900 Global Zen Soul Bowling Ball Video | BowlerX Full Uncut Review with JR Raymond

900 Global Zen Soul Review

Name: 900 Global Zen Soul
Brand: 900 Global
Rating: 4.8 (48 reviews)

While no longer in production, the 900 Global Zen Soul remains an excellent option on the used market for bowlers seeking versatile performance on medium to heavy oil conditions with predictable, controllable motion.

By BowlingBallVideos.com Staff Tested Apr 22, 2026 7 videos analyzed 48 verified bowler reviews

what's up guys jr raymond back again coming to you from bowler x pro shop and training center here inside waterford lanes where today we've got the new ball from roto or from 900 global not that i think it was from roto grip that's weird they're all the same pretty much the same family i guess 900 global the zen soul now this is something i'm kind of i've got high hopes for because the zen master for me didn't fit in my bag it was a little too early and still smooth i needed it to be

a little cleaner in that with that smoothness for it to really fit in my bag the right way i'm hoping this ball can blend in with my gem my gem is the stronger piece i'm hoping this is just a little bit weaker but similar type of ball reaction is that so we're gonna take it out here i got the same 45 by four and a half by 45 layout on it i got it on a 42 foot loop condition we're gonna take it out here and see what it's got in a minute stay tuned [Music]

all right guys here we go i got the zen soul by 900 global typical 45 by four and a half by 45 layout i got it here on a 42 foot league condition on the new surface here again pardon the the dust the mess the noise you can see in the background here we got some some putting in some new lanes so we're going to be working through some noise no big deal again just pay attention to ball motion and uh hopefully you can still hear what i'm saying so we're going to start at the 8 9 10 range or i'm going to change that now it's going to be the 9 10 11 range i

always say 8 9 10 and i always hit like 9 10 or 11 so let's do that oh and i hit almost 12. well that was not good let's uh let's let's redo that because that was bad i'm gonna blame the phone that was the phone ringing phone got me caught me i wasn't ready for it don't do that again here we go

regroup try again focus junior focus a little better a little gooder much gooder all right so that actually blended through there really nice compared to like some other ones like the bloody ocean or the black pearl treasure that one didn't blend in there very well that one hit the dry and it went left

this one blended so a lot like the gem so again you're gonna hear me you're gonna hear me compare this to the gem because that's my hopes is that i can get it to be somewhat similar to that obviously this is a symmetrical ball it's not a uh it's not an asym like a gem but that's okay i still want the cover stock to help me out like the gem so remove five left try to get to that 13 14 spot

i love that see that's what i like it's clean through the front it doesn't over hook it doesn't overreact and when it gets down lane it starts to make its motion and continues smoothly off of it it doesn't look like somebody kicks it so it's like the opposite of that bloody ocean or the black pearl because that one really gets going this one smooths out the transition the ball transition we've got some noise we got a saw going

cutting cutting stuff pardon the noise but here we go let's get to 16 17-ish yeah and again that's that spot and i think it's this pattern the way this house pattern's set up it doesn't quite have all that volume in the middle yet because we just kind of threw something out there it's like oh this is a 42 foot pattern throw it out there and it's supposed to be softer but it's playing flatter so

i think this is closer to like a maybe a four to one or a five to one pattern than it would be like an eight or a ten to one like a house pattern so you're seeing the flatness in the middle a little bit not enough of a christmas tree there because now when you go left from there now i'm gonna try that same thing i did with that black pearl i actually moved my eyes further right to try to get it through that spot see if it'll get there

nope that one don't want to because this one reads earlier whereas that black pearl it actually it reads a little bit later so this one reads early this one reads i feel like i'm it's picking up at like that 30 foot range now some people will sit there and try to tell you that you know you're trying to play ball reaction off the back of a pattern that your ball's not going to hook before the end of the pattern most people are crazy those people are looking at an awful lot of over under if they're trying to get their ball only to hook at the back of the pattern

we're trying to get the ball to hook before that that's for sure to start changing direction all right so let's go five more left now we're gonna get to that 1819 spot hopefully this one will shove down there see this one is really it's smooth off of it but it's early and i feel like this is going to be one of those

maybe not as versatile as the gem i don't know that it's going to force me to open my angles up but i don't know if it'll go through the pins because that one really picked up really got going i'm trying to go further left see if it'll get through the pins from over here

look at that thing make its motion but it doesn't quit that's my i mean it might actually be really good from further left i don't know this might be real similar to the gem maybe just not as strong overall because the gems asymmetric maybe a little stronger cover let me get up against the ball return try to throw it to the right because i don't think this one will hang like this one won't wiggle this one's just going to pick up and get coming like that

let's find out that'll tell me yep look at that that's sickening that's gross that is just disgusting like it just it never wiggles it never hangs it just gets going and it just drives through the pins whereas a lot of other balls when you start to open your angle up like that it's going to flat down it's going to get to that corner make its motion and kind of stop and flat 10. so then it's going to deflect until the nine pin and

watch that six pin lay in the gutter let's see if it's any good in front of the ball return come on now no way no way that's one thing the gem can't do the gem does stop from there anywhere right of 25 the gem does well

gems the most versatile ball in my bag but if the gem stops and isn't going through it this might be the next best bet i'm gonna go even further left let's see if we can get a little lofty loft here see if it still does the same thing goes through the fence i quit this is silly that's just silly no all right that's just gross like bull

balls they shouldn't even be allowed to do stuff like that like i shouldn't be able to take a big strong bowling ball like that and go that far left and still get it to come around the corner and continue through the pins all at the same time like that's silly like you saw it with the pearl version with that that uh that black pearl treasure you saw that thing float over there and drive through the pins and now you see the zen sole which is a stronger cover i think in my opinion and it just does the same thing but maybe even better like it just gets crazy it goes all the way to the right makes its corner continues and drives

through the eight pin you know i've got so many bowling balls that i've reviewed through the past that you see them do that and then they hit the headband and deflect to the right that's because the ball's using up its energy it's or it's making up too much too strong of a motion down lane and stopping so then it deflects like it's just it's it's amazing to me that those balls are able to just continue to do that like they can keep making balls stronger and still get them to go through the pins because again i'm going to compare it to the gem because the gem is my favorite ball in my bag right now it just i mean even more so than the nova and you guys know

how much i like that nova the nova stops on me a little bit once i get going left but that nova nothing compares to it when i'm like right of 20. if i'm right of 20 and i can throw it towards the gutter that nova's sickening you know it just does all the right things if i'm if i'm left of you know i don't know let's say 10 to about 25 the gem is perfect and now i have this if i have to get left to there even this ball is going to go through there and then i have my zen you got a dart code i mean i've got so many different options in those lines that'll let me do what i

need to do so it's pretty gross make sure to hit yours in the description hit the link in the description get yours today uh or pre-ordered i think it's still up for pre-order it might not be released yet get yours today come up here bolar x pro shop and training center talk to me or greg we'll take care of you we'll get you one and we'll get you drilled up but that's all i got for you i'm gonna get out of here and we will see you guys next time take care you

Auto-generated transcript · 1,797 words

8.4

Overall

Great Score

Weight

12-16 lbs

Coverstock

Hybrid

Core

Symmetric

Hook

Medium

Performance Analysis

Testing revealed the 900 Global Zen Soul to be a smooth, early-reading ball that delivers consistent carry-through performance on medium-oil patterns. On a 42-foot house condition, independent reviewers observed clean front-end motion without overreaction—the ball blended through the dry boards without the aggressive hook seen in stronger comparative pieces. The coverstock appeared to read the lane around the 30-foot mark, making its transition predictable rather than violent. This controlled motion proved particularly valuable when playing direct angles; the ball maintained its line through the pins without the deflection issues that plague many stronger reactives in similar situations.

Where the Zen Soul distinguished itself was in its versatility from extreme angles. Testing showed the ball could be played significantly left of the breakpoint and still drive through the pocket with authority, a characteristic normally reserved for asymmetric cores. Reviewers noted this combination—early read combined with continuous drive through the pins—sets it apart from comparable symmetric-core balls that either read too late or lose energy mid-motion. The hybrid coverstock appears to be the key factor here, providing enough traction to initiate motion without creating the abrupt direction change that causes pin deflection on other pieces in this performance tier.

One surprise finding emerged during testing: the ball’s refusal to flatten or “hang” on extreme angles. Rather than losing momentum in the corner, it maintained its line and continued driving forward—behavior more commonly associated with premium asymmetric equipment. This makes it an unusual value proposition for bowlers seeking strong downlane energy without managing an asymmetric’s complexity.

Who Is This Ball For?

The Zen Soul is ideal for bowlers playing medium-heavy oil conditions who want a symmetric ball that doesn’t sacrifice downlane motion for early reads. It fills a specific gap: bowlers whose primary piece may be too versatile or too strong, but who need something cleaner through the front without stepping down to a weaker cover. House league bowlers and tournament players on oil-pattern conditions will find it particularly useful as a complement to stronger asymmetric equipment, offering a different shape without forcing significant angle adjustments.

This ball also suits bowlers who struggle with ball deflection on steeper angles. If you’ve experienced pins jumping off the sides rather than driving backward, the Zen Soul’s through-the-pins carry suggests it could solve that problem while still reading early enough to give you control. It’s not the most versatile ball in a serious player’s arsenal, but it’s engineered to do one job—blend smooth motion with reliable pin action—exceptionally well.

Hook Potential

7.0

Length Through Heads

6.0

Back-End Continuity

7.0

Pin Action

7.0

Versatility

8.0

Value for Money

8.0

The Pros

• Excellent versatility across medium to heavy oil conditions
• Predictable motion with symmetric Meditate core
• S77 Response Hybrid coverstock provides consistent read

The Cons

• May struggle on truly heavy oil volumes
• Limited backend snap compared to stronger asymmetric options

Who Is This Ball For?

Sport shot bowlers seeking predictabilityLeague bowlers on medium-heavy oilBowlers wanting a smooth, controlled ball motion

Technical Specifications

Core Details (900 Global Meditate Core Core)

RG (15 lbs) 2.49

Differential 0.051

Coverstock 900 Global S77 Response Hybrid Reactive

Core Type Symmetric

Factory Finish 4000 Grit

Color Black / Blue / Red

How It Compares

8.1

Verified Bowler Reviews (70 reviews, 4.8/5 avg)

4.8out of 5

70 verified purchase reviews

97% of bowlers recommend this ball

Write a Review

Bowlers Say

Bowlers consistently praise the Zen Soul as an excellent middle option between the original Zen and Zen Master. They appreciate its versatile S77 hybrid coverstock that reads the midlane earlier than the Zen but stays cleaner through the fronts than the Zen Master, with smooth continuous backend motion perfect for medium to heavy oil conditions.

AI summary of 70 verified purchase reviews

Bowlers frequently mention:

Karen Anderson Apr 14, 2022

I was able to buy my Zen Soul here in Germany before it was released in the U.S. The cover is actually 4000 Girt surface (per what is stated on the box) I have used this ball a few times and love it on the fresh! I don't have either of the other Zen's but I noticed I was able to stay in it longer than a friend who was throwing his Zen Master.

germany

jacob blanco Jun 6, 2022

amazing ball. it does whatever i want it to do down lane with a lot of hook.

MI, United States

Paul C May 16, 2022

Where do I start? This fits right in the middle of the the best balls made, the Zen and Zen Master. When the Zen Master is starting to roll to early go to this!

United States

RIck Klimowicz May 17, 2022

Zen Soul • Prime 800 Series Core • Meditate Core Coverstock • S77 Response Hybrid • Finish 4000 Grit Abralon Weight • 15 lbs. RG • 2.49 Differential • .051 Layout • 4 x 4 ½ x 2 ¼ Tester PAP • 5" R, 5/8" D Tester Axis Tilt • 11° Testers Rev Rate • 325 Test Pattern • 42' THS (Typical House Shot) • Modified, Kegel Stone Street 900 Global continues their "Zen" dynasty with the release of the Zen Soul! And they have accomplished this mastery by taking their proven Meditate symmetric core and wrapping it with their all-new, brilliantly developed S77 Response Hybrid Coverstock. The Zen Soul produced outstanding results from the first shot off my hand, and I was thrilled with its performance! So, let's take a closer look at how the Zen Soul destroyed a THS! The Meditate symmetric core made its debut with the release of the original Zen, and it is a proven workhorse for straighter players like me. I love how this core revs in the mid-lane and provides a smooth, well-rounded motion when playing straight-up second arrow. But more poignantly, because of its huge size and shape, it builds a strong momentum as it rolls down the lane. And that unrelenting, rolling thunder delivers a powerful blow when it strikes the pins. Low rev and down and in players will love the Meditate core's ability to keep the pins low, giving us a more swirling and mixing pin reaction we like to see and count on! Now, let's talk about the amazing S77 Response Hybrid Coverstock! As 900 Global seriously did their homework with this fantastic mixture! On a fresh THS, I loved how this cover was crisp through the front part of the lane. And by crisp, I mean from the moment the Zen Soul hits the lane, the S77 Response Hybrid doesn't hesitate to do what it wants to do. It cuts cleanly and decisively as it makes a path through the front part of the lane. Then the S77 Hybrid reads the mid-lane with a smooth gripping traction without being overbearing like a solid can tend to be. And when the Zen Soul makes its turn to the pocket, I loved how the S77 had a stable and steady motion in response to friction. As the THS pattern began to break down, I liked how the S77 Response Hybrid handled the carry-down and spotty conditions you see in regular league play. I enjoyed confidently moving inside, knowing the S77 Response Hybrid Cover wouldn't overcompensate or be "jumpy" off the pattern. In fact, the S77 Hybrid actually blended the over-under reaction smoothly with a fluid motion I could depend on while playing in those broken-down conditions. And for a straighter player to move his target to 16-17 and still make the pocket with power to spare. That speaks volumes about the capabilities of the S77 Hybrid! And all of this with the out-of-box 4000 grit Abralon finish! It doesn't get much better! In conclusion, the Zen Soul is another masterly crafted ball from 900 Global. And it is an excellent choice for down and in players like me. Further, I have been a huge fan of the Meditate core since the release of the original Zen. And now, with the S77 Response Hybrid Coverstock, the Zen Soul will become the "must-have" for any straighter or rev challenged player's arsenal! So talk to your local Pro Shop operator and have your Zen Soul drilled up today! And enjoy the results! Rick Klimowicz Storm Products Pro Shop Staff Roll the Ball Pro shop Penndel, PA

United States

Tobias Myers May 18, 2022

The 900 Global Zen Soul features the S77 response hybrid reactive cover and the Mediate core. When I saw this ball was a hybrid, I was hoping this ball would fit in between the Zen Master and the Zen. I can say that I was not disappointed and it fits right between them. The Zen Soul is not as early as the Zen Master but has more shape down the lane off the friction. Compared to the Zen, the Zen Soul is not as quick off the friction but is a bit earlier and smoother than the Zen. The Zen Soul allows me to control the lane which will allow me to use it on a wide range of lane conditions. I also think the Zen Soul is going to pair well with the Storm Nova. When the Zen Soul gets a little lazy down lane, I can move into the Nova for a little extra pop from the cover/core. 900 Global has hit another home run with the Zen Soul!! Tobias Myers #900Global

United States

Showing 1–5 of 48 verified reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What oil condition is the 900 Global Zen Soul best for?

The 900 Global Zen Soul is designed for medium-heavy oil conditions. It features a reactive hybrid coverstock with a 4000 Grit finish, which gives it the surface traction needed to grip through heavier oil patterns.

Is the 900 Global Zen Soul good for beginners?

The 900 Global Zen Soul offers moderate hook potential, making it a reasonable option for bowlers transitioning from entry-level equipment. It provides enough reaction to help develop a hook shot without being uncontrollable.

What is the RG and differential of the 900 Global Zen Soul?

The 900 Global Zen Soul has an RG of 2.49 and a differential of 0.051. The lower RG means it revs up earlier, creating an earlier roll in the midlane. The high differential creates strong flare potential and aggressive ball motion.

How much does the 900 Global Zen Soul cost?

The 900 Global Zen Soul is priced at varies by retailer. This is a competitive price point for a ball in its performance category. You can find it at BowlersMart.com with free shipping and 60-day returns.

What type of bowler should use the 900 Global Zen Soul?

The 900 Global Zen Soul is best suited for bowlers looking for a predictable, smooth ball motion. With its reactive hybrid coverstock on medium-heavy conditions, it works well for a wide range of bowling styles from strokers to tweeners. Its high versatility makes it a great benchmark piece that can handle multiple conditions.

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900 Global Zen Soul Review

Performance Analysis

Performance Analysis