The Storm SonIQ hits the marketplace with a lot of expectations preceding it. Previous balls in Storm’s IQ series, such as the IQ Tour Pearl and IQ Tour Fusion, have cemented their place as crowd favorites in the bowling community. Our Storm SonIQ review will look at the ball from every angle, giving you a complete overview before a potential purchase decision.
Are the tweaks to the Storm SonIQ’s weight block enough to make it much different than other IQ Series releases? Is this ball destined for medium oil, or is it versatile enough for varied oil conditions? Delve into our Storm SonIQ bowling ball review for the answer to these questions and more!
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Overview
While the weight block centerpiece of Storm’s new Centripetal HD Core bears a mirror resemblance to other symmetrical cores released by the company, that’s where the comparisons stop. Storm completely changed the game with the density of the Storm SonIQ’s new core, upping it to a degree not seen in any of their balls prior.
This added density drops the ball’s RG to a very low 2.47. This gives the ball an extremely low center of gravity which allows it to get under the pins upon impact for some insane pin carry. It’s a huge advantage to have for lower-rev bowlers looking for a little bit of extra dynamite on the back end.
That back-end firepower is given wings by the return of Storm’s beloved R2S Pearl Reactive cover stock. The Storm SonIQ easily clears the fronts and saves up energy for some unique and dynamic movement at the breakpoint and right before impact. This is especially true in ideal oil conditions where the density is medium bordering on heavy.
In short, the Storm SonIQ provides one of the strongest rolls we’ve seen out of the latest batch of high-performance bowling balls. It rips through the lane and stores up energy in seemingly effortless fashion. And not only that, but it does it while smelling like Gingerbread S’mores! It’s a strange but lovely counterbalance for such a beast of a ball.
Features, Specs & Materials
FEATURES:
Storm’s R2S Pearl Reactive cover stock is one of the best reviewed bowling ball cover stocks currently being implemented on the market. It’s a back-end reaction masterpiece which turns oil into energy for some intense pin trajectories.
As stated before, Storm’s new Centripetal HD symmetrical core was built extremely dense to keep the ball low and loft pins high and wildly upon impact. It’s an energy-storing marvel as well, releasing very little through the mid-lane before unleashing on the back end.
The ball’s 1500 Grit Polished finish is just rough enough for getting traction in heavy oil, but smooth enough to glide in medium oil patterns with some undeniable lane length.
SPECS:
Color: Blue, Bronze, Gold
Core: Centripetal HD (Symmetrical)
Coverstock: R2S Pearl Reactive
Finish: 1500 Grit Polished
RG: 2.47
Differential: 0.047
Flare potential: Above Average
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
MATERIALS
One of the really impressive things about Storm’s proven R2S Pearl Reactive cover stock is its level of durability. That’s one of the advantages of a pearlized cover stock, but the R2S kicks it up a notch or two over that! The ball can take a beating and still provide peak reactivity for a multitude of games.
The extra density of the Storm SonIQ’s Centripetal HD core doesn’t necessarily factor into the feel of throwing it. It’s been crafted in such a way that the ball feels completely calibrated and balanced to its proper weight at all points of a bowler’s throw. Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
The Storm SonIQ has three very big things to its credit which will even wow those bowlers who have used other balls in Storm’s IQ Series. Firstly, the control you can take when behind the Storm SonIQ is extremely valuable. Whether you step left or right, you can still slow the Storm SonIQ into the pocket over and over with minimal added effort.
Secondly, the Storm SonIQ has been finitely calibrated to provide powerful continuation off the spot. There are very few high-performance balls out there which keep momentum the way the Storm SonIQ does. It’s a sight to see, especially when all of that continuation leads to a fiery back-end crash at the end of your shot.
Finally, you’re going to be absolutely wowed by the Storm SonIQ’s hitting power. That’ll be the case whether you’re a higher-rev or lower-rev bowler because of just how low this ball’s center of gravity is. When you get the Storm SonIQ lined up with the pocket or close to it, it morphs from a bowling ball into a wrecking ball.
You’ll get plenty of use out of the Storm SonIQ in both medium and heavy oil patterns. While it may get a little bit submerged in the deepest of oil conditions, it still has plenty of versatility to do some interesting things on a fresh pattern.
Disadvantages:
There aren’t a lot of things to dislike about the Storm SonIQ. It’s a well-rounded ball which does a lot of things great. However, it can come off as a little too controlled and muted for bowlers who need a much more angular experience out of a high-performance ball. Symmetrical cores aren’t for everyone.
While the Storm SonIQ is strong enough to play with on dry lanes, it’s not going to provide the same lane length and back-end firepower it does in other oil densities. That can change if you change up the finish on the ball, but it’s still probably one to keep in the bag when oil patterns are extremely depleted.
Our Thoughts
The Storm SonIQ is not only a welcome addition to Storm’s IQ Series, but it’s also one of the most balanced and powerful high-performance bowling balls on the market today.
There’s just so much you can do with the Storm SonIQ. It works wonders with an array of different bowling styles. No matter what you put behind the Storm SonIQ, it hits extremely hard and with a peak consistency which makes it one of our highest-rated balls yet.
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Overall Score: 9.75 out of 10
