Storm Phaze Review
While no longer in production, the Storm Phaze remains a solid option on the used market for bowlers seeking a reliable benchmark ball. Its combination of the Velocity Core and AX-16 Pearl coverstock delivers predictable performance across medium to heavy oil conditions.
Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Testing revealed that the Storm Phaze II Pearl delivers notably stronger backend motion compared to its solid counterpart while maintaining the core versatility that has made the original Phaze II a benchmark ball for nearly a decade. On a 42-foot oil pattern, independent reviewers observed that the pearl coverstock (TX-25 with Power Edge surface treatment) allowed the ball to transition through the front part of the lane more cleanly and change direction significantly faster on the backend. Where the original solid Phaze II showed a smoother, earlier arc that sometimes lacked sufficient entry angle, the pearl version created a more angular, aggressive motion that translated into better pin carry and continuation. The upgraded TX-25 coverstock proved stronger with more directional motion downlane, a meaningful distinction for bowlers who previously struggled to generate adequate entry angles with stronger ball layouts.
The two balls demonstrated complementary lane performance that makes them effective as a paired arsenal. Testing showed the original Phaze II reading the midlane well and providing a smooth shape, while the Phaze II Pearl offered a cleaner path through the front portion and sharper backend reaction. Independent reviewers noted this one-two punch approach allowed bowlers to transition between balls without drastically changing their approach: the pearl version simply provides a different look when friction increases or when more aggressive downlane motion is needed. A test bowler who previously experienced flat 10-pins and inconsistent pin action reported noticeably improved ball motion and finish through the pins after switching to the Phaze II Pearl, particularly when moving to steeper angles on the lane.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Phaze II Pearl is ideally suited for league and tournament bowlers who throw with moderate to high rev rates and need stronger, more angular backend motion than traditional solid coverstocks provide. It appeals specifically to bowlers who own the original Phaze II and want a complementary piece that handles similar lane conditions but delivers more entry angle and pin carry. Those who have experienced pin action issues or felt their ball “gets off line” too quickly will find the pearl’s more aggressive motion particularly valuable.
This ball also works well for bowlers transitioning to higher friction lane surfaces: older lanes that hook more, or conditions where pearl reactivity helps the ball get through the front part of the lane cleanly before arcing sharply on the backend. Since the core remains unchanged from the original Phaze II, bowlers already familiar with that ball’s symmetrical motion and versatility across different deliveries and styles will find the Phaze II Pearl an intuitive addition to their bag that doesn’t require a complete adjustment in approach.
The Pros
- • Excellent versatility across medium to heavy oil conditions
- • Clean length through the front part of the lane
- • Strong backend motion with controllable hook
The Cons
- • Discontinued status limits availability
- • May struggle on truly heavy oil volumes
Who Is This Ball For?
While no longer in production, the Storm Phaze remains a solid option on the used market for bowlers seeking a reliable benchmark ball. Its combination of the Velocity Core and AX-16 Pearl coverstock delivers predictable performance across medium to heavy oil conditions.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
Verified Bowler Reviews (19 reviews, 4.8/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers say the Phaze offers unique ball motion with smooth, continuous backend roll rather than sharp snap. Most praise its predictable reaction, excellent pin carry, and versatility across medium oil patterns, though some find the polished coverstock requires surface adjustments for better control on fresh conditions.
AI summary of 19 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
Orientation: Right Handed Rev Rate: 375 RPM Speed: 16-17 MPH PAP: 4 5/8 straight across Location: Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO Pattern: High Volume THS Layout: 50, 5 ?
The new Storm Phaze is perfectly unique. This much anticipated pearl created quite a buzz with all of the videos and social media attention pre-release, and for good reason. First off, yes the coverstock is THAT tacky. However, this ball's motion is what makes it special. It's not the traditional skip/flip pearl that we are accustomed to seeing. The best way to describe the motion would be "pure roll"; meaning that when the Phaze gets to the breakpoint it simply rolls off the friction so effortlessly and so smooth. There's no "jump". No "snap". Just "roll". These are typically motions that are synonymous with solid coverstocks. However, the brand new AX-16 Pearl shell glides this ball downlane and allows the ball to easily clear the heads before making its move. For some, the out of box finish may be excessively shiny and exaggerate the over/under for higher volume house shots. I hit mine with a 3000 pad on the spinner and it gave the ball better teeth in the middle part of the lane and smoothed out the reaction even more. The way that this ball goes through the pins is incredible. I'd like to say that it keeps the pins low, and on pure pocket shots it does, but the pin action that I've seen with light pocket hits has been nothing short of explosive. Messengers galore! Match all of that with its gorgeous color scheme and you've got a ball that is quick to catch the eye and sure to boost your game. #StormNation
The Phaze is a ball completely unlike any other on the market. It features both a new coverstock and core, and is one of the brighter and more colorful balls available. It is both visibly and texturally different, but the biggest difference you will find is its reaction shape. The Phaze offers a lot of hook, but it is very smooth on the backend. The vast majority of balls on the market, even very aggressive sanded balls still have sharper motions on the backend. This can be problematic when looking for control on over/under patterns. The Phaze's combination of hook and control puts it in play on a wide variety of lane conditions. The slow response to friction makes it ideal for controlling wet/dry, whether on a house shot or sport conditions. This also makes it less sensitive to transition which means you will stay in or near the pocket more often. Another key result is that the ball retains more energy because it doesn't bleed much, if any when it hits friction, so it offers superior hitting power. The coverstock also reacts more to surface adjustments, giving you much more versatility with just a single ball. For me, the Phaze is a must have ball!
Layout : 4 x 5 x 5 Coverstock: 1500 grit polished Lane conditions: 42 ft. house pattern with 2015 Flex with Fire and Ice conditioner Test results: Found the ball to need carry down in the track to be effective. A little bit of over / under and once the conditioners broke down a little bit, this ball turn the corner like a Dodge Hellcat. With removing the polish and putting the ball at 3000 grit, the ball work better on the fresh. I compare this ball to the IQ 30 with a stronger back end. The ball controlled the mid lane and make the reaction very predictable, but very strong. I use this ball more in centers where there are older lane panel and have a grittier panel surface.
The Storm Phaze is part of the Master line, it features brand new symmetrical VelocityTM core, as well as the new AX-16TM pearl coverstock. I drilled my Phaze 5" x 4" with a P3 hole. This put my pin just under my bridge. Out of the box, the AX-16 cover is very clean and does not overreact off of the dry. I have thrown it on the 2015 USBC Open Championship team pattern, and a few different length and volume house patterns. The early hype of this ball was that it is unlike any shape that Storm has anywhere in its lineup. And it is absolutely true! The roll of the Phaze is unique. The core rolls fast and heavy, but it does not jump off of the dry like its pearl counterparts. The smooth shape on the back part of the lane, can make the Phaze more sensitive to carry down for speed dominant players. On the USBCOC team pattern, the Phaze was way too clean on the fresh with the cover out of box. Once I hit the cover with a 2,000 Abralon pad by hand, it read the pattern properly and it went through the pins with a lot of power. On the house shot however, the Phaze out of box created some ridiculous amount of area. Much like its solid counterpart in the Master line, the IQ Tour, the Phaze generates smooth ball motion without picking up the front part of the pattern. The Phaze is a great benchmark pearl ball and will get a lot of use for me on shorter to medium oil patterns as well as on higher friction lane surfaces. Don't be afraid to play with surface on this ball depending on your ball speed and rev rate. Out of box, I thought this ball was "pretty good", but after playing with surfaces, I am really impressed with what this ball has to offer.
Showing 1–5 of 19 verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil condition is the Storm Phaze best for?
Is the Storm Phaze good for beginners?
What is the RG and differential of the Storm Phaze?
How much does the Storm Phaze cost?
What type of bowler should use the Storm Phaze?
Explore More Reviews
Other Medium-Heavy Oil Balls
More from Storm
Never Miss a Release
Join serious bowlers getting the weekly data dump on new ball releases and performance data.