First Impressions
The IQ Tour Pearl is back again…
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Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 365 rpm
PAP: 5 1/8 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 4.5 x 45
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 5.25 x 50
Bryan Hoffman (Righty)
Style: Stroker
RPM: 280 rpm
PAP: 4 1/2 & 1 1/2 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: high
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 55 x 4.75 x 45
“Keep in mind that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core creates the dynamic shape of the reaction. Your driller will alter the shape to suit your game.”
Pattern
THS: 44ft, 25.8ml, 12:1 ratio
Sport: TBD
Specs
The IQ Tour Sapphire uses the C³™ Centripetal Control Symmetric Core core inside the new R2S Pearl coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.49, diff of .029
14 pound = RG of 2.54, diff of .034
Coverstock finish: Power Edge
Power Player’s Perspective
OK, where have we seen this before? Oh yeah, the IQ Tour Ruby. Oh yeah, the Gold, the Emerald, on and on. We’ve reviewed these balls ad infinitum. Clean roll, relatively long skid phase. A smooth but punchy transition and roll phase. The quintessential benchmark type shape. This is essentially when you want a benchmark shape but in a cleaner ball when you have a little less oil or some breakdown. We loved the Ruby which is the last one we tested. There’s no difference here. Tyler pretty much demolishes the house shot with the Sapphire.
Stroker’s Stance
Bryan also had the same kind of lane management. He’s a lot more direct as you would expect but that 8-10 at the arrows straddling the friction line just works. House shots tend to push bowlers to a very similar place and you will see Bryan frequently have to play this area on the house shot. But the Sapphire worked quite well. Super strong covers or super strong cores in clean covers are the ones that tend to struggle in this spot for him but the cleaner rolly C3 Centripetal core works.
What else is there to say with the IQ Tour Pearl, er Sapphire? We’ve seen it many times and it does exactly what you expect it to do. No surprises for a pretty ball. It kind of sells itself.