- Phaze II

First Impressions
The Storm Phaze II Solid marks a significant point in the development of Storm's Master Line and has established itself as a steady constant in the lineup since its release in 2016. Visually, the ball comes in a striking mix of red, blue and purple, giving it a highly visible presence on the lane so you can track its rotation and the phases of ball motion. One unmistakable feature typical of Storm is the built-in fragrance, specified on this model as "Red Velvet Cake." Technically, the Phaze II is based on the combination of the proven Velocity core with the then newly developed TX-16 (Traction-X 2016) Solid Reactive coverstock. This combination aims to close a gap between aggressive high-performance balls and controllable symmetrical balls. At 15 pounds, the symmetrical Velocity core shows a low RG of 2.48 and a high differential of 0.051. These numbers suggest the core tends to get into rotation early and has a high degree of flare potential. The surface ships from the factory with a 3000-grit Abralon finish, creating a matte texture designed to build traction in the oil early without burning up energy immediately. The interplay of the core's low RG and the tacky solid surface should produce a very even and predictable motion, often described as "heavy rolling."

Comparison
Compared directly to its predecessor, the original Storm Phaze, the Phaze II shows clearly different behavior. While the first Phaze was often criticized for a certain unpredictability in the breakpoint area, the Phaze II was developed to eliminate exactly that weakness and instead offer maximum control and continuation. Looking at Storm's portfolio, the Phaze II frequently positions itself as the more aggressive, stronger alternative to the legendary IQ Tour Edition. Where the IQ Tour Edition, with its even lower differential, tends to smooth out the lane and control the motion, the Phaze II offers considerably more hook potential through its higher 0.051 differential and covers more boards, while still keeping the forgiving character of a symmetrical ball. Compared to balls from other manufacturers, such as the Roto Grip Idol (also a symmetrical solid), the Phaze II is often credited with a somewhat rounder, more arcing move on the backend, while other solids can sometimes release their energy earlier and more abruptly. Against balls with pearl covers or asymmetrical cores, such as the Roto Grip Attention Star S2 or the Hammer Black Widow series, the Phaze II reacts substantially earlier on the lane. It is not designed to skid extremely far through the heads like those balls and then hook abruptly at the end of the lane. Instead, it starts working already in the midlane and offers a smoother transition from the oil into the dry. It therefore often serves as a reference point or "benchmark ball" that guides the selection of other balls: if the Phaze II is too early, you reach for a Storm Hy-Road; if it is too weak, an asymmetrical ball like the Roto Grip Gem or a 900 Global Harsh Reality would be the logical next step.

On the Lanes
In practical use on the lane, the Storm Phaze II is considered a classic "benchmark ball," often the first ball pulled out of the bag to read the oil pattern. Its ideal scenarios are found on fresh to moderately played lanes with medium to high oil volume. Thanks to the rough solid surface and the strong core, the ball reads the midlane extremely well, which helps you avoid overreaction at the end of the oil pattern. It is designed to pass cleanly through the heads, provided there is enough oil, and then make a strong but controllable move into the pocket. The strength of the Phaze II lies in its predictability: it often forgives inaccuracies at the release better than more angular balls, because it makes the transition softer. If you have a high rev rate, the ball offers the control needed to keep from going through the nose uncontrolled, since the energy release is very linear. Bowlers with a lower rev rate or less speed, on the other hand, benefit from the help of the core and the surface, which make sure the ball rolls up reliably even with less hand and creates enough friction to mix the pins effectively. One particular performance trait is carry: because of the heavy roll the Velocity core generates, the ball often drives very deep through the pin deck and minimizes the risk of leaving corner pins. If the oil gets carried down into the front part of the lane over the course of a game, however, or the heads dry up, the Phaze II could start working too early and lose energy for the hit. At that moment a switch to shinier or weaker balls would be advisable. In summary, the Phaze II shines where a mixture of traction and continuous motion is required, without having to rely on extreme angles.