Brunswick Combat Solid Bowling Ball Review

The Combat Solid is the third entry in Brunswick’s Combat line. We loved the original Combat, but we found its follow-up, the Combat Hybrid, to be a bit more condition-specific. This ball features the same asymmetrical Rampart core shape as the previous two Combats. It uses the HK22C2-based Alpha Premier Solid coverstock and comes out of the box at a 500/1500 SiaAir finish. The more aggressive cover and dull box finish caused the Combat Solid to pick up earlier than the Combat Hybrid, but it was still very continuous at the back end. This ball was better in our testing when there was a lot of oil on the lane, as it produced a massive amount of total hook. Bowlers who don’t want so much hook can use longer pin-to-PAP layouts and/or add Crown Factory Polish or Crown Factory Compound on top of the box finish to help tame down the hook potential.

Stroker

Stroker loved the amount of hook he saw from the Combat Solid on the fresh heavy oil pattern. Only the strongest bowling balls allow him to throw the ball away from the pocket and still see enough recovery and drive through the pins to carry consistently, and the Combat Solid was easily up to this task. The ball picked up extremely well in the midlane, digging into the surface without burning up early. The motion at the breakpoint was on the smoother side for him, but it was very continuous, with the ball finishing flush in the pocket, splitting the 8 and 9 pins as it went off the deck. Stroker’s adjustments were very easy as the pattern started to break down and the