Since Brunswick’s acquisition of Ebonite in late 2019, the Ebonite brand has been missing a top-of-the-line asymmetrical bowling ball that gives bowlers traction and motion on heavy oil conditions. The new Ebonite Aero fills that hole and fills it nicely.
The Ball
The new Aero features the brand-new Aero core, which has DOT and DynamiCore technology. DOT allows the bowler to put any layout on their Aero without fear of voiding a warranty or putting their ball at risk of cracking. DynamiCore gives the Aero more energy at the pindeck, a quality every bowler asks for when they look to buy a ball.
Core Numbers
- RG: 2.504
- Diff.: .050
- Int. Diff.: .013
The Aero core gives bowlers an early rolling motion, but not quite as early as some of Brunswick’s other offerings, like the Redemption core or the Portal core.
Coverstock – GSV-X
I’ll admit, I haven’t been a huge fan of the GSV series of coverstocks in other bowling balls. However, the new GSV-X provides plenty of traction and ability for surface adjustment.
The Bowler
- Approximate ball speed off hand: 16.5 miles per hour
- Approximate rev rate: 300 revolutions per minute
- Approximate axis rotation: 30 degrees
- Approximate tilt: 8-10 degrees
- Positive Axis Point: 4 and 5/16 over, 7/16 up
I classify myself as a tweener, mainly due to my lower ball speed and moderate rev rate. My lower axis tilt tends to get me in trouble, as I can struggle to get the ball through the heads on dryer lane conditions.
The Layout
Because I bowl mostly on a high-friction house pattern, I drilled this Aero with a 55-degree drilling angle, a 5-inch pin-to-PAP distance and a 35-degree VAL angle. I have avoided using 5-inch pin layouts in the past because they can often get lazy downlane when I have to move my feet left. However, my lower ball speed and lower tilt made me decide this would be a good time to try a 5-inch pin one more time.
Surface Prep
The higher-friction house pattern I generally bowl on means that I need some added length with my equipment. The Aero normally comes at 500,1000 sanded, but I sanded mine to 500 and then added Brunswick Crown Factory Compound. This glossy surface will give me enough length that I won’t have to start too far to the left with the Aero.
The Results
The Aero definitely is an aggressive ball. I moved a bit deeper than my normal line, standing around 25 and hitting 13-to-14 at the arrows. I eventually moved further to the left, finishing around 30 before the ball could no longer make the corner.
I was surprised by how much continuation the Aero gave me with this much angle. I often have issues throwing asymmetrical balls, as they are often twitchy and uncontrollable at the breakpoint. That was not the case with the Aero.
Light-pocket hits carried consistently. Small misses to the outside still faced up to the pocket, while bigger misses outside did not. Misses inside often held the line early on, but that hold disappeared as the pattern broke down. I did not have an issue leaving corner pins until I had to move my feet closer to the 30-board.
The Fit
Rev-dominant bowlers looking to add a solid asymmetrical bowling ball to the arsenal will enjoy the Aero. The core is slightly weaker than the average “big asym”, giving it more usability. Speed-dominant players can slide their Aero a notch below a Hammer Redemption Solid or a Brunswick Prism Warp, thanks to the slightly weaker core. Depending on lane condition, a surface adjustment may be warranted.
Conclusion
I did not expect to enjoy throwing the Aero, but I did. It slides just above my Hammer Fugitive Solid, serving as a bit more ball when I need something more aggressive. The Aero also worked well for me on carrydown, something I wasn’t expecting once I put Brunswick Crown Factory Compound on it.
The Aero has found a place in my arsenal. It’s a highly usable asymmetrical bowling ball that can handle a dull or glossy finish. It provides continuation through the pins, much more so than your average asym.
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