Storm Ion Pro Review (4K) | Bowlers Paradise

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It's the The do-everything piece, but on purpose this time. The all new Storm Ion Pro is, according to storm, the next step for the benchmark style ball reaction. This one follows in the footsteps of some of the best SPI releases of all time in the iQ Tour solid, Phaze 2, Gem and many more

For the layout, I went with a 5x5x4 2LS layout. The Emphasis here was on keeping it simple. I've had good results with similar layouts on BOTH low differential pieces as well as pearl asyms, so figured since the Ion Pro is both, it should be an easy fit for a great reaction.

AND ON THE LANES…I could tell what the ion pro wanted too do, but it struggled to get to the spot downlane the right way to do what it wanted too do. Once I got far enough inside, the shape was devastating to the pin deck, but until I got to that spot, I was lucky if I hit the pocket, let alone if I struck.

But my favorite part about throwing the ion pro is how unique it is. That seems kind of stupid to say since this is supposed to be the newest thing in benchmark reaction, but this combination of core and cover performance is truly one of a kind in the market today, and so is the shape. I wouldn't say that makes it a great benchmark, but in a world where the 3 major manufacturers are releasing 100 bowling balls a year, I'll always celebrate a unique shape.

Now, on the list of downsides, I think the Ion pro might be too smart for its own good. In the right hands, I think striking is possible from just about every arrow. It never felt like it was super far off, but I needed the right trick to get it to do the right thing. This is not your typical league bowlers go-to piece, and will likely go the way of the Alpha Crux where the top tier of bowler loves it, but us regular guys will struggle to get the best results out of it.

But if you think you have the chops to make this thing look great, pairing it with an iQ Tour Ruby as well as an Absolute Power, you'd definitely be able to find a look from any arrow. The Absolute Power is just about the opposite of the ion pro in that its core dominant with a weaker cover so it'll complement the ion well, and then when those are both too much, the ruby can pick up where they leave off and just do the GOAT shit it always does.

Jumping to our crossbrand comparisons, I first took a look at the infinite mindset from Brunswick and here you can see how much of a difference a weaker cover and a bit more differential can make. On this house shot, the infinite mindset outpaces the ion pro quickly, but on tougher conditions where shot making is key, the Ion has a big advantage over this one from Brunswick.

Then I took a look at the Optimum Idol from Roto Grip and here I see a piece that is much more a traditional benchmark style shape. The idol hooks early and a lot, making a very round shape from the foul line to the pin deck. Players with a higher axis of rotation will likely find better results with this Optimum Idol than they will with the Ion Pro.

But with that, here’s my recommendations on types of bowlers that I think would match up well with the Ion Pro from Storm. The first is tournament bowlers. If you understand your game and how to manipulate a bowling ball to do many different things, the Ion pro is going to do wonders for you on tough conditions. As a benchmark, it'll push you into the right part of the lane to strike, and also serves as a great middle piece to understand your arsenal more effectively.

The second recommendation is for balanced bowlers. If you have a rev rate around 350 and a traditional 3/4 ball roll, the Ion pro is likely to give you a shape worth using. Sure, it won't be great on everything, but no benchmark should be, but a piece that pairs ease through the front part of the lane with this kind of controlled continuation through the pins is a dream combination for these players.

At the end of the day, the all new Ion Pro is really just 2024's version of the iQ tour, but in the right hands, could be the piece that makes you look like a pro yourself.

Thank you to Weston Lanes for allowing us to film this video: www.westonlanes.com

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00:00 - The Storm Ion Pro
01:00 - Bowling
02:54 - Crossbrand Comparisons
03:34 - Recommendations