Liquid poly-alpha-olefins having a KV100 of 2 to 6000 cSt, 20 weight percent dimer or less and a viscosity index of 60 or more are obtained by contacting in a reaction zone, in the presence of from 0 to 60 psi hydrogen, C3 to C20 alpha-olefin monomers with a non-coordinating anion activator, a single bridged meso-metallocene transition metal compound having less than about 35 wt % racemic isomer, and a co-activator. The molar ratio of activator to meso-metallocene is from 10:1 to 0.1:1, and the alpha-olefin monomers in the feed components are present in at least 20 wt % or more based upon the weight of the meso-metallocene, non-coordinating anion activator, co-activator, monomers, and solvent or diluent. The productivity of the process is at least 50,000 g of total product per gram of transition metal compound and no more than 5% monomer is converted from olefin to alkane.