I am able to open angles more with a strategy than I was with the original.
-
I have to say that the OG Mastermind was the GOAT. I also liked the Scholar as well. The OG was a game changer and was the reason why I went to Big B. The cover/core combo was something I haven't seen on the market since I have been bowling. The cover of the Scholar was a much needed add. When the OG started to labor the cleaner cover of the Scholar kept me in play. I liked all of them, but the OG is the best and the next one would be Scholar.
-
What would be a better ball up from the Brainiac, the new Strategy or Einstein?
-
Both are a ball up from the Braniac both are earlier and will handle more oil just depends on how big a jump you want. I would kind of think of it as the Einstein being a 2-1 move the Strategy a 4-2. The strategy at OOB needs a lot more oil to work than the Einstein or Braniac though.
-
Alonzo, I would suggest the Strategy as a ball up from the Brainiac. It has a stronger solid coverstock than the Brainiac and would be able to handle heavier oil. The Einstein has a hybrid coverstock and would be a good ball that would fit in the middle of those 2.
-
Alonzo, I would suggest the Strategy as a ball up from the Brainiac. It has a stronger solid coverstock than the Brainiac and would be able to handle heavier oil. The Einstein has a hybrid coverstock and would be a good ball that would fit in the middle of those 2.
I agree and that's dead on.
-
The Strategy would give you the most difference with the Einstein in the middle and then the Brainiac as others have said.
-
I think the only ones that weren't super popular were the genius, scholar, and Einstein.
Hearing wonderful things about the brainiac and the synopsis is good on the strategy.
The OG mastermind I feel was the most beloved.
However they also hit another home run with the nirvana for a solid assym.
-
I think the only ones that weren't super popular were the genius, scholar, and Einstein.
Hearing wonderful things about the brainiac and the synopsis is good on the strategy.
The OG mastermind I feel was the most beloved.
However they also hit another home run with the nirvana for a solid assym.
I agree on the Genius it was junk, the Scholar was a good ball on the right conditions it just required a defined dry area or it was over under, the Einstein may have been the best ball in the series. It may not have sold as well I don know about that but I don't know a single bowler who threw one that didn't like it and I still see a lot of them in bowlers bags and on the lanes here.
-
I think the only ones that weren't super popular were the genius, scholar, and Einstein.
Hearing wonderful things about the brainiac and the synopsis is good on the strategy.
The OG mastermind I feel was the most beloved.
However they also hit another home run with the nirvana for a solid assym.
I agree on the Genius it was junk, the Scholar was a good ball on the right conditions it just required a defined dry area or it was over under, the Einstein may have been the best ball in the series. It may not have sold as well I don know about that but I don't know a single bowler who threw one that didn't like it and I still see a lot of them in bowlers bags and on the lanes here.
Amyers - what's your take on the Brainiac?
-
So - Will the Strategy be the last Mastermind??
-
The Einstein was my favorite. I had very low expectations for this ball. Very user friendly and great across a variety of conditions. Can't say enough good things about it.
-
I think the only ones that weren't super popular were the genius, scholar, and Einstein.
Hearing wonderful things about the brainiac and the synopsis is good on the strategy.
The OG mastermind I feel was the most beloved.
However they also hit another home run with the nirvana for a solid assym.
I agree on the Genius it was junk, the Scholar was a good ball on the right conditions it just required a defined dry area or it was over under, the Einstein may have been the best ball in the series. It may not have sold as well I don know about that but I don't know a single bowler who threw one that didn't like it and I still see a lot of them in bowlers bags and on the lanes here.
Amyers - what's your take on the Brainiac?
The Braniac is everything the Genius should have been but wasn't. Gets down the lanes but not as deep as the Scholar but doesn't have the over/under issues of that one either. I'm not sure that the Braniac and Einstein belong in the same bag but the OG Mastermind or the Strategy and Braniac make a good one two punch.
I do think the Strategy needs some additional surface if your going to try and use it as a replacement for the OG mastermind. My wife has the OG Nirvana and Brainiac in her bag and its a fantastic combo.
-
Here's my rundown of the series based upon the ones that I've thrown:
Original - the best true oiler of the group. As expected, the ball grabbed pretty early, but it still gave adequate downlane motion to promote carry.
Intellect - For me, this one was almost too much on the backend at box finish. I've never had a solid ball backend the way this one did. Now, when I knocked the shine off, it was smoother and more controllable. This was one of the best carrydown balls I've ever used!
Strategy - I've only thrown mine at box finish so far. For me, this one is pretty much between the original and the Intellect. It's definitely cleaner up front than the original, but it's not as violent on the backend as the Intellect was for me.
Einstein - I agree with everyone's take that this is a true benchmark ball. Smooth and even describes this ball perfect. For me, I've found very little use or this piece on house shots, which makes it very similar to how the IQ Tour Solid was for me. When the shot is tough, the Einstein is great. When it's wide open, and I'm looking to score, this usually isn't the ball that I want in my hands. It's a very good piece, but it's a niche ball for me.
Genius - The Genius was a unique ball motion for me. At box finish, it was too squirty for me. I liked it much better with the box shine knocked off a bit, which allowed the ball to pick up and be smoother/more continuous.
Overall, I think that it's been a really, really strong series of balls, one of the best Brunswick has had since the Inferno days. If you know what you want them for, you can pretty much cover any conditions with just a few from this line.
-
Intellect - For me, this one was almost too much on the backend at box finish. I've never had a solid ball backend the way this one did. Now, when I knocked the shine off, it was smoother and more controllable. This was one of the best carrydown balls I've ever used!
Yup. I love mine that I bought back in March. Such a strong move on the backend. I don't get to throw it a whole lot but when I do it's money. Great carry and entry angle. Generally the slot this occupies is filled with a strong pearl asymmetric ball but this is even better. A couple friends of mine bought one after seeing mine and they love it too. Really can't say enough about it.
-
My favorite in the Mastermind series is actually the Strategy. I just shot 300 with mine a couple of weeks ago and it's hard to put it down. It acts like the original Mastermind on steroids, just a nice heavy roll through the pins but a little "flippier" than the original. The original is my second favorite, followed by the Brainiac, the Genius, the Scholar, and finally the Intellect, which was my least favorite. To me, the Strategy ended up being what I THOUGHT the Intellect was going to be, that solid compliment to the original that had a little more back end motion, but I drilled a few Intellect's and neither the pin up or pin down layouts worked as well for me, even with multiple surface adjustments. But, that happens with any bowling ball series, you're going to have favorites and one you just won't match up with. That being said, I drilled Intellects for many customers who have shot some great numbers with them, so you can't really go wrong with ANY Mastermind, just find the one that matches up to your game and stock up on them! :)