As Storm embarked on their latest venture in the collaborative innovation world, they approached the legendary Jason Belmonte with a burning inquiry: Which Storm bowling ball should stand the test of time? Without hesitation, Jason's response was, “Obviously, the Phaze II. TX-16™ is one of the best covers of our time.”With unanimous agreement, Storm set forth on an exciting new endeavor. This marks a historic milestone as they introduce the TX-16™ coverstock as a Pearl Reactive coverstock for the first time in the illustrious Storm bowling ball collection with the Journey high-performance ball. This exceptional creation is a true chameleon, catering to bowlers of all styles, and its primary mission is to grant bowlers absolute dominion on medium oil conditions, where lane conditions can shift rapidly.Storm can hardly contain their enthusiasm as they anticipate the moment you take this extraordinary ball along on your personal bowling Journey!

Color: Deep Indigo/Smoke/Turquoise
All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown
Core: F-8 (14-16#)
Coverstock: TX-16 Pearl Reactive
Finish: Reacta Gloss
RG: 2.52 (based on 15# ball)
Differential: 0.053 (based on 15# ball)
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium Oil

Storm Journey
Coverstock: TX-16 Pearl Reactive
Finish: Reacta Gloss
Core: F-8 Core
RG: 2.52, Diff: 0.053 (15 lbs)
VLS Layout: 4 3/4 x 4 x 2 1/2
Dual Angle Layout: 45 x 4 3/4 x 40
PAP: 5 3/16” right x 5/8” up
Rev rate: 400 rpm
Average speed: 16.5 mph
Location: Prairie Lanes, Sun Prairie WI
Pattern: Medium volume THS

The Storm Journey is the latest collaboration between Belmo and Storm Bowling.  It features the F-8 core that debuted in the very successful Storm Fate. However, what’s new for the Journey is the cover – TX-16 pearl reactive. We haven’t seen TX-16 on a ball since the Phaze II, and this is the first we’ve seen it in a pearl form. On paper, this is a ball that produces a motion that’s clean with a defined and continuous backend shape.

I’ve been able to throw the Journey on several league conditions and a couple tournaments. The Reacta Gloss finish has been pretty inconsistent for me on most of the releases to date, so as often the case I hit the surface with worn 2000-grit Abralon pad by hand just to get a few scratches on the surface and tame down how quickly the ball responds to friction. The Journey retained its overall clean ball motion even with a touch of surface, but the core/cover combo creates a tumbly and loping shape in the midlane. Even so, the Journey still remains stable and when it hits friction at the end of the pattern it makes a defined motion toward the pocket. The backend motion isn’t as sharp as the Virtual Energy Blackout, but it’s certainly more defined than the Fate. The Journey does seem to fair well to different hand positions and adjustments – you can take hand out and play straighter or use a stronger position to create more hook.

Given the tumbly midlane roll, the Journey is best used for when I want to play the track area or in toward third arrow. It doesn’t feel like a pearl ball that I can move way left with, however, and create really big angles – I think there are better options for that like the Blackout. By comparison, the Fate creates a stronger midlane read and a more rounded backend motion; the Journey is sharper on the backend. The Journey is a great compliment to stronger balls like the DNA or even the Phaze II, and is a good step up from the !Q Tour Ruby. The Journey fits nicely in the middle of Storm’s catalog and certainly carries the torch as the next Belmo ball.

Chris Pollentier
Storm Pro Shop Staff
#StormNation

Journey • Storm • Signature
Core • F-8 Core
Coverstock • TX-16 Pearl Reactive Finish •Reacta Gloss
Weight • 15 lbs. RG • 2.52 Differential • .053
Layout • 4 3/8 x 4 3/4 x 1 5/8
Tester PAP • 5” R, 5/8” D Tester Axis Tilt • 9° Testers Rev Rate • 250
Test Pattern • 42' THS (Typical House Shot) • Modified, Kegel Stone Street

Storm and Jason Belmonte have once again redefined innovation by releasing The Journey. The Journey is an excellent combination of the F-8 Core and the TX-16 Pearl reactive coverstock. And when the time is right, the Journey proved to be a striking success that scores results. So, let's take a closer look at the new Storm -Signature Series -Journey.

The F-8 Core was designed for control and adaptability, so I put this F-8 Core to the test as a straighter, low-rev player. I found the F-8 Core to have a smooth, well-balanced roll like you would see with a benchmark-type look. However, the F-8 Core also had a good amount of bite and snap off the pattern. And I was surprised at the amount of angularity the F-8 Core produced even with my down and in style. Lastly, the F-8 core rolls vigorously through the pins and has a strong continuation that straighter players like me depend on.   So, it is safe to say the F-8 passed my test quite well.

Now, the TX-16 Pearl Reactive took me a bit to adjust to. Being a high-speed player, I struggle with out-of-the-box Reacta Gloss finishes, which was my initial reaction to the Journey. However, I liked that the TX-16 Pearl cover takes surface adjustments well and brings results with it. I sanded my TX-16 Pearl with 2000-grit Abralon. And I followed that up with Storm's Rough Edge Polish, which opened a whole new dimension to my Journey. The TX-16 read the mid-part of the lane with a fluently smooth traction and had a clean and predictable motion off the pattern. And as the THS conditions started breaking down, I could trust the TX-16 Pearl to blend out the spotty and over–under conditions we tend to see late at night. So, it is clear to me that with the correct surface to fit your game, the TX-16 Pearl Coverstock will deliver results you can trust.

In conclusion, the Journey by Storm and Jason Belmonte is another Signature Series winner. And with the Journey, you won't need five hundred plus revs or bowl like Jason to score with it. The Journey was built for adaptability to fit many styles of bowlers. So, stop in your local Storm VIP Pro Shop today and have your Journey drilled up and surfaced to match your game. Then, be ready to light it up in tonight's league! Your scores will thank you!

Rick Klimowicz
Storm Products Pro Shop Staff
Roll the Ball Pro Shop
Penndel, PA

LANE CONDITION

Length: 42 Feet

Volume: 26 ml

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Layout: 5 x 3 x 2 VLS

Let’s get this out of the way first - the best smelling ball ever released by Storm and it’s not even close!  I didn’t have any idea what kiwi-cantaloupe would smell like… but it is AMAZING!  The Journey is a new collaboration between Storm and Belmo matching the F8 core from the Fate with a pearlized version of the TX-16 overstock from the Phaze 2.  The ball is very glossy out of the box and looks as great as it smells.  I have thrown the fate with box surface, 1000 then Reacta-Skuff (about 3000 grit), and 1000 then a light coat of new Rough Edge compound.  I’ve found that the 1000-Rough Edge finish gives me the best blend of length and responsiveness from the ball and makes it much more versatile and forgiving.  It’s not going to be the first ball out of my bag, but it has done an excellent job as a mid-to-late game 2 and game 3 ball.

My Specs -
Speed - 16 mph,
Rev Rate - 315. 
PAP 5 1/8 x 7/8 Up.

PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/LU_UgwCKdH8

Ball Specs:
Storm Journey
Reacta Gloss TX-16â„¢ Pearl Reactive
Weight Block: F-8â„¢ Core (Symmetrical)
Color: Deep Indigo/Smoke/Turquoise

Review:
We have been big fans of all the signature releases from Storm. They should be appreciated well beyond just the Belmo name being slapped on the ball. The Journey is wrapped with the same core as the Fate but what really excites us is the new cover. The TX-16, as seen in solid form on the Phaze 2, is a benchmark shape that really suites many bowlers and styles very well. We drilled this ball with our normal layout: tweener, 350-375 revs, 16.5mph, layout of choice is 4x4x2 (pin is above bridge). Compared to the Fate, you can expect the Journey to be cleaner in the front and store more energy towards the back. To us the Fate was more rounded and much earlier.  There seems to be a bit more continuation in the Journey for that reason. The Journey is that first out of bag benchmark shape that most people look for. It also smells incredible and the colors really pop on the wall. Check out your local pro shop today and don’t forget to bowl up a Storm!

Kyle, Joel, & Dean Johnson
Storm Pro Shop Staffers
joel@parklanes.net
kyle@parklanes.net
dean@frontierfuncenter.net
www.stormbowling.com
#StormNation

Layout: 45 x 4 1/2” x 40

I really liked the versatility and predictability of the Fate, the previous ball in the Belmo line, and the Journey takes that overall motion and increases it.  The Journey slides through the fronts easily, but has enough midlane roll for it to be able to handle a decent bit of oil. The down lane motion can be described as a hard arc, but not quite flippy. It is a newer iteration of the classic “Storm ball motion” - strong backend, but user friendly.  I love where the ball fits in the overall SPI lineup – the 900 Global Sublime has more mid lane and is overall stronger, but the Summit Peak is cleaner and flippier. Those three balls cover everything from medium-heavy to to medium-lighter oil conditions.

Mike LeViner

Storm Journey

Cover: TX-16 Pearl Reactive Color

Core: F-8 Symmetric Core

Color: Deep Indigo/Smoke/Turquoise

Scent: Kiwi Cantaloupe

Layout: 4 3/4 x 4 1/2 x 2

 

The newest addition to the signature line is the Storm Journey. A product of the most recent collaboration with Jason Belmonte and Storm. The thing that stood out the most to me with the announcement of this ball was the cover. They took one of the best coverstocks they have created in the TX-16 (Phaze II), and made it pearl. With this coverstock and the F-8 core (Fate), they have created a monster.

 

I knew this ball would have a pretty strong backend reaction and it did not disappoint with that. However where this ball surprised me most was the midlane response. Bowling on a lot of wet/dry conditions in my area, it is tough to get ball motion from a pearl ball in the middle of the lane. The Journey has no issues with this and started to roll up before have plenty down lane to still carry a corner pin. Even when missing right a little early, the ball would pick up but not overreact off the dry. For me this ball is slight ball down from the Virtual Energy Blackout, as it does get down the lane slightly more before it starts to hook.

Journey
Cover: TX-16 Pearl Reactive
Core: F-8
RG: 2.52 RG
Diff: 0.053

My layout: 4.25 x 2

The Journey is a Pearl symmetrical ball that I see working best on medium to med-dry conditions. The pearl TX-16 cover is definitely clean. It does a great job of getting through early friction without getting off line too quickly. The high rg 2.52 core compliments the clean cover very well. The length of the cover and the taller core translates to a medium-quick response motion down lane. I have found that the Journey is best when the lanes transition past big or medium solid balls like the Phase 2 or Tour Dynamix. It allows me to get more shape without seeing the early friction.

Bowler stats:
Left handed
PAP: 5 x 1/4up
Rev rate: 400