Brunswick Aura Bowling Ball Review

The latest introduction to the High Performance category from Brunswick is not another Nexus, but the Aura. This ball uses a brand new resin formulation for Brunswick and is designed to provide a big back end motion. The cover, teamed with a low RG core, provides the desired path down the lane. Brunswick has long had the reputation of having bowling balls that rolled early and were arcy down the lane. The releases in the last year have totally shed this stereotype.

If we had a pattern that was right between our heavy and medium pattern, this ball would wreck it. We were just a tad in between with the Aura. The medium provided us with the best reaction overall. The testers had to get farther in than they wanted, but could rely on the Aura seeing the friction every time. As the pattern broke down, we were forced inside quickly. This made it a little harder to control the breakpoint as the session went on.

When we moved to the heavy pattern, we just did not have enough surface to start the Aura up early enough. Instead of adjusting the surface and risk having the ball burn off too much energy, we decided to wait out the pattern and see what reaction we would have without blowing a hole in it. This worked to our benefit. After about fifteen shots from each tester, the Aura was a gem. The skid at the breakpoint was totally eliminated and the lane really opened up for all three testers.

The dry pattern needed a surface adjustment to keep the Aura out of the face for all three testers. We applied High Gloss polish to all three test balls to get the Aura down the lane farther before it made the big left turn.

The sport pattern offered an above average reaction for a ball that is so angular. We usually see highly polished balls squirt at the breakpoint on this pattern, but the box finish was enough to keep the Aura from doing that.

Strengths

The new coverstock is the biggest asset of the Aura. The cover is long and strong by nature and takes to changes exceptionally well.

Weaknesses

At the box finish, some bowlers will struggle on heavy volumes of oil while others will struggle on dry. Too much of either of these conditions will need surface adjustments.

Overall Summary

The Aura is the stronger of the two new Brunswick releases. This one is best on medium heavy conditions and offers more length and back end than earlier Brunswick products.