This time, our bowling ball review won't focus on the new releases from any bowling ball manufacturer but rather on one of bowling's all-time classics - the Storm Phaze II bowling ball. Introduced back in 2016, the Storm Phaze II remains one of the best balls Storm produces to this day. Its strength lies not in its ability to handle lane extremes (as would apply to many bowling balls produced today) but in its versatility across various lane conditions. This is why you can still spot this bowling ball not only in house tournaments but also on the PBA Tour. After eight years on the market, there are few balls that can match the performance of the Storm Phaze II.
Since 2016, our testers have had numerous Storm Phaze II bowling balls in their arsenals, allowing us to confidently confirm that we have a great understanding of what this bowling ball can and cannot do on the lanes, along with its strengths and weaknesses. In this in-depth review of the Storm Phaze II bowling ball, where we will share our knowledge to help you decide if the Storm Phaze II bowling ball truly has what it takes to remain your go-to benchmark bowling ball for heavy-medium oil patterns.
Short Storm Phaze II Review
Don't want to read a full review? Here is a short summary!
The Storm Phaze II, introduced in 2016, remains a timeless classic and one of Storm's best offerings to date. Renowned for its versatility across various lane conditions, it's a favorite among bowlers on both house tournaments and the PBA Tour. Featuring a low RG/high diff Velocity core and TX-16 solid coverstock, the Phaze II offers a smooth backend motion and adaptability for diverse playing styles. Our testers found it excelled on fresh heavy oil patterns, maintaining effectiveness throughout games and transitions. While not ideal for dry oil patterns, it shines on wooden lanes, benefiting from early and smooth friction. After eight years, the Storm Phaze II continues to impress, making it a reliable benchmark ball for heavy-medium oil setups.
Key Specifications
Coverstock Type: Reactive Solid
Coverstock Name: TX-16
Core Type: Symmetrical
Core Name: Velocity
Box Finnish: 3000 grit
Best For: Heavy-Medium oil
RG: 2.48
Total Diff: 0.051
Intermediate Diff: 0.000
Definitions
Asymmetrical core - Asymmetric bowling ball deliver sharper, more angular motion when meeting friction.
Symmetrical core - Symmetric bowling balls produce a soft, controllable motion.
Radius of gyration (RG) - The higher RG, the more back-end motion a bowling ball will produce, as high RG ball skids more and tends to conserve more power for the further part of the lane.
Total Diff - the difference between low RG (X axis) and high RG (Y axis).
Intermediate Diff - only found in asymmetrical balls, as it is the difference between the high RG (Y axis) and intermediate RG (Z axis).
First impression
The Storm Phaze II stands out as one of the strongest symmetric balls ever produced by Storm. It features the same low RG/high diff Velocity core as the original Phaze but is enveloped in the new TX-16 solid coverstock with a 3000 grit box finish, which granted Storm Phaze II its worldwide fame. This combination provides the Storm Phaze II with enhanced traction in the oil and a more controlled motion at the breakpoint. Unlike balls that deliver sharp backend motion, the Storm Phaze II is perfect as the first ball out of your bag when assessing lane conditions. It accommodates a wide range of playing styles, from those with a high rev rate and significant curve to those with a low rev rate who prefer playing up the lane. If you don't have a Storm Phaze II in your bag, even if you only have one ball, you're missing out.
Lane Performance
When trying out bowling balls, our goal is to showcase the ball's strengths across different potential lane conditions. That is why our speed-dominant one-hander and a rev-dominant two-hander testers tested it on all four oil patters - dry, medium and heavy sport oil patterns, plus on a typical house shot pattern (THS).
Our speed-dominant one-handed tester had the most success with the Storm Phaze II on a fresh heavy oil pattern. As he prefers to play more straight lines, the smooth curve of the Storm Phaze II allowed him to do just that. It's worth noting that he promptly changed the surface to 2000 grit to add more bite into the midlane for extra control when playing on higher volume oil patterns, as the original box finish was not that sufficient. The Storm Phaze II performed best on a fresh pattern but was responsive to moving inside as the lanes broke down, maintaining room for error. If our tester moved out to the dry track too quickly, the Storm Phaze II was smooth enough off the spot to keep itself in the pocket. On the other hand, when we missed into the oil, the rough cover provided enough traction to still reach the pocket in a good angle, without leaving the corner pins.
The Storm Phaze II with the original box finish prompted our speed-dominant one-handed tester to play a bit deeper than he was accustomed to on a medium oil pattern since this ball truly requires oil. However, due to the smooth nature of the Storm Phaze II, he could easily find the pocket as long as the ball stayed in the oil and didn't enter the dry too early. The same principle applied on a THS (Typical House Shot). What is truly impressive when discussing this ball on medium and THS is its ability to maintain its motion shape. If you have a higher volume oil pattern for your THS, you should be pleasantly surprised by how the Storm Phaze II allows you to roll it from the first game to the last of the tournament, even with a significant amount of transition throughout the games. The Storm Phaze II still picks up and hits through the pins with a good angle and power.
A rev-dominant two-hander tester found Storm Phaze II to work best on a fresh heavy oil test pattern. In fact, he found it so successful that he uses it as a benchmark bowling ball for all high-volume oil patterns he bowls on up to this day. For him, there's still no better bowling ball on the market for this purpose. Changing the original 3000 grit box finish to 2000 grit granted him more midlane read and better overall control to play straighter lines, which is a rare feature for his game due to relatively low speed.
Our rev-dominant two-hander tester found the Storm Phaze II useful on the fresh medium and THS (Typical House Shot) oil patterns with a 3000 grit box finish. However, once the lane broke down, our tester struggled to maintain a consistent pocket, as the ball kept reading the oil too early. Changing the surface to 4000 grit helped a little.
Both our testers noted that there are better bowling ball options for dry oil patterns, such as the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare or the IQ Tour 78-U, as the Storm Phaze II needs oil to perform effectively.
Pro tip: The Storm Phaze II is an ideal ball selection for wooden lanes, benefitting from the earlier and smoother friction created by the wood surface.
Overall impression
the Storm Phaze II – a timeless gem introduced in 2016 that's still rocking the lanes. Being one of Storm's strongest symmetric balls, Storm Phaze II is known for its versatility across various lane conditions. The low RG/high diff Velocity core gave this ball a smooth backend motion, while the TX-16 solid coverstock ensures versatility and adaptability for any player on any lane condition. A go-to choice for many, the Storm Phaze II excels on fresh heavy oil patterns, proving effective for diverse playing styles. Its smooth nature allows for adaptability, whether shifting lanes or adjusting surface grit. While it may not be the top choice for dry oil patterns, it shines on wooden lanes, benefiting from the surface's early and smooth friction. If you seek a reliable benchmark ball for heavy-medium oil patterns, the Storm Phaze II remains a standout performer after eight years on the market.
Storm Phaze II Evaluation
The typical bowling ball stays on the market for approximately a year, but the Storm Phaze II has maintained its popularity for eight years. This enduring demand speaks volumes about its performance and appeal – a clear indicator of its exceptional qualities. If you're in search of a bowling ball that can be both versatile and controllable on heavy-medium oil patterns, then the Storm Phaze II is your new benchmark bowling ball. You will fall in love with this ball instantly.
