layout: 5 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/2
surface: Reacta Gloss

The Xponent pearl brings back the Shrapnel 2.0 Core combined with the new Reserve Batch 702 Pearl Coverstock.  Designed for medium oil, the Xponent pearl will be one step below the Zen Gold Label in terms of total hook.  I got to test this ball on a 44ft Typical House Shot and a 42ft Sport Pattern.

The Xponent pearl's primary use is for medium oil conditons which means on most typical house patterns, wouldn't be fantastic on fresh oil.  For me, I found it to be too weak for my style to be great on the fresh.  It was very responsive to the dry and had trouble picking up in the inside oil.  It is however a great step down from the Xponent Solid as it gives a few more feet of length and a more angular backend.  The xponent pearl was great in transition after the Xponent became too slow down the lane.  I was able to stand in the same place on the approach and use the same line on the lane to continue to strike.  The Xponent Pearl got through the front of the lane easier and backended much harder.  It was actually pretty surprising how well it read the lane front to back.  Bowlers should get the Xponent pearl if they have the Xponent Solid and are looking for a cleaner and more responsive option or as a ball down option from the Zen Gold.

On the 42ft Sport Pattern, I was again pretty surprised how well the ball read the pattern considering how much more volume there was than the house pattern.  As expected though, the ball was only usable in the transition phase of the pattern.  It was a better second transition and step down from the Zen Gold.  The Zen Gold was overall stronger by a few boards and more angular down the lane.  It was easier to use the Zen Gold after a ball such as the Harsh Reality than the Xponent Pearl was.  As the lanes broke down more from the Zen Gold, the Xponent Pearl really came alive.  I was able to move into the oil more while allowing the ball to utilize the drier conditions that I had created.  The ball continued well and angled well through the pins. 

The Xponent Pearl I feel was designed properly based on its specs.  It is definitely better for use on medium to drier lane conditions but due to the lower rg of the core, it can handle a little more oil if you remove the reacta gloss.  The most optimal use for this ball in league would be game 2 and/or 3 depending on your style or conditions and more of a burn type ball for sport tournament conditions.

Adam Chase
Storm Staff

I started off my Xponent review with this statement, “I have some strong words for this ball!  The Xponent has risen to the level of my favorite benchmark ball EVER!”

The Xponent Pearl does NOT disappoint either!!  I really have to compare the Xponent balls with the Idol and Idol Pearl.  Both of those were balls that I used for a long time and drilled multiples of both.  The same will be said with the Xponents.   They just give me shapes that match up so well will my ball roll and speed.  But the funny thing is, I have drilled a ton of  Xponent’s for people and they all say the same thing. It really is one of the best benchmark balls ever and THE best I have ever thrown. 

Xponent Pearl gives me a slightly cleaner and more angular motion than the Xponent and lets me continue with that shape for an entire league night.  Once you get to a certain point at our place, you just have to get out of the solid and get into a pearl to create more angle.  This ball is spectacular on its own and amazing as a 1-2 punch with the Xponent!

Layout 5x5x2

Balls Currently getting play:
Absolute Power: 5x4x2
Attention Star: 5x4x2
Zen Gold Label- 5x5x2 (pin up) box surface
Zen Gold Label- 4.5x4.5x3.75 (pin down) 3k surface

Dual Angle Layout: 55 x 6 x 35
Storm Vector Layout: 6 x 4 1/8 x 2 ½ 
The Xponent Pearl is everything I expected from the Xponent line.  This ball is the perfect complement to the original Xponent.  This ball and clean and continuous on the backend.  This is my go to ball when the lanes start to burn up and I need a ball to get through the fronts without loosing energy in the back end.