The 6 Characteristics of a GOOD Benchmark Ball

Benchmark bowling balls — A term that gets thrown around way too loosely in this industry. Not every ball is a benchmark just because they said so.

Here are the 6 characteristics that a GOOD benchmark ball MUST have in order to earn that title!

Questions? Comments? Did I miss anything? Let me know.

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[HeroPotatoDB]

Thanks for the take on Benchmark balls, me personally i feel like I’m pretty matched in terms of Revs/speed so my benchmark has been the BW 2.0 Solid, tho if allowed lately i’ve been throwing my new NU in League and it’s been a fantastic look for my game, twice i’ve had 300 in my hands with that ball but nerves get to me in that 8th frame, (no 300 after almost 8 years of bowling but here’s hoping i’ll get it in 2024 when our leagues start back up!)

[texasplumr]

The Hitter is a ball I'm drilling next week. I've had a Phaze 2 as my benchmark for a long time now. Still love that ball and drilled a new one this year because they'll stop making that ball at some point and they wear out after enough games are on one. But The Hitter looks to be a possible replacement for the P2 when the time comes. Thanks for yet another very good review.

[kenraedejr]

This is something new to me. I always thought a benchmark ball was that ball in the middle of your bag. The one you start with in practice that will tell you if you need to ball up or ball down and gives you a good idea of what you’ll need on that pattern. Just what I always thought. I was way off.

[joehoenig]

Thanks for answering some important benchmark ball questions, Nick!

Here's a few more, please:

1. When should a
bowler get out of their benchmark ball? What are the signs?


2. One commenter here echoed what I was taught, which is that benchmark balls tell you, during your "10 minutes of practice", whether to use them, ball up or ball down.

Ok, so if during that warmup, I get lined up and have a good look with my benchmark, but me being a smart bowler, I try other balls to have options, and they too, give me a good look, now what should the bowler do? Use the benchmark or not?

3. Since you're a Purple guy, do you even have a benchmark ball in your bag? Or is your strategy to first see if Purple is in play, and if so, the resin benchmark ball stays in the bag. However, if Purple is not in play and you need to know which resin ball to use, then out comes the benchmark?

4. You mentioned the 800 series scenario where the bowler used their benchmark for all three games of league, and merely made small speed, angle and rotation adjustments.

In your opinion Nick, if a bowler who is using their benchmark ball stops carrying strikes, how many adjustments should that bowler try, before saying "Hey, it's time for my benchmark ball to be "benched", and to either ball up or down with another resin ball?

I think the smooth and predictable nature of benchmark balls, make it difficult to commit to stop using them.

And how many times have we stopped using the benchmark, then wasted frames fishing for the correct ball to next use, by which time league can be over and done with?!

5. If a bowler starts with their resin benchmark, then decides to put it back in the bag and change balls, would there ever be a scenario when urethane would be the "next" ball? Or, is the thinking that since urethane wasn't in play on the fresh, during warmups, and since resin, by that point, has removed head oil which urethane needs, that the bowler cannot go back to urethane?

6. Would you even consider urethane as a benchmark, since its shape, once "oiled up", is also smooth and predictable? Or is the answer no, because you really cannot correlate urethane shapes to resin ones, and if one major point of a benchmark is to tell you which resin ball to use, urethane doesn't "speak resin", if you catch my drift?

7. In your opinion, what would be good Rg and Diff ranges, for a benchmark ball?

Many questions, thanks for taking the time to read, and in advance, for taking the time to answer.

[TerrySwanson-fl]

Thanks Nick, just got a Mesmerize and now I understand it’s motion more. Been throwing skid flip balls, Arctic Vibe and Effect. Like them all a lot!

[nordattack]

Nice video. Good explanation.
As a low rev 1960's style full roller who plays the lanes down and in and right at them, a benchmark ball for me is a ball that allows:
1. A very direct, straight projection at the pocket.
2. Will hold the line and not break loose until it gets about 15 to 20 feet from the pocket.
3. Will not jump all over the lane.
4. Is very predictable.
5. Requires minimal moves as the lane breaks down.
6. Continues to hit hard even when the lane breaks down.

[willysteiner]

Thank you Nick for this great explanation of this overly used term in Bowling. Me and one of my students just discussed about this topic and he decided to go for a Phaze II as his new benchmark ball. Very much like your vlog!

[kenfrank]

I am using an Innovator Solid, Teal Rhino Pro and Piranha as my benchmark balls. I have had good success with the Bigfoot balls (pearl and hybrid) and would love to see a solid version with maybe HK22? That would be a great 3 ball arsenal.

[lamontmarshall]

Much needed lesson! Man you are killing it! Thank you

[BilliamTheSmith]

New drinking game.... Everytime Nick says "benchmark" or if the word is displayed, you drink. Spoiler, HAMMERED in 8 minutes...

[FSerrano]

Envy Tour is mine right now. It's just so good for me on so much. And still gives me the option of going to something bigger if I have to.

[larrylacroix]

Great video. Really helpful for me because was never sure what benchmark ball meant Thanks

[tonyneuman]

Great video Nick! I would also add that a ball itself can change over time. For 2 years, I considered my Rubicon UC2 to be my strong ball, but now that it has some lane shine, it’s an excellent benchmark ball for me. If it reads too early or goes through the face, I have my NU Blue Hammer, and if the Rubicon is struggling to get up the hill, I can go to my Black Widow 2.0 Hybrid. But that definitely wouldn’t have worked 2 years ago!

[FredSoDak]

My style is speed dominant stroker & using Ebonite The One Remix 45° x 45° layout is very smooth for league "house" pattern. Using any type of pearl is too skid/flippy. 2nd best ball is DV8 Thug Corrupt at 55° x 60° (pin in ring), which gives long, slow hook phase. Very good explanations. Thank you.

[waynehudler]

Thanks for the great advice as always Nick!! My benchmark ball in league is the Radical Innovator or the GB4.

[butchcoolidge]

As usual, great video. My current benchmark is the GB4 hybrid. And like you said, when you match up you can make adjustments in league and stay with it.

[BuzzsawBrent]

Great video, Nick! Thanks for the rundown on benchmark balls!

[markmatroni]

Glad you used Hitter as an example!!!! That ball looks so good all the time.

[dalechrist]

I'm about tore build a new 13 or 14 lb 4-ball arsenal. I've been looking at either an Envy Tour or a Black Widow 2.0 as my benchmark ball, and something for spares (axe or maybe a vibe drilled straight up. I've always been speed dominant. My benchmarl ball when I threw 16lbs was a Black Widow bite, and at 15 lbs is my Taboo Electric Blue.

[traviskirk]

When i was throwing my spi stuff my benchmark ball was my IQ tour emeralds and when i wanted the similar motion just a little sideways was hyroad x, then dark code but the real sideways ball was my badger the blue hybrid. But with the brands of Brunswick for benchmark is the forest green quantum from 2016 at 1000trucut same grit when out of box. But for me i have more speed then revs. My arsenal is i have quantum leap with the heavyspot towards the grip center and pin at 3-3/8" but 1 inch for me . The remake Forest green quantum, my 2 original forest green quantums same layout as the leap, original cherry vibe for my cleaner ball 2 sanded plastic balls the dv8 slime green poly and the geico viz-a-ball at 240 grit awesome for my league on old wood with broken down lane oil from the league before. Sorry it is so long . Basically i have 2 to 3 maybe even 4 bags of nothing but benchmark balls with 1 asymmetric being my statement solid at 2k trucut