Storm Adds New Balls For Fall

The new Storm Fire Road™ contains the proven Inverted Fe3 Technology weight block first introduced in the Victory Road™. The advancements made in Fe³ allowed Storm to utilize a larger mass to increase the dynamics, upping the differential approximately 15%.

But ball reaction is the product of both core and coverstock. And while the Victory Roads and Crossroad™ all utilize the proven R2S™ coverstock, Storm is encasing the Fire Road weight block with an R2X™ blend that has previously been reserved for the biggest hitters like the Virtual Gravity™. With a smoothly polished 1500-grit finish and pearl blend, the new Fire Road is sure to fire up the pins and the pocket. Release Date: July 10, 2012

The new IQ and IQ Tour Editionwere designed to continue the Master Line predictability and reliability. The IQ Tour Edition (blue cover) is sure to become your new benchmark ball. The C3 - Centripetal™ Control Core is engineered to yield ample midlane roll while smoothing out the transition. This fast-revving symmetrical shape is unique in its mass distribution and is the brains behind it all.

Prepped with a perfectly balanced 4000-grit Abralon® finish, the IQ Tour Edition's proven R2S™ solid coverstock (like on the Victory Road solid) ensures great traction and performance. You may know that coverstocks come in a variety of levels of aggressiveness. Since we built the IQ Tour Edition to be the foundation of your arsenal, you can be confident in the fact that this ball will be consistent across a variety of lane conditions.

The new Storm IQ (Red/Blue) is a ball for heavier oil. With an amped up new PFT™ (Progressive Friction Technology) coverstock and dynamic Centripetal™ core (from the Marvel series), the IQ is sure to turn some heads. The Centripetal™ core's symmetrical shape provides countless drilling options. This fast-revving core produces 6” or more of flare and is designed to benefit players of all skill levels. Prepped with a textured 3000-grit Abralon® finish, the IQ’s PFT coverstock emphasizes the break point angle as it grips the dry boards like no other. Release Date: July 10, 2012

Hammer Announces New Balls

Last year Hammer set fire to oily lane conditions with the Arson. Now Arson Pearl is ready to light up the lanes when the Arson has burned them up. The new Arson Red/Turquoise Pearl uses a new Max-Corner Pearl coverstock (500, 1000, 2000 Abralon®, Powerhouse™ Factory Finish Polish) wrapping the Arson/Hot Sauce Core to backend harder on medium oil lane conditions. #15 RG (2.48) Diff (.045) Available July 17, 2012.  

The Hammer Ratchet combines a modified version of our asymmetric  M.P.A. core (from the Brick) with a Violet/Black/Silver hybrid version of the Grand Theft Reactive II coverstock (finished: 800 Abranet®, 1000, 2000, 3000 Abralon­®).  The Hammer Ratchet has enough twist to turn through the mid-lane on medium to medium-heavy oil patterns. Available August 14, 2012.

Hammer announces the Nail Smoke and Fire, built around the Modified Raw Hammer Doom core and wrapped in Shredder Reactive Pearl cover veneer (800 Abranet®, 1000, 2000, 4000 Abralon­®, Powerhouse™ Factory Finish Polish) designed for medium-dry lane conditions. #15 RG (2.55) Diff (.042).

Hammer’s new Cobalt Vibe combines the proven Vibe core shape with a Violent Reactive Pearl coverstock. This Vibe has the original Black Widow coverstock (800 Abranet, 1000 Abralon, 2000 Abralon, 4000 Abralon with Powerhouse Factory Finish). Cobalt Vibe is designed with drier lanes in mind. By using a very smooth texture coverstock, Cobalt Vibe offers extreme length with an angular backend motion. #15 RG (2.51), Diff (.042).

Columbia 300 Introduces New Bowling Balls

The Elastin breakthrough technology (Elastin 8.0 Supreme Hybrid) has been taken to new levels for the Columbia 300Wicked Encounter (more overall hook!). An entirely new chemical additive has been used in order to create more friction in the front of the lane while helping the Wicked Encounter create stronger motion through back part of the lane, even on heavier oil conditions (finished 800, 800 Abralon, 1500, 1500 Abranet). Inside the new Orange/Black/Silver Wicked Encounter is the same dynamic core found in the original Encounter and Dark Encounter. Avaialable July 24, 2012

The new mid-level Columbia 300 Oath features a Bend-It Solid cover in Blue/Purple/Red. Bend-It Solid was first used on the Omen, an extremely aggressive pearlized ball that likes oil.  The Oath features a solid version of Bend-It that has been modified to react stronger in the mid-lane and through the back of the lane than the pearlized version (finished 500, 800 Abranet® and 1000, 2000 Abralon™). 

The Capsule core was designed to provide great performance and versatility while also being very simple.  A simple symmetric shape with great performance characteristics was chosen in order to be very driller and bowler friendly.  The low RG Capsule revs up early and the high Differential helps create a large amount of flare for great continuation in the backend. Radius of Gyration - 2.47 RG Differential - .054 in 15#. Available September 11, 2012.

The new Columbia 300 Violent Eruption is wrapped in Lava colored New Era SF Plus reactive veneer (800 Abranet™, 1000, 2000 Abralon®, Powerhouse™ Factory Finish). The Skid Flip version of New Era was used in the original Eruption. The Violent Eruption will contain the low RG and medium differential Resurgence core.

Columbia explains what to expect: “The Violent Eruption is clean through the front and provides the greatest length in the Columbia 300 lineup. The sharp move it makes off the friction along with it’s length makes this ball a great choice on most medium to medium dry lane conditions.” Radius of Gyration - 2.46 RG Differential - .040 in 15#. Available June 21, 2012.

The (new Urethane) Classic from Columbia 300 contains the Resurgence core. Columbia describes The Classic as “smooth and controllable and devastates the pins in the right environment” suggesting The Classic for “higher rev rates, slower ball speeds, and tough and dry conditions.” The slate color urethane veneer is finished at 2000 Abralon®. Available June 19^th, 2012.

In addition to The Classic, Columbia 300 has added two new colors to it’s entry reactive Scout line. With a three piece construction, the new Scouts create easy length for slower ball speeds, drier lanes or straighter target lines.  

New Balls From Ebonite International

The Ebonite Innovate is an upper mid-performance ball that likes to be extremely responsive to down lane friction. The High Traction Reactive (HTR 3.0) Pearl coverstock is Red/Navy/ Purple, while the “Verve” Core is Radius of Gyration (RG) of 2.49 / RG Differential .046 in #15 Available June 12, 2012. 

Ebonite Endure is the new, mid-performance product from Ebonite. Ebonite suggests “The Endure will provide you with great performance on fresh conditions and those that are in transition.” The Black/Yellow/Blue cover of Traxion Reactive Hybrid wraps the V5 core (the Elevate and Game Changer). Available July 31, 2012. Radius of Gyration (RG) of  2.50 / RG Differential .051 in #15.

Rash Named PBA Player of the Year

Sean Rash now living in suburban Chicago (Montgomery, IL), was named as 2011-12 Professional Bowlers Association Chris Schenkel Player of the Year Monday, concluding one of the most competitive Player of the Year contests in years.

Rash, who made a record five-consecutive television finals during the 2011 PBA World Series of Bowling and concluded his season with a victory in the PBA Tournament of Champions, was elected over a field of 11 eligible candidates in balloting conducted among his fellow PBA Tour competitors and veteran members of the bowling news media.

In the end, Rash received 29.04 percent of the Player of the Year votes, Australia’s Jason Belmonte 26.61 percent and Mike Fagan of Dallas, TX 18.32 percent in the closest voting contest in years. Pete Weber of St. Ann, MO, received 11.89 percent and Norm Duke of Clermont, FL, 10.23 percent to round out the top five vote-getters.

The announcement was made live on PBA’s Xtra Frame online bowling channel as a special kickoff to the made-for-television PBA Summer Shootout special event at 10pin bowling lounge in Chicago.

During the 2011-12 PBA Tour season, Rash, a 29-year-old right-hander, won the season-ending PBA Tournament of Champions (TOC) for his only title, but had six championship round finishes, including third place in the PBA World Championship. Qualifying for a record five consecutive TV finals during the World Series of Bowling helped the Alaska native dominate PBA Tour stats where he finish first in average, points and earnings.

“We all had great seasons, but I think winning the TOC put a stamp on it,” Rash said. “I’m a stats guy. When I voted in the past, I voted by the numbers. They don’t lie. If one of those guys had won the TOC, he would have got my vote.

“I felt a big sign of relief,” he said of the moment PBA Commissioner Tom Clark announced his win. “It meant a lot to have the waiting finally over.

“Jason and Mike and I have bowled in 15 different countries during the past year. We travel around the world to stay sharp,” Rash added. “You take a lot of satisfaction after all of the travel, the practice, the sacrifices you make. We’ve made each other better.”

Belmonte, a 28-year-old two-handed player, won three titles, had championship round finishes, finished third in average and second in both points and earnings. Belmonte also finished third in the U.S. Open and Tournament of Champions, fourth in the PBA World Championship and ninth in the USBC Masters.

Fagan, a 31-year-old right-hander, won the Alka-Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters for his first major title and he won the Brunswick Euro Challenge in Paris, France. The Long Island, NY, native had three additional championship round finishes including second place in the U.S. Open and fourth place in the Tournament of Champions. Statistically, he was second in average, and third in points and earnings.

Also contending in the Player of the Year race were Weber, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, and Duke, three-time winner during the 2011-12 season.

The Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award is named in honor of the late hall of fame announcer who served as the voice of the PBA on ABC Television for 36 years.

Roto Grip Reveals Their Fall Ball Line-Up Additions

Defiant Edge
GUTS: Featuring the same technological advancement found in the Defiant™, the unique elliptical shape of the Paragon™ core defines predictability of axis migration and allows you to perfectly match up your ball reaction to the condition at hand.
GRIT: The MicroBite™ pearl reactive coverstock uses extremely small structured additives to help smooth the transitions while maintaining entry angle at the pocket. This helps you create better pin action while reducing oil sensitivity that can send your ball through the break point.
GRIME: The new Defiant Edge™ is the ideal complement to the original Defiant, providing the perfect combination of skid-hook-roll even on medium-heavy oil. Be sure to keep your original Defiant on hand for those heavy oil situations.

Berserk
GUTS: With the same consistent, smooth-rolling Caliber™ weight block that the Bandit™ rode all the way to glory, the Berserk utilizes increased energy transfer to create maximum pin action for both rev-dominant and speed-dominant players alike.
GRIT: The 65MH™ Hybrid Reactive Coverstock is the ideal combination of both solid and pearl reactive. This technology gives you the ease of the pearl through the front part of the lane with the smooth reaction of a solid at the breakpoint.
GRIME: The Berserk is the perfect marriage of its predecessors, the Bandit and Outlaw™. This ball is best suited for medium/heavy oil conditions, but the surface can easily be adjusted to work well on a variety of conditions.

Shatter
GUTS: Featuring the same proven, late-rolling Neutron™ core utilized in both the Rising Star™ and Shooting Star™, the Shatter is a model of consistency, producing good length and strong motion down-lane.
GRIT: The 51ML™ pearl reactive coverstock was created to go toe-to-toe with medium to lighter oil conditions. This reliable shell allows the ball to easily clear the front part of the lane and provide you with more stored energy down-lane.
GRIME: The Shatter produces more length and backend on medium to lighter oil conditions than the Rising Star and Shooting star, creating the perfect combination when paired with either of its predecessors.

Scream & Shout
GUTS: The NEW Late Roll 46™ core was designed to provide maximum length with stable control down lane. This core will produce a minimal amount of flare and strong hitting power through the pocket.
GRIT: The NEW 42L™ pearl (Scream) and 45L™ solid (Shout) reactive coverstocks were created to combat lighter oil conditions. Both easily clear the front part of the lane – and look good doing it.
GRIME: The NEW Scream & Shout were designed for those lighter oil conditions where you need a ball that provides you with good length and control at the breakpoint.

Track Reveals the New 912T, 706A, 503T and 300A

“Our goal was to create a ball that simply out hooked and (out) performed every ball ever made in the history of Track.” The new Track introduction in the 900 series is 912T.  With the Legion 2 Turbo core creating easy revs while storing plenty of energy for the back end  the 912T features the brand new Gen ET (Extreme Traction) cover. Track included: “The “Traction” this cover creates is out of this world. We accomplished this by taking our Gen XT (Xtra Traction) cover used on the popular 716T and slowly increased the “Traction” additives until we created the best cover to match up with heavy oil patterns.”

Track further explained “In order to create the strong overall hook that was desired when creating the 912T, we decided to go with our newest finishing process. This process uses 1500 Abranet Soft as the last finishing step. Abranet Soft is a new type of sanding material that was developed to minimize clogging while sanding. The foam layer and open structure of Abranet Soft provides more flexibility and allows the material to follow surface contours more effectively.” Available June 21, 2012.

Later this summer, Track will reveal the New 706A. Track explained “The concept for creating the 706A was simple. We wanted a core/cover combination that would provide the aggressive move at the breakpoint the “A” series is known for, with improved continuation through the pins. Our R&D team accomplished this by creating both a brand new core and cover. 706A is the first Track ball to feature the brand new Helmet core. For the 706A, our R&D team developed our new Gen XA (Xtra Angle) cover. The finish process is the final factor that determines our overall ball motion. For the 706A, we started with 800 Abranet then followed it up with 1000 and 2000 Abralon. Once the sanding is done, we apply our Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish." Available July 24, 2012.

In August, Track introduces the 503T. The Packman core offers moderate revs due to the medium Rg values combined with a large overall flare potential. The new GenMT (Moderate Traction) cover is a modified version of the Gen XT (Xtra Traction) cover found on the 716T. By reducing the amount of Traction additives, Trackcreated a cover that will match up the best with medium to oily lane conditions. The finish process is the final factor that determines the overall ball motion. For the 503T, they started with 800 Abranet then followed it up with 1000 and 2000 Abralon. This finish will provide enough traction for oily lanes while allowing the 503T, to still be useful on medium oil patterns as well. Available August 28, 2012

 The 300A is designed for when there is too much friction for today's high-performance balls. A combination of the Track Symmetric Core and Gen MA (Moderate Angle) cover provided the building blocks for a ball to complement the 300T and 300C. The 300A comes with standard polished factory finish. The surface is finished with 800 Abranet and then working up with 1000, 2000 and then 4000 Abralon before Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish. Those looking for a little less length can achieve it by sanding with a 2000 Abralon pad and then re-polishing. Available June 21,2012.