LANE CONDITION

Length: 41'

Volume: Medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS


This time we had the chance to try the new Honey Badger from 900 Global. This ball joins the Drift and the Boo-Yah in 900 Global’s Tour Preferred line. We used our house shot pattern to test it (Kegel Main Street, 41’) and the ball does exactly as advertised. It is an angular monster.

When I use this kind of balls, pearls with a high RG and medium differential, I usually stand close to my comfort zone, throwing the ball around second arrow and about 6 at the breakpoint… I couldn't do that with the Honey Badger. This ball is one of the most angular balls I’ve ever seen. All my warming shots ended up in hitting high or going Brooklyn, so I had to move 6 boards to the right and play inside second arrow, while moving my breakpoint from 6 to 3 or 4 to keep the ball on the left side on the lane.

This ball never hooked too early for me. It has great length and it has a FAST response to friction. As soon as it exits the pattern the ball makes a strong move to the pocket. For me being a low rev bowler with medium speed, seeing this kind of shape down the lane is something I don’t see that often. The ball offers a lot of recovery and it comes back from almost anywhere. I was able to play close to the third arrow and still got some light pocket shots with good carry. For me to do that with a medium oil ball on a fresh pattern is quite an accomplishment!

I felt like I had a good margin of error using the Honey Badger on fresh. However, when I missed my target farther left or when my ball speed was slower than usual, the Honey Badger hooked too much and left some unpleasant splits, while misses into the oil caused too much skid, resulting in flat 7 pins most of the time.

As soon as the pattern started breaking down, the Honey Badger reaction just got better and better. I was able to swing the ball more to the left and see a lot of recovery. Even on a broken down pattern, this ball never wanted to read the lane early and saves most of its energy for the last part of the lane.

I feel like this ball will be a great option to bowl on fresh for the power players, providing them easy length and an angular backend motion. While for speed dominant or low rev bowlers, this ball definitely will come into play when you need to ball down, when bowling on the transition or on broken down patterns or when you need to get more length and strong angular motion at the breakpoint.

For the tournament bowlers, this ball might be a little unpredictable or over/under if you bowl on fresh, flat patterns. To get a better reaction you can always adjust the surface of the ball to match up with the pattern. But once the pattern starts breaking down and you created a hook spot, this ball will be a great option to move in and create more angle.

The guys at 900 Global definitely delivered with this ball. It does exactly as advertised. If you are looking for a ball with a skid-flip reaction and a STRONG angular motion at the backend in most medium oil conditions, then the Honey Badger is the ball for you.

Thank you for watching!

Drilled my Honey Badger at 55 x 5.5 x 40 putting the pin over and just left of my middle finger. This ball comes as advertised. First, I absolutely love the gold color as it certainly demands attention once it is pulled out of the bag. As far as performance, it is very easy through the front part of the lane with tremendous backend motion off the dry. Ball performed very well on a drier house shot even after multiple games. I was able to keep moving left and bouncing it off the dry with ease. Versatile ball that can be added to any bowler's arsenal.

Brent Ritchie
900 Global Regional Staff

HONEY BADGER
Coverstock: S71â„¢ Pearl
Finish: 1500 Grit Polished
Color: Gold Pearl
Core: Grapnelâ„¢ Asymmetric
Tour Preferred 700  Series
2.57 Radius of gyration
.041 Differential
.008 Intermediate Differential
Positive Axis Point  5 7/16 by 1/4 up
Layout 5  x 4 x 4 1/2
   I've seen some of those mean ole badgers living up in Idaho in my younger days but the meanest of them all is definitely the HONEY BADGER. This ball is a sharp looking ball that has a mean bite on the backend of the lane a must have in your arsenal when the lanes dry out a little and sees more friction.   This will be a favorite from the 900 Global line..... probably because of its pearl cover and late back end reaction, something every bowler is looking for.  If you want a no brainer in your bag this is it!   Make your friends jealous and get a HONEY BADGER today!  Remember...  performance for YOUR game is a must!!!!!  Greg Thomas 900 Global staff.

Pin Length: 3.5 -4

Starting Top Weight: 3.34 oz

Ball Weight: 15.02

Pin to PAP: 4.5"

Mass Bias to PAP: 4"

Drill Angle: 45 Degrees

VAL Angle: 25 Degrees

X Hole (if there is one): 1 1/32" x 2" deep 1" in from PAP towards grip center

Rev Rate: 330

Ball Speed: 15.5 to 16 mph

PAP: 5 3/16 right, up 13/16

Grit: 1500

Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): Polish

Length: 37' Kegel Broadway

Volume: medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Fresh oil Challenge pattern

Length: Excellent

Back End: Strong

Overall Hook: 5-8 boards

Midlane Read: Very good

Breakpoint Shape: Angular

Likes: The Honey Badger Pearl is designed for light to medium volume fresh oil patterns and when the pattern begins to breakdown. The angular S71, 1500 polished, Pearl coverstock, combined with the 2.57 Rg,.041 Differential,.008 Mass bias Grapnel core produces great length and a skid/snap reaction on the back end. I used a 45 x 4.5 x25 layout, with the pin just above my ring finger. On a fresh 37' Kegel Broadway pattern, the Badger got to the break point easily and then exploded through the pins. On a 45' Kegel Route 66 the Badger, out of the box, was a little too long. However, with some surface prep I would have been able to use it. On the Stone Street house shot, the Badger played well off the oil with a sharp break on the back end. The Honey Badger is a ball for all bowling styles.

Dislikes:

LANE CONDITION
Honey Badger
Coverstock: S71 Pearl
Finish: 1500 Polished
Core: Grapnel Asymmetric
RG: 2.57
Differential: 0.041
Mass Bias: 0.008

Layout:  60 x 4 3/4 x 30
Tester:  PAP 5 1/2 R, 1 1/2 D

Review
The Honey Badger is well established as one of the most angular balls within tbe 900 Global line.  When you want to open the lane up this ball will not disappoint.  On a 41 and 42 THS this ball was simply amazing and will turn heads as you send this one down the lane. If you are looking for skid/snap this one is for you.  Be sure to add a Honey Badger to your line-up today!

Michael Slatky
900 Global Staff Member
York, PA
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