BallReviews
Reviews => Storm => Topic started by: Ballreviews on November 01, 2012, 09:23:32 AM
-
- Color: Gold Pearl All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Coverstock: R2Sâ„¢ Pearl Reactive
- Core Type: C³™ Centripetal Control Core
- Factory Finish: 1500-grit Polished
- Radius of Gyration (RG): 2.49
- Differential (Diff): 0.029
- Hook Potential: High
- Length: High
- Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy
Description: Now bowlers can have the best of both worlds, introducing a ball with both control and strong back-end. Storm now introduces the IQ Tour Pearl. This ball will read really well down the lane and then break longer towards the back-end with a strong arching hook. Storm is considering this IQ TOUR line one of their benchmarks, meaning every bowler needs this in their arsenal. This ball is recommended by bowlers like Jason Belmonte who need both high Rev's and low RG's to control the break-point, which is found in the C3 Centripetal Control Core. The major differences in this ball from the others in the Tour line will be the way this ball reads the mid-lane, it won't over-respond to the oil but yet slide straight towards the pocket with a smooth arching hook.
-
The IQ Tour Pearl- the perfect combination of mid-lane control and backend hook.
We added a new highly polished, pearl R2S™ coverstock to this phenomenal core to create a combination that makes this a MUST HAVE ball in everyone’s arsenal.
The IQ Tour Pearl has great Color and shelve appeal. Very noticeable going down the lane.
I drilled the Pearl just like my IQ Tour Solid, 60 x 4.75 x 40. Thanks Steve Kloempken for the layout.
The IQ Pearl is just what I was needing when the regular IQ Tour started to labor a little down lane. This is where the Pearl shines, when the heads start to go, and you need a little more angle on the back end. But still very controllable ball motion due to the lower differential of .029. This ball is good for all type of bowlers. For me it is going to be a great tournament ball. Also very driller friendly and coverstock is very versatile. This ball will be a very big seller for Storm!
PAP 4 up 1 1/4
http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee323/bowl2win24/2012-11-17_12-52-34_266.jpg
-
Hand: Left
Ball Speed: 16-17mph
Ball Weight: 15lbs
PAP: 5 left 7/16 up
Degrees of Tilt: 17
Layout: 5 x 4 x 2
I drilled my !Q Tour pearl pin above my ring finger with the cg out with a very small hole about 1 ½ inches down from my midline. For a pearl cover it is super smooth and controllable like I have never seen before. The !Q Tour pearl is very predictable and you know when the ball is going to make a move and when you have to move when the lanes transition. The first time I used it at a tournament which was basically a house shot but modified a little bit with a little more oil outside the 10 board. I played up the boards and let the oil take it and once it hit the back ends it does not jump hard it makes a nice smooth roll to the pocket, hits hard and mixes the pin ups as if it was a big asymmetrical weight block ball. I bowled 2 squads and shot back to back 279s on game 1 of each squad and avg a little over 240.
Compared to the !Q Tour solid, which is drilled the same as the pearl, the pearl it gets down lane and can be used more on a burn pattern once the solid tour starts to hook too much or gives you up and down reaction. Depending on the pattern I am about 5 to 6 more boards left (being left handed) with the pearl than the solid which is good because I can play more of my comfort zone and once it dries up even more I can just move right and still be around the pocket and not giving it away too much and having to worry about corner pins. If you love the !Q Tour solid then I recommend you get the !Q Tour pearl! You won’t go wrong!
If you have any questions about the !Q Tour pearl email me at garrett.richardson@pinolebowlerssupply.com
Garrett Richardson
Storm/Roto Grip Amateur Staff
Vise Inserts Amateur Staff
Pinole Bowler’s Supply
www.facebook.com/grstorm
www.facebook.com/pinolebowlerssupply
www.stormbowling.com
www.rotogrip.com
www.viseinserts.com
-
Storm's Intent:
The IQ Tour Edition quickly became the new standard for benchmark balls in the industry. The C3™ Centripetal Control Core is engineered to yield ample midlane roll while smoothing out the transition. People have loved the unique combination of low RG and low differential as it allows even high rev players to better control the breakpoint.
We added a new highly polished, pearl R2S™ coverstock to this phenomenal core to create a combination that makes this a MUST HAVE ball in everyone’s arsenal. You’ll be able to see the difference as this ball reads the midlane without over-responding to the friction at the end of the oil pattern. Then the real magic happens; it reads the backends with unparalleled consistency through the pocket.
My review:
My layout is 50 degrees X 4 1/8 inches pin to PAP X 2 1/2" pin buffer
My PAP is 5 1/2 inches over and 1/2 inch up
I chose this layout because it's an exact match to an IQ Tour that I have and love the reaction I get from it but most of the time I can't use it because it kicks too hard off the dry. I was hoping to see a smoother a slightly later reaction. What I ended up with was exactly that and I'm very happy with the results.
So far I have thrown the IQ Tour Pearl on a 44' house shot in league and 38' Atlanta sport shot at the NEBA Tournament of Champions and the ball performed very well on both patterns.
The reaction shape is smooth, doesn't overreact when hitting dry, but continues through the pins very well. This reaction was very evident when bowling on the shorter 38' Atlanta pattern.
On Atlanta I started the day farther right but once I got settled in the last 3 games of qualifying I played 14 at the arrows and was getting the ball out to 6 at the break point. Looking around I thought the IQ Tour Pearl gave me a great chance to make a run in match play but unfortunately I ran into a buzz saw and was high loser in the round of 16.
On the 44' house shot I finished the night playing 20 at the arrows and getting the ball out to 8 at the break point. Typically on this house shot I can get into trouble with under/over as the night goes on. The IQ Tour Pearl got better as the night went on, striking more in each successive game and allowed me to create some room to the right at the break point without diving through the face.
Overall this is my new go-to pearl and benchmark ball. I will definitely be trying some other favorite layouts on this ball in the near future. Don't be afraid to try a stronger/earlier rolling layout on this ball, it may be exactly what you're missing in your bag.
Ball video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pftpagl7iCA
(edited to add ball video link)
-
Storm IQ Tour Ball Review by Storm Staffer Casey Murphy
Storm Lucid Ball Review
by Storm Staffer Casey Murphy
Right Handed
Rev Rate: 375-400 Rpm
Ball Speed: 16 mph
PAP: 4 5/8 straight across
Location: Sunshine Lanes
Lane Pattern: Typical House Shot
Layout: 65, 5 ½, 35
I loved the IQ Tour and was excited when I saw the spec sheet. But my jaw HIT THE FLOOR when I saw the spec sheet for IQ Tour Pearl. Gold? And Pearl with the Centripetal Control Core?! I couldn’t wait.
I drilled the IQ Tour Pearl to clear the heads and create angle on the back. I threw it on a house shot and was not disappointed. The coverstock got the ball through the heads and the fast rev’ing low RG core generated plenty of mid lane. It was surprisingly strong overall and I had to play 5 or 6 boards deeper than any other ball in my arsenal. First league set with was 804!
Gold, beautiful, unbelievably strong. The IQ Tour Pearl is a must have.
-
IQ Tour Pearl Review by Derek Eoff
I drilled the IQ Tour Pearl with the pin above my ring finger and the CG kicked out at a 45 degree angle with a hole on my axis (My favorite layout). For me that is about a 5 3/4 inch pin from my PAP. I wanted a ball that skid/flipped and thought this one would be perfect for that.
When the IQ Tour Pearl was being drilled I was practicing on a house pattern and was lined up with my Fire Road. When the IQ Tour Pearl was ready, I played the lanes the same and my first shot went runaway brooklyn. I ended up moving 6 boards to the left to be able to create enough angle to hit the pocket.
I was really impressed and the ball did exactly what I wanted it to do, super skid/flip. For me this is the most angular ball Storm has made in quite a while. In league this past week we bowl on WTBA pattern Montreal. While many people in the league had trouble creating angle to hit the pocket and then to strike, I had no such problem with the IQ Tour Pearl. I bowled 750 with two splits on pretty bad shots.
From the reviews I have read and my personal experience with this ball, I think it is a must have for everyone. It probably won't be very good on shorter patterns if you have a higher rev rate, but anything medium and long it will get a lot of use.
I plan on drilling another one pin down to have a skid/flip one and an earlier rolling smoother one that will still be more angular than the solid IQ Tour.
-
BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 3 ¾â€
Starting Top Weight: 3.12oz
Ball Weight: 16.0
DRILL PATTERN
4 ¾ x 4 ½ x 2 ¾
Weight hole: 4†straight across
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: High per C.A.T.S
Ball Speed: 18
PAP/Track: 5†across ¾ up
SURFACE PREP
OOB
BALL REACTION
The IQ Tour ruined the surprise that the IQ Tour Pearl [IQTP] would react better than expected. The IQTP went from the press to the lanes and it did not disappoint me. It cleared the heads and just recovered on the 43’ house pattern with ease. This ball retains a lot of energy as the pins were flying like they were escaping from the devil. Night two, I used it at a house with a pronounced wet-dry and while the ball came harder off of the spot, I still knew where it was headed. As the lane became more over-under, the ball started to look more at home as it refused to wiggle down the lane. The third time out, I used the ball at a center I’ve been using my Lucid and the IQTP allowed me to play straighter than the Lucid to start the night. By the end I was pressed against the ball return and delivered two bad shots that left me looking at 10 strikes knowing I could have had 12.
You can expect the “Butterscotch Beast†to give you a clean look through the fronts, a predictable transition off of the dry and just continued through the pins strong. This ball does a great job of energy retention which translates into better carry. And she’s versatile enough to play straight or with your body against or in front of the ball return.
COMMENTS
Likes: Color, strong predictable transition & the versatility
Dislikes: I don’t smell enough butterscotch!
-
Typical Conditions: Mostly House Shots so far
Type of Lane: All Synthetic
Weight of bowling ball: 15
Surface of bowling ball: Factory/Box
What grit was the surface of the ball? 1500
Likes: It is a great compliment to the IQ Tour
Dislikes: None so far
My layout: 65 x 4 1/4" x 2 inch pin buffer
My PAP: 4 3/4" over 1 5/8 up
I firmly believe the IQ Tour ranks up there as one of the best balls ever made. I drilled my IQ Tour Pearl the same exact way as my IQ Tour. Because of the difference in the coverstock, the IQ Tour Pearl gets through the fronts easier then the IQ Tour, it also tends to store more energy and therefore is sharper in the back for me. The IQ Tour Pearl adds a great option for me in my tournament bag. It won’t take long before people realize this ball is a weapon!
This ball really worked great on the transition on my 39-40 foot league pattern. I struggle to get a consistent 3 game reaction because the back ends get tamer as the night goes on. I started my league on 12/4/12 with my IQ Tour and shot 279. The second game the transition kicked in and I lost the angle to the pocket, which affected my carry, and I shot 214. I decided I was tired of fighting the transition, and switched to the IQ Tour Pearl in the 10th frame. The IQ Tour Pearl hooked in the back where the IQ tour didn’t and I shot 300 the last game. I know 300’s are cheap these days, but I didn’t shoot 300 in that house in over a year. I therefore credited the ball for making the difference. 5 days later my partner picked up his IQ Tour Pearl right before our doubles tournament. He came out of the box shooting 800 for the first 3 games.
During the tournament there were already a number of bowlers throwing the IQ Tour Pearl. I can tell you the ball looked great in everyone’s hands. I feel every serious bowler should consider the one two punch of the IQ Tour and the IQ Tour Pearl. You won’t be disappointed!
Video of Ball http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5mqihqIHBY
-
IQ TOUR PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
The IQ TOUR PEARL ball details are here:
http://www.stormbowling.com/products/balls/iqtourpearl
Picture of my IQ TOUR PEARL in my blog here:
http://www.11thframe.com/page/reviews_id_9
DRILLED Nov. 17, 2012
The drilling is the same as the VIRTUAL GRAVITY NANO I’ve been using since early 2011 — the ball I used the last 2 games of team event at 2011 USBC OC. It measures out at 4.5 Pin to PAP x 4 “mb†(it’s a symmetrical ball) to PAP x 3 3/8 pin buffer. The pin is above the ring finger and the drilling angle is about 60 degrees. There is a weight hole at P1 just to get it back to static legal. (Picture at end of my blog.)
I have found over the years that solid and pearl coverstocks rapped around the same core often perform completely differently for me, with one being great and the other just not working.
Such appears to be the case with the IQ TOUR and IQ TOUR PEARL.
If you read my updated review of the IQ TOUR at http://www.11thframe.com/page/reviews_id_6 I simply could not find a way to use it successfully, even with multiple coverstock surface changes and two drillings. This despite the fact that so many have raved about the ball, notably Bowling This Month magazine.
My issue with the IQ TOUR is that it either went too quick for me and quit, leading to plaque 10s, or when I then got more left and into the oil (if it was there), it didn’t slow down enough and left solid 9s, ring 10s and 4-pins.
Of course, I joked when I ordered the IQ TOUR PEARL that I probably would love it … and that looks like it might be the case - at least on a house shot. (Read down for where it might not be the best choice.)
In fact, I would say from what I have experienced and seen that the IQ TOUR PEARL may be one of the greatest house shot balls ever.
Storm describes the IQ TOUR PEARL as “the perfect combination of midlane control and backend hook†with the low RG, low differential C3 Centripetal Control Core.
And that’s exactly what it has provided me on a house shot. I’ve now used it in practice and tournaments on different house shots and it was a monster each time. The IQ TOUR PEARL rolls strong in the midlane and continues with a very strong move in the back-end.
When I saw him at the Senior High Roller in Las Vegas, famed coach Mike Jasnau said exactly what I said: The IQ TOUR PEARL is the strongest pearl ball ever.
I initally had a little trouble with squirt in the puddle, but after hitting the box shiny surface with a 4,000 Abralon pad, that went away.
What I really love about the IQ TOUR PEARL is how hard (for me) and straight I can go with both hold and swing and great carry. Yet, I’ve also seen bigger hand players (with and without higher speed) get in and wheel it and strike at will.
The most impressive part was the smooth roll through the pins, which produced awesome carry — it was almost exactly the opposite of what was the problem for me with the IQ TOUR! Although it makes a strong move in the back-end, the pins stay low on the deck, which for me usually produces better carry than flying up and about.
I would agree 100 percent with what Storm says: “You’ll be able to see the difference as this ball reads the midlane without over-responding to the friction at the end of the oil pattern. Then the real magic happens; it reads the backends with unparalleled consistency through the pocketâ€
I do have one huge caveat with the IQ TOUR PEARL: I have been unable to use it successfully on a Sport shot.
I tried it on the 2012 USBC Open Championships pattern at a tournament, on the Senior High Roller pattern, and on Team USA Montreal in the league I bowl in and found it tough to control. On the heavier oil Sport shots, it went too long and was inconsistent getting into a roll. On the lighter Sport shots, I found it difficult to consistently get it to the breakpoint.
I did see others using the IQ TOUR PEARL at the two tournaments with success, including Rob Aimers, who I think led the tournament on the 2012 USBC OC pattern. But he has higher ball speed, more revs and a heavier roll than me.
So I am not saying it won’t work on a Sport pattern, I’m saying to be cautious in your expectations.
But if you’re someone who is looking for a strike machine ball on house shots, I highly recommend the IQ TOUR PEARL.
-
The IQ tour pearl is a great addition to the master line of bowling balls. The gold pearl R2S cover really stands out on the shelf. This ball is the second ball released with the density changed C3 Centripetal core. The change in densities of the centripetal core lowered the diff to .029 from .050 in 15lb bowling balls. The scent is butterscotch, which we haven’t smelled since the Double Agent.
I drilled my pearl IQ tour with the pin over the ring finger, and the cg only about 5 degrees left of stacked, to produce a touch of midlane, without sacrificing down lane motion. It basically comes out to a 5x5x2.5 drilling for me. I used a very small, shallow hole to keep the ball at ¾ oz side weight, to stay under the USBC max allowed of 1oz. I very moderately touched the cover with a well used 4000 abralon pad; just to give the ball that slightly used cover finish.
The pearl Tour IQ gets through the front of the lane very easy, and produces more backend reaction than the solid tour IQ. I like to use the pearl IQ tour as a step down from my pearl Marvel. If the pearl Marvel starts hooking too early or just stops cornering, because it is slowing down too soon, the IQ tour pearl is a great go to piece. This is the same way I use the Marvel solid and IQ, and step down to the IQ tour solid.
The strong backend reaction I get out of the pearl IQ tour, allows me to stay a little more firm, and throw the ball keeping my angles a bit tighter, when there isn’t a lot of miss area on the lane. The lower flaring core keeps the ball from reacting too quickly later on in the blocks when the fronts start to go, and for me, seems to give me a bit of miss area and recovery from pitch out shots when the patterns are a little harder. Interesting enough, I also can use the IQ tour pearl on house conditions, as long as I keep it in the oil, and don’t get it to the dry too quick. The strong move down lane is enough to slap pins left and right, and make me feel like I have more revs on the ball than I really do. The pearl tour IQ really rolls strong through the pins. Seeing the pearl tour finishing off the deck going through the 9 pin position is not an uncommon occurrence with the pearl tour. This ball really continues down lane.
I have had good success with the pearl IQ tour on Shark, house conditions, USBC White pattern, WTBA Seoul pattern, and Chameleon. The pearl tour IQ really allows me to open up the backend of most any pattern just short of very oily conditions. I can just chase the pattern in, and find a touch of oil up front, and find some dry to throw to, and let the pearl tour IQ come screaming back to the pocket. Thank you for taking the time to read my review of the pearl IQ tour.
-
no need to reoeat what has only been posted, other than to confirm too that I'm very happy with the IQ Pearl. My only comment is that it slides very well through the heads as long as there is some oil, and works very well with any back end, will hook firmly in heavy as well as light oil (mids) and carrydown doesn't syop it, the only thing that will put this ball in the bag (and quickly) is if thrown on fried heads, there the ball will ready immediately upon encountering friction, and burn up very quickly leading to weak, rolled out hits. Because of the ease through the fronts, I use this always on any fresh shot, and move on to the Marvel pearl when the heads start to go (to control the break point better (slower)), and cycle on down to a Tropical Pearl as the heads really go away.
-
The IQ Tour Pearl does well for me when the back ends have a little carry down and the heads have some oil on them. The IQ Tour Pearl is a perfect complement to the IQ Tour. When the IQ Tour starts to read or hook too early and lose some of its energy for the backend the IQ Tour Pearl is the Ball to go to! IQ Tour Pearl conserves enough energy to make the turn on carry down and is explosive through the pins. My axis point is 5 5/8 over and ¾ up and my ball speed is around 15 mph and my rev rate is around 315 very little axis tilt. The layout that I used on my IQ Tour Pearl was 60 x 5 ½ x 75 or just pin below the fingers and the cg kicked out enough for a low hole on my P3. I slightly scuffed the surface with a 3000 pad, just to get some of the shine off of it.
The first pattern I threw the IQ Tour Pearl on was a fresh house pattern and the IQ Tour Pearl gave me decent length and a drastic reaction at the break point. I had over under from the start so I went and threw my IQ Tour which is laid out the same but in box condition and the ball smoothed over the over/under nicely. Game 2 I switched back to the IQ Tour Pearl and was amazed at how much room I had with this ball!!!! The over/under was gone and the IQ Tour Pearl looked unbelievable and was exploding through the pins with reckless abandoning. In conclusion the IQ Tour Pearl for me needs a little carry down because of the aggressiveness of the backend. I am a tweener and the first games on house patterns are always tricky for me so I am not surprised by the over/under… However, I am surprised in a good way by how controllable but aggressive the IQ Tour Pearl is.
The last pattern I threw the IQ Tour Pearl on was the Earl Anthony Pattern and was pleasantly surprised by the length and reaction I had with the IQ Tour Pearl. The reaction was aggressive and I did not have enough hold for my liking so I chose to start with another ball. Which I believe was a not so good idea. After fighting a few frames I switched back and again the IQ Tour Pearl opened up the lane for me. The IQ Tour Pearl is the mix of both worlds for me when there is a little carry down…. Power and controllability!!! I might rough the cover up some (hand scuffed at 3000, I was thinking spinning it at 2000) and see if it will allow me to start with the ball and stay with it all night! However, If you own an IQ Tour and looking for a ball that will complement it…. The IQ Tour Pearl is that ball with same controllability mixed with more length and backend motion.
Likes:The mix of Power and control with decent length
Dislikes:I am not a big fan of Butterscotch
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
Just a bit more info, drilled mine 4 x 4 x 2" pin buffer, a layout that matches a Columbia300 Outburst, and a Storm Tropical Pearl (blue/Yellow) that have been favorites of mine. I concur with StoRoto 2013 in that this ball NEEDS oil in the heads to keep from rolling out. Pin carry is wildly different rolled out (corner festival) vs not rolled out (very solid hit) This ball is truly exhausting to thow on anything other than medium - very heavy oil at least for me. I have medium high revs, and 13.2 mph average @ the pins. This combination (when using Storms Matchmaker program) pairs this ball with me to oily (heavy) conditions, so I'd have to agree. I've recommended this ball to quite a few bowlers, with various releases and speeds (they saw some huge series from me and went out to get the ball for themselves) A 11.5 mph low track medium rev player loves the reaction, for him it's much more controlled than for me, and actually outhooks his like drilled Nano by a few boards. We've all seen with horror, Osku Palermaa use this as a spare ball, so the match is all important I'd say. Got this ball 'cause I'd bungled up the layout on a Marvel Pearl (pin down for my very high track, caused finger hole tracking) and my initial layout on the Marvel was pin over bridge stacked, which for me is nearly a 7" pin up, so it would only flip on the driest of conditions, prompting the pin down fix. I was overall very happy with the pin carry and reaction of the marvel, and figured that the slightly weaker (not for me with the pin down) cover-stock of the IQ Pearl, I'd get the energy retention of the pin way to out (on the marvel) with the control and carry of the centripital core (well if the oil is heavy enough it is controlled some, but on medium to lighter medium it hooks with a frightening snap) In all the IQ Pearl really works for me as a heavy - medium ball (though I already had enough of those) and good enough in that area that when usable (oil present in front half of lane) everything else stays in the trunk (of the car). Still looking to find the right drill layout for my Natural Pearl for very burnt - light oil shots (seems most tournaments break down to this in the third game/ squad)
-
LANE CONDITION
Length:40'
Volume:medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS
COMMENTS
Likes: Flat, out, this ball hits like a tank. Zero deflection through the pin deck. Continuation is exceptional. these are all things i've seen commonly from the R2S cover from Storm. What is new with this ball is the amazing midlane read i get even with a fairly weak drilling. I like to start with stronger solid equipment playing as straight as possible, and then switch to something cleaner through the front after transition. this ball fits that bill perfectly. Another Winner for storm.
Dislikes: My only dislike for this ball is the color does show alot of dirt/lane wear. I get somewhat fanatical about keeping my equipment clean, so i'm usually forced to put this on the ball spinner with some reacta-clean to keep the golden nugget looking shiny and new!
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
Lay Out: 5" from PAP at 65* PAP angle and 30* VAL angle. Dual angle measurement would be 65/5/30. I have a weight hole 5" straight across the grip center.
Ball Surface: I started box finish which is 1500 Reacta-Shine. I have also touched up the surface with a used 2000-abr pad.
Lane Condition Observations: I have thrown this on a couple of different patterns: Our league pattern which is around a 38' shot. I also threw this some on a Kegel Sport Pattern that was 43'. On our league pattern, the OOB finish was kind of snappy off the spot. I left several 9 pins with this. I decided to hit it with the used 2000-abr pad to slow it down in the back a little more. This did well and let me edge closer to the friction line since the ball would stop more in the back of the lane than in box finish. On the 43' pattern, it gave the appearance it might be in play once the heads really went away. We never got enough games in to dramatically alter the front of the lane, so the IQ Tour Solid and the Lucid were much better choices on that condition.
Other Ball Comparisons: I did get to throw it some side by side with my Fire Road, IQ Tour, and Lucid. The Lucid is earlier than all of those as the surface lets it slow down more. The IQ Tour is a little smoother of a look for me than the Lucid and I was 3 and 2 right compared to the Lucid. Where the IQ Tour Pearl shone for me was when I put it head-to-head with the Fire Road. Now this ball was blowing racks and just sawing up pins compared to the slower to medium response of the FR. Head to head with the IQ solid and the pearl was sharper off the spot in the back of the lane but the solid was earlier in the mid lane. There is the primary difference in both balls: one is a smooth surface solid and the other a shined pearl. The IQTP was more skid/snap in box. The look with the IQTP was more closer to the original when I put the 2000-abr on it.
Final Thoughts: I see a lot of IQ Tour Pearls on ball returns in our area. Several of the centers have defined wet/dry house conditions and the IQTP rolls enough in the oil and hooks back sharply if sent right of target. The guys who are really hitting league shots in our area with the IQTP are the ones who have slightly hit their ball with a 4000-abr pad. This lets them get closer to the friction and cuts down on the 9 pins left.
-
LANE CONDITION
Length:
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS Drilled my IQ Pearl over the label pin just right of ring finger. I generally do not like pearlized balls due to my ball speed (around 17 mph ) and rev rate (Between 325 and 375). so I was a bit skeptical when I got this ball. All I can say is WOW. this ball is for real. I have never seen a pearl ball hit as hard as this ball. it has great read off of friction and still moves in oil. You get a smooth push through the heads and it packs a punch coming into the pocket with no deflection through the pins. Shot 787 out of the box. Another great ball by STORM....
Likes: Everything
Dislikes:Nothing
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
Hello all and thanks for reading. As always to go along with this review the video can be found on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o8G3cfptlA&list=UUUdapKcbpNzp3PGwdo7P6GQ&index=1
Obviously being with Storm I have the chance to throw with the greatest bowling balls on earth. To borrow a line from another campaign, the best bowling balls on earth just got better...... IQ Tour Pearl. Those of you who know me and have spoken with me know my love of the IQ Tour. The Tour Pearl Gold is everything that the IQ Tour may have lacked(if anything) Since shooting the video I have drilled a second one which I will explain a little later but I also have a third one on the way just for safe keeping. The Tour Pearl for me is much straighter through the front part of the lane and far more angular than its predecessor the IQ Tour Solid. I am using my favorite layout in this ball with a slight 5 degree modification to the initial drill angle to help promote a little more length and push through the front. The Tour Gold has tremendous hitting power and goes through the pins with extreme authority. I drilled the second Tour Gold a slight bit weaker with a slightly higher pin and with no weight hole. Still angular this ball allows me to keep my feet further right than the original Tour Pearl that I punched up. The original seen in the video forced my feet further left than my IQ Tour Solid both on the fresh and during transition. One the fresh I was 3 and 1 further left and during transitions I can be as far as 8 and 4 further left than the original Tour Solid Just because its a pearl doesn't mean its not strong and trust me, if you wanna cover some boards this ball can do it. Fantastic benchmark ball and it also takes well to surface changes. More surface allows the ball to handle a more substantial amount of oil and smooths out the backend reaction if you feel it is too angular. Find one at a matchmaker even and you will see why everyone is saying "Throw the Gold Ball"
-
Storm IQ Tour Pearl Review
PAP: 5 over & 1/8 up
400-425 RPM
Ball Weight 15lbs
Right Handed
A ball that everyone knows you’re throwing! I wish Woody Harrelson would have thrown this in Kingpin, although it rolls a lot better without a rubber hand stuck in it. The IQ Tour Pearl. A ball I had to drill a couple of to figure it out and once I did, it was money! I did realize something when drilling balls with very low differentials. You MUST drill them stronger to get them to flare, preferably with medium/large weight holes.
The first one I drilled was approximately 4 x 4 from my axis without a weight hole, and it didn’t flare at all. I still had faith that this ball would be good, so I drilled a second one 5 ¼ x 4 with approximately a 1†weight hole on my axis. This one is a home run. I took the shine off lightly with a used 2000 pad to smooth the reaction out and this ball goes with me everywhere. I will not be able to use this ball on the ‘fresh’ of most sport/PBA patterns because of the pearl, but when the lanes transition and in games later in long blocks, this ball will definitely get used. With a low RG of 2.49, it will still read the front part of the lane so it doesn’t “blow through the spot†and because of the low differential (.029) it will want to change direction hard. A great ball for lower, medium, and high rev players because they can all benefit from the motion at some point! Thanks Storm for not only a great looking ball, but a great motion as well!
If you have any questions, please email me at PJ.Haggerty@yahoo.com
Check out Stormbowling.com for more information!
-
LANE CONDITION
Length: 40ft
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
Likes: When I first drilled the !Q Tour Solid and realized how great of ball it was I knew the pearl would be out soon enough. I have always had great success with Storm Pearls, and this is no different. I drilled this with the same layout as the Tour Solid 4.5 x 3.5. This layout always gives me good length without over reacting on the backend. The Tour Gold has more backend of any ball I have ever thrown. I thought that the T Road Pearl was the ball with the most backend but the Tour Gold really surprised me, even with the lower differential. The Tour Gold starts up a little sooner than the T Road Pearl but does not stop. This ball is a great compliment when the Tour Solid isn't turning the corner.
Dislikes: Can have too much backend at times
For those would are looking for a ball to turn the corner when the backends are tight I would highly recommend this ball
http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/Storm-Dustin/library/#/user/Storm-Dustin/library/?page=1&_suid=136451582267109506161475158792
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
drilled this ball with the pin above my ring finger at the 2 o clock position with the cg to the left of my ring finger. i wanted this ball ball to be long and strong on the medium to drier condition and to fill a hole between my polished defiant and polished berserk.
i tested it on 42ft burned up house pattern.
my A game is to swing the ball across the boards, so i started with my feet on 30 and started the ball at board 25 and play out to the track area. i was able to get to the pocket with ease and strike. out of the box with 240-227 and was extremely happy with my decision to drill this ball. the butterscotch scent on this ball isnt very strong like the cranberry on my sync.
i would highly recommend this ball to any bowler looking to add a new piece to their arsenal or to replace an old one. storm definitely choose the right color for this ball, it is truly golden. look for this ball at your local pro shop, you wont be disappointed.
-
The New IQ Tour Prl is now my 2nd favorite ball behind the tour solid. I put my benchmark layout of 50x4x40 which is also on my solid and boy does it compliment perfectly. The prl gives me about 5 or so feet more length, and a nice predictable not jerky motion down lane. This ball has been one of the best selling storm balls in my shop in a long time. The color alone is brilliant, and its performance speaks for itself. A must have!!!
Erik Ramos
Storm/Roto Staffer
-
LANE CONDITION
Length: 40 ft
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
Likes: The IQ Pearl is very easy to read, it's usually the first ball out of my bag. It's a great benchmark ball but I find myself just sticking with it once the competition starts. Rolls great on pretty much any THS, I haven't got a chance to use it on any sport or PBA patterns yet. It rolls a little heavier than my IQ Tour Solid making these two balls a great combination. I've also used the IQ Pearl in two different wood houses and this ball had the best reaction and carry by far. If you're looking for a great all around ball that will match up on almost all THS, this should be in your bag.
Dislikes: No dislikes so far, I'm planning on taking it to Reno in June and a few PBA regional before then.. I'm anxious to see how it rolls on different patterns.
I tried to post a pic but the file is too large, mine is drilled pin up between the bridge and the CG is kick out just a little bit to the right. I'm not sure of the specs as I usually don't get too technical with the drillings.
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
Hand: Right
Ball Speed: 16-17mph
Ball Weight: 15lbs
Layout: 65x6.25x20
Conditions: THS 39' feet
Being in the Pro Shop I have drilled and seen different styles of bowlers use this ball with GREAT success. So I finally decided to post my review on the ball.
My first impression of the ball was wow this ball smells Great. After drilling and throwing it only three throws I looks at the other guys on the the lane and stated "This is not a good ball ...This is a Great ball"
The ball get through the heads and the mids very nice and when reaching the breakpoint it make a move for me is somewhat angular but very consistant in the motion it makes. I can move anywhere on the approach and bowl with this ball (of course with hand position changes). The only negative thing that I have to say in this review is due to the rapid change in the condition where i bowl it is very hard to keep this ball in your hand all three games.
Mark my word this will be the ball of the year!...It definitely has been in my shop and area!
-
Right Handed
Ball weight: 14
Rev Rate: 378
Ball Speed: 18.2
Axis Tilt: 6.67
Axis Rotation: 45*
PAP: 3 7/8 horizontal, 1 ¼ up
Layout: 4 x 4 x 1
Drilled the IQ Tour Pearl when it was first released, looking for something more angular at the end of the pattern. I decided on the strong layout suggested by the Storm drill sheet.
I’ve had the opportunity to roll this one on a variety of different patterns.
THS:
On the THS, the ball starts up early and rolls quite smooth. It is not sharp at the breakpoint, but does make a defined move on the friction at the end of the pattern or when bounced out towards the dry. When the lanes are fresh, I am able to roll it up the boards, with a little belly out. I tended to start standing about 13, rolling 8-10 at the arrows and the ball would hold on a pull or recover on a leak. Over the course of the season, I’ve begun starting league with a Solid Defiant and by the third game, once the Defiant has become too strong and early, a change to the IQ Tour Pearl is quite effective.
On a terribly broken down THS, the IQ Tour Pearl is a fantastic deep option. I have been able to stand about 35 and hit 16-18 at the arrows and the polish will push the ball down the lane and the core can get it to recover really well. Still hit well and had no issues of it burning up too quickly.
Viper
Bowling a 6 game sweeper on the Viper, after 3 games, I was able to pull the IQ Tour Pearl out of the bag and, just continue to get deeper with my shot. This one really opened the lane up and gave me a generous amount of room right. I was able to finish with it while continuing to move deeper as they kept breaking down. I was quite satisfied with the IQ Tour Pearl on the Viper.
Kegel Beaten Path
In another 6 game sweeper, as the lanes broke down, I attempted to use the IQ Tour Pearl and move deeper to chase, what I thought was, the shot. I believe the lanes may have been a bit too dry for it this time. I could not get deep enough for the ball to get down the lane and still finish. I have to chalk this one up to wrong ball on wrong condition.
Overall, I love the ball on fresh and slightly beaten up patterns. It’s not a flippy pearl, but it is very smooth and controllable, which turns out to make it a great benchmark ball on a THS. This ball is always in my bag and I never hesitate to pull it out when the Defiant or Vivid start setting up too early.
An outstanding release by Storm and would complement any bowler’s arsenal.
-
LANE CONDITION
Length: 41
Volume:N/A
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
iq tour pearl #1
layout: 65/4 7/8/40
surfaces: 500, 1000, 3000, storm step 1, box, 1000+polish
iq tour pearl#2
layout: 70/5/70
surfaces: box, light 4000
all i can say is this ball is fantastic. i can use it whenever i want, wherever i want, and the ball rolls great with multiple layouts, its very versatile, i was surprized with how well the ball finished even at the duller finishes. taking this ball down to 1000 and even 500 made this ball hook on just about anything. leaving it at the box finish, gives you a great compinayion of length, and backend that a lot of people like to see. being that this ball is so versatile with layout, and cover prep changes, this is an ideal ball for someone who doesnt carry much equipment with them, it makes an ultimate league ball with its late midlane read and huge backend, or a go to ball in a tournament when you are struggling and need a litle more recovery, or a cleaner glide through the heads.
COMMENTS
Likes: very versatile, go to ball
Dislikes: NONE
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
IQ Tour Pearl Ball Review by Storm/Roto Grip Pro Shop Staffer Rob Aimers.
I drilled my first IQ Tour Pearl on November 19th. I put one of my Benchmark layouts on it. Pin above the ring finger with the CG straight below or in “Old School terminology†stacked on the ring finger. In today’s world that equates to a 5 ¼†Pin to PAP x 4 ¾†PAP to MB x 4†Pin Buffer using the Storm system. If you use Dual Angles it’s 60° x 5 ¼†x 40°.
I bowled one game with it as I always do with a new ball before using it in any competition. That is basically just to make sure it feels good and get an idea about how it rolls. The real test would be the following night in league on the 20th. I proceeded to shoot 258-269-249=776 off the press. Needless to say I already loved it. This was on our THS named Final King Pattern. It’s 42 ft with a total of 19.8 ml.
I participated in a local Thanksgiving Scratch tournament held Sunday the 25th. The tournament is held on a different type of pattern every year. This year it was on the 2012 USBC OC Pattern.
There were 51 entries and I qualified 3rd at +135 for 6 games. Unfortunately I wasn’t the Top qualifier as Jeff Richgels had mentioned in his 11thframe.com blog. However, there were only 3 IQ Tour Pearls in the building that day and 2 of them qualified 2nd + 3rd. The ball went through the front part of the lane with no problems at all but started that nice mid lane read so it wasn’t squirty. Even after all that it still had the ability to recover while watching others struggle with over/under.
I backed up my performance from the previous Tuesday with 278-268-205=751. I thought the final test would be Thursday on the Kegel White 2-Roller pattern. I shot 258-248-245=751. Then I was asked to sub in another house on Friday. I managed to go 299-242-237=779 on their THS. It starts out as the Kegel pattern Easy Street with 20 ml. In my eyes that made this ball very versatile or user friendly. Over the course of a week or so, that included 4 league sets and 1 tournament on 4 different patterns, my league average was over 254 and I qualified 3rd and finished 4th. I don’t think I ever had a ball give me that much success that quick on varying shots in 3 different buildings. All I could say is “WOW!â€
I then drilled my 2nd IQ Tour Pearl on February 26th. I drilled this 1 with another of my faithful layouts. With the Storm or Pin Buffer system it’s 5 ½†Pin to PAP x 3 3/8†PAP to MB x 5†Pin Buffer. Using Dual Angles it comes out to 40° x 5 ½ x 45°. That puts the Pin up above the bridge of my fingers and the CG is kicked out at 35°. There’s a small hole on my PAP for static reasons only. This layout seems to go through the fronts a little cleaner for me. Where the first layout used starts up more in the mid lane.
I have not even been working on freeing up my arm swing and going straighter for a month yet but I can already see the difference in it. With that in mind I had to consider changing up my layouts to match up better. So I drilled a 3rd IQ Tour Pearl like I would have never imagined before. It is 4 ½†Pin to PAP x 3½†PAP to MB x 3†Pin Buffer. Dual Angles puts it at 35° x 4 ½ x 70°. This puts the Pin under my ring finger and the CG is again kicked out at about 35°. This creates a large amount of thumb and side weight if you can imagine. So I have a very big hole in a P4 position or on what would be the MB. Off the press last Thursday I shot 246-216-268=730 on the White 2-Roller pattern. Last night was my first test on our THS Final King pattern. I ended up with 203-246-245=694 surviving a couple untimely splits along the way.
I know this is quite a long review but I wanted to capture the full versatility of this awesome ball. I hope this will be helpful to all who read it. Thank you very much. Rob Aimers
-
LANE CONDITION
Length:
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):
COMMENTS
The IQ Pearl Tour - This is the best looking pearl ball on the market and a must have in your bag. I can best compare it to the Storm X-Factor in that it has a very predictable ball roll. My ball is drilled with the pin above both fingers, and the CG kicked out about an inch and a half with a weight hole on my axis. This ball reads the front end of the lane great and has a really strong backend motion. This ball is great for tournaments; it never over reacts, and I always know what it is going to do. I have seen other people throw this ball and have the success I have had with it. Thanks Storm, for the best pearl ball since the X-Factor
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
Thrown by Storm Staffer Nick Smith
LANE CONDITION
Length:45ft, and 42ft
Volume:high volume, and med. volume
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Sport pattern, and House shot
COMMENTS
Likes: On a 42ft house shot the ball is very good. Really clean through the front and middle part of the lane and has a very nice change of direction at the break point. I put a 4 1/2in pin down layout on it with a low hole just inside my VAL. With the factory shine still on it, it allows me to play straighter up the lanes.
On a 45ft. high volume sport pattern i took the surface down to 1000 grit and was able to play the lanes tight in the middle. The pearl nature of the cover still allowed the ball to clear the front part of the lane when they started transitioning and by it being sanded it gave me a smooth controllable motion down lane.
This ball is a must have for all types of bowlers, from regular league bowler to advanced tournament player.
Dislikes: no dislikes!!!
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
LANE CONDITION
Length:
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):So far, only house shots
Have used the IQ Tour Pearl in 4 different houses so far, and love the results. Drilled it with a 5 x 4 x 3 drilling from Storm's drill sheet, and it has given me exactly what I wanted. After seeing 3 others in my scratch league pick one up, and all seem to be doing well with it, I thought it would be a good choice for me. The length, and breakpoint is what is so nice about this ball, it's not a flip, but a strong arc. The carry it seems to create is very good, and I've seen a lot of messengers with it. The newer bowler on my handicap league team first loved the color of it, then even she, at a 120 average mentioned how well it seemed to roll, and could tell a difference from other equipment. Can't wait to see it on PBA shots or Nationals conditions, this is definitely a good weapon to have in your bag. Great job Storm!!
COMMENTS
Likes:
Dislikes:
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
-
LANE CONDITION
Length:40
Volume:med
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):
I have my IQ tour pearl drilled reco. This ball is by far the best ball i have thrown in a very long time. It is everything i was looking for in a ball. out of the box on the house condition it went long and finished strong giving me optimal carry. On the cheetah it was a little flippy but i hit it with 2000 and it blended the pattern allowing the ball to just roll up to the pocket. It seems like no matter the condition i can match up with this ball. it is very versatile and a must have benchmark ball..
-
Type of bowler: Tweener
Avg Speed: 17.5
Rev Rate: 375-400
PAP: 5 x ¾ up
Layout: 60 x 5 ½ x 30
Drilled the IQ Tour Pearl looking for a ball that will clear the fronts but make a controlled move with continuation through the pins. Overall, I think the ball does that. The cover and weight block seem to match up very well and allow for a good shape. While others I have read say the ball checkmarks I found something a little different.
To see the ball in action, I tried the ball out on three different conditions.
House shot – Center had more oil on the lanes than normal. Was able to square up with the ball and create a little room. The ball certainly cleared the fronts and the reaction wasn’t extreme but was enough to get to the rack. Bowled five games and as you would predict the ball struggled down lane.
Nationals pattern – Got a chance to bowl on the nationals pattern and the ball was very useful. Started the day with a sanded Mission going 7 – 4 to help break the pattern down. In game three I was able to bump in and get a lot of use out of the IQ Tour Pearl. With the ball controlled the midlane and was strong on the backend. The thing I noticed was that the ball read off the pattern very well. The downside was that the ball wiggled when it hit oil down lane.
Cheetah pattern – Last pattern I threw the ball on was a version of the Cheetah in our PBA league. I say a version of the pattern because not every center can lay the actual pattern. On the fresh the ball was very useful again showing a controlled skid with a strong, but predictable move in the back. Was able to play closer to the gutter and get a good read.
Once the carry down started, the ball was fairly sensitive to the over-under, reading both a little to drastically. Went away from it a game and a half into a 4 game block.
I’d like to throw this ball on a typical house shot where there is crisp backend. The closest thing to that was the breakdown of the nationals pattern and the ball reacted great. I honestly expected a little more of a violent move down lane, but the predictability was a welcomed surprise. The downside is that the ball seems to be effected by carry down severely.
-
This ball really reads the lanes well and has a really smooth role. When I bought this ball I was looking for a ball that had a really smooth arc and that I could throw as far right as I wanted but still have confidence that the ball would come back and destroy the pocket. This ball really works great when trying to play the midlane but still gives you a great backend. And it smells great.
Dillon Engel
-
Drilled Pin Up, Kicked over middle finger
I got this ball hoping for retaining energy through the midlane while still giving me the control I look for in a ball. Needless to say this fit right in and became my go to ball. Has a very smooth archy movement to it and doesn’t overhook. It’s very easy to control and another great ball by Storm.
Matt Nance
-
The most controllable pearl ball I have ever had. I can easily see why it's a tour favorite! It has great control, great carry, a wonderful smooth transition at the breakpoint, and works well on puzzle shots (medium length medium volume) as well as any type of house condition. It looks great and rolls great! Thanks Storm!
Matt Gender
-
This ball is awesome in every way. I am a stroker but when I throw the IQ it reads the lane quickly and snaps into the pocket. So far since I got the ball my average has increased significantly. Even when I throw a bad shot the ball will still grip the lane and come back towards the pocket a lot better than most balls. I love this ball and would recommend it to any bowler.
Eric Abenojar
-
So far this ball has become one of my favorites. The tour pearls reactivity is a blessing to my style, the quick snap at the end crushing the pocket consistently. Even if it misses the pocket it manages Brooklyn strikes quite well. It was nice to get a stronger ball that is reliable, and the tour pearl fits that description. This has become my go to ball. Plus the butterscotch smell seems to be addicting to people.
Eric Salaices
-
Pin 4 1/2" from PAP
Pin above middle finger
Bowler: ~475 revs 18.00 mph
May be the best, most predictable ball I've ever thrown. Has excellent control in the mid lane and reads the backend perfectly. Is controlled with an aggressive turn downlane. On house shots, I'm normally a mid 230s average bowler, but the last 6 weeks, I've been around a 255 average with the IQ Tour Pearl. The ball carries very well and I rarely see and over/under reaction. It is very versatile as it can be used easily on the fresh or on the burn. As far as sport shots, I've only thrown it on Kegel Highway to Hell and again, it is very versatile; reads the midlane well with a powerful turn in the backend. Highly recommended!
-
Just picked this ball up the other day, had the front seven the first two games, 278 was the high. For a polish ball, it's a look I never seen before. The ball is drilled 4 x 4 x 2, pin at 1:00 pm. I get nice length, with a sharp turn to the pocket. The pin mix is great, there were a lot of mixers throughout the night. When the lanes break down, the more left you move, the backend gets bigger. I hope this ball lasts, it will be a great bench mark ball. It handles oil and transition throughout the night, without burnout.....
-
First time using I shot 764. Probably the best ball ever made. It is a house shot killer, gives you a lot of recovery, even though its a pearl once shine was knocked off it wasn't to flippy.
-
I bought the IQ Tour Pearl because I heard it was a super-fun ball to throw. I expected it to be very, very condition specific, simply a ball for swinging the lane on a THS. Man, have I been pleasantly surprised! At box finish, the ball was a bit too long and strong for my liking. At times the ball seriously looked like it was coming in sideways, which is not a typical reaction shape for me. As such, I hit the ball lightly with a 2000-grit abralon pad. Wow, what difference! With some of that polish knocked off, the ball actually began reading the lane before the back end. It was still clean and strong, but it was much more controllable, and the carry percentage went way up because the angles were more reasonable. The more I kept using it, the more I started seeing that I could easily use the ball on flatter patterns when the heads started going away and I needed to get deep. In that capacity, the ball has been amazing. I can't even count how many times I've gone to this ball later in tournaments and just started wrecking things from 4th and 5th arrow, territories that usually give me nosebleeds! I haven't had the pleasure of throwing the IQ Tour Solid or the new IQ Tour Fusion, but with how good this ball has been for me, I can easily see myself picking one or both of those up. If you have one of these and haven't gotten along with it, change the surface. You may just be amazed at how much different/better the ball will be for you!