- Honey Badger

First Impressions
Released in July 2017, the 900 Global Honey Badger marks a significant point in the manufacturer's Tour Preferred series. Visually, the ball stands out with its striking Gold Pearl coloration, which is highly visible on the lane. Technically, the model is built around the asymmetric Grapnel core, designed for dynamic ball motion. At 15 pounds, the core carries an RG of 2.57 and a differential of 0.041, complemented by an intermediate differential of 0.008. This combination points to a delayed energy release. The cover is the S71 Pearl Reactive shell, finished out of the box with a 1500 grit polish. This surface should deliver minimal friction in the front part of the lane and store kinetic energy for the backend.
Comparison Within the 900 Global lineup, the Honey Badger occupies a position aimed at maximum angle at the breakpoint. Compared directly to the 900 Global Drift or the 900 Global Boo-Yah, this model shows noticeably more length and a sharper change of direction once it hits friction. Looking across manufacturers, the motion is most comparable to the Storm Hy-Road Pearl or the Storm IQ Tour Pearl. While the Storm Hy-Road Pearl delivers a very controlled but steady motion thanks to its symmetric Inverted Fe2 core, the asymmetric Grapnel core of the Honey Badger produces a somewhat more aggressive reaction at the end of the oil pattern. Compared to the original 900 Global Badger with its hybrid cover, the pearl version in the Honey Badger offers a noticeably later roll and a distinctly stronger hook in the backend.
On the Lanes The Honey Badger finds its ideal application on medium oil volumes as well as on lanes that have already gone through some transition. Thanks to the polished pearl surface, the ball glides effortlessly through the heads and reacts late and very directly to dry boards. If you throw the ball fast, it gives you the length you need to avoid losing energy too early, while bowlers with moderate rev rates benefit from the asymmetric core characteristics, which should optimize carry in the pocket. The ball proves especially effective when the oil pattern breaks down and you are forced to play deeper, inside-out lines. In those situations, the pronounced angularity allows a powerful recovery back to the pocket. On very fresh, heavily oiled patterns, however, the smooth surface could create too much skid, which is why it is primarily considered an excellent option for later in league play or in tournament blocks, once friction at the breakpoint increases.