Phase
Review Date: 4 February 2016
Reviewed by:
Storm/Roto Grip staffer John Brockland
Style: Stroker Rev Rate: 280-310
PAP: 5.50" over and 1" up
The first
thing that needs to be said about
this new addition to the Master Line
of the Storm arsenal is that this is
not the “go long and hook hard” ball
motion that has been the famous
characteristic of most Storm
products for years.
Nor, is it intended to be.
We have here the brand new VelocityTM core that is early revving and produces midlane ball motion without any seriously sideways back end.
In relationship
to other recent products in the Master
Line, the VelocityTM core
bears an RG on the medium to low side of
2.48 and a diff of 0.051.
This is numerically very similar
to the Tri-SphereTM core of
the OPTIMUS series (2.48 and 0.048) and
is nearly identical to the CentripetalTM
core from the MARVEL series (2.48 and
0.052).
To me, however, in terms of ball
motion, the PHAZE is like neither of
them.
My layouts on the OPTIMUS (pearl)
and MARVEL PEARL are extreme (very short
pin to PAP), but even at that my
intuition tells me that with the same
layout the PHAZE has earlier and more
defined ball motion than the OPTIMUS
(pearl) and is not nearly as clean
through the front or as angular on the
back as the MARVEL PEARL.
The !Q series – the other Master
Line companion series to the PHAZE -- is
a completely different look because of
its uniquely low differential, but for
the sake of those who are curious the !Q
30 is significantly cleaner through the
front and midlane, longer and more
angular on the back than the PHAZE.
There has been a
lot of publicity about the coverstock on
the PHAZE – the new AX-16TM
pearl reactive.
The video of Storm employee, Chad
McClean, palming a 16lb-er without any
holes has created a lot of buzz.
I have not had reason or
opportunity to adjust the coverstock on
mine, but fellow staffers are
consistently reporting that this cover
is very responsive to adjustment.
Several who initially have
struggled getting the PHAZE to give them
a good look for their games say that
scuffing it with a 2000 or even 1000
abralon pad has done the trick.
The combination of this
coverstock and this early revving core
creates a ball motion and break point
for me that often makes it seem like the
ball is going to go high but it never
jerks left.
From its midlane move, it just
continues smoothly and strongly through
the pins.
I have found that particularly
helpful smoothing out wet/dry STL house
shots – which is a really unique thing
for me to say about a pearl.
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