- Honey Badger Extreme 2022

First Impressions
The 900 Global Honey Badger Extreme Solid from 2022 shows up in a striking look and brings significant technical changes with it. The ball uses the 3-piece Grapnel Asymmetric Core wrapped in the S74R Solid coverstock, and at 15 pounds it carries a 2.54 RG, a .053 differential and a .011 intermediate differential. At 14 pounds the RG shifts to 2.56 and the differential to .050, with the intermediate differential unchanged. The factory surface is 2000 grit Abralon, which together with the aggressive cover should deliver good traction through the mid sections of the lane. The new 3-piece core design, with filler material between the weight block and the cover, brings higher differential and more hook potential particularly to the 14-pound versions.
Comparison
Compared to balls using the original Grapnel and Inverted Grapnel cores, the Honey Badger Extreme Solid has lower RG numbers and higher differential values, which lets you play more open angles than with the 900 Global Honey Badger Claw or Money Badger Tour. The character is described as a sort of "baby Volatility" — strong and smooth, but on a smaller scale. Compared to other Honey Badger releases, the S74R Solid coverstock, known from the Inception and Truth models, provides more traction in oil than the S71 cover of the other Honey Badger versions. Head to head, it is less strong than the 900 Global Equilibrium, which allows a more direct line.
On the Lanes
The ball plays to its strengths especially on heavier oil patterns, with power players and tweeners seeing somewhat better reaction than strokers on fresh lanes. The recommended use is medium to heavy oil conditions. Its playing characteristics are very smooth and balanced — it reads early and shows a gentle backend motion, with the aggressive 2000 finish providing control through the middle boards. The arcing ball motion offers good control and predictability. It looks especially well suited to medium length and medium volume on sport patterns. Parallel moves are required for optimal results, which makes it a good option for demanding medium sport shots where backend is available but breakpoint control is called for.