- Honey Badger Black Edition

First Impressions
The 900 Global Honey Badger Black Edition, released in July 2025 as an overseas release, comes in an uncompromising, deep black look that immediately calls classic "stealth" balls to mind. But appearances are deceiving: beneath the plain shell sits thoroughly modern technology. At its heart is the Grapnel 2.0 A.I. Core, an asymmetric evolution of the legendary Grapnel core, now reinforced by the Amplified Inertia (A.I.) outer shell. With a 2.530 RG and a 0.050 differential (at 15 lbs) plus a 0.013 intermediate differential, this core revs up noticeably earlier and more powerfully than the original Honey Badger models (2.57 RG). The cover is made from Reserve Blend 70E Hybrid Reactive material, finished with the polished Power Edge Finish. This combination of lower RG and hybrid cover points to a ball that offers length but reads the oil far more stably than pure skid/flip pearls.
Comparison
Compared directly to the classic gold-colored Honey Badger (Pearl), known for its extreme length and its almost uncontrollable "hockey stick" break, the Black Edition comes across as more controlled. Thanks to the lower RG value (2.53 vs. 2.57) and the A.I. technology, the ball accepts rotation more readily and revs up earlier in the midlane, which tames the overreaction at the breakpoint somewhat without losing the typical Badger bite. Compared to a 900 Global Zen Gold Label (symmetrical), the Honey Badger Black Edition's asymmetry provides a quicker response to friction and a more defined change of direction. Performance-wise it sits above a 900 Global Burner, but offers more pop off the backend than the rounder Storm Phaze II. It is essentially a "Honey Badger revival" on steroids — more core power, more flare, same character.
On the Lanes
The Honey Badger Black Edition is an excellent weapon for medium oil patterns once the lane starts to open up ("transition"). It is not the ball for a very fresh, flat sport pattern, since the Power Edge Finish could make it too slippery there, but it is unbeatable when you need to open up angles. You can move well left and throw the ball out to the dry boards; the hybrid coverstock keeps it from swimming away in the oil, while the Grapnel 2.0 A.I. core makes sure it comes back hard at the end of the pocket. It eliminates the dreaded over/under behavior of pure pearls by reading the midlane better, yet keeps enough energy for explosive carry even when you play deeper lines.