- Radical Inferno

First Impressions
The Brunswick Radical Inferno, released in August 2006, comes in an eye-catching color combination of blue, yellow and chrome. At the heart of this bowling ball is a symmetrical block laid out for a low 2.463 RG and a medium to high 0.050 differential. These numbers point to a ball that builds energy early in the roll while also showing significant flare potential. That core is wrapped in the so-called Octane Pearl Reactive coverstock. The cover comes polished to a High Gloss Polished finish out of the box. This combination of low RG and a polished pearl surface is specifically tuned to let the ball glide extremely easily through the heads. Only when the ball reaches the drier boards at the end of the oil pattern does the cover show its true nature. It is designed to react very aggressively to friction and to convert the stored energy into a sharp, angular change of direction. The result is a classic skid-flip ball motion that delivers a clear and abrupt reaction at the breakpoint. The technical specs and the basic design therefore promise pronounced length and a strong backend hook, which makes the ball an interesting option if you are looking for a dynamic angle into the pocket.
Comparison To better place the specific ball motion of the Brunswick Radical Inferno, a comparison with the Storm Hy-Road Pearl is useful. Both balls use a polished pearl cover and a symmetrical core, yet they show noticeable differences in ball reaction. The Storm Hy-Road Pearl is known for generating relatively clean length through the heads, but offers a more rounded and controllable move at the breakpoint. The Radical Inferno, by contrast, is built to be far more extreme in its response to friction. Where the Storm ball shows a smoother transition from skid into hook and roll, the Brunswick Radical Inferno reacts noticeably more aggressively and more angularly as soon as it leaves the oil. This creates a sharper angle that can be an advantage in many situations, but is also more demanding to control. When the lanes are heavily played and the oil pattern moves around, the Radical Inferno's sudden direction change can make it more prone to over/under reactions. The Storm Hy-Road Pearl forgives a bit more inaccuracy at the release thanks to its smoother profile. If you need maximum backend reaction and an explosive entry angle into the pocket, however, you'll prefer the pronounced skid-flip character of the Brunswick over the calmer nature of the Storm ball.
On the Lanes In practice, the Brunswick Radical Inferno is designed for medium to slightly heavier oil conditions. Thanks to the polished surface, the ball glides effortlessly through the heads, which is especially helpful when the front boards are already broken down or naturally carry less oil. In combination with the responsive cover, the symmetrical core design lets the ball store its energy efficiently and release it all at once in the backend. This should deliver excellent carry, since the ball enters the pocket at a very steep angle with plenty of energy left. If you naturally have a lower to medium rev rate, you can benefit a lot from the angular reaction of the Radical Inferno, because the ball helps you create the hook you need without having to fundamentally change your technique. If you have a very high rev rate or lower ball speed, on the other hand, the ball motion can become too aggressive on drier lanes. Once transition sets in over the course of a tournament or league session and the oil spreads across the lanes, the ball requires precise adjustments. With too much carrydown, meaning oil in the backend, the polished cover can cause the ball to slide too far and miss the breakpoint. On pure friction, by contrast, it tends to react extremely strongly. The ball therefore reaches its full potential on patterns that offer a clear definition between oiled and dry boards, so its skid-flip characteristics can be used to best effect for a consistent and powerful hit rate in the pocket.