Layout: 60 x 5.5 x 70
Surface: Box
The Phaze 4 brings back the popular Velocity Core and R2S pearl. This ball is everything you expect with this combination; Clean, continuous and control to angular motion. On my 44ft THS, I found it as a good transition or #2 ball when my strong symmetrical or Asymmetrical is a little too early and forward. My THS prefers clean yet stronger/smoother type motions on the fresh and more angle as they transition. What I found with this was exactly the latter. Still cleaner in the front then solid/hybrid covers with more length and controlled/continuous backend since the drilling is pin down for me. What makes this great is that, the ball keeps me in the same zone which is essentially just left of the track as my fresh ball. That keeps my confidence up because I don't have to make a major left move with my feet. If you are a bowler who likes the Velocity Core or even just the R2S coverstock, this seems like a no brainer to me. The ball motion expectations are there so no need to get used to its motions. Just get out there and bowl!
On a 39ft sport pattern, the Phaze 4 as expected was tough to use on the fresh as the pearl cover did not read the overall pattern that consistently. Like the THS, playing more of the track from a deeper inside angle was more of the answer for this ball. Playing the inside angle still gave me enough angle downlane to get the corner pins out even being pin down. The Phaze 4 will be more successful on medium volume and medium length then necessarily something heavier then that on either side. If you are a tournament player, this ball will be cleaner then a Zen and smoother then a UC2. If you have a Phaze 2 and/or 3, this would be a good add to your arsenal.
Adam Chase
Storm Staff