The Hybrid Hits the Mark Again!

Remember that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core will create the dynamic shape. Your drilling will alter the shape to suit your game and conditions you bowl on.
Our tester:
Tweener: Randy Kenny (375 rpm) 60 x 3 3/8 x 30

Randy is our latest tester.  He is an accomplished bowler with 4 Junior Bowlers Tour wins.

Tony Rado of Tony Rado’s Pro Shop drilled our test equipment.  Tony has the highest qualifications as the only Advanced Certified IBPSIA Technician in New Jersey.

For Randy, this layout is intended to get into a slower roll and quicker transition at the breakpoint.

Please work with your local pro shop operator to find what best works for you.

Test Patterns:
Sport: Designed locally, similar to the Teen Masters Qualifier 2014, 42 ft, 2:1 ratio, 25 ml

First Impressions
Storm continues its hot streak of fantastic hybrid bowling balls.  The IQ Tour Fusion brings a now very successful lower differential core to the venerable R2S hybrid coverstock.  Hy Road anyone?  Could this be the one that can retire the Hy Road?  I don’t know but this one looks great on the lanes.

Value 9.5/10
This bowling ball is a placed in the medium-high end range, Master Line, and is priced towards the higher end.  However, this is likely to be an extremely versatile piece that bowlers will be able to use on most conditions; all but the slickest and driest.

Core
The Storm IQ Tour Fusion continues to use the IQ line core called C³™ Centripetal Control Core. It’s a symmetrical core with an RG of 2.49 and differential of .029 for a 15 pounder. The low diff is a bit tricky, but basically the idea is to offer a control motion. As we said before, this core is not weak as you will see a fair bit of overall motion.

Cover 10/10
I can beat this to death but suffice it to say I think the R2S Hybrid cover will go down as one of the most successful covers of all time.  Nothing more to add.

Reaction 9/10
As we’ve seen with the original Storm IQ Tour and IQ Tour Pearl bowling balls, the IQ Tour Fusion is a nice blend that is more than the sum of it’s parts in my estimation.  There is a good amount of length, similar to the Pearl, but more backend punch than either the solid or pearl counterparts.  On the sport pattern, you can get this polished cover to get through the breakpoint, but a slight push didn’t completely cost you.  And because of the recovery, you still had a chance to hit the headpin. Its overall motion is predictable but not weak.  In back to back shots with an IQ Tour solid, the solid got into a roll about 1 ft earlier and had a smoother backend motion.  The IQ Tour is like “good ol’ reliable” while the IQ Tour Fusion is like the supercharged version.  The Fusion is the one you pull out when you are looking for a predictable motion with some nice punch.  In addition, Randy saw no carry issues even on this tough pattern.

Digitrax

On this 42ft sport pattern, Randy is generating a little over 5 degrees entry angle. It might not seem like much but this a longer, oilier pattern. As you can see from the video, the ball has a nice pop on the backend. He is hitting about the 10 board at 42.5 ft. By comparison the IQ Tour solid and Zero Gravity transitioned one foot sooner at 41.5 ft.

Overall 9/10
This bowling ball represents a culmination of 2 uniquely proven components. That doesn’t always prove successful. However, combining the C³™ Centripetal Control Core with the R2S Hybrid coverstock makes for what should be an amazing piece. On paper, it looks great. On the lanes, just as expected. Decent length of a pearl and nice backend punch. Adjusting the cover can allow you to find any reaction between the solid and pearl versions. This can easily be the next “main” ball in most bowlers’ bags.