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Reviews by Casey Mattingly

900 Global Altered Reality

900 Global Eternity

900 Global Harsh Reality

900 Global Honey Badger Intensity

900 Global Reality

900 Global Reality Check

900 Global Sublime

900 Global Wolverine Dark Moss

900 Global Xponent

900 Global Xponent Pearl

900 Global Zen Gold Label

900 Global Zen Master

Roto Grip Attention Star

Roto Grip Duo Black/Green

Roto Grip Exotic Gem

Roto Grip Gem

Roto Grip Halo

Roto Grip Halo Pearl

Roto Grip Halo Vision

Roto Grip Hustle Camo Solid

Roto Grip Hustle USA

Roto Grip Hyped Hybrid

Roto Grip Hyped Pearl

Roto Grip Hyped Solid

Roto Grip Hyper Cell Fused

Roto Grip Idol

Roto Grip Idol Cosmos

Roto Grip Idol Helios

Roto Grip Idol Pearl

Roto Grip Idol Synergy

Roto Grip Magic Gem

Roto Grip MVP

Roto Grip Nuclear Cell

Roto Grip Optimum Idol

Roto Grip RST X-1

Roto Grip RST X-2

Roto Grip RST X-3

Roto Grip Rubicon

Roto Grip Rubicon UC2

Roto Grip Rubicon UC3

Roto Grip TNT

Roto Grip TNT Infused

Roto Grip UFO

Roto Grip UFO Alert

Roto Grip Wild Streak

Roto Grip Winner

Roto Grip Winner Solid

Storm Absolute

Storm Absolute Power

Storm All-Road

Storm Axiom

Storm Axiom Pearl

Storm Code X

Storm Dark Code

Storm DNA

Storm DNA Coil

Storm Electrify Solid

Storm Fast Pitch

Storm Fever Pitch

Storm Gravity Evolve

Storm Hy-Road X

Storm Incite

Storm Infinite Physix

Storm IQ Tour 78/U

Storm IQ Tour Emerald

Storm IQ Tour Nano Pearl

Storm IQ Tour Ruby

Storm Journey

Storm Night Road

Storm Nova

Storm Omega Crux

Storm Parallax

Storm Parallax Effect

Storm Phaze 4

Storm Phaze III

Storm Phaze V

Storm Physix

Storm Pitch Purple

Storm Proton Physix

Storm Revenant

Storm Soniq

Storm Spectre

Storm Summit Peak

Storm Super Nova

Storm Trend 16 Only

Storm Trend 2

Storm Virtual Energy Blackout

Show all reviews

900 Global Altered Reality

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 12/14/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball right here is a Monster!! My goodness, I took to this ball immediately. It gives me Volatility Torque vibes, but BETTER! The OG Reality was such a usable piece for me, pin up or down, sanded or polished, the reality was fantastic.

Altered Reality with the pearl cover allowed me to get left and never worry about it not hooking. This ball doesn’t bog down, it just keeps on coming back. This is already becoming a favorite of mine, first 2 games out of the box were 298, 300!s

Layout for me is: 4.25x5.25x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4.5x4.25.3.75
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2
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900 Global Eternity

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/21/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This was the ball that I had the most anticipation about. The core was something that came from a ball that I LOVED a few years back in the Black Ops with the cover of the Altered Reality. My anticipation was for good reason as this ball does not disappoint. Out of the box for me, it’s pretty clean in the fronts, It reads the mids well, then it makes this motion down lane which is strong but not bouncy off the dry. This ball takes surface very well and when I hit this ball with a 1500 pad It really brought the break point closer to me but it didn’t seem to lose that strong down lane motion. I wanted it to be a little earlier but 1500 was a little too much, so I added Step 2 to the surface and it was MONEY

I actually drilled a second Eternity pin down and out of the box it was way too clean. When I hit this one with the 1500 pad it was perfect. Cleaner in the fronts, cleaner in the mids and very controllable down lane!

Pin up: 5x4x2
Pin down: 4.5x4.25x3.75

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
HyRoad: 4.5x4.25x3.75
IQ Ruby: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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900 Global Harsh Reality

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Harsh Reality is the newest Big Cover and Big Core ball from SPI. I have really enjoyed throwing the Reality family of bowling balls. I was a little worried when the Reality went away, but hot on its tail was the Harsh Reality. I feel like this ball is a bit stronger than the original Reality. The cover being the Reserve Blend 902 Solid feels a lot like the strength of the Proton Physix. Global says that chemically, it’s similar to the S84 Solid that was found on the original Reality. Although we have the Gems out there, I prefer the shape of the Reality’s. This ball also has the AI core with after throwing them for a year, I am getting very fond of them. It really makes you think about certain hits, like, “I wonder if another ball would have carried that”. This a ball that needs some volume to be effective. I am going to drill a pin down one to see if I can make it something to use on softer patterns and house shots.

Harsh Reality Layout: 5x4x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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900 Global Honey Badger Intensity

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/28/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Honey Badger Intensity is the newest to the HB family. This ball uses the S70 Solid cover wrapped around the Grapnel 2.0 core. I use my standard layout for this one: 50x5x30 or 5x4x2.

My biggest take aways is that its not as strong as I originally thought that it was going to be. Which isn’t a bad thing. It definitely doesn’t roll like a bigger Asym., as a matter of fact it rolls more like a stronger symmetrical ball. You can be deeper with this one and use bigger angles on the lane because it doesn’t lock up and go forward like some of the bigger Asyms. like to do.

The ball actually has a similar motion to the RST-X1, but it revs much easier. Its a good medium piece that is seeing a lot of action here!

Other balls in heavy rotation:
Zen- 50x5x30 (pin up)
Zen- 50x4.25x65 (pin down at 2,000)
Rubicon UC2- 40x5x30 (pin up at 3,000)
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900 Global Reality

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/11/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Reality is the newest, high end Asym., from 900 Global. This ball comes from the factory with a 2000 grit finish on the S84 Response Solid cover. When I drilled this ball I was looking for a bigger Asym. where I could really keep my angles more in front of me. While I do have some balls that do this, they really labor once I have to open the lane up a bit…NOT THIS BAD BOY! I was pleasantly surprised that I could keep opening my angles and this ball would keep coming back! The Reality is quite a bit more versatile than what I first imagined. like most asyms for me, it did reach a point that I needed to ball down to get more shape down lane. This balls is very useful on the fresh as it blends the wet/dry well. It also takes to surface changes well, I hit this one with a 3000 pad just to smooth it a touch. The Global balls out of Utah have been Outstanding! I suggest you give them a try!

Layout: 4-1/2x4-1/4x3-3/4 or 50x4-1/4x65 (pin down)

Balls in Heavy Rotation
Zen-4x5x2 or 50x5x30
UC2-4-1/4x5x2 or 40x5x30
Parallax Effect- 4x5-1/4x2 or 50x5-1/4x30
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900 Global Reality Check

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/18/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I was pretty curious about this one after it was announced. When the Altered Reality (Which I LOVED) was deemed not cool enough to be used in the USBC events, I couldn’t wait to see what we would do with this core. Out of the box, I have to say that I was a bit let down. After trying to use it a couple of sets I put it away. Recently I got it back out, hit it with a quick wet 1,000 pad and WHOA! This ball was SO MUCH BETTER! I started with a ball that was too clean and didn’t recover how I wanted it to a ball that read early enough to blend the wet/dry and never over reacted when it hit the dry and still stayed continuous!

Do NOT give up on this ball if you find yourself in a similar situation. The Core is proven, the cover may just need a little tweak!

My Layout is 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
Idol Cosmos-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2
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900 Global Sublime

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Sublime is a completely new ball. With A coverstock that is the combination of the S84 Response Solid found on the Reality and the S70 Pearl found on the Wolverine Dark Moss, you get the Reserve Blend 802 Hybrid! The core is the Immersed Symmetric AI core. The combination of core and cover gives you medium/strong reaction that is unique to anything we had in the line. Straight out of the box, I had a lot of over/under with it. It wouldn’t bite in the oil and was too responsive off the friction. I hit it with a 3000 pad and it wasn’t enough. Once I hit it with a 2000 pad it gave me a reaction that I could work better with. The customers that I push this ball for are ones that need a little help with hook. I drilled a few of these for some ladies and they have been VERY successful with it. Because of the lower RG and Increased diff, this ball is perfect for that crowd.

My Sublime is 5x5x2 lightly scuffed with 2000

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Xponent: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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900 Global Wolverine Dark Moss

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/9/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Same ball different cover…maybe. The reactions are different! My original blue Wolverine really stood up and went forward. The Dark Moss gets to the spot, hooks, and has more continuation. So far this season, the Dark Moss has bailed me out for more than the blue Wolverine did last year. It’s just more useful and I have more confidence in it!

No copy and pasting from me when it comes to this ball. It’s NOT the same as it’s predecessor, its BETTER!

I still use it later in blocks or later in the evening on league nights. Once the lanes break down this ball will allow me to be in, still hit on it, get through the heads and mids without over reading the burn or the friction down lane.

The Wolverine Dark Moss is a keeper!

Layout: 4.25x5.25x2 (same as the OG Wolverine)

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
Idol Cosmos-4x5x2
Zen Soul-4x5x2
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900 Global Xponent

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/31/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I have some strong words for this ball! The Xponent has risen to the level of my favorite benchmark ball EVER!

I just can’t believe how versatile this ball is. When people come to my shop asking about it, I put it up against balls such as the Idol and Phaze2. I tend to say something on the lines of, If the Idol and Phaze2 were combined, you would have the Xponent. Early in the life of the Xponent, people would compare it to the original !Q, but I don’t see it.

I see it as being cleaner and more angular than an Idol, but not as clean and angular as a Phaze2. Although I can absolutely get left with this ball at the end of a block and it doesn’t have an issue coming off the dry and still generating angle to carry. A lot of times, you can only get so far left with a solid before it burns up and/or isn’t able to generate the angle to carry, not with this ball!

The Xponent does it all. For me, this ball is a MUST in the arsenal! I no longer carry a Phaze2 because of this ball!

The layout for my Xponent is 5x5x2

Other balls in the bag:
Zen Dark Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Dark Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
Virtual Energy Black Out- 5x4x2 box surface
Hustle RIP- 5x5x2 box surface
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900 Global Xponent Pearl

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I started off my Xponent review with this statement, “I have some strong words for this ball! The Xponent has risen to the level of my favorite benchmark ball EVER!”

The Xponent Pearl does NOT disappoint either!! I really have to compare the Xponent balls with the Idol and Idol Pearl. Both of those were balls that I used for a long time and drilled multiples of both. The same will be said with the Xponents. They just give me shapes that match up so well will my ball roll and speed. But the funny thing is, I have drilled a ton of Xponent’s for people and they all say the same thing. It really is one of the best benchmark balls ever and THE best I have ever thrown.

Xponent Pearl gives me a slightly cleaner and more angular motion than the Xponent and lets me continue with that shape for an entire league night. Once you get to a certain point at our place, you just have to get out of the solid and get into a pearl to create more angle. This ball is spectacular on its own and amazing as a 1-2 punch with the Xponent!

Layout 5x5x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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900 Global Zen Gold Label

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/9/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Unpopular opinion…I wasn’t a huge fan of the OG Zen. Call me crazy, but I just didn’t gel with it.

The Gold Label is NOT the OG Zen.

The Gold Label is finally a piece that I feel we have missed for a long time. A strong, bigger piece that is clean and angular. The last ball I thought did this was the Phaze4. The Phase 5 didn’t do it for me…but this Gold Label does it all!!

I did drilled 2 of them. One of them is pin up and the other is pin down. The pin up one is 5x5x2 and I keep it at box surface. It’s clean and angular. When I need to get in and wheel it, this ball eats!

The other one is pin down 4.5x4.5x3.75 with the surface cracked at 3,000. This one is earlier and smoother. I recently started a night of league with 300-300 with this ball! When I want to keep my angles a little more closed, this is the ball I pick up!

Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface

Other balls in the bag:
Virtual Energy Black Out- 5x4x2 box surface
Journey- 5x5x2
Hustle RIP- 5x5x2 box surface
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900 Global Zen Master

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/10/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This is the ball that I have been waiting for since the Idol was discontinued. This higher end, symmetrical solid reads the midline well and provides good angle as well. I mentioned the Idol before, but this ball also reminds me a bit of the Dare Devil Trick, an older high end symmetrical solid. These type balls are the ones that I lean on when I travel to keep me out of trouble and to allow me to get a fast start…the key word here is consistency. This ball doesn’t do anything that you won’t be expecting. Control, Consistency, Performance. I love this ball already!

My Layout for this ball is 50x4.75x30 or 4.75x4x2

Balls that are currently in the bag:
Zen- 50x4.25x65
UFO Alert-50x5x65
Dark Code- 50x4.25x65
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Roto Grip Attention Star

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/18/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Attention Star has a pretty unique motion that’s a bit deceiving. What I had heard about this ball was that it’s a slower response pearl that sees the mid lane pretty well. I had also heard people compare this ball to a stronger UC2. I disagree with both of these statements.

The Attention Star, for me, is just unique.

I did not change the cover, It is still out of box finish. For me it’s fairly clean through the front, reads the mid lane very well, but comes around the corner and is quite continuous.

It has the continuation of a symmetrical ball but reads the mids of an asym! It’s pretty cool!

Layout for mine is 5x4x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Xponent Pearl: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Optimum Idol- 5x4x2
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Roto Grip Duo Black/Green

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 5/9/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I am so excited about this ball! This is probably my favorite release of this year, for so many reasons! First of all Stef and Shannon have put their heart and souls into this ball and it’s a dream come true for them. Secondly the fact that they teamed up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America to give back is such a noble gesture. Lastly the performance of this ball is AMAZING!

This ball has the same cover as the Exotic Gem and a core similar to the famous DareDevil line. The DareDevil line was one of my favorites of all time! The Black and Bright Green color not only pops as it goes down lane but its also my wedding colors :)

Performance wise, this ball actually is very close to the Zen but with a little more pop off the spot. This actually makes it more useable than the Zen, for me.

The new factory polish has been a topic of discussion for a while but the surface prep for this one is perfect. I’m ready to get to the lanes and get to using this ball in competition!

My layout is 5x4x2

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
Eternity: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2

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Roto Grip Exotic Gem

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 5/9/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Talk about a killer combo…Defiant LRG Core which is the fastest revving asymmetrical core RotoGrip makes PLUS MicroTrax Pearl Coverstock, the earliest and most aggressive pearl cover RotoGrip offers (on any ball currently) is just a SICK combo!
Also, when you walk into the pro shop this ball just jumps off the shelf!

With as different of a motion as the GEM is, this ball is a great compliment. I really feel like after you can’t get any further left with the gem, the Exotic is right there to keep chasing it left. Even though its a fast revving ball, the thing keeps booming down lane

This ball is unique in motion in my bag. It’s more of a tournament ball for me, I like to use it on more modified/sport patterns.

Layout is 5.25X4x2

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
HyRoad: 4.5x4.25x3.75
IQ Ruby: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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Roto Grip Gem

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/9/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This thing is Suuuuuuper Rolly

This ball is extremely strong. It’s definitely earlier than the Proton Physix and Reality. This ball will be great to blend those super clipped house shots. This will also be a great piece on those patterns with a lot of volume in the front and not a lot of taper towards the end of the pattern. It will help control the breakpoint.
Lastly I want to say that even though this ball is early and rolly, It still has some pop down lane to help get the corners out!.

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Phaze4-4x5x2

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Roto Grip Halo

0 of 3 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 8/16/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

RotoGrip's Halo is a huge upgrade to the Idol. I compared this ball with 2 other high end Utah Releases, the SureLock and the CodeX. The SureLock labors to get down lane while the Halo is cleaner and more angular and continuous. Compared to the CodeX, the CodeX is cleaner than the Halo with a more rounded motion.
The cover on the Halo is the same as the Idol, the MicroTrax-S18™, which is very versatile and reacts well with surface or polish. The Idol was/is a huge success and the Halo will be as well. This one is a must...

my layout for this ball and the balls that I compared it to is:60x5x70, pin down, p3 hole.
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Roto Grip Halo Pearl

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 2/28/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

First Impression...WOW, This ball really creates angle! The Halo Pearl has the same eTrax-P18 cover as the Idol Pearl. The Idol Pearl for me has been the perfect complement piece to the Idol but I have not been able to start the night off with it. The Halo Pearl however is strong enough that I can start with it. The core gets the ball reading the mids enough for my liking, with that great angular asymmetrical motion off the spot! Although I am not a huge fan of pearls or shine in general, I have really fallen in love with the last 2 releases, the Idol Pearl and Halo Pearl!

The layouts I used for the Halo Pearl and Idol Pearl is:
60 x 5-12 x 35.

Other balls in heavy rotation:
Storm CodeX- 60x5x70 pin down, p3 hole
Idol (solid)- 60x5x70 pin down, no hole
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Roto Grip Halo Vision

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 8/8/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Halo Vision is something I was missing at the top of my bag! Yes of course there is the original Halo but for whatever reason, the motion wasn't exactly what I like to see with my eyes. The Vision is cleaner through the fronts than the OG Halo but it is MUCH stronger in the mid lane than the Pearl. I was a big fan of the Defiant Soul and this ball definitely feels like a stronger sibling. For be the balls at the very top always struggled to get any action (SureLock, Halo) but this version seems to be a very usable, strong option that already has a familiar motion. If you are/were a fan of the Defiant Soul or you are looking for a motion that is similar to the Halo Pearl but with more read in the middle part of the lane...this is your answer!! The Layout I used was 60x5x35 which puts the pin above my ring finger.

Here is my comparison video of the Halo Vision and Halo Pearl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amJq8zEDWcY

Balls getting a lot of time on the lanes for me right now:
Idol- 60x5x70 pin down with a p3 hole
Idol PRO- 60x5x35 pin up
Halo Pearl- 60x5-1/2x35
Physix- 60x5x35
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Roto Grip Hustle Camo Solid

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/21/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I am a HUGE fan of the Hustle line. The Hustle INK has gone with me to every tournament for a few years now. The PBR helped me control backends last year with the sanded solid cover. The Camo has a similar motion as the PBR only cleaner and a bit quicker off the dry. I say similar because my PBR, as of late, has quite a bit of lane shine to it. The Camo seems to be the answer to the INK going away. I am already a fan as we bowl on wood lanes here at my center.

My layout is 50x4.25x65

Balls that are currently in the bag:
Zen- 50x4.25x65
UFO Alert-50x5x65
Dark Code- 50x4.25x65
Zen Master-50x4.75x30
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Roto Grip Hustle USA

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/9/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Oh I do love me a Hustle!

The Hustle line has been quite good to me over the years. The majority of tournaments that I bowl are on house yet many of these tournaments are longer formats. Later in the day, after transition has set in, lanes begin to get tough. The Hustle line has consistently proved that It can tackle those conditions. I see the Hustles as being high end balls for drier conditions.

The Hustle USA is a bit quicker down lane than my Camo or my INK. I changed the surface of my USA by hitting it with a 500 pad, then with Storm Step 2 compound. Shiny cover with some teeth underneath!

I actually like to drill my Hustles weaker, using a 4.5” pin to pap, pin down layout: 4.5x4.5x3.75

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
Idol Cosmos-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2

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Roto Grip Hyped Hybrid

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/14/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Hyped Pearl is an amazing late block or low volume, angular option. I usually like to use balls like pin down hyroad pearls, iq emeralds, or hustle camo’s. All of those are fairly slow down lane. The Hyped pearl is the perfect angular option when these are in play! I kind of get Uproar vibes from the Hyped Pearl!

The Hyped Hybrid for me is basically the same reaction but a little sooner and a little less angular. I would recommend the Hybrid version for lower ball speed players or for the higher rev players.

I have not yet changed surfaces on the balls, so the reactions are right out of the box.

Layouts for both: 50x5x30 or 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2

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Roto Grip Hyped Pearl

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/14/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Roto Grip Hyped Solid

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/9/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

How do I put this…HOUSE SHOT KILLER! The Hyped Solid is SICK!

The Hyped Solid utilizes the same core as its pearl and hybrid predecessors. This thing reads, but doesn’t over read, manages transition well, and hits like a truck. What this ball does at its price point is un-matched. I was a big fan of the Hyped pearl (still am) but it’s not a ball that I can start the night with. The Hyped Solid, however I can! I really like using this in my trios league which makes me play a little closer to the friction for most of the night. Missing either way is not an issue. The ball still reads in the shim and it doesn’t bounce too hard off of the dry. Don’t let this one sneak past you!

Layout is my typical pin up layout: 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
Idol Cosmos-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2
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Roto Grip Hyper Cell Fused

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/8/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Layout: 60 x 5 x 35
This is my go to layout for new balls. I get a very good read of the lanes and what a ball will do, with this layout.

Let me start by saying that the Eternal Cell is my Favorite Ball of all time. I have had a ton of success with the Nucleus Core and my hopes were high even before I drilled the newest addition the the Cell Line. The fine folks at RotoGrip did not let me down on this one. This ball Has a similar motion through the fronts and midland as my Eternal Cells did, but the Angle that this ball creates is unreal. I used it at box finish for a few nights of league and because I bowl on Wood, I decided to hit it with a 3000 pad. Once I did this it tamed down the angularity enough that when I missed or when the lanes changed just enough, I would leave 4 pins or 9 pins and not greek churches or Big Fours. The Biggest plus for me is how continuous this ball is as well as the other balls with the Nucleus Core. I can chase the shot left all night and the ball will still get around the corner and keep going.

Casey Mattingly
Storm/RotoGrip Staff
Turbo Grips Staff
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Roto Grip Idol

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/5/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

My layout on the Idol is 60 x 5 x 55.

This is a new layout for me which puts the pin in the ring finger and the has the CG out enough for me to drop a 7/8" P3 hole. This ball give me a Great benchmark type motion. This is a ball that I can start the night on and just keep chasing it left with. I have read a lot of reviews on the Idol and many say that it is similar to the Haywire but I disagree. I was never a big fan of the Haywire, however I was a big fan of the DareDevil Trick. The motion I have with this Idol is more comparable to the Trick. Even with the new Strong cover (Micro Trax-S18 solid) Its a little cleaner through the front than the Trick and a stronger motion down lane.

To give a little closer look into what I bowl on...We own a 16 lane, wood center, that was built in 1960. We currently use Kegel Prodigy Oil and the house shot is 42' and almost 21mL's.

Casey Mattingly

Storm/RotoGrip Staff

Turbo Grips Staff
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Roto Grip Idol Cosmos

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/12/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Idol line was SO Amazing in the beginning with the first 3 domestic releases. I much of a fan the few in the middle, but with the NEWEST inception of the Idol, the Cosmos, I am seeing this to be very versatile.

The Idol Cosmos while being a peal, has a very heavy nano load. It reads the mids well with a strong but not necessarily angular motion. This ball takes well to surface adjustment. the more surface, the more it blends the dry but with polish, this thing can get after it down lane!

My layout is pin up, 4x5x2!

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
RST-X3-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2

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Roto Grip Idol Helios

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 12/14/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This new ORANGE Idol has a familiar shape to it. Having loved the all the other idols in the series, I was hoping this ball was slot right in to that benchmark motion category out of the box…but, I was wrong about that. I actually wasn’t a fan of the Helios out of the box. I changed surfaces a couple before I got the best potion out of putting Step 2 compound on it. Once I did that, I found the best motion for me. The ball rolls more like Idol did with some lane shine. Thats the motion that I loved most.

While the new XtremeTrax surface, to me, seems a little cleaner than the original Idol, It doesn’t boom down lane. Its more of a continuous/controlled motion that you would imagine from it.

My layout was 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4.5x4.25.3.75
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2

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Roto Grip Idol Pearl

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/21/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

First of all, I am not a fan of pearls or polish in general but for testing purposes I always throw the balls how they come out of the box. Typically they get hit with a 2000 or 3000 pad very quickly. After about 10 games with it I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised with the Idol Pearl. This ball reads the middle part of the lane very well for a pearl and still retains energy to create a strong but controllable motion down lane. Compared to my Son!Q, the Idol Pearl is much more continuous whereas my Son!Q was much more forward rolling off the spot.

I am coming off of an injury at the moment and I have only bowled on fresh lanes by myself to practice. I am anxious to see how this ball deals with transition.

My Layout for this ball is 60 x 5-1/2 x 35. This puts the pin above my bridge and my CG about an inch off of the center line.

Favorite Balls at the moment:
Code X- 60 x 5 x 70 pin down with a low hole
HyRoadX- 60 x 5 x 70 pin down, no hole
PhysiX 60 x 5 x 35 Pin up, no hole
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Roto Grip Idol Synergy

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/6/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Idol Synergy has Shelf appeal. It's Purple and blue colors are a throw back to the original Idol and the Idol pearl. After drilling it I quickly realized that it had the comfortable Idol motion. I have had many of the Idol series, including multiples of all of them. This one will be the same case. The Synergy will give you effortless length (even more than the pearl) coupled with a strong motion down lane. I actually hit mine with a little surface just to knock the cover down and to get the ball to slow down a bit in the back. I used a fairly traditional layout for me in 50x5x30 to get the motion I was accustomed to.

Other balls in heavy rotation:
Trend- 50X5x30
Emerald- 50x4/14x 65
Hyroad Pearl- 50x4-1/4x 65
Rubicon-60x5x15
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Roto Grip Magic Gem

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This one is my Favorite of the Gem’s!! This ball allowed me to see a motion that fit my eyes better. The OG Gem was too roll-y for me and the exotic was either too quick or it didn’t see it. The Magic Gem, for me gives me that perfect, in between, motion that isn’t too early, reads the lane how I want, and provides the down lane motion. It kind of makes sense being the Gem was a solid and the Exotic was a pearl.
I actually drilled two of these. I drilled one that’s perfect for when I need traction when the lanes are slick. I also drilled one that’s a little later and a little more angular. These 2 Magic Gems work really well together too. I keep one of them scuffed with a 1000 pad, the layout for that one is 4.5x4x2. The cleaner, more angular one is 5.25x5x1.5 and has Reacta Gloss on it. I don’t use them much at my center because of the built in hook from the wood lanes, but they always make the bag when I travel!

Layouts for the Magic Gem:
4.5x4x2 (1000 grit)
5.25x5x1 (polish)

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface

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Roto Grip MVP

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/6/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball is hooks WAY more than the price point would lead you on to believe! I loved the Wrecker of old but I see this thing reading the mids more still making a strong predictable motion down lane. This is not a ball that you need to wait until the third game of league to pull out, this ball can come out much sooner. This is a ball that I can pull out after my Asym. Pearls start seeing some over under once I move into the puddle. I can still stay further right with this. I was kind of hoping that this would fill the Hustle INK spot in my bag, but this ball hooks too much!!
Home run ball of the year for pro shops trying to get a lot of performance, for cheap, to their customers!!

The Layout on mine is 60 x 5-1/2 x 35, this puts the pin above my bridge.

Balls in Heavy Rotation at the moment:
Pro Motion- 50x5x35 pin up
IQ Tour Emerald- 60x5x70 pin down
Halo Pearl- 60x5-1/2x35 pin up
Winner Solid- 50x5x35 pin up
Idol Pro- 60x5x35 pin up
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Roto Grip Nuclear Cell

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/9/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Lets start by saying that I LOVE the Nucleus Core. This core gives me such a great motion no matter the cover. I have had success with this core dating back to the original Cell. The latest 3 have continued to out do themselves. The Eternal was a great ball that I had many of, including one that I had 870 with. The HyperCell Fused I drilled a few different ways and was successful with each of them. Now the Nuclear Cell. I drilled this ball off of my new, updated PAP. I went with 60x5x35. This ball gets through the front effortlessly, is on the cleaner side in the middle part of the lane, really digs in down lane. I wouldn't say that the motion is angular or fast. This motion is very much Strong and continuous. The other thing that I love about the Cell's are that I don't feel like I run out of lane with them. I can chase it as far left as I want, which is different than most Asyms for me. This ball would go great in anyones bag! Go Check one out at your local Roto Grip All Star Pro Shop!

Other Balls in Heavy Rotation:
Physix-60x5x35
Omega Crux-60x5x35
Hyroad Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Roto Grip Nuclear Cell

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/7/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Roto Grip Optimum Idol

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/18/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

It’s finally here!! It’s no secret that since the Idol was discontinued, we, the bowlers have wanted that shape back! The OG idol was one of the best tournament balls I have ever thrown. It controlled the lane AND with a little polish or lane shine, it could get pretty angular. It was an instant legend.

After a few iterations of the OG and with the emergence of AI technology, Roto Grip saw that it was time to bring back the Idol. This time using AI technology wrapped around the inner weight block.

The AI outer core allows the numbers of the IKON core to change slightly. This lowers the RG from 2.49 to 2.47 and it raises the Diff from .052 to .056

Basically this ball spins up a little quicker and has a little more over all hook. I actually see this one hooking more down lane than the OG. I drilled my first one pin up, kind of strong with a 5 inch pin and 2 inch pin buffer. I will absolutely drill another one pin down because my favorite OG idol was pin down, albeit with a hole.

As a conclusion…IT’S BACK!! LET’S GOOOOO!

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Xponent Pearl: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Attention Star-5x4x2
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Roto Grip RST X-1

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/20/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball is SICK! I am so happy with this release! This ball is super versatile. Whatever I do with my hand, this ball responds to. I can get right and get up the back of it or I can get in and get around it and it will boom down lane. My first 6 games with this ball was 804 and 802.
247, 257, 300, 289, 256, 257.

Along with the versatility there is also its hitting power. This ball goes through the pins SO well, destroying racks.

The only downfall of this ball is the color. I personally like the darker colored balls, but some may think that this ball doesn’t have the shelf appeal as the other Asymetrical ball with the same release date, Proton Physix.

Pick yours up on Black Friday!!

Layouts: Pin Buffer- 5x4.5x1
Dual Angle- 60x4.5x15

Other balls in the league bag:
Rubicon-5x4.5x1
AstroPhysix-4x5x2
Hyroad Pearl-5x4.25x4.5
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Roto Grip RST X-2

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/21/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I had a lot of success with the X1. For me I kind of saw the X1 as an asymmetrical Phaze2. Similarly I kind of see the RST-X2 as an Asymmetrical Phaze3. I see this ball being cleaner than any other asymmetrical pearl across the brands with strong/controllable movement down lane. I actually wasn’t a huge fan of this ball out of the box, BUT when I cracked the cover with a 3000 pad, this ball came to life. The straight pearl cover with no additives on the X2 is great for higher friction surfaces like wood or HPL’s.

Layout- 50x5x30 or 5x4x2

Balls that are currently in the bag:
Zen- 50x4.25x65
UFO Alert-50x5x65
Dark Code- 50x4.25x65
Trend 2- 50x5x30
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Roto Grip RST X-3

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/7/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

WOW, The X3 is nothing like the X1 or X2. The X3 is definitely the most angular of the 3. With the factory finish the X3 makes me get further left that I want to be with it, causing it to wiggle off the spot. Adding surface definitely helped the reaction, allowing me to be more successful and see the shape that I needed.

The X3 definitely has elite shelf appeal! I have already sold a lot of them out of my pro shop, not to mention that it matches up with the house shot here pretty well.

I have seen/heard this ball rolls well on more difficult patterns as well. Nate Garcia drilled his with a 3-3/8’ pin to pap and says that its “Super Chuggy.” Excellent when you are dealing with extra volume in the heads!

My Layout is: 4x5.25x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
Idol Cosmos-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2
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Roto Grip Rubicon

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 8/26/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

For a straight solid reactive ball, this thing creates some angle! Although its an asymmetrical, it has very little asymmetry. It does though have enough asymmetry to provide a little extra torque that a symmetrical core isn't going to give. The straight solid e-trax S20, allows the ball to get down the lane, read the mids and give EXCELLENT down lane motion. This has similarities to one of my all time favorites...the CodeX! I drilled my first one 50x5x30 and I have already placed an order for a 2nd one so I can drill it pin down!

Other balls on rotation:
Parallax- 50x4-7/8x30
AstroPhysix- 50x4-7/8x30
IQ Tour Nano-50x5x30
Rubicon-50x5x30
Trend-50x5x30
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Roto Grip Rubicon UC2

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/25/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Rubicon UC2 is great! It only took me 3 tries to get the desired reaction out of my original Rubicon, with each one I drilled being stronger. The fairly weak Intermediate Split (weak asymmetry) is something that is new to the RotoGrip line up and new to me as well. After having a chat with Tim Mack about the Rubicon, I decide to shorten my PSA to PAP distance considerably. If you are a Dual Angle person, I shortened my first angle (drilling angle). This was a game changer! I used that same layout on the UC2 and OH MY. This is such a fun ball to throw! The covers on both Rubicon's seem to be a little weak so I can see myself hitting this UC2 with a little surface, just to knock the shine off of it. Its an amazing complement to the OG Rubicon in case they are a little too slick to start the night off with the pearl. To me, these balls are absolute house shot Killers!

Layout for the UC2 is 4x5x1.5 or 35x5x30

Other balls that are seeing some love at the moment
Rubicon- 35x5x30
Trend-50x5x30
RST-X1-50x5x30
Hyroad Pearl-50x4.25x65
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Roto Grip Rubicon UC3

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 12/7/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball is a revelation. Urethane that reads early enough but also creates more continuation than any Utah branded urethane to date. I am not the biggest fan of urethane, mainly because I bowl a lot of house events where urethane is used, but not correctly. I see this ball being extremely versatile and being able to be used in A LOT of situations.
One of the biggest things I am taking away from this ball is that it’s a urethane option that lower rev players can use without sacrificing carry. With that being said, I predict this ball dominating the PWBA tour next summer!

My UC3 layout is 5x4x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4.5x4.25.3.75
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2
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Roto Grip TNT

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/26/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Smoooooth in a box! First of all, this ball and I did NOT get a long. Being a Pro Shop Owner/Operator, this ball is SUPER useful for some very important customers. My older crowed who has pretty slow ball speed are loving this ball!! I also have some high Rev players who get to play much further right than normal, with this bad boy! I think this ball is a testament to the workers in Utah for catering to all aspects of bowling.

I drilled my TNT pin down which accentuated the issue of the ball being longer and smooth. Although I changed surfaces a couple times, I just couldn’t see where this ball really fit into my arsenal on house shots.

If you have watched any of the PBA qualifying, you have seen the TNT get a lot of play. I can’t wait for the summer sport shot sweepers that are everywhere, go get some use on shorter patters with this ball!

Layout for my TNT is
Pin down: 4.5x4.25x3.75

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
Eternity: 5x4x2
IQ Ruby: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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Roto Grip TNT Infused

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 2/29/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

THIS BALL…I’m going to say that this ball has flown under the radar more than any ball in recent memory. The TNT infused is wrapped with e-Trax Plus Hybrid which is 2 parts pearl and 1 part hybrid. This ball handles volume better than most! The combination of the Strong, Torpex Core and the the cover surprisingly DIGS! When I struggle to get some of my bigger Asyms. to pick up and go, this ball gets the job done! I can not speak highly enough of this ball, it really is a huge bang for the buck, with this bad boy being in the HP3 line. I drilled 2 of them because I loved the first one so much. My first one was 5x5x2, my second one was 4.5x4.5x4. That pin down layout was not my favorite, however so be cautious if you are thinking about a pin down layout for this one.

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface

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Roto Grip UFO

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball fit instantly into my bag. It seems to be like a more useable Storm SureLock. I was a fan of the Halo but mine was drilled pin down with a P3 hole. The design intent of the UFO was that the core mimicked a ball that had a weight hole drilled into it. This ball naturally played into my hands. I drilled it pin down, 60x5x70, with no hole. The UFO is clean in the right part of the lane and strong where it needs to be strong. The UFO was exactly what I was needing at the top end of my bag.

Other Balls in Heavy Rotation:
Physix-60x5x35
Nuke Cell-60x5x35
Hyroad Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Roto Grip UFO Alert

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/2/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball has pleasantly surprised me. I drilled this one with a weaker than normal layout. (5” pin down) After the fact I was worried that I had turned this ball into a Rubicon UC2…boy was I wrong!

While making this ball cleaner through the middle, I did make it stronger down lane, but the strength of the cover and core combination does not make it too angular. It also doesn’t make this ball miss the spot either.

I am loving this ball on my 5 person team league, because it doesn’t read the transition too hard. On my trios league it allows me to stay on top of it a bit longer before I have to chase it in.

This thing is SO fun to throw!

Dual Angle Layout: 50x5x65
VLS: 5x4.5x3.75

Balls that are currently in the bag:
Zen- 50x4.25x65
Zen Master- 50x4.75x30
Dark Code- 50x4.25x65
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Roto Grip Wild Streak

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

What a cool, unique ball! I was a huge fan of the Silver Streak in college and now the second coming is here...and its Legit! The Wild Streak has a classic 2 piece construction of Weight Block and Cover. This ball allows you to stay closer to the friction without any over reaction. This is great with some of todays over/under house shots or extreme break down. I bowl on 80 year old wood and while you can start with the ball on the fresh, it forces me to stay too far right and up against the friction. I personally like to get in and open the lane up. I typically use this ball when they are hooking quite a bit and need something to control the dry down lane. This ball is the boss of that!

My layout is 60x5x35, putting the pin above my ring finger.

Balls in heavy Rotation:
Physix-60x5x35
Nuke Cell-60x5x35
Hyroad Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Roto Grip Winner

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/12/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

First of all the I used a new layout for this ball. I waited a bit before I drilled it, gathered information from other staffers, then went a different direction than normal for me. I shortened the Pin to PAP distance by a half inch. My go to pin down layout is 60x5x70. I went with 60x4.5x70. It was stronger than I anticipated! I was expecting something to use once the lanes broke down a bit, but that wasn't the case. I was able to use this ball on the fresh with a fair amount of success. Once I hit the surface with 3000 It rolled even better. It was very similar to the pin down Marvel Pearl which I had in my bag and I was able to use it longer than I would the Marvel Pearl typically. This is another home run in the HP2 line! Most definitely out performs the price tag!
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Roto Grip Winner Solid

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 2/26/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Winner solid is a good addition to the RotoGrip HP2 line. For me the Winner solid is similar to a weaker iQ tour Solid. It actually reminds me most of an older release, the RotoGrip Devour. The motion is very clean through the front part of the lane and I personally would like it to read the mids a little better on the fresh, but it has a good motion down lane. On the fresh I get a little over/under but once the lanes transition and they get a little toasty this ball really shines. This ball will still clear the heads well, read the mids, and gives you a strong but very controllable motion off the dry. This is where this ball marks its territory!

The Layout I used was my typical pin up 60x5x35. This puts the pin above my ring finger and the CG about an inch off of my center line.

Some balls I'm Loving at the moment:
CodeX pin down- 60x5x70 (p3 hole)
Idol pin down- 60x5x70 (no hole)
Idol Pearl- 60x5-1/2x35
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Storm Absolute

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/26/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This ball took a little time to for me to understand. The motion is greatly different than anything else we have in the line. I messed around with surfaces for a while until I matched up with one. Out of the box I was not a fan. The ball was SUPER clean and once it hit the spot it went sideways. I needed it to be much sooner so I hit it with a 1500 pad. I used it there for a while, but It gave me a motion where I preferred the balls around it. I later hit it with a 3000 pad and BOOM, there it was. It then gave me a motion that was EXACTLY what I needed. I was able to start the night with it, playing straighter and continue chasing it left. Some nights I even loft the cap with it and it never hooks early and still peels off the spot. This new core and cover combo really allows the PSO to fine tune reaction with layout but it never hooks and bails!

For me, Misunderstood at first but now its LOVE!

Pin up: 5x4x2

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
HyRoad: 4.5x4.25x3.75
IQ Ruby: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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Storm Absolute Power

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 2/29/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I have always been a fan of the Asymmetrical balls with big cores but weak covers. This one falls right into that spot! The clean, solid cover of R2S deep is pretty clean out of the box (4000) and makes a defined movement down lane. I actually thought that with my standard, 5x4x2 layout, the cover was a little too clean. I hit mine, lightly, with a 1000 pad and WHOA…Ball became a Monster! This ball also lets me continue to chase it left as the lanes break down. I am pretty conscious with my Asyms. on when I need to get out of them. We have wood lanes at my center and I have used this ball for all 3 games, multiple times, on 5 man leagues and 3 man leagues as well! This ball packs a serious punch and is quite versatile!

AP Layout: 5x4x2

Balls Currently getting play:
VEBO (3000 surface): 5x4x2
Summit Peak: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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Storm All-Road

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/9/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

All Road is the newest family member to the HyRoad Family. With the HyRoad core and the PhysiX cover, this ball is sure to make waves! The PhysiX has been the first ball out of my bag this season. With that ball being so strong and the next ball down being quite a bit weaker, I have needed a ball that will complement the Physix more. This ball has been the answer. With the cover having nano in it, it blends the pattern when needed while having that familiar HyRoad pop.
I am loving the success with the current line! The only con is that I haven’t been starting with it. I like to use it more as the ball down from the PhysiX

Layout on the All Road is 60x5x35.

Balls that are getting some looks right now:
PhysiX- 60x5x35
Phaze 3-60x5-1/2x35
HyRoad Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
CodeX-60x5x70
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Storm Axiom

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/29/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Storm Axiom is the newest ball designed for the Master Line. It has a brand new core called the Orbital core as well as a brand new cover called the NeX Solid. NeX (Nano Extreme) is Storm’s earliest reading cover to date. The combination of the two gives this ball a unique motion that will fit a wide variety of styles. The Axiom reminds me of an earlier rolling Phaze2. While rolling earlier than the Phaze2, the Axiom still generates an angular motion down lane, allowing you to chase the shot left as needed. The Axiom is not quite as smooth as the ProMotion but not quite as angular as the Phaze2. This ball is going to get a lot of play on tour, The last show featured 4 Storm/Roto staffers, 3 of which were throwing the Axiom, including Jason Belmonte, who won his 13 Major title with it.

My Axiom Layout: 60x5x35

Balls in Heavy Rotation:
PhysiX-60x5x35
UFO-60x5x70
Omega Crux-60x5x35
!Q Emerald-60x5x70
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Storm Axiom Pearl

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/7/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Axiom pearl looks good, smells good and rolls great! I really liked the original Axiom for strength and control, but it seemed that when I got in with it I had to be perfect to carry. The Axiom pearl is the perfect answer for this. I can open up the lane with it, giving me miss room right when it hits the dry AND left when I miss in. I have heard a lot of people compare this ball to the Marvel pearl, but I’m not buying it. This ball feels more like a high performance MVP pearl. I see a similar shape off the dry, a very strong controllable shape. Brand new Pearl cover to go along with the once used Axiom core…this ball is a goodie that will make its way into anyones arsenal!

Layout for this one is 50x5x30

Balls in heavy rotation
Trend 50x5x30
Nuke Cell 50x5x30
IQ emerald 50x4-1/4x65
Hyroad Pearl 50x4-1/4x65
Rubicon 50x5x15
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Storm Code X

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/4/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Hey everyone, My CodeX is drilled 60x5x35. I want to start with my comments in the Likes/Dislikes section. The CodeX is really clean through the front of the lane once the ball transitions, for me, its not as strong as I was anticipating. I had heard comments about it being earlier and stronger than the Code Red. For me, it is not. It does however seem to have a lot of control but compared to the AlphaCrux it has more pop. I would compare this ball to a IQ Tour on steroids. It is not quite as clean as the IQ and it has a heavier roll down lane.

This is a great piece for Modified or Sport patters, when you need to control the back part of the lane when the ball exits the pattern. This ball for me is not something that will see regular games on the House Shot. I want something to read a little more in the midland and/or a littler stronger in the back.

Balls that have been getting the house shot love lately are:

Code Red: 45x5x35, no hole

DareDevil Danger: 60x5x55, P3 Hole

Idol: 60x5x55, P3 Hole

Hustle INK: 60x5x35, no hole

Casey Mattingly
Storm/Roto Grip Staff #StormNation
Turbo Regional Staff #TurboGrips
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Storm Dark Code

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/1/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Here we go! I am so excited for this release! I had huge success with the CodeX as well as the other code series balls. This core combined with the new REX cover is something special. The cover is is unlike any other pearl I've ever thrown. It's earlier and stronger but it still packs a punch generating angle down lane. Obviously if you wanted to add more teeth, you can hit the cover with an abralon pad.
I like to drill my Code Balls a little on the weaker side so I used the same layout on my Dark Code as what I have on my CodeX and Code Red.

Dual Angle Layout: 50x4.25x65
VLS: 4.25x4.5x3.75

Balls that are currently in the bag:
Zen- 50x4.25x65
Zen Master- 50x4.75x30
UFO Alert- 50x5x65
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Storm DNA

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 5/3/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck…not a duck

No seriously, The DNA looks like a Phaze2, Rolls like an Asym. Phaze2…Definitely NOT a Phaze2.

The DNA has the all new combo of the Exo solid Cover and the Supercoil core. This ball defines smooth, predictable, hard hitting. The pins seem to stay low all the way through the pin deck. As long as the lanes aren’t hooking too much in the front, This ball is such a great benchmark ball. I know exactly where I need to go after this ball starts burning up in the fronts, which seems to be the typical thing for it to do. I actually smoothed the cover to a light 4000, just so I could stay in it a bit longer!

This one should not be passed up!

I used my typical pin up layout: 5x4x2

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
Eternity: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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Storm DNA Coil

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/18/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I have seen other people’s reviews on this ball and their pin up layouts creates a rather unusual early but angular motion with plenty of continuation. I drilled mine pin down to hopefully get away from that angular motion. What I got was a ball that I have to stay closer to the friction with and it never reads it too hard, it just seems to absorb the friction and come off of it with a very smooth and continuous roll. This motion seems to really blend the wet/dry even with the factory shine on it! I am not sure that I want to change surface on it, to be honest. The point of all of these balls is to have different motions and this one is definitely a different motion!

Key words for me are Smooth and Control!

My layout for this bad boy is: 4.5x4.5x4

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Xponent Pearl: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Attention Star-5x4x2
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Storm Electrify Solid

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 12/15/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The best one yet! This polished solid not only looks good and smells good, but the performance is right up there as well! I have leaned towards the Hustle line for lower end reaction for a couple years now, but this thing is something else. The Electrify’s before this one never really matched up with my game. Either it read too soon or it didn’t read it at all. Once I added surface I got to a reaction that I could attain with another ball.
The Electrify Solid is unique enough in its motion that I could use this in tandem with the Hustles. It’s strong enough to read the pattern and yet it doesn’t fly off the spot either. I just got back from Holiday Doubles, bowled at St. Clair lanes outside St. Louis and there were A LOT of these going down the lanes and they looked good! That center had a lower volume pattern with a higher friction surface. That was an Ideal match for this bad boy!

Layout for me is: 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4.5x4.25.3.75
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm Fast Pitch

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/6/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Fast Pitch is a Urethane that will be going into my tournament bag immediately. I don't throw Urethane much in fact the last urethane ball I was a fan of was the RotoGrip Hot Cell. What the Fast Pitch does for me is that it reads early, similar to the pitch black BUT it is more continuous than the Pitch Black. Don't let the continuation comment scare you though, because it’s not like the Pitch Purple. This ball slots right between the two but I would say that it's closer to the Pitch Black as far as "Urethane Shape." If you are a tournament player and Urethane is ever in play...this is your ball!
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Storm Fever Pitch

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/29/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Fever Pitch is the motion that I have been wanting from Urethane. I have not always been able to use urethane because I like to see a little shape down lane, which is of course, what urethane is supposed to control. Urethane from the past has hooked very early with not much shape down lane. The Fever Pitch you are able to get a little further in, throw it out, or even miss out, with the ball still being able to recover and even create angle down lane.

Here are some other Urethane options that I was able to compare with. Where the Fever Pitch Shines is when you need to get in and create angle. I said it before but it’s just magical how this urethane shapes down lane. Maybe it’s the modified HyRoad Core, we all know that’s a special piece. The joke with a couple bowlers at my center is “when is it time to Ball UP to the Fever Pitch?”

Purple Flame Pearl-Old School and Drilled over the label
Pitch Black-60 x 5 x 30
Hot Cell- 60 x 4 x 45
Fever Pitch- 60 x 4-1/2 x 35

With the resurgence of Urethane it has become a popular tournament option and I do not see that trend going away. This is the one that you do not want to pass on.
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Storm Gravity Evolve

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/20/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Gravity Evolve is the most recent Asym. using the legendary ShapeLock HD core. The Virtual Gravity changed the game. This time around, Storm is using the SPEC overstock that is also a game changer.

The Gravity Evolve reaction wise is predictable in the mid lane with a strong smooth reaction off the spot. comparing this ball to the ProMotion, which also has the SPEC cover, I see the Gravity reading the lane a little sooner and providing more control down lane.
The ProMotion is cleaner and more angular off the spot, especially after it gets some lane shine to it.

The Gravity Evolve is going to be at the top of my bag as something that I go to when needed. For me the First ball out of my bag right now is the ProMotion.

Layout on the Gravity Evolve is 60x5x35.

Balls that are getting some looks right now:
Winner Solid- 60x5x35
IdolPRO-60x5x35
ProMotion-60x5x35
CodeX-60x5x70
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Storm Hy-Road X

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/18/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Hyroad line pretty much sells itself. The polished R2X coverstock does give the Hyroad a new shape. The shape is cleaner through the front than the original with a stronger motion off the spot. What I have heard from many staffers is that they knocked the polish off their HyroadX with a 4000, 3000, or old 2000 pads, to make it read the midland a little better. I really like the look and the shape it gives me with the polish on it! The center that my family owns is wood and even though our house shot is good enough that you can throw most all High End balls when they are fresh, they do tend to break down quickly on our 5 man league nights. They HyRoadX gives me a look that I can start the night with and keep chasing it left as they break down. I recently shot 807 with the HyRoadX on one of our tougher pairs in the house (1&2)...just to brag a little.

I used my go-to pin down layout of 60x5x70, no hole.
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Storm Incite

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/10/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I struggled with this ball out of the box. The ball wanted to hook immediately and not give much shape down lane. The R4S Hybrid cover with the 3000 grit surface was super strong. I typically do not add any shine to my equipment but It was necessary for this one. I used the Storm Step 2 compound on top of factory finish and boom, it was good to go.

This ball is now what I was hoping it would be. It reads the mid lane pretty well but still provides angle. I see this as being similar to the Omega Crux but an improvement. I wasn’t able to get in and hook the Omega, but the Incite I can.

I have adjusted my layouts for these lower Intermediate Diff balls that are making their way to the product line (Incite, Rubicon, Rubicon UC2). My typical pin up layout is 50x5x30 or 4x5x2. My layouts for these are 40x5x30 or 4-1/4x5x2. this gets the PSA closer to the Vertical Axis Line and letting the ball act more like it has a hole in it.

Balls in Heavy Rotation
Zen-4x5x2 or 50x5x30
UC2-4-1/4x5x2 or 40x5x30
Parallax Effect- 4x5-1/4x2 or 50x5-1/4x30
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Storm Infinite Physix

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/2/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Newest version of the Physix is and interesting one! I am the biggest fan of the Dark Code. That ball may be my favorite ball ever from SPI. The Infinite has the same cover, the ReX Pearl Hybrid, which is part NeX Pearl and part R2S pearl. Also being a big fan of the Physix line, I was highly anticipating this release!

I used the same layout on this ball as I do my favorite Dark Codes, 4x6x2 or 50x6x30. Straight out of the box, this ball was a little slower down lane than I would have thought but as the surface naturally shined up, the shape got better. I let it lane shine rather than adding compound or polish because its summer in the midwest and the back ends are always flying!

I don’t see as much motion out of this ball as I do the dark code, which isn’t a bad thing! It blends the wet/dry very well and I see this ball in use A LOT!

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75.
RST-X3-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm IQ Tour 78/U

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/1/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This Urethane is Built Different! Obviously PBA rules have changed a bit with having a new Hardness Minimum. The 78U is the new answer for those guys. Obviously when you make a urethane cover harder, it’s going to be a bit cleaner through the fronts. When compared to the Pitch Black, the 78U is much cleaner. This can be a good thing, This allows you to slow it down and stay closer to the friction longer. Typically when Urethane gets bad is when you have to start migrating in. The Pitch Black is much earlier, forcing you in quicker….
If you have seen any of our pro’s on tour you may have seen them using more surface than normal. I have even seen guys using 180 grit. The volumes used on tour keep increasing, demanding more surface. This isn’t necessarily the same for house or even modified patterns at your local center. 500 grit may be enough. But as always, adjust the surface to suit your needs!

My layout for the 78U: 4x4x1

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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Storm IQ Tour Emerald

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 7/10/2019

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

It feels so good to have the !Q Tour Pearl BACK! The Emerald is just as good as the Gold! We all know that color dictates a little bit of the ball's reaction, but, as soon as I started throwing this ball it immediately felt like home. It's the same smooth yet strong reaction that we all fell in love with when the Gold ball was around.
I drilled this one pin down which lowers the diff a bit and makes it a little cleaner getting down lane. The ball off the spot is strong but not jerky. Our house is wood and It does a great job of controlling the angle off the spot for a pearl. I am going to load up on these because I didn't realize how much I missed this motion until the gold balls were gone.

Layout: 60 x 5 x 70 pin down, no hole

What I'm throwing a lot of right now:
Halo Pearl- 60 x 5-1/2 x 35 (pin up)
Idol Pearl- 60 x 5-1/2 x 35 (pin up)
CodeX- 45 x 5 x 35 (pin up)
HyRoadX- 60 x 5 x 70 (pin down)
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Storm IQ Tour Nano Pearl

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 8/26/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I was a big fan of the IQ Tour nano from a few years ago so, naturally, I was excited for this release. The Nano-Pearl is very strong rolling and needs some oil in the heads. Straight out of the box I had to get pretty deep with my target, just to have it not bleed off so much. Once I got some lane shine on the ball, I was able to stay further right with it and it also created much more angle, carrying more of the 10 pins I was leaving with my first couple of outings. You still get that iQ shape with the Nano Pearl, just a bit slower because of how well it reads the mid lane. This ball is a solid addition to the arsenal as is all of the new releases by Storm and RotoGrip, this summer.

My Layout for the !Q Tour Nano Pearl is 50x5x30

Other balls on heavy rotation:
Parallax- 50x4-7/8x30
AstroPhysix- 50x4-7/8x30
Trend-50x5x30
Rubicon-50x5x30
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Storm IQ Tour Ruby

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 5/3/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

She’s back and she’s perfect!

This is the first ball that I have really liked with the new ReactaGloss finish. Ruby is obviously the Same IQ Tour Pearl core and cover. We’ve had Gold, Emerald, and now Ruby. It’s hard for me to compare this to the Emerald as I drilled all of my Emeralds pin down. My Golds were all drilled pin up, same layout as the Ruby. This really does remind me of the Gold ball. I just have to say it…nothing beats R2S. It’s my ALL TIME FAVORITE!!

The motion of the R2S Pearl iQ’s are just a staple in the bag. Clean and control.

Layout: 5x4x2

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
Eternity: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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Storm Journey

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 2/29/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

CLEAN!

The Journey is a ball that absolutely glides through the front part of the lane. With the Pearl version of the Phase 2 cover, TX-16, This thing creates unique motion from the brands of Storm. I really see this ball being a difference maker as the fronts go away. I don’t ever see the early friction with the Journey and to be honest I didn’t with the FATE either. That may be a characteristic of the F-8 core, found in both, but the pearl TX-16 will get after it down lane and easily get the corner’s out! We own a wood lane center and this ball has become a staple in not only my bag, but A LOT of my customer’s bags as well!! I can’t forget the scent of the Journey…it’s my new favorite: Kiwi Cantaloupe!!

My Layout is: 5x5x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Summit Peak: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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Storm Night Road

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 9/12/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This is the ball that I have been waiting for since the announcement came. I LOVE the Dark Code. So naturally I was excited with any ball that came out with this cover (Infinite Physix, too). I immediately was thinking about the different tournaments I would throw this at and where it slotted into the arsenal.

I drilled this one pin down, same as my byroad pearl. Im getting older and the slow hook or more options on the burn are what Im constantly looking at. With this cover being a bit stronger it also makes it a bit earlier, especially right out of the box. I expect to add some shine to this ball at some point.

Over all, for me, its the best byroad since the pearl. I’m a fan already!

My pin down layout is: 50x4.5x65 or 4.5x4.5x3.75

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75.
RST-X3-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2

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Storm Nova

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/14/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Nova is a pretty interesting piece for me. It slots in as a stronger, more typical asym over the RST-X1. The Nova to me is a faster Reality, but not near as fast as the Altered Reality.

I don’t think that this is a niche ball at all. With surface changes this ball can cover a lot of ground. Out of the box it’s Strong with plenty of teeth and continuation. In central Indiana we have a lot of wood centers still or older synthetics. I hit the ball with Storm’s Step 2 compound which shined it up pretty well. It was actually a little too clean so I hit it again with a 3000 pad and boom, its perfect.

Super Versatile, Continuous Asym! Get after it!
My layout is 4x5x2 or 50x5x30

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm Omega Crux

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The newest Crux is back with the same Catalyst Core with the GI-20 Pearl Cover. My only complaint with this ball is that the surface is a little too strong right out of the box. I actually smoothed mine down to a 3000 grit surface and promptly had the front 11, my first game in league. A filthy 8 pin denied me... If I were to be honest, I haven't liked the Crux series, I was very skeptical when this one came out but curiosity got the best of me. This ball is clean while still being heavy rolling. It makes a great motion off the dry and my goodness does it go through the pins!

I have been tweaking some things in my game and my PAP has changed considerably.
I am now at 4-1/2" over by 1/2" up.
I went with 50x5x35.

Balls in heavy Rotation:
Physix-60x5x35
Nuke Cell-60x5x35
Hyroad Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Storm Parallax

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 8/7/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

First shot off my hand, my jaw hit the floor! This motion was already something that I had been needing. This reminds me of the polished solid motion of the Eternal Cell. This was one of my all time favorites! I would say that the Parallax actually gives me a little more length and a little more angle than the Eternal Cell did. I went on Facebook live with The Parallax and an identically drilled AstroPhysix at 3000. The Astro was a little sooner and a touch more rounded compared to that of the Parallax. I can really see the Parallax being a House Shot Killer!! Get yours TODAY, August 7th at your local VIP pro shop!

The layout that I used is 50 x 4-7/8 x 30 for the Dual Angle Fans
For the Pin buffer peeps we have 4-7/8 pin to PAP, 4-1/4 PSA to PAP, 2 to my VAL.

Balls in Heavy rotation:
AstroPhysix- 50x4-3/4x30
IQ Emerald- 50x4-1/4x65
Trend- 50x5x30

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Storm Parallax Effect

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/18/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

It has been a while since I had used this layout on a ball. This pin up layout allows the ball to get through the heads with ease and to be strong down lane. Out of the box, I don’t think this layout and cover matched up. I hit the cover with an older 2000 pad and it brought the ball to life. Now the ball reads the mid lane a bit more and is still strong down lane. The Parallax Effect is stronger off the spot than my pin up, OG, Parallax. I do like the motion of my pin down Parallax more than this one, though. I just feel like I really have to throw it away from the pocket to keep it right of the head pin, even with the surface. I really think this ball is an upgrade on all fronts from the Parallax, it even needs an upgrade in oil to show its true colors!

Balls in Heavy Rotation
Zen-4x5x2 or 50x5x30
UC2-4-1/4x5x2 or 40x5x30
Reality-4-1/2x4-1/4x3-3/4 or 50x4-1/4x65
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Storm Phaze 4

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/1/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

BEST PHAZE YET!!

Yes, I said it. The Phaze4 is the best Phaze yet! The combination of the R2S pearl cover with the Velocity core is a masterpiece. I instantly was enamored with the motion that this ball gave me. I have needed this motion! The Zen for me was good, but I didn’t see it as a world beater like a lot of people did. I couldn’t get the recovery down lane. The Trend2 is closer. The Spectre is good but closer to a stronger HyRoad pearl…

But the Phaze4 gives big motion down lane, creating more angle than the Zen does. I have only bowled about 10 games with it but those 10 games include 2, 300’s and an 800.

I just groove with this ball, and I think most people will too. I have already bought one for my wife and daughter!

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm Phaze III

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/6/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Storm Phaze 3 was released with lots of expectation! As soon as you open the box, the scent of grapevine greets you along with a ball that has a ton of shelf appeal. After seeing the ball motion videos from Storm HQ, I decided to drill mine fairly weak, like I do with my symmetrical pearls. This is where I messed up. This ball creates plenty of length on its own. The ball's natural length combined with my layout (60x5-1/2x35) generated a shape that I didn't like with the factory polish on it. I Brought the breakpoint back to me a bit by hitting it with a 3000 pad and later a 2000 pad. While I liked the motion, with the surface, It overlapped other balls in my bag.

Being a PSO, I have drilled many of these and with my personal knowledge, I have drilled my customer's P3's with stronger pin placements.
This ball fits so many people, very well!

Balls in heavy Rotation:
Physix-60x5x35
Nuke Cell-60x5x35
Hyroad Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
Omega Crux-60x5x35
Idol Pearl-60x5-1/2x35
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Storm Phaze V

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 11/7/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Who doesn’t LOVE R2S pearl?!? I get excited every time this cover gets put on a new release. Obviously this comes on the back of the Phaze4 tournament exclusion, but I’m so glad this is the road Storm took! Comparing this ball to the Phaze4 is pretty easy, same cover, same core, just different colors! Does this equal different ball reaction…The answer is yes.

The Phaze5 is a bit earlier and more rounded. I actually like this motion, I even leaned on mine with a fresh 3000 to make it dig a little more!

This ball is right in the middle of the line up for me, I still used the Phaze4 all the time but I like the box surface on that one.

Layout for the Phaze5: 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
Idol Cosmos-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm Physix

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/31/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Storm PhysiX introduces brand new technology stateside. The New Core (Atomic) and New Cover (NRG Hybrid). This ball was an immediate winner. Liz Johnson won the SamHo Cup in Korea after drilling hers and just a couple weeks later nearly all of the Storm/Roto Staffers included this ball in their arsenal for attacking the US Open.

I decided (against my better judgement) to drill this one pin down. 60x5x70 with a P3 hole.
I wanted to drill this one pin up to give me a little sharper motion...and I will my next one.

This ball reads the middle of the lane so well. I could use a little more shape down lane though.
I do bowl on wood so I think the ball is just too strong, with too strong of a lay out, to get the ball down lane and for it to make a big change of direction. My PhysiX is still pretty fresh but looks like it will be very good with higher volume patterns, sport patterns where you don't want the ball to make a drastic change of direction, or when the lanes get wet/dry and you have that over/under reaction.

Balls that are stuck on replay for me at the moment are:

CodeX (pin down)-60x5x70 with a P3 hole
CodeX (pin up)- 60x5x35
HyroadX (pin down)-60x5x70 no hole
HyperCell Fused (pin down)-60x5x70 P3 hole
RotoGrip RED Poly Spare ball ;)
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Storm Pitch Purple

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/30/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Pitch Purple got some early press with Chad McLean releasing a video of him throwing it on Instagram. The Hype was real, the Pitch Purple Shapes down lane much more than the Pitch Black. Both using the Capacitor Core, the Pitch Black reads much sooner and is much smoother down lane. The Pitch Purple is cleaner in the front than the Pitch Black allowing it to create much more shape down lane. I also threw my Hot Cell With it, and the Hot Cell popped a little more down lane but wasn't as continuous as the Pitch Purple. For people like myself who likes to see more of that shape down lane, the Pitch Purple is the Urethane ball for you! This ball is best used on shorter patters, 37' or less. I am not a person who will use Urethan on a house shot, so you won't see me throwing it on that.

Pitch Black Layout-60x4.5x30
Hot Cell Layout-60x4.5x30
Pitch Purple Layout-70x4x20
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Storm Proton Physix

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/6/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Holy Hook Batman! This is by far the strongest ball, out of the box, that I have ever thrown! This bad boy is some how early and some how still manages to generate a bunch of angle down lane. I bowl mostly on house conditions, there is no way I could leave this at box finish and throw it…ever. I took quite a bit of surface off of it. I hit it with a 3000 pad and then again with a 4000 pad. This allowed the ball to be cleaner through the front, and generating a very strong motion down lane. This is for sure for the bowler that needs to cut through the oil on a loaded up house shot with a hard lane surface like ProAnvilane.

Balls in heavy rotation
Trend 50x5x30
Nuke Cell 50x5x30
IQ emerald 50x4-1/4x65
Hyroad Pearl 50x4-1/4x65
Rubicon 50x5x15
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Storm Revenant

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/27/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

defined: a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.

The most clever of ALL the names given to a ball, The Revenant is the 2nd coming of the Spectre. We know the Spectre was banned completely, with that being said, the shape it created was pretty unique in the line.

The Revenant came into the line with HIGH expectations. I shot 300/800 with it, straight off the press! After that I failed to find a place for it in the bag. I was just never what I was looking for exactly.

I changed surfaces on it a couple times taking it to 500 then step2. With no success. Later I tried 1000-3000 and Boom, there it was!

It needs mentioned that I injured my foot and had to lay out a few weeks. When I came back, something about the Revenant called my name. It was exactly what I needed with my slower ball speed. Strong, Smoother, Continuous motion!

Balls getting a lot of play
Infinite Physix: 5x4x2
HyRoad: 4.5x4.25x3.75
IQ Ruby: 5x4x2
Phaze4: 5x4x2
Fate: 5x4x2
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Storm Soniq

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 4/9/2018

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

My Layout is 75 x 5-1/2 x 35. This puts the pin above the bridge and the CG in the palm.

I have to compare this ball to the Marvel Pearl. The Marvel Pearl for me reads the midlane VERY well and can almost be sluggish for me in the back. There are times when I just can't get the angle I need, with the Marvel Pearl, to carry, after I've chased the pattern left. The Son!Q does NOT do this! I get a little more length and a just enough backend to get very good angle and carry with the Son!Q. Later in the night when I have to get in deeper (4th arrow and left) the Son!Q does not jump off the dry when I miss right. I really feel like it gives me a lot of room later in the night. With the Factory Polish that the Son!Q comes with, It's just not the look I want on the fresh for our house shot.

Casey Mattingly
Storm/RotoGrip Staff
Turbo Grips Staff
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Storm Spectre

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 1/18/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Spectre for me has Marvel Pearl Vibes. It’s more Roll-y than my wolverine but it fits in the same area. Its more off the spot than my Hyroad pearl. I used a similar pin up layout for the Spectre as I did with the Wolverine. My Hyroad pearls are pin down so its expected to be more off the spot. As I’m writing this, Im thinking that I may drill another pin down to see what the difference is, truly, to the pin down hyroad pearl.
This ball does great work and it will for everyone who throws it. It’s just a very good, all around, Pearl symmetrical ball.

Surfaces changes are good. I always seem to add a little surface to my pearls anyways, R3S is no different. Great Scent with the Candy Cane!

My layout is 4x5x2 or 50x5x30

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
UFO Alert-4.5x5x3.75
Altered Reality-4.25x5.25x2
Wolverine-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm Summit Peak

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 3/4/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

This thing is really fun to throw and it smells AMAZING. Summit Peak HOOKS. This ball right here never misses the spot. This thing sees the midlane and is very strong down lane. When the original Summit came out, It was billed as the strongest symmetrical Storm ball, to date. When you pair the centripetal HD core with the TX-23 cover, you get a hook monster. I need to use this ball on the fresh because that’s when it gives me the most room to miss. Once the pattern gets more defined, I have to ball down to something that doesn’t see the friction so hard. Don’t get it wrong, just because this is a “Symmetrical Pearl” doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be the first ball out of the bag. This one is one that I push a lot of people to check out. Not to mention the scent is perfect, Apple Kiwi Pie!

Layout for the Summit Peak: 5x4x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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Storm Super Nova

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/18/2022

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Holy Hook Monster! This thing GOES! The Super Nova is the next ball with the NEX Solid cover which is the same as what came on the Proton Physix. To be honest, this ball was way too early for the house shot right out of the box. I hit mine with a wet 4000 pad ever so slightly, literally 2 seconds on each side. Once I hit it with the wet 4k, the SuperNova was able to get thru the fronts and start to do its work in the mids and down lane.

This ball is a definite upgrade to the original Nova which I did not get a long with. The OG Nova forced me too far left but wouldn’t recover when I needed it to.

The Super Nova I am able to chase left as long as there is enough volume to support it!

This one is LEGIT!

My Layout is 4x5x2

Other balls getting a lot of play:
Dark Code-4x6x2
Night Road-4.5x4.5x3.75
RST-X3-4x5x2
Wolverine Dark Moss-4.25x5.25x2
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Storm Trend 16 Only

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 8/26/2020

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

I was a fan of the ProMotion, I just wasn't super fond of the Spec cover. I was jealous to see that they released an R2X solid version overseas. I was hoping that we would get another release with a more familiar cover...well my dreams were answered! The R2S pearl is legendary and its the perfect fit for this core!
The ball glides through the fronts reads the mids at the right time while having a strong but controllable motion down lane. I can see me using this ball after I have to get in deeper on the lane and on into finishing the night with it. This ball is going to get A LOT of use.
My Layout for this ball is 50x5x30

Other balls in heavy rotation:
Parallax- 50x4-7/8x30
AstroPhysix- 50x4-7/8x30
IQ Tour Nano-50x5x30
Rubicon-50x5x30
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Storm Trend 2

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 10/21/2021

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

WOW…This. Ball. Is. Sick.

I’m a big fan of the motion the Piston core makes. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the ProMotion. The OG Trend was also a motion that was unique in my bag. Finally, this newest incarnation, is the most versatile of the Trilogy. The nano cover is the same cover that was on the OG PhysiX was a ball that I had multiples of because of all the success that I had with it. I really liked this cover.
The combination of the this cover along with the modified Piston core, created a monster of a ball. It’s the perfect combination of skid, strength, and angularity. There aren’t many balls out there where I am instantly like, “WOW.”
This ball is one of them!

Layout: 50x5x30 or 5x4x2

Balls that are currently in the bag:
Zen- 50x4.25x65
UFO Alert-50x5x65
Dark Code- 50x4.25x65
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Storm Virtual Energy Blackout

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Casey Mattingly on 2/29/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

245

PAP:

4-5/8 over x 3/8 up

Ball Speed:

Medium

Style:

Tweener

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

210

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Highly Anticipated Ball Alert… Virtual Energy Black Out! The ShapeLock HD core combined with the ReX cover gives a motion that is familiar and is a breath of fresh air! Already a ball that has won plenty…including the US Open. Usually I would not say that this kind of ball would be good on patterns like the ones found at the US Open but, the fact is that just exaggerates this ball’s versatility! What stands out the most about the VEBO is how effortlessly this ball gets through the fronts. With the aging lane beds across the country, this ball does not give up hits because of early hook! The ShapeLock HD core found in the original Virtual Gravity provides a strong motion down lane this is a must in everyone’s bag! Plus, black balls roll best!

Layout of my VEBO: 5x4x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Summit Peak: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface
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