If You Like Backend Motion, This One Is Really Mean
Buy the Brunswick Meanstreak Bowling Ball from Bowling.com!
Remember that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core will create the dynamic shape. Your drilling will alter the shape to suit your game and conditions you bowl on.
Our tester:
Michael Raquidan (~450 rpm)
Layout: 75×4.5×40
PAP: 4 x 1 5/8 up
This layout will generally get into a later roll with a quicker transition at the breakpoint, while offering medium track flare.
Please work with your local pro shop operator to find what best works for you.
Test Patterns:
THS: Kegel Main Street, 41 ft, 7.2:1 ratio, 19.3 ml
First Impressions
This is a relatively skid-flippy ball that reminds me of the Damage, but a touch stronger. This will probably be a nice step down from the Versa-Max.
Value 7.5/10
I have to critically scrutinize the value proposition for every ball we evaluate. It’s a medium priced ball in the mid-performance line. No surprises, but given the what I would consider amazing value the Versa-Max offers, this one offers less versatility and thus lower bang for the buck.
Core
The not so creatively named core called the Meanstreak High RG Symmetric has a min RG of 2.557 and differential of .048. In terms of specs, they are very similar to the High RG Performance core in the Damage. It compliments the cover to allow for easy length and flip on the backend.
Cover 7.5/10
The cover is known as Addaptive f(p²) Pearl. Long name for the next generation cover from the Nexus Pearl. This cover will be usable on medium and lighter conditions. This is probably not the ball you want to use if your THS is on the heavier side. We didn’t try to change surface finishes on this ball as the preference was to maintain the factory finish. It comes in 500 Siiair, Rough Buff, and High Gloss Polish.
Reaction 8/10
The easiest way to describe this ball, it has easy length and offers quick reaction to dry boards. Basically it is a step down when the Versa-Max might be too much and laboring. This will push just a bit longer and generate strong entry angle.
The Versa offers a smooth and consistent reaction, with a relatively clean motion and a slower reaction to the dry boards than the Meanstreak. The Meanstreak on the other hand goes just a tad longer with a bit stronger backend. Overall though, the Meanstreak covers less boards and so that reaction is very complimentary to the Versa-Max.
When you are facing mostly light volume THS, this ball could be the first ball out of the bag. Compared to the original Nexus Pearl, the Meanstreak looks to be a bit more versatile since it is less skid-flippy. The Nexus Pearl was skid flip to the extreme. That made it more condition specific.
You also have the option to take the high gloss finish off to smooth the reaction just a bit more, which would likely bring it a little closer to the Versa. However, the shape of these reactions are different so I don’t think there is major benefit to bring the 2 balls closer to each other in reaction. Leave them as is and they will be very complimentary.
Digitrax Analysis
Dark Blue: Meanstreak
Medium Blue: Versa-Max
Light Blue: maxxed-out
You can easily see from the Digitrax that the Meanstreak really moves on the backend. Next to the Versa-Max, it covers almost the same # of boards but does it differently. The Meanstreak will be cleaner through the heads and you can swing it out to a breakpoint farther outside, and it will recover. However, it breaks loose if you move your breakpoint in a bit because of how angular it is. The Versa-max on the other hand clears the heads cleanly but not quite as clean as the Meanstreak as the core churns a bit earlier, giving it a smoother overall look. The maxxed-out easily out hooks both balls. So you can create a nice little arsenal with these 3 mid-priced balls from Brunswick.
Overall 8/10
If you are looking for the perfect stepdown from your Versa-Max, the Brunswick Meanstreak fits nicely. If you are working with typically lighter conditions and you want something just a bit more punchy on the backends than the Versa-Max, again the Meanstreak fits right in. Brunswick continues to release balls with reactions that bowlers are looking for these days. Now you have one more option for your arsenal.
Hard to really tell much difference on the video between the Versa and the Meanstreak. Will be interesting to see the Digitrax of them both to compare entry angles.
Hi David,
Hard to tell sometimes, but they are quite different in the ball reaction shape. This is one of those times when the Digitrax really shows the difference in ball reactions.