Storm Ion Pro Pearl Bowling Ball Review

The Ion Pro Pearl is Storm’s latest ball to use the Element Tour AI asymmetrical core. This weight block has been used in the previous two versions of the Ion Pro, and this time it’s paired with the NRG Pearl Reactive coverstock that we last saw used on the Ion Max Pearl. Instead of being shined with Power Edge, the cover is finished this time with 4000-grit Abralon. Despite being a pearl, we saw slightly less length from the Ion Pro Pearl than the Ion Pro Solid. The ball was very angular when it found the dry, helping our bowlers get it up to the pocket when they started to open their angles as the lanes began to break down. Our standard test layouts gave us great reactions on the medium oil pattern, and the dull surface helped the Ion Pro Pearl create enough traction for our heavy oil pattern as well.

Stroker

Stroker liked the strong downlane motion he saw from the Ion Pro Pearl on the medium oil pattern. Balls with surface seem to get a little forward for him when he has to start moving left and opening his angles, but the Ion Pro Pearl was very strong and continuous at the back end. He could start with his angles open, using the very strong motion off the friction to get the ball to finish flush in the pocket. His misses into the oil had enough traction from the rougher finish to still dig into the lane and drive through the pin deck. This ball was a more angular option than the Ion Max and the Bionic, but it didn’t have