900 Global Zen Master Bowling Ball: A Comprehensive Guide!

900 Global Zen Master Bowling Ball! After getting tons of positive feedback from the Original Zen bowling ball, 900 Global decided to bring an even better version of that bowling ball. So you can say the Zen Master is the better sibling of the OG Zen ball. If you’re into peaceful bowling style, meaning, you don’t want anything too aggressive, then the 900 Global Zen Master bowling ball will make you the happiest.

I can guarantee you are gonna love every bit of this ball’s performance. So let’s take a look at this 900 Global Zen Master bowling ball review to learn the ins and outs of this Master-piece.

Why is this bowling ball the best?

The 900 global Zen Master is the kind of bowling ball that no one talks about much. This medium-high flare, symmetrical bowling ball is not only responsive but also can deliver enough hooking motions. If you don’t want your ball to react too aggressively, yet want it to have a strong backend reaction, the Zen Master bowling ball is just for you.

Overview

The 900 Global Zen Master is designed for versatility and performance. It features the S77 Response solid coverstock and the Meditate Symmetric core, a combination that promises to deliver exceptional control and predictable motion on a variety of lane conditions. This ball is a testament to 900 Global’s commitment to providing bowlers with top-tier equipment that can elevate their game to the next level.

Pros

1. Enhanced Control and Predictability: One of the most significant advantages of the Zen Master is its ability to offer enhanced control and predictability. The ball’s design ensures a smooth and consistent roll, making it easier for bowlers to hit their marks with precision.
2. Versatility: The Zen Master shines in its versatility. It performs admirably across a wide range of oil patterns, making it a suitable choice for both league play and tournaments. Whether you’re facing heavy oil or a more depleted lane, the Zen Master can be adjusted to meet the challenge.
3. Strong Mid-Lane Reaction: Thanks to its S77 Response coverstock and Meditate Symmetric core, the Zen Master boasts a strong mid-lane reaction. This characteristic allows bowlers to manage transitions better and maintain pocket presence throughout their game.
4. Durability: 900 Global is known for producing durable bowling balls, and the Zen Master is no exception. Its high-quality materials and construction mean it can withstand the rigors of regular use, maintaining its performance over time.

Cons

1. Not Ideal for Dry Lanes: While the Zen Master excels in medium to heavy oil conditions, its performance can falter on dry lanes. Bowlers might find it difficult to manage the ball’s aggressive hook in such conditions, requiring them to adjust their strategy or opt for a different ball.
2. Learning Curve: The Zen Master’s sophisticated design and reaction on the lanes may present a learning curve for some bowlers, especially those who are not accustomed to balls with strong mid-lane reactions.
3. Price Point: As a high-performance bowling ball, the Zen Master comes at a premium price. This may put it out of reach for bowlers on a tight budget or those who are just starting and hesitant to invest heavily.

Features

Coverstock

 Everyone loved the 900 Global Zen bowling ball when they encountered the S77 Response coverstock. How good was that OG bowling ball? Well, yeah, that was the pearlized version. So for the Zen master, there were some modifications and the same S77 Response cover is now a Solid Reactive cover.

If you liked the cover reaction of the OG Zen bowling ball, you will absolutely love the S77 Response Solid Reactive coverstock of the Zen Master bowling ball. No wonder why this ball is getting so much popularity. It goes without saying, Zen Master has already made it to many advanced bowlers’ arsenals.

In terms of ball motion, the 900 Global Zen Master acts like Storm Phaze II as it’s very predictable. Because of being solid reactive and the S77 Response coverstock makes the ball a great medium-strong piece with continuation and predictable motion.

If you think you’re finding a bit of similarity with the 900 Global Aspect bowling ball, it’s because 900 Global has brought back that same coverstock for the Zen Master ball. While the Zen Master executes a cleaner move off the medium to heavy oil pattern, it also responds to the frictions pretty well.

Factory Finish

The reactive solid S77 coverstock of Zen Master is finished at a 3000-Grit Polish. The factory finish goes with the S77 coverstock spectacularly. Because of having the polished shiny appearance, the ball is more suitable in medium oil conditions.

When you throw this balling ball on the lane first, it will roll a bit crazy. But soon after the pattern breaks down, the ball will open up the lane for you to bowl better. When I was trying out this bowling ball, I was very comfortable with its ball motion in the 2nd and 3rd games. If you want the ball to react flawlessly from the very beginning, you can customize the ball finish according to your preference. If the 3000-Grit Polish finish feels a bit too much, you can always shine it down to 2000-Grit and the ball will react accordingly.

Core

Now, let’s have an in-depth discussion on the ball’s weight block. So what’s going on inside the bowling ball? As I have mentioned earlier, Zen Master is a symmetrical bowling ball. The Zen Master features the same low RG, high differential Meditate Symmetric core that you have previously encountered in the original Zen bowling ball.

The Mediate Symmetrical core features an RG of 2.49″ and a total differential of 0.051″. If you remember the OG Zen’s reaction correctly, it wasn’t really the strongest bowling ball out there. Similarly, the Zen Master gets into rolling without creating too big of a scene, meaning, it doesn’t make any reckless moves.

You will love how this ball reads the body of the lane and how it keeps the energy intact for the hooking motion even on the broken-down lane. The energy-retaining ability impacts the ball-to-pin contact, resulting in the pins flying off the lane. The core makes the backend reactions crisp and delivers you with a slowed-down and controllable hook at the breakpoint. The way Zen Master rolls down the lane, you will be thanking the core for having such a top-notch overall performance. 

As I said, you don’t need to worry too much when the lane begins to break down because Zen Master provides even better performance in the medium lane condition. So my assumption is that it will provide flawless ball reaction to get you through anything. Your bowing average won’t be hampered, that’s for sure. 

Color

The color scheme of the 900 Global Zen Master is pretty similar to the original bowling ball. To me, the Zen Master looks even better because those colors are popping! The bowling ball has a combination of Magenta, Teal, and Black which gives a little 80’s vibe. If you’re into bowling balls that have this kind of color combination, you will love everything about this ball’s flat-out fabulous appearance.

Hook Potential

 The combination of low RG (2.49) and high differential (0.051) is not something new in 900 Global bowling balls. Previously, we have seen this kind of configuration in the Zen bowling ball. And was that ball good at hooking? It was a good piece, I have to say. Buy pairing the same core with the Aspect’s coverstock was a bold move, but it is a successful one.

How much do you know about a bowling ball’s functionality? If you have some good idea on that, then I believe you can already tell how this high RG bowling ball is better at providing length without the loss of energy. But hey, don’t expect too much length from this ball. If the oil pattern you’re gonna play on is a medium one, your can take out your Zen Master and achieve zen while bowling.

I think you’ll be more pleased to see the total hook Zen Master can provide on medium oil patterns. One of the biggest problems with a symmetrical bowling ball is that it can’t continue to hook when the lane breaks down, but that’s not the case for Zen Master. As long as there is some oil left on the lane, the ball is going to dig into the oily part of the lane and won’t quit.

Breakpoint Shape

Well, now that you know for sure that the ball is going to provide plenty of hook throughout your game, you might be interested to know what kind of hooking motion you’re going to experience at the breakpoint. Well, if it makes you feel any better, you will see “Midlane with strong backend”.

My observation is that when you release the ball down the lane it will roll down like any upper-mid level bowling ball. And, just when you think the ball is losing its energy, it will get back on the lane with strong backends to retrieve the energy and make the standing pins lie down on the ground.

Because it’s a symmetrical bowling ball, the ball will start smoothly at the front instead of speeding up. The stored energy is later used for pin carry which is awesome. The coverstock formulation will help you have a strong recovery at the backends. What this will do is prevent your ball from skating through the back part of the lane.

Once the competition starts to get serious and the game keeps on progressing, the Zen Master ball will open up the lane so that you can move inside or can go farther left/right. You will surely love its superior backend reaction at the breakpoint, efficient energy usage, and great length on medium-heavy oil patterns.

What We Like

– Zen Master performs best on patterns where there is a heavy volume of oil on the front and a bit medium volume of oil on the back. The ball opens up the lane pretty quickly and makes bowling even more fun!

– Besides the aesthetic 80’s look, the revolutionary coverstock and the innovative core are carefully paired which makes this ball a unique piece of equipment. The Zen Master win this round for having an amazing cover-core combo that you need to improve your bowling ball.

– To bring havoc on the standing pins at the end of the pattern, this bowling ball can make your plans work. This is because it is a pretty strong symmetrical bowling ball that is great at retaining energy and has tons of backends. Despite being a high-performance bowling ball, it will knock down the pins with high force, just like a pro player wants it to do.

– The 900 Global Zen Master is designed to be more versatile than its ancestor. This is why it is suitable for most bowling styles and oil patterns. All you have to do is make sure you practice enough on various patterns to get the best results.

– Most advanced bowlers, despite their bowling style, enjoyed the way Zen Master performed. From strokers to crankers to tweeners, everyone loves this bowling ball.

What We Don’t Like

– Sadly, Zen Master is not suitable for extreme long patterns due to its low RG. If you throw it on a longer pattern anyway, you will be disappointed to see its lack of energy during the pin-hitting phase.

– Since Zen Master is recommended for medium-heavy oil patterns, according to the specification, I would suggest you follow that. However, I would like to point out that it works better on medium oil patterns. But this opinion varies from player to player. But all I can suggest is that, make sure the lane isn’t too dry. You don’t want the ball to lose its momentum completely, do you? You need that momentum to hit the pins.

900 Global Zen vs Zen Master

Throughout the article, I have pointed out a few differences between these two bowling balls. So here’s a small summary of the differences and similarities I have found.

First of all, if you put the original Zen bowling ball up against the Zen Master, you will notice that the Zen Master cannot provide longer motion like the Zen ball. The Zen Master is very similar to OG Zen after a few feet further down lane. Despite having the same RG and differential, the Zen Master reacts differently than Zen.

The similarity Zen Master has in terms of the coverstock is with the Aspect bowling ball. Zen Master has a Solid reactive coverstock, whereas the Zen ball has a Pearl Reactive coverstock. In terms of hooking ability, Zen Master hooks a lot more than the Zen bowling ball

The bottom line is that these two balls are siblings but not twins. So they don’t exactly perform the same. The Zen Master is unique for its own characteristics and you can’t just expect the original bowling ball to react the same.

FAQs Of 900 Global Zen Master Bowling Ball!

What makes the 900 Global Zen Master Bowling Ball different from other bowling balls?

• The Zen Master stands out due to its S77 Response solid coverstock and Meditate Symmetric core, designed to offer bowlers enhanced control, predictability, and a strong mid-lane reaction. Its performance across various oil patterns makes it versatile for different bowling environments.

Can the Zen Master be used on dry lane conditions?

• While the Zen Master is optimized for medium to heavy oil conditions, its performance on dry lanes might be challenging for some players. Its aggressive hook potential may require adjustments in play style or choosing a different ball specifically designed for dry conditions.

Is the Zen Master suitable for beginners?

• The Zen Master, with its strong mid-lane reaction and need for precise control, may present a learning curve for beginners. However, it can be a valuable tool for new bowlers looking to improve their game, provided they are willing to invest time in learning how to effectively use it.

How does the Zen Master perform in league play and tournaments?

• The versatility and consistent performance of the Zen Master make it an excellent choice for both league play and tournaments. Its ability to adapt to a wide range of oil patterns and lane conditions allows bowlers to rely on it in various competitive environments.

What maintenance does the Zen Master require to maintain its performance?

• Regular cleaning with a bowling ball cleaner after each session is recommended to remove oil and dirt buildup. Additionally, periodic resurfacing or detoxing can help maintain the ball’s surface characteristics and overall performance. It’s also advisable to consult a pro shop for specific maintenance routines tailored to your usage patterns.

Conclusion

This famous Zen Master bowling ball is better than ever! The overall performance of this bowling ball is astonishing! If you want an upper-mid-strength bowling ball in your arsenal, the Zen Master by 900 global will be a pretty strong piece. If you love to practice on medium patterns mostly, Zen Master will get you through anything peacefully! So with this performance-enhancing ball, take your bowling performance to the next level. Eventually, you’ll become a “Master” of bowling. So grab this ball today and good luck!