- Honey Badger Renewal

First Impressions
The 900Global Honey Badger Renewal, released internationally in August 2024, continues the legendary Honey Badger series with modern technology. At the heart of this ball sits the Grapnel 2.0 A.I. Asymmetric Core. The integration of the "Amplified Inertia" (A.I.) outer core technology is the decisive upgrade over earlier models here, since it should improve energy transfer to the pins (carry) through an optimized mass distribution. With a 2.530 RG, a 0.050 differential and a 0.013 intermediate differential (at 15 lbs), the core stays true to the typical Badger specs: it provides length, but thanks to the asymmetry it tends toward a quick response time to friction. This core is wrapped in the Reserve Blend 702 Pearl coverstock. This particular blend is designed to glide more cleanly through the heads than the stronger S77 shells, while still offering more traction than pure entry-level pearl blends. The factory finish of 1500-grit polish underlines its character as a "skid-flip" monster. Visually, the ball comes in a combination of black, blue and silver, giving it a sharp, modern look on the lane.
Comparison
Compared to the original gold Honey Badger (700 Series), the A.I. technology in the core makes the Renewal feel noticeably more powerful driving through the pin deck, while retaining the beloved "hockey stick" motion. Placed next to the 900Global Honey Badger Extreme 2024, the Renewal should generate a shade more length thanks to the Reserve Blend 702 Pearl cover and react a touch more angular at the breakpoint, while the Extreme with its S77M shell reads slightly earlier. In the broader market, the Renewal competes with balls like the Roto Grip Wolverine (if it's still in your arsenal), or represents a somewhat longer, livelier alternative to the Storm Summit Peak. It doesn't roll as early as a Harsh Reality Pearl; instead it positions itself as a classic "mid-performance" ball for later in the block, when the big asymmetric balls burn up too early. It offers more pop off the backend than many symmetric pearl balls such as the Storm Hy-Road Pearl, but the asymmetric core demands a bit more precision at the release.
On the Lanes
The ideal application for the 900Global Honey Badger Renewal is medium oil conditions and lanes that are in the transition phase. When your first balls out of the bag start hooking too early or losing energy before they reach the pocket, the Renewal is the perfect choice. Its strength lies in gliding unfazed through played-out heads and using the stored energy for an explosive change of direction at the end of the pattern. That makes it especially valuable if you like to "open up" the lane and play wide angles across the boards without having to worry about the ball not coming back. The quick response to friction helps drive the ball aggressively back to the pocket, even when you send it well out to the right (for right-handers). If you have lower ball speed, the ball offers enough length not to roll out too early, while the asymmetric core (Grapnel 2.0 A.I.) makes sure the ball doesn't simply skid straight through the breakpoint. It's a specialist for late-game use, when a defined backend hook is required.