Free Shipping Every Item Every Day on Bowling Balls, Bags, Shoes, Apparel, Accessories and Supplies

Reviews by Brian Locke

900 Global Xponent

900 Global Zen Gold Label

900 Global Zen/U

Roto Grip Attention Star

Roto Grip Duo Black/Green

Roto Grip Exotic Gem

Roto Grip Hustle RIP

Roto Grip Optimum Idol

Storm IQ Tour Ruby

Storm Revenant

Storm Summit

Show all reviews

900 Global Xponent

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 8/24/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Wow! Have I liked my Xponent a lot! Really compliments my Phaze 2 quite well. When my Phaze 2 is just a little too early, the Xponent is the perfect choice. The slightly lower differential in the Xponent help to get the ball a little further downlane before making its move but also helps to smooth out its reaction on the backend. Bridges the gap really well between my Hyped Solid and my Phaze 2! I can see this piece being in my arsenal for a while!
Coverstock: Reserve Batch #701 Blend Solid
Core: Shrapnel 2.0
RG: 2.48 - Differential: .042 (15lbs)
Layout: 5.5 x 5 x 4 2LS
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph
Brian Locke – Storm Amateur Staff

Was this comment helpful? yes no

900 Global Zen Gold Label

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 8/24/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Zen Gold Label has already made itself a staple in my bag! Clean through the fronts and a monster hook on the backend, but still pick ups in the oil just enough! This ball has already given me a first, a 300 game right out of the box in league! Great option for when my stronger balls begin to read too early and I need something to get through that early friction.
Coverstock: Reserve Blend 801 Pearl Reactive
Core: Meditate Symmetric
RG: 2.49 - Differential: .051 (15lbs)
Layout: 5 x 5 x 4 2LS
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph
Brian Locke – Storm Amateur Staff

Was this comment helpful? yes no

900 Global Zen/U

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 2/28/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Being a two-hander, I am obviously a fan of urethane… A couple Pitch Blacks come with me almost everywhere I go. The Zen-U has become a staple in my tournament arsenal as well! Drilled it with the same pin on VAL layout as one of my Pitch Blacks which translates to 4 7/8 x 2 7/8 x 5 ½ 2LS. The Zen-u has become a great compliment when I need to maintain a urethane like reaction but with a little more shape down lane versus in the front of the lane. I find myself using it mostly on shorter and medium patterns when I need to transition out of more traditional urethane or when traditional urethane doesn’t read the lane the right way.

Brian Locke – Storm Amateur Staff
Coverstock: S35 Urethane+ Solid
Core: Meditate LD
RG: 2.56 - Differential: .027 (15lbs)
Layout: 4 7/8 x 2 7/8 x 5 ½
Pap: 5 1/4 right, 1 5/8 down
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Roto Grip Attention Star

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 5/6/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Attention Star has quickly become one of my go to transition pieces for the tournament arsenal. I generally keep a 2000 grit on the cover just to get it to pick up in the oil a touch more. But I can usually get into this ball once my Optimum Idol stops making the corner downlane. Definitely able to open up the lane a bit more with this especially once I start to see some friction developed on the lane!

Coverstock: eTrax Pearl Reactive
Core: Momentus AV + A.I. Tech
RG: 2.48
Differential: .049
Int-Diff: .017

Layout: 5 ¼ x 5 x 4
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Roto Grip Duo Black/Green

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 8/24/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Roto Grip Duo was anticipated as a Zen like replacement ball, and while I feel like we get close to that but it is definitely something different. For me the Duo is still one of my cleaner options but on the stronger side of that spectrum being that it has MicroTrax Pearl on it, one of Roto Grip’s stronger pearl covers. My Duo has been a great option at home on the house shot but starts to struggle more when I have to get super steep with my angles. A touch earlier for me than a Zen, it becomes more forward at the end of the lane, and that’s where it struggles to create those steep angles. Otherwise a great ball for the majority of league night for me!
And don’t forget, 5% of the sales of this ball go towards big brothers and big sisters of America!!!
Coverstock: MicroTrax Pearl Reactive – Reacta Gloss
Core: Mentor Core
RG: 2.49 - Differential: .046 (15lbs)
Layout: 5 x 5 x 4
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph
Brian Locke – Storm Amateur Staff

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Roto Grip Exotic Gem

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 2/27/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Exotic Gem offers the strongest core in the Storm Products umbrella with a super low 2.47 RG. With that super low RG, the core stands up much earlier than anything else we have but that doesn’t mean it rolls out. The core does start revving up much sooner than most in our line but continues to do that as it transitions through the lane, meaning more continuation through the pins! For me however, it does not like too much friction on the lane. It needs the oil so the ball does not start up too early. Great 1st transition ball when there is still oil in the fronts but you need a little less traction.

Brian Locke – Storm Amateur Staff
Coverstock: MicroTrax Pearl Reactive
Core: Defiant LRG
RG: 2.47 - Differential: .053 PSA: .016 (15lbs)
Layout: 5 x 4 x 4 2LS
Pap: 5 1/4 right, 1 5/8 down
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Roto Grip Hustle RIP

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 8/24/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Hustles continue to be one of the best bang for your buck bowling balls. I was shocked with how much the Hustle RIP hooked out of the box. I could keep moving left and watch it rip off the friction! Gonna be a great ball for when there is plenty of friction on the lane or even just your first ball! Probably going to be in my house shot bag for a foreseeable part of the future.
Coverstock: VTC Solid with Reacta Gloss
Core: Hustle Core
RG: 2.53 - Differential: .030 (15lbs)
Layout: 4.5 x 5 x 4 2LS
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph
Brian Locke – Storm Amateur Staff

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Roto Grip Optimum Idol

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 5/6/2024

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Another Idol…Another homerun! I almost always keep an Idol in my tournament bag. One of the first balls out of my bag when I need a strong, smooth, controlled piece. Best part is that I can generally stay in it for a few games before I have to get into my cleaner options. Really continues to go through the pins well while migrating deeper on the lane! Definitely recommend for the tournament bowler!

Coverstock: MicroTrax Solid Reactive
Core: Ikon + A.I. Tech
RG: 2.47
Differential: .056

Layout: 5 x 5 x 4 (2LS)
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Storm IQ Tour Ruby

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 3/20/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The !Q Tour Pearl is back…!Q Tour Ruby is a remake of the !Q Tour Pearl and !Q Tour Emerald just now in the red color and amazing berry blast fragrance! You get exactly what you would expect out of a pearl !Q Tour. Clean through the heads and quick downlane. The C3 Centripetal Control Core along with the R2S pearl coverstock allow this ball to really float downlane before making its motion. The Ruby can be a really valuable piece on many conditions once the lanes have transitioned and there is a ton of friction developed. Having an !Q in the bag is always a high !Q play!
Please watch my YouTube video comparing the !Q Tour Ruby to the !Q Tour Solid and the Hyped Pearl! Thank You!

Coverstock: R2S Pearl – Reacta Gloss
Core: C3 Centripetal Control Core
RG: 2.49 - Differential: .029 (15lbs)
Layout: 5 x 6 x 4 2LS
Pap: 5 1/4 right, 1 5/8 down
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph

Was this comment helpful? yes no

Storm Revenant

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 2/7/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

Storm has done it once again with the Revenant! A duplicate of the Storm Spectre! They brought back the Vector core and wrapped it with the same R3S Pearl coverstock. This ball is exceptionally clean through the fronts but maintains a smooth reaction down lane! If you have a Storm Fate and you need something just a touch later down lane, the Revenant would be a great compliment for you! I find that this ball works best for me when I need to slow down my ball speed and let the ball shape a little more. This ball already found a spot in my sport shot bag! When my Phaze 2 becomes too early and I need the extra length but not a super jerky reaction down lane, the Revenant comes out!
Please watch my YouTube video comparing the Revenant to the Fate!

Coverstock: R3S Pearl – Reacta Gloss
Core: Vector
RG: 2.54 - Differential: .050 (15lbs)
Layout: 5 x 6 x 4 2LS
Pap: 5 1/4 right, 1 5/8 down
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph
Was this comment helpful? yes no

Storm Summit

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by Brian Locke on 8/24/2023

About the Bowler

League Average:

242

PAP:

4 7/8 x 1/4 up

Ball Speed:

Fast

Style:

Cranker

Bowling Hand:

Right Handed

Sport Shot Average:

214

Experience:

Advanced (I have bowled in a league)

The Storm Summit has been a staple in my bag since I had it drilled! It fits right above my Phaze 2 in my bag, which it compliments extremely well! If my Phaze 2 is a little too clean in the mid-lane, my Summit picks up in the mid-lane a little earlier (thanks to its super lower RG with the AI tech.) With the updated cover from the Phaze 2, TX-23 Hybrid, the Summit is still fairly clean through the fronts, and its more of what’s inside the ball that gets it to read earlier and smooth out! I imagine this one may be in my bag for quite a while!

Coverstock: TX-23 Hybrid
Core: Centripetal HD with AI tech (amplified Inertia)
RG: 2.46 - Differential: .056 (15lbs)
Layout: 5 x 5 x 4 2LS
Pap: 4 7/8 Right, ¼ up
Rev Rate: +-500
Speed 17-18mph
Brian Locke - Storm Amateur Staff
Was this comment helpful? yes no

Showing comments 1-11 of 11