Storm Ion Pro Review

Jeez, [Music] it's crazy. The Ion Pro Solid is releasing very soon on June 20th, and I think you can already tell it looks just as successful for Zach as it did for Tobias. Once again, despite being impressed with the reaction, you know by now that I'm the tech guy that shoots you straight. It's all about the ball reaction and getting you what you need. For a long time, the ball review formula has been the same.

You turn a camera on, give some details, talk general reaction, and move on. But I'm going to try to reinvent the wheel and give you an actual product review, hitting specific points like you get for anything else you'd watch a review for. And I'll make sure to hit each of these points going forward to give you a much more streamlined, consistent, and clear picture of what you're buying with the points or chapters marked on the video timeline. I have a full review up front, followed by a live commentary with shot-to-shot context and in-depth conversation about the ball reaction. Storm Products Incorporated owns the brands of Storm, Rotogrip, and 900

Global. And the Ion Pro Solid is a release from Storm, again, becoming available to the public on June 20th. That's tomorrow as of the posting of this video. The center we're bowling at is of course Royal Crest Lanees in Lawrence, Kansas. And the pattern we're testing on is Kaggel Chromium, which is which is a challenge pattern that's 25 1/2 ms and 42 ft long, which is slightly above medium volume and length. The graph is linked in the description if you like all of the pattern details. Our tester, Zach, is obviously very versatile, but I'd say he's most comfortably a little on the rev dominant side. I think he's at his best when he

can play a little more lane and slow roll it, so he can really control the ball roll. Zach can also throw everything, but most often finds himself in symmetric balls because he really doesn't need any help from asymmetry to get the ball to move down lane. The Ion Pro Solid is a solid version of the original ion pro, which is a mild ASIM in the style of the Envy Tour, Obsession Tour, Hammer Effect Tour, and Black and Lethal Venoms. The 15lb numbers for the core are a 247RG, 035 differential, and an 014 in diff. If you don't understand what the different core numbers mean, I

have a couple instructional videos linked in the description from Storm that will explain them thoroughly. The cover stock is TX16 solid, which is uh most famously the same cover stock the Phase 2 uses, and it's also the solid version of the cover from the original ION Pro. It comes factory shined with Power Edge, which is somewhat unusual, though several companies have released polished solids in the last couple years. Zach did what he typically does. Uh, very lightly touched it with a 1500 pad to crack the shine. It's still shiny, so obviously he he didn't mash it

or take it to 1500. But this is a very effective adjustment to break the hard shine of a box polish to create a little blend and increase stability while still getting the length and pop of a shinier or polished finish. The reaction shape is a rounder, mostly continuous arc. I mentioned that Zach typically doesn't need any help getting a ball to move down lane and this one definitely gets a lot of gets a lot of work done on its own, but we do talk a little in the livecom about how this one goes through the pins. Tobias noticed this too that the while it's continuous, it doesn't

cut or dive through the pins. It's very strong through the pins, but it rolls strongly enough that it maintains a nice balance between being continuous, but also kind of tempered and controlled. Zach's no stranger to nine pins either, but we didn't see a single one throughout filming. With the box shine on it, it will probably be a ball down on regular house shots unless you have a lot of friction or have slower speed or a higher rev rate. From what we've both seen and heard, it's really sharp out of the box. It could be over under or more inconsistent on fresh patterns, but it

should fit well on light to moderate transition. Um, with the surface adjusted, meaning knocking the shine off or sanding, it could be in play on the fresh on medium light to medium heavy conditions. And with it being a mild ASIM as well, as you can see, it can hang out from deeper angles, you know, especially for Zach. But it's probably going to be at its best for most people from second to fourth arrow depending on your game and conditions. With it being a mild or tour style asim, it's built to be controllable, but with more punchdown lane than something like an IQ Tour. So,

it's not intended to be a ball that's going to go coast to coast or cover a ton of boards. So, strong enough that you'll typically need to give it a little swing to get it down the lane, but it will probably have trouble from more extreme angles. This ball will fit the vast majority of bowler styles. Because it's such a middle-of the road ball across the board, there's nothing either of us can see that would knock it out of play for anyone. Barring extremes or just poor matchups, it may be a little weak out of the box for high-speed, low rev combos and too responsive or too strong for low-eed,

high- rev combos. Uh, your conditions obviously factor in there, too. But the Ion Pro Solid is going to fit for most people on most of the conditions you bowl on regularly. It's a very plugandplay kind of ball that I think accomplishes the goal that Storm was trying to hit with the original ION Pro. As always, lots of great stuff in the description. I've appreciated you all using my coolwick code as often as you have. Most of the credit I get from your purchases goes to providing jerseys for the youth league at Royal Crest every year. So, I am paying it forward. I will take your kindness and pay it forward.

I've also really liked a lot of the stuff I've been using from Genesis. I'm a big fan of their tapes and shammies and the sport three ball mod roller especially. Um, I still use and love the Nexus backpack. Uh, V2 is out now. There's a discount link in the description for that as well as their journal. That's a great tournament and league companion. It pairs really well, really well with a score tracking app. And don't forget the email address for the custom handcrafted items made from bowling balls. The bowling video thing is a lot of time and expense for not a lot in return. So, I'm sorry for the ads, but I I really do actually use and

like this stuff. I think you will, too. And it's a really easy way to support me at the same time. So, I appreciate it. Depending on your surface prep, the Ion Pro is either a two ball or a three ball. Uh, I think I think most people when they think about buying a ball like this, they're not necessarily they're they're envisioning it with surface on it. They're not thinking, "Okay, well, I'm going to buy this ball and I want to shine it up." Now, it looked really good for the women at that the uh the US Open here just the last week with the shine on it. Um, and with the box shine, it's

a it's a high three ball uh with some surface. Instead, it's a two ball. I think it'll be equally as happy either way. I' I've seen it both ways and it looks great with either with the shine or without. It's just going to be cleaner and sharper with the shine and then earlier and smoother without it. And it all depends on where it fits best for you. The number system, by the way, is typically what collegiate bowlers use to rank the strength of their equipment. One is the biggest, strongest ball you have. Two is a step down, three is a step down from two, so on and so forth. This one's a bit of a unicorn for Zach

as far as what it compares to. Uh we talk a little bit about that in the livecom. I mention it kind of shapes like a weaker origin. It's definitely at least a ball to a ball and a half up from the original ion pro in addition to being sharper. That really surprised him for a, you know, for a solid version of a ball to out boing a hybrid version. But some covers act like that. It seems like everything's either just earlier or it seems like everything else that we compare it to is just earlier and stronger or a fair amount cleaner.

Plugging a gap is always good. It's just not always helpful for a review. It's a ball up from something like the Attention Star and Equinox. And even something like a physics Blackout that's probably on par strength-wise is so different from an overall reaction standpoint that I'd need a paragraph to talk about that one. The Ion Pro Solid is in SPI's highest price line, coming in at just under 200 on Bowlers Mart, but that's on par with the Hammer Effect Tour. So, I'd say the performance to price ratio fits or is appropriate or maybe reasonable is the better way to put it. I don't do ratings anymore

because of all the problems there. But as far as a grade would go from first impressions, I said a territory in Tobias's review, but after seeing it at the women's US Open, it's it's A+. A++ maybe. I mean, this is this might be the best tour ASIM that we've seen yet. And that's that's I know that's a that's a bold claim seeing as how it's not even out yet, you know, but it is it's a versatile ball that's going to that's going to fit a wide range of styles and

conditions, and it's exactly what you'd expect and want it to be. We went over Storm's reaction chart in Tobias's video, so we'll skip that this time to talk about this. We expand on it a little in the livecom, but I've been very critical of the Storm umbrella in general for several years now from several different angles. But since the origin came out late last year, the ball reaction has been consistently impressive. Their covers all seem to be seeing the lane very well. Now there's a stability and a strength and an energy back in the ball reaction. We just got some throwback type big hitters in the

Typhoon and Ultimate Record. Then we get something like this. And calling it like I see it also means giving them their flowers when they're deserved. I saw again this ball in play a lot at the Women's US Open over the weekend and it looked great every for everybody. Every time I saw it, it was probably the ball of the tournament overall from any brand. They were even talking about it on the Bull TV stream. Really liking what I'm seeing from the Storm brands in general again. And while I definitely don't need to go out of my way to drill any extra bowling balls with all the ones I already go through, I already can't throw most of the ones I already

have. And like I consider it a big compliment though when I say, "Yeah, I think I need one of these." Anyway, once again, the Ion Pro Solid releases on June 20th. So if you buy stuff online, the best place to do that from is Bowlers Mart. And if you follow the link in the description, I get some kickbacks on your purchases. So, it's it's a really easy way to support me without really having to do anything. Tobias's review is already up, of course, if you haven't seen that one yet. Um, unfortunately, the new review format means some of the things I said here kind of redundant, but it is what it is. We'll have the live commentary coming up

next that's full of good stuff and more conversation than normal, so you'll definitely want to stick around for that. Thanks for watching and may the strikes be with you. This video was brought to you by Panda Bear Productions. We put the in bowling. All set. Yeah. All righty. Yep. We are good. Let's give it a whirl. Ion Pro Solid here. Throw one to the right. Watch it hook and then we'll move left.

This should be hilarious. Goodbye. Closer. [Music]

It's really strong, too. It's not like it's just flippy or something like it's just getting some work done. It just hooks. Let's keep chasing. [Music] Jeez.

Oh, I did not roll it a pinch more. Wow. Here [Music] we go. [Music] Holy hook.

I got to say it looks like it it sees the lane really well. Like as soon as it hits the lane, I wouldn't call it early, but it definitely sees it. But it looks like it also rolls a little more a little stronger than the the original does. Yeah, for sure. I wouldn't call it like heavy rolling or chuggy, but it just it's just stronger. Yeah. Just overall overall throughout. Yeah. Just everything.

[Music] Yeah. I've been like trying to stay up the back of it a decent amount after those first few went sideways and it's still Yeah. Still coming off of it pretty good. Mhm. The shape is really good though. Mhm. [Music] It's crazy. Yeah.

What What is What else does it feel like? If anything, I don't know. Is it I'm I'm seeing like weaker origin vibes maybe. Kind of. Yeah, just because of how much it shapes. I could see that. Um definitely not as chuggy as Origin, which makes sense. But just the fact that it like continues as well as it does Mhm. throughout the lane.

Yeah. I don't know. That's definitely I don't think I've thrown anything like it. Yeah, that's what that I can think of. That's what I was I was trying. I was kind of struggling cuz everything else is either earlier and stronger than it is or it's like significantly cleaner almost. So, yeah. I It's just crazy how like how much more it hooks down lane from the hybrid version of the same

ball. Yeah, the hybrid's really kind of round and just kind of eases its way in there and and this one just goes Yeah, I it feels like stronger but in a different part like a different part of the lane and it covers more boards. But I would probably actually use that one later than the hybrid. Yeah, because the hybrid I can keep it in front of me a bit better. That one feels like I have to give it away a little bit just as much as it wants to continue. Yeah. Some

some balls need the puddle and the angle to actually get down the lane and then shape right where just because you know moving inside most people think you're just going to automatically ball down and sometimes that's not the not the play. Yep. Bang. Yeah, that one especially too considering it's a tour as that's kind of like an Envy

Tour Obsession Tour or whatever else. This one seems like it handles angle better. Better. Yeah, I would agree with that. Or it's just kind of surprising for basically being a asymmetric IQ. Yep. How well it really winds up and you're like you're not you're not having to help it. No. No. Do anything. Right now, I'm actually kind of trying to help it not do too much.

I'll move in here though a little bit and shape it a little more. [Music] [Music] I got to get it get it going that way. [Music]

[Music] This is This is funny, too, because for all the hype that they gave the original one, this one feels like it like the original is is good. I don't think it's really anything special. This one feels like it's kind of in that special territory almost. Yeah. Yeah. It's uh It's different, but really good. Yeah.

It just wants to fly. Yeah, I'd probably want a little more friction on the lane before I threw it to help it slow down some. Uhhuh. Like this probably isn't quite the right time to throw it, but I can definitely see where I could use it. Mhm.

That's another good point, too, cuz people are thinking, "Okay, well, you're playing so far left. Why Why would you want more friction?" But it's to help slow it. Yeah. Help smooth out the transition down lane. Cuz right now it just wants to get to the end of the pattern and go left just cuz it's not using up enough energy to help it kind of slow down a little bit. Yep. [Music]

And that's where you can kind of see that cuz I'm wanting to give it room cuz it wants to be quick. Yeah. But then I don't have the help yet developed to the right. Uhhuh. Let's soften up a little bit from this spot.

See if I can strike from there. He's got a chance. Bang. Yeah, I think we've seen all we need to see there. Yep. [Music] Pretty self-explanatory.