The 900 Global ZEN SOUL is the hybrid version of the S77 Response coverstock, while the ZEN MASTER features the solid version and the ZEN the pearl version.

Once I drilled a pin-up version of the ZEN, it became one of my favorite balls when shiny pearls are in play, especially on house shots: I used it in an 830 (268-266-296) to start qualifying and a 299 early in match play in the 2022 MAST Year End Championship at Spartan Bowl.

However, the ZEN MASTER that I thought was going to be a mainstay in my arsenal ended up getting eclipsed by other strong balls that simply were better in the Storm PROTON PHYSIX and NOVA.

I knew the ZEN SOUL would be somewhere in between and hoped it would be a benchmark type of ball similar to the Storm PHAZE II.

And while I had some success with the ZEN SOUL, it turned out to be too smooth for my super senior game and I passed it on to a senior friend who wanted to try a 14-pound ball.

I chose a strong pin-up drilling for my ZEN SOUL, with the pin above the middle finger and CG kicked right. With my PAP of 4 7/8 over and 5/8 up, the numbers are 4 1/4 pin-PAP, 4 MB-PAP and 2 1/2 pin buffer.

The Meditate Symmetric core has almost identical numbers for 14, 15 and 16 pounds, so my review is applicable for all three.

The box finish is 4,000-Abralon and my first efforts with it in practice on house and sport shots saw very smooth motion that required me to use direct angles. I also left more than a few flat 10s.

I roughed it up to 1,000-grit CTD by hand for the PBA60 Dick Weber Classic in Jackson, Michigan on the 45-foot Dick Weber pattern, using a direct angle to keep it in play for a solid 210-plus first game on one squad. But as soon as they transitioned and I had to edge in, the reaction was gone.

I used it on a house shot at an SSBA senior tournament in Iowa and started with 269, again playing fairly direct up the oil line, but as soon as I had to edge left as the track broke down, I lost reaction and got out of it midway through a 204 second game.

The one really good thing I saw is that the ZEN SOUL returned easily but didn’t overreact when I swung it in that 269 first game — always a valuable thing on house shots. If it was better for me when I had to move more into the oil, it would have been a definite keeper for me.

In the end I saw it as just too limited for me — if I didn’t play straight I had no look and it was so smooth carry could be an issue even playing straight.

My sense is that a weaker pin that perhaps would be above my bridge or ring finger would allow me a better chance to get in and open the lane up. But it also might be that the ZEN SOUL cover just isn’t quite strong enough for me to really get into the oil.

And I have enough medium balls that get in and go around it really well in the 900 Global WOLVERINE DARK MOSS and ALTERED REALITY, Roto Grip IDOL HELIOS, and Storm INFINITE PHYSIX.

The ZEN SOUL definitely falls into the classification of medium ball, as it’s a few boards stronger than the ZEN (surface determines how many) and a few boards weaker than the ZEN MASTER and other strong balls I mentioned earlier.

I think the ZEN SOUL could be good for any bowler looking for a smooth and easily controllable reaction, especially on Sport and Challenge shots, and especially players with more revs who can make it react better in the oil and downlane than I can at age 60.

900 Global Zen Soul
Layout: 60 x 1 ½ x 60
Finish: 4k FAST
Lane types and pattern types: HPL lane panels with Don Carter pattern and SPL panels with Wolf pattern.

The Zen Soul was a great addition to the Zen line. I found in the past the OG Zen with 1500 grit was a little too snappy and unforgiving for me. Once SPI released the 4KFAST, I changed the surface and it gained more confidence in the OG Zen. The Master rolled WAY too early for my style of bowling, then entered the heart of the line up, The Zen Soul, with 4K FAST I was able to use it in a tournament setting, league and practicing. Well rounded ball with great shape early and late, unlike the Master that seemed to “give up” on me, I felt very comfortable playing the ditch with it, using it inside where the other lefties were not, ie: inside of 3rd arrow. The S77 Response cover was an excellent choice to match with the ZEN core. I’m at “peace” when recommending this ball to the average league bowler, they will get great control, a versatile ball that they can depend on week after week.

The Zen is the perfect ball to help blend wet/dry and get into the burn. The Zen Master was a great ball to start out fresh and control the backend on tougher conditions (Much like a Phaze 2 for me). The 900 Global Zen Soul completes the gray area when the Zen is too clean but the Zen Master starts to burn up through the fronts. I Drilled mine 3.75x4.25x4.25 2ls to match the layout on my !Q Tour Solid. I found it to be clean through the fronts and pick up 3-4 feet sooner than my Zen, and it was more tamer on the backend. The Meditate core made popular in the Zen works very well with the S77 Response Hybrid coverstock to create a ball that blends out lane during transition.

Global Zen Soul Ball Specs:

Cover stock S77 Hybrid Reactive
Meditate Core (Symmetrical)
Teal/ Fuchsia / Black
Finish 4000 Abralon

Bowler Specs:
Right Hand. PAP 5” Over 1/2 up
Rev Rate 300. Tilt 20. Rotation 50.
Speed at cameras 15.5


Review:
The new Global Zen Soul is a big hooking Hybrid version of the Original Zen. The Zen Soul has quickly become one of my favorite balls to roll right now. The Soul reads the mid lane very well and then seems to pick up revs and drive as it makes the turn. The hit and carry are excellent. This is a ball you can trust to just roll good and hit. For me, the Zen Soul hooks almost as much as the Gem but responds stronger to friction. The Zen Soul, for me, hooks more than the Zen Master but I think it is because of the way it responds to dry boards. This ball strikes a lot and has a forgiveness factor for poor shots that I see in a lot of bigger core symmetric balls. The Zen Soul would fit between the Gem and the Phase 2 in my bag. The Response to this ball has been good and demand has been very high. I see this ball being almost a must have for folks who love the original Zen. The Soul is also a ball you can stay with for a while before it goes back in the bag. Just make small adjustments and let it do its thing. You won’t be disappointed. I feel this is another excellent entry into the strong ball category.

Summary:
The Zen Soul is another very good and strong ball by Global.
The Ball reads the mid lane well and makes a strong back end move.
The Zen Soul is forgiving and hits like a truck!


Glenn Wendel
PBA Member
Storm Pro Shop Staff
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www.stormbowling.com

Video link:
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