Storm Bowling Balls – The IQ Tour Ruby

The IQ Tour Ruby bowling ball from Storm is the latest addition to their iconic line of IQ bowling balls, boasting their popular C3 Centripetal Control symmetric core for superior pocket control and power hooking motion without compromising the hooking motion and strength needed for success. Plus, with its Reacta Gloss finish and 1500-grit polished box finish, it looks absolutely incredible.

C3 Centripetal Control Core

Storm’s IQ Tour Ruby is an impressive addition to their already legendary line of control balls, boasting the renowned C3 Centripetal control core encased in R2S pearl reactive coverstock with Reacta Gloss finish for strong carry potential and predictable response from high rev players alike. Boasting its signature forgiving shape of the C3 core design paired with a lower differential (.029 for 15lb equipment), this version will make an impression statement that will have you running away with any pattern and charging back into pins to produce a strong carry. The IQ Tour Ruby adds a powerful weapon to Storm’s legendary control balls lineup, featuring its legendary C3 Centripetal control core combined with Reacta Gloss finish coverstock to give players exceptional carry potential.

The C3 Centripetal control core’s low RG and differential are critical in providing this ball with ample mid-lane roll, keeping its energy flowing downline. This feature makes this ball superior to more aggressive shapes used by Storm in recent releases, such as Night Road and Phaze V, because higher-rev bowlers can maintain control at their breakpoint more easily.

The combination of a low-RG, low-diff core with R2S Pearl Reactive coverstock makes the IQ Tour Ruby suitable for medium to heavy oil conditions. This coverstock was initially utilized by Storm in its earlier road series releases and is known for providing easy front-end clearance without compromising backend traction.

This coverstock makes this ball less sensitive to oil than more aggressive hybrids such as Torrent and Paragon hybrids, making it much simpler for players who need control of their game to manage it effectively.

IQ Tour Ruby stands out with its 1500-grit polished box finish that provides more versatility than its 1000-grit polish used on Black Widow Urethane Pink Pearl and 500/2000-grit SiaAir shiny surface found on Paragon Hybrid reactive balls. It allows bowlers to retain control of their pocket without altering their approach or hooking motion, making this ball ideal for tournament play.

R2S Pearl

The Ruby is Storm’s latest entry in their IQ Tour line, combining their popular C3 Centripetal Control symmetric core with their R2S pearl reactive coverstock for maximum versatility in various conditions. It can easily glide through medium oil conditions before powering into pockets with plenty of carrying potential.

Storm’s R2S cover formula requires much friction and dry boards in order to generate length, making it less versatile than its IQ Tour solid counterpart. Still, R2S remains a practical choice for dry patterns.

The Ruby’s low differential allows it to use a stronger and more continuous pin position for additional power on backends, helping prevent over-hooking as the ball moves through its pattern. As such, it makes an ideal option for bowlers whose IQ Tour tends to miss in or smooth out too often.

The Ruby’s 1500 grit polished box finish will help the pearl coverstock shine on any lane condition, whether left as-is for a more delicate touch or matted down for more aggressive bowling styles.

Reacta Gloss

Reacta Gloss is a one-step cleaner and polish designed to restore the tacky coating of coverstocks, increasing both ball length and backend reaction while improving length and response on house patterns and played sports patterns alike. Furthermore, this polished surface will give more defined rotational movement compared to Phaze 4 or Hy-Road Pearl and Trend polishers.

Reacta gloss begins as an undergrad sanded onto a ball surface before disintegrating to become higher grit once polished and buffed in. Applying pressure will allow this material to penetrate its entirety into its new home on the ball’s surface, though this takes both time and persistence.

1500 Grit Polished Box

The Intense Fire features the same RAD-E asymmetrical core design found in its predecessor with Storm’s R3S hybrid reactive coverstock but now features a 1500-grit polished box finish for added aggression in midlane conditions. Though all three testers experienced intense reads mid-lane, downline performance wasn’t relatively as smooth compared to shiny balls like Code Red, Snap Lock, or Code Black, which provided smooth continuation, making it an excellent option in later lane conditions when rougher finishes had worn away the track surface.

Cranker experienced too much total hook, while Stroker and Tweener struggled to use the ball’s angular motion on our flatter sport pattern. Each bowler removed their factory polish using a 3000 Abralon pad in order to gain better reaction and more control downline.

A 1500 grit level may seem high for a new, fresh polish, but it’s straightforward to reduce using the 4000 Abralon pad in several steps. Many Storm pearls and solids may be flippy out of the box; for optimal playing experiences, it is recommended that resurfacing be performed prior to playing them; machines may help do this job, but 800 grit sanding with soft sanding mesh followed by light polishing using your favorite compound is typically best practice for humans.