- Honey Badger Urethane

First Impressions
The 900Global Honey Badger Urethane, released in April 2019, marks an interesting departure from traditional design approaches in the urethane segment. While classic urethane balls usually rely on symmetric cores with low differentials, 900Global combines the proven S20 Solid Urethane coverstock with the dynamic Grapnel Asymmetric Core here. Visually, the ball comes in a plain, deep violet (Purple) that underscores the dull 1000-grit Abralon factory surface. Technically, the unusually high 2.57 RG (at 15 lbs) jumps out immediately, working in combination with a medium differential of 0.041 and an intermediate differential of 0.008. These specs suggest that, despite the aggressive surface, the ball aims to generate length through the heads before the asymmetry in the core takes hold. The "Grapnel" design, which was already used in the original gold Honey Badger, provides dynamics here that are atypical for urethane. The feel of the surface is extremely rough and promises immediate traction, but the core should keep the energy from being spent entirely on the first few boards. This is a two-piece core design, which often results in more direct energy transfer and improved carry.
Comparison
Compared directly to the segment leader, the Storm Pitch Black, clear differences in ball motion emerge. The Storm Pitch Black uses a symmetric Capacitor Core with very low flare potential, which produces an extremely linear and smooth motion. The Honey Badger Urethane, on the other hand, produces noticeably more flare on the lane thanks to its asymmetric core. That means fresh surface is always coming into contact with the lane, which increases friction in the back part of the lane. Where the Pitch Black rolls smoothly into the pocket, the Honey Badger Urethane develops a visible arc and more entry angle. Compared with the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane, the Honey Badger Urethane reads the lane a bit earlier than Hammer's pearl version because of its solid surface (S20). While the Purple Pearl is often known for its almost reactive backend motion, the Honey Badger Urethane offers more stability in oil, though it gives up some of the snap the Hammer can generate. Even so, the asymmetry makes the Honey Badger more angular than a Storm Fever Pitch, which was released in a similar time frame and is designed more for absolute control on very dry conditions.
On the Lanes
The 900Global Honey Badger Urethane is primarily designed for difficult lane conditions, especially short oil patterns and sport patterns where managing the transition is decisive. It's an excellent choice when reactive balls respond too strongly to the friction at the end of the oil pattern and become hard to control. Thanks to the high RG and the asymmetric core, this ball gives you the option to stand a little further left and open up the boards more than would be possible with traditional urethane. It requires less "direct" play up the gutter and forgives small errors in release angle without immediately missing the pocket. On typical house shots it finds its place once the heads have been played dry or when there is an extreme wet/dry wall that causes overreaction with reactive material. The ball offers enough hook to get to the pins even at moderate oil volume, but it should be avoided when there is a lot of oil in the heads, since it could lose too much energy there — despite the dull surface — before it reaches the pins. The improved carry from the two-piece design is a noticeable advantage over older urethane options, which often tend to leave corner pins standing.