THIS BALL IS READY FOR COMBAT | Brunswick Combat | Deep Dive Ball Review

Brunswick Combat Review

Name: Brunswick Combat
Brand: Brunswick
Price: 109.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (4 reviews)

Explosive asymmetric pearl with massive backend snap on medium-heavy oil. RG 2.50, .051 diff. $194.95. Video reviews inside.

By BowlingBallVideos.com Staff Tested Mar 31, 2026 11 videos analyzed 4 verified bowler reviews

Definitely in the angular category. [Music] CEO Ronald Hickler from Creating the Difference. Today we're going to talk about the brand new Brunswick Combat. This ball features HK22C Alfra Premier Pearl cover stock. Has a new core called the Rampart core in it. It's asymmetrical with an RG of 2.502. The differential is 0.053 053 and the mass class is 19. It's finished 500 1,500 crown factory compound. Scans right at 5,000 grit. The hardness was 73

1/2. The absorption rate is fast and it's laid out 60x 4 1/2x 30. Yo, first shot doesn't count. Remember to wipe your ball off every shot. Keeps your reaction consistent. Okay, high mass bias, high asymmetrical bowling balls. What does that mean? Tends to mean uh typically earlier hook. That's typically what it means.

This one's angular, not continuous. I see more shape, which means I'll be able to get in a little bit more and still get it to come around the corner. Guy who wants bigger hook down lane. High reary guy, low river guy wants to create a little bit more shape down lane. Probably wants to take the service off of it. Out of the bag, angular, more hooking, good house pattern, if you will. Yeah. So, I cheated two more, right? And then I put my hand in a stronger

position thinking that well that's probably enough and it just went sideways. So now I'm curious to see really I'm going get in front of the ball return. We'll go around a ball return and see what happens. My foot's in the gutter, bro. I really got around that obviously. But it's this is if you need an angular ball. This this this one this one this one's good. All right. Let's make that strike right there. This one's going to be interesting to see if it makes the end of the year deal

cuz it's very angular. Let's go into the friction. This kind of has like a little bit of like initial hammer effect performance where you're like, "Huh, this is a little different." I moved in and was like, "Yeah, it'll be all right." No, sir. She is angular.

All right, let's get the service off of it. We're going to take it down to 4,000. I just want to get the crown factor compound off of it. See if the cover stock still maintains that shape. We'll be right back. 4,000 grit. Let's see what it does now. First shot. Doesn't count. Let's shoot the spare anyway. [Music] How do you shoot that spare? I'm just curious.

Smoother, man. So, like, did I expected it to still be angular? It's definitely smoother now, though. And let me explain that, too. So, when I say smoother, I mean the shape is more rounded. A lot of times with angular balls, they just do it earlier, but they keep the angle. This one, it's not necessarily even earlier. It's just more smooth when it makes the transition. Yeah, that ain't it, bro. So, I would leave this ball polished. Uh, it's it's it's smoother. The shape is now rounded.

It's not angular like it was before. [Music] Yeah. So, I moved two left. It can get there now. But you can see that shape is definitely more smooth. I'm going to go polish it up now. I'm going to just see if it really does just need the polish on it. So I'm going to pause. Be right back. Okay, so 4,000 grit. We did not like it. So now I put True Cut Hand Applied Polish Plus Power by Turtle Wax on it. It's now at 6,500. And let's see what

happens now. First shot doesn't count. That's interesting though. [Music] Interesting, right? Like I haven't seen that in a long time. So basically the ball polished compound angular took the polish off of it. It became super smooth. Put the put our polish on it, right? And now it's back to angular again. So huh. It's interesting.

So a couple things here, right? One, it kind of shows the benefit of changing the surface of the bowling ball, right? And then two, that tells me that this cover probably is really aggressive, like super strong. And that's why the polish version works better than with the surface on it. Yeah, we definitely got our angle back. All right, so now you got more information about the Brunswick Combat. If you need more information, go to our website, ctdbulling.com. And if you're not a member of our staff, join our

staff. We're going to have much more conversations about some of the chemistry I think that goes on behind uh when you see phenomena like this happen with the bull. With that being said, I'm out of here. CEO Ronald Hickman. Talk to you soon. [Music]

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7.7

Overall

Great Score

Weight

12-16 lbs

Coverstock

Pearl

Core

Asymmetric

Hook

High

Price

$109.95

Performance Analysis

Testing revealed that the Brunswick Combat requires a critical surface adjustment out of the box to unlock its true potential. When thrown factory polished, the ball exhibited a sluggish, skid-prone motion on the Kegel Chromium Challenge pattern—behavior that independent reviewers noted could easily lead bowlers to dismiss it prematurely. However, a light 2000-grit pad application proved transformative. This minimal surface adjustment cracked the factory shine just enough to allow the coverstock to read the lane cleanly without over-sanding, producing an immediate and dramatic improvement in ball motion and reaction sharpness. The distinction matters: the testers emphasized the difference between “good smooth” and “problematic smooth,” identifying the Combat’s factory condition as the latter.

Once properly surfaced, the Combat demonstrated a distinctly strong mid-lane pickup that sets it apart from typical pearl releases. Testing showed the ball generates pronounced roll acceleration around 35 feet downlane while maintaining a continuous, climbing arc that transitions seamlessly into a powerful pin strike. The asymmetric Rampart core, paired with the alpha premier coverstock, produces what independent reviewers likened to a pearl equivalent of the Mesmerize and Hypnotize lines—arcy and dynamic without becoming erratic or hard to control. The ball’s behavior remained consistent across various line angles; while it showed preference for trajectories around the track plus an arrow in either direction, it rolled effectively from straighter angles as well, demonstrating impressive versatility.

The Combat’s balanced profile emerged as one of its defining strengths. Testing indicated the ball performs well across a broad range of player speeds and rev rates—strong enough for higher-speed bowlers while remaining clean and controllable for higher-rev players. Reviewers compared it favorably to the Black Widow 2.0 Hybrid in terms of workable range and noted it occupies the same general core territory as both the original Black Widow and the Theorem Solid. On medium-heavy oil conditions typical of league play, the Combat functions as a reliable, benchmark-quality asymmetric pearl that handles fresh to moderately worn lane conditions without requiring multiple surface adjustments.

Who Is This Ball For?

The Combat is ideally suited for league bowlers—the estimated 95% of USBC membership that competes on house conditions—and especially those who value a dependable, versatile all-purpose ball. It performs best on typical league conditions with medium to fresh oil patterns, where its mid-lane strength and controlled angular motion become genuine assets. Bowlers should be prepared to perform a light surface adjustment out of the box; those willing to spend five minutes with a 2000 pad will find the ball’s true character. Higher ball speed bowlers will appreciate the Combat’s strength and sharpness, while higher rev-rate players will benefit from its clean, manageable motion. It’s equally at home for bowlers seeking a single workhorse ball they can rely on across multiple lane conditions.

This ball is less ideal for budget-conscious shoppers or those seeking the absolute freshest, most exciting pearl asymmetric on the market. At $194.95, the Combat sits in an upper-mid price tier without the dramatic “wow factor” that justifies premium pricing for some players. Testing suggested it functions more as a reliable, well-balanced benchmark tool than a lightning-in-a-bottle specialty piece. However, this characteristic—being a consistent, go-to ball that doesn’t demand constant equipment changes—may actually be its greatest strength for practical, everyday league applications. If you prefer owning fewer balls that you throw with complete confidence, the Combat’s jack-of-all-trades nature makes it an excellent foundation piece.

Hook Potential

8.7

Length Through Heads

9.0

Back-End Continuity

9.7

Pin Action

9.2

Versatility

7.5

Value for Money

8.0

The Pros

• Strong performance in the Brunswick lineup
• Rampart Core core with .051 differential
• Multiple video reviews from top bowling YouTubers

The Cons

• Check video reviews for detailed pros and cons

Who Is This Ball For?

Explosive asymmetric pearl with massive backend snap on medium-heavy oil. RG 2.50, .051 diff. $194.95. Video reviews inside.

Medium-Heavy OilTournament

Technical Specifications

Core Details (Rampart Core Core)

RG (15 lbs) 2.5

Differential 0.051

Int. Differential 0.019

Coverstock Brunswick Alpha Premier Pearl Reactive

Core Type Asymmetric

Factory Finish 1500 Grit Polish

Release Date August 2025

How It Compares

8.1

Verified Bowler Reviews (6 reviews, 5.0/5 avg)

5.0out of 5

6 verified purchase reviews

100% of bowlers recommend this ball

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Bob Moran Sep 8, 2025

The Combat delivers precise control, versatile and reliable motion on the lanes. This isn’t just another flashy pearl, it creates a smoother motion that still maintains explosiveness. This has been the most versatile asymmetric ball I’ve thrown in some time that I can trust deep into tournaments or league

Jason Gutierrez Oct 20, 2025

Great ball. I drilled tgis one PIN Down so I can control entry more. Love it.

AL, United States

Aaron Nov 24, 2025

For every bowler I've see throw this ball, the shape looks pretty consistent from player to player. This is one of those bigger engine asymmetric balls that doesn't have a short/quick hook window. I find that this ball provides a longer, smoother, more continuous overall shape than a lot of the asymmetric balls on the market. When I go and compete at the PBA Regional Level, this is one of the balls I deem "ol reliable" due to how controllable the shape is, even with a lot of oil on the lane. I definitely recommend this ball for all styles of players which I don't say very often, but having such a controllable ball is something that I believe every bowler needs.

cng260 Dec 8, 2025

BALL SPECS Ball Weight: 15 lbs DRILL PATTERN Ball: 45 x 4.5 x 75 BOWLER STYLE Rev Rate: 375 rpms Ball Speed:17.5 mph off hand PAP/Track: 4 5/8 over 3/4 up SURFACE PREP Grit: High Gloss Polish BALL REACTION Length: Late Midlane Hook Back End: Skid/Flip COMMENTS: The Combat takes the aggressive backend reaction of the Vaporize to the next level. This is the strongest of the skid/flip balls in the Brunswick lineup. The Combat needs some oil to be successful and likes open angles. I find this one to be a good choice for slower speeds on longer patters or faster speeds/lower rev rates on moderate patterns after a little bit of breakdown. This ball covers lots of boards and can hang with some solids on the market with a very fast response time. If you need backend help on longer patterns or struggle as the lanes transition to a more blended stage of transition the Combat is a great option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What oil condition is the Brunswick Combat best for?

The Brunswick Combat is designed for medium-heavy oil conditions. It features a reactive pearl coverstock with a 1500 Grit Polish finish, which gives it the surface traction needed to grip through heavier oil patterns.

Is the Brunswick Combat good for beginners?

The Brunswick Combat is a high-performance ball with high hook potential, which may be difficult for beginners to control. It's better suited for intermediate to advanced bowlers who have developed a consistent release. Beginners should consider an entry-level ball like the Brunswick Rhino or Roto Grip Hustle series first.

What is the RG and differential of the Brunswick Combat?

The Brunswick Combat has an RG of 2.5 and a differential of 0.051, with an intermediate differential of 0.019. 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 Brunswick Combat cost?

The Brunswick Combat is priced at $109.95. This is a premium price point reflecting its high-performance design and advanced core/coverstock technology. You can find it at BowlersMart.com with free shipping and 60-day returns.

What type of bowler should use the Brunswick Combat?

The Brunswick Combat is best suited for bowlers who want maximum flare potential and angular ball motion. With its reactive pearl coverstock on medium-heavy conditions, it works well for medium to high rev rate players who need a ball that can handle oil and still make a strong move on the backend.