Next Ball Up from Storm the New Next Factor™

 

The Next Factor™ brings one of Storm’s most iconic ball lines into the modern era. First introduced in 2002, the X-Factor quickly became synonymous with explosive backend motion and the unmistakable skid-flip reaction that defined an entire generation of Storm performance. Now, more than twenty years later, the Storm  Innovation Team—led by CTO Hank Boomershine—has reimagined that legacy for today’s game.

This new iteration blends Storm’s high-tech heritage with the advancements 

bowlers expect from their strongest modern releases. Clean through the front, dynamic at the breakpoint, and relentless through the pins, the Next Factor™ is 

built for when you’re ready to open up your angles and let your ball do the 

talking. It’s a revival with purpose—honoring the past while pushing performance into the future.

Fragrance: Dark Berry

Release Date: 12/19/25

Color: Midnight

Next Factor™

Premier Line

Information Date: 12/1

Street Date: 12/19

 

Key Features:

• Weight Block: RAD-TQ™ 
• Coverstock: R3S™ Pearl Reactive 
• The Next Factor is a pearl asymmetric option that's designed for medium oil conditions.
• The ball is finished with Power Edge™. 
• Like the X-Factor, the Next Factor uses a unique combination of a high RG, high differential, and a relatively conservative PSA strength.
• Much like the Hy-Road, the Next Factor features no outer core, just a thick shell and a weight block. 
• If you're looking for a ball with a strong backend reaction, this is for you. 

Storm to Introduce The Phaze II Pearl™

 

Phaze II Pearl™ Master Line INFORMATION DATE: 11/14 STREET DATE: 11/28   Key Features: The Phaze II Pearl is a pearl symmetric option that is designed for medium to heavy oil conditions. The ball is finished with Power Edge.  Core: Velocity™ Core Coverstock: TX-25™ Pearl Reactive - Through extensive testing, it was obvious the pearl cover needed to be upgraded to maximize performance. The exact same colors in the Phaze II have been used in the Phaze II Pearl. The only difference is they are in a pearl form. The Phaze II Pearl broadens the spectrum of performance within the Master line by bridging the gap between the original Phaze II Solid and IQ Tour series.

900 Global VIKING™ Hybrid

 

The new Global Viking, featuring the Strobe AI core, is the most responsive hybrid asymmetric design in the Global line. Cleaner than the original Origin and stronger on the backend, it’s the ideal go-to ball when lanes transition and you need more shape off the spot. 

GLOBAL VIKING™

INFORMATION DATE: 10/31

STREET DATE: 11/21

 Key Features:

• The Viking is a hybrid coverstock that designed for medium-heavy conditions.
• Core: Strobe™ A.I. Core
• Coverstock: RB 90™ Hybrid Reactive
• Finish: Power Edge
• With a raised RG, the Strobe A.I. Core's single density weight block uniquely reads the midlane while still providing a very strong backend shape.
• RB 90 Hybrid was designed specifically to bring a balanced reaction. The solid component of the cover will give you the proper amount of traction while the pearl aspects will optimize responsiveness. 

Storm Bowling Introduces the Rockstar™ Amped

 

From Storm: "This isn't just a ball; it's a mosh pit of power, precision, and pure rock and roll rebellion, engineered to make every shot a chart-topping performance. 

 

This new release features the NEW – NanoStar™ Pearl Reactive cover that contains a medium load of nanoparticles blended throughout. Meaning, while it clears the fronts with ease, it provides a little more traction in the midlane than our nano-free pearl covers, but it is not as grippy in oil as our fully loaded nano pearl covers. Clean and responsive, but not sideways off of friction down lane."

ROCKSTAR AMPED

INFORMATION DATE: 10/3

STREET DATE: 10/24

 

Key Features:

• The RockStar Amped is a pearl symmetric option that designed for medium to medium/heavy oil conditions.
• The ball is finished with Power Edge™. 
• Core: Rocker™ + A.I. Core
• Coverstock: NanoStar™ - The revolutionary new NanoStar Pearl coverstock steals the show again thanks to the medium load of nanoparticles blended throughout.
• The Rocker Core provides the raw, untamed power, generating a high revving, aggressive motion that pushes through the pins.

Plays Well When:

• When stronger asymmetrical balls are just too strong in the midlane causing them to not go through the pins the right way, and you need something that still picks up in the midlane but continues and has some response to friction.
• When weaker balls are not strong enough and you need a ball that picks up and continues without being overly aggressive.
• Can be used to blend fresh overacting house our tournament conditions, as well as blend out over-under conditions just like its solid predecessor the original ROCKSTAR™. 

PBA and The CW Network Announce 2026 Tour Schedule

 PBA and The CW Network Announce 2026 Tour Schedule

2026 PBA Championship Sundays on The CW Schedule 

All broadcasts will air live at 4 p.m. ET on The CW Network

• February 22: PBA Players Championship – Arlington, Texas – International Training and Research Center
• March 1: PBA Pete Weber Missouri Classic – St. Peters. Mo. – Bowlero St. Peters
• March 8: U.S. Open – Indianapolis, Ind. – Royal Pin Woodland
• March 15: PBA Illinois Classic – Decatur, Ill. – David Small’s Victory Lanes
• March 22: PBA Indiana Classic – Fort Wayne, Ind. – David Small’s Pro Bowl West
• March 29: USBC Masters – Allen Park, Mich. – Thunderbowl Lanes
• April 5: PBA Ohio Classic – Columbus, Ohio – Columbus Square Bowling Palace
• April 12: PBA New York Classic – Rochester, N.Y. – ABC Gates Bowl
• April 19: PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship – Portland, Maine – Bayside Bowl
• April 26: PBA Tournament of Champions – Fairlawn, Ohio – AMF Rivera Lanes

Additional PBA events will air later in 2026 on other platforms. The PBA World Series of Bowling and PBA Commissioner’s Cup will air on CBS and CBS Sports Network, while the Storm Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles and the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters will air live on streaming platforms, including BowlTV.

New Storm Solid EquinoX

 

EQUINOX SOLID

INFORMATION DATE: 9/26

STREET DATE: 10/17

 

Key Features:

• The EquinoX Solid is a solid asymmetric option that is designed for medium-heavy to heavy oil conditions.
• 2000-Grit Abralon®
• Core: Solarion™ + A.I. Core  
  
  
• The revolutionary tri-cylindrical Solarion Core delivers a strong, decisive motion at the breakpoint.
• Coverstock: A2S™ Solid Reactive – This advanced coverstock pushes the limit of oil absorption in the Storm lineup.
• The EquinoX Solid will stand toe-to-toe with the Ion Max but delivers a dramatically different shape and motion.

Plays Well When:

• Ion Max is too early and loses backend reaction.
• Equinox is too long and does not have enough reaction.
• Ion Pro Solid does not create enough backend motion.

An Open Letter from Hammer Bowling to Bowlers Around the World:

 From brunswickbowling.com

An Open Letter from Hammer Bowling to Bowlers Around the World: The sport of bowling has always been built on innovation, tradition, and the pursuit of excellence. For more than forty years, urethane bowling balls have been a trusted tool and essential part of that story, providing bowlers with a reliable tool to tackle challenging lane conditions and allowing bowlers to compete at their highest level. Now, that legacy is being threatened. The USBC has announced sweeping restrictions on urethane balls for national tournaments, including outright bans in some cases. These changes represent a seismic shift in our sport, removing equipment that generations of bowlers, from grassroots leagues to the highest levels of professional play, have relied upon, and we believe these new rules will create confusion and risk setting a troublesome precedent for leagues and tournaments to follow. At Hammer Bowling, we are deeply frustrated by USBC’s continued attention on bowling ball restrictions including this latest decision to target bowling ball materials. The focus on banning equipment options rather than growing participation is a misguided step that risks upsetting loyal bowlers and causing irreparable harm to the sport we all love. Urethane has earned its place on the lanes - not just as another coverstock, but as a vital tool for controlling ball motion, navigating difficult oil patterns, and allowing bowlers to compete at their highest level. In today’s game, with higher rev rates and increasingly challenging lane patterns, urethane remains more important than ever. Eliminating it erases a critical part of our sport’s versatility and evolution, and to our knowledge, there has never been a ball so effective and so popular that rules were created to restrict its use, despite maintaining USBC-approval, passing numerous spot checks, and continuing to meet all USBC specifications. Most importantly, we want to reassure bowlers that the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane remains USBC approved for use in leagues, local and state events, Junior Gold qualifying, and collegiate qualifying tournaments. This legendary ball continues to deliver the performance that bowlers have trusted for years, and it isn’t going anywhere. Hammer Bowling stands with bowlers who are angry and disappointed by these unnecessary restrictions, and we remain committed to fighting for the equipment that makes our sport competitive, enjoyable, and great. Sincerely, The Hammer Bowling Team