- Intense

First Impressions
The Storm Intense, released in October 2017, marks the beginning of a new era in Storm's Premier line. Visually it stands out with an elegant color combination of Cloud, White and Navy, finished off with the Midnight Grove fragrance. Technically, this ball is built around the state-of-the-art RAD-E (Radial Accelerating Disk - Evolver) core. This asymmetric core carries a low RG of 2.49, a high differential of 0.050 and an intermediate differential of 0.017 (based on 15 lbs). Those numbers point to an extremely torque-heavy engine designed to rev up early and make a massive change of direction on the backend. The core is wrapped in the R3S Pearl Reactive coverstock, an evolution of the proven R2S chemistry developed specifically for more traction through the midlane without sacrificing the length needed in the heads. The factory finish with a 1500-grit polish creates a mirrored surface that lets the ball glide cleanly through the front part of the lane and stores energy for the decisive moment at the breakpoint.
Comparison
Compared directly to the Storm Code Black, which is also an asymmetric pearl ball, the Storm Intense shows a noticeably different dynamic. While the Code Black is known for its extremely angular skid-flip reaction, the Storm Intense offers a somewhat earlier and more continuous motion thanks to the RAD-E core and the R3S cover. It reads the midlane more strongly than the Code Black, which gives it better control over the entire oil pattern. Against the Storm Sure Lock (solid) the contrast is especially clear: the Sure Lock is designed for maximum oil and an early hook, while the Storm Intense serves as the perfect complement once the lane starts to change. Compared to the Roto Grip Hyper Cell Fused, the Storm Intense delivers similarly strong performance during the transition phase, but tends to keep a bit more continuity on the backend instead of snapping off abruptly. It thereby closes the gap between the extremely clean pearl balls and the very early-starting asymmetric solids, offering a form of aggressiveness that stays more controllable for many player types.
On the Lanes
The Storm Intense was developed for medium to heavy oil conditions and shines especially once transition sets in. It is the ideal tool for situations where you are forced to move deeper into the lane and open up the angles. Thanks to the R3S pearl cover, the ball glides effortlessly across boards in the heads that have already dried up, yet finds enough friction in the middle part of the lane to stay stable. Its asymmetric core makes sure that even on wide paths to the outside it comes back to the pocket with enough power, producing impressive carry along the way. If you throw the ball fast, the Storm Intense gives you the support you need at the breakpoint to generate an optimal entry angle. Rev-dominant players, on the other hand, will appreciate the ball's ability to preserve energy all the way to the backend without reacting uncontrollably in the heads. It is less suited to extremely dry wood or very short oil patterns, since its strong core could react too early there. On typical house shots or moderately long sport patterns, however, it is a dominant choice that lets you use the lane completely from left to right (for right-handers) while always maintaining a predictable but powerful finishing move.