- Fanatic BTU

First Impressions
The Brunswick Fanatic BTU catches the eye right away with its plain, steel-gray color scheme. The abbreviation BTU stands for Better Than Urethane and describes exactly the intention behind the cover. This is a special reactive cover developed to imitate the calm characteristics of urethane. The ball comes with a Low Differential I-Block Symmetrical core. The specs show a 2.601 RG and a low differential of 0.030, which results in very controlled and predictable ball motion. The ball ships with a 500 and 1500 SiaAir finish on the surface. This combination of a higher RG, weak differential and the special surface should deliver an extremely smooth and even motion without the ball reacting abruptly at the breakpoint.
Comparison
Comparing the Brunswick Fanatic BTU to traditional urethane balls like Storm's Pitch Black, it's noticeable that the Fanatic BTU has a somewhat better ability to carry energy into the pins. While pure urethane often tends to reduce carry on longer patterns, the BTU cover retains enough dynamics to clear the pocket more effectively. Against a typical reactive solid like the Storm Phaze II, the hook of the Fanatic BTU is considerably weaker and rounder. When the lane offers a lot of friction, the Storm Phaze II tends to react extremely aggressively, while the Fanatic BTU plays to its strengths in exactly that situation and forgives mistakes out on the outside boards. It closes the gap between traditional urethane and weak reactive shells.
On the Lanes
The primary application for the Brunswick Fanatic BTU is dry lane conditions or extremely short oil patterns. It's the ideal choice when the transition is already well advanced and conventional balls react too early and too strongly. If you have a high rev rate, you can use this ball to get through the heads cleanly and generate a gentle hook toward the pocket. The predictable reaction makes the ball outstandingly easy to control, which is especially advantageous when playing the outside boards. The ball should ensure that a high carry is maintained despite the controlled motion. For oily conditions or extremely long patterns, however, the BTU simply lacks the traction, so it can hardly develop the necessary energy there.