Storm Alpha Crux
Layout: 40 x 3 5/8 x50
Coverstock: 2000ab box – tested at 3000ab
Lane conditions: 42 ft. house pattern with 2015 Flex with Fire and Ice conditioner on older HPL installed in early 2000’s. And newer SPL and HPL using different conditioners and machines from Kegel
Test results: This is the best ball in the PREMIER line from Storm, it takes the GI-16 coverstock and match it the very strong and favorable Catalyst core to make the “perfect†heavy oil ball. I love using this ball on the late shift or as mine transition ball after an oil push has developed on the left side of the lane for me or by me. Not a piece I would recommend to be used on really gritty lane panels or on wood, this ball needs OIL and a boot bit of it. Almost everybody wants a ball to go coast to coast, and this is it, A lot of good motion midlane and downlane, not like the original Crux which hooked for me way too early, and did not have enough energy stored. To me, this ball is like the original Roto Grip Cell, but with some “protein†added to it. This ball worked really well on newer HPL and SPL lane panels with 42-44ft oil pattern using Fire Oil. On the older HPL, it works better with the Fire and Ice oil with the FLEX machine than actual ION with just Ice oil being used. It’s save a punch for the backend unlike other solid reactives that are current on the market from other brands. If you want a ball that will travel thru the THS oil and still pack a strong punch, the Alpha is the ball for you.