The Code Black is the most recent release in the premier line of bowling balls from Storm, the bowler's company. The Code Black was released a little while back in the overseas market, and based on its strength of sales, eventually made it to the domestic market. The core of the Code Black is called RAD-4, in it is the fourth generation of the radial accelerating disc technology. This core design produces a very high intermediate differential of .020, an RG of 2.50, and an overall differential of 0.058 in 15 lb balls. The cover used for this piece is the R2S pearl reactive, and is a stunning black/charcoal/silver combination, and has a box finish of 1500 grit polish.
I drilled my Code Black using the same layout as my current Crux Pearl, which is 4 x 5 ½ x 2 ¾ for comparison purposes. The Code Black glides through the front part of the lane with ease with the box finish. The mid-lane is where I start seeing a difference between the Code Black and the Crux Pearl. The core on the Code Black seems to migrate faster to its prefered spin axis, although the cover is still pushing the ball longer down the lane, compared to the Crux Pearl. The Code Black has about two feet more length for me, and rounds off the corner a little more gradually than does the Crux Pearl. For me, the Crux Pearl has a more defined shape through the hook phase than does my Code Black. As per PBA tour rep Jim Callahan’s suggestion, I then hit the Code Black lightly with a 4000 pad, to just break the cover a touch. The added cover texture now has my Code Black reading about the same part of the lane as the Crux Pearl, maybe even a hair earlier, but has a slightly more defined shape through the backend of the lane then it did with the polished box finish. With this cover adjustment, the Code Black isn’t overly sensitive to carry-down on the lane. I have used the Code Black on a variety of different patterns, and for me seems the best on lanes that I need easy skid through the fronts, with a strong change of direction that the asymmetrical core gives me. I was even surprised when I was able to use this Code Black on Kegel Boardwalk pattern after it carried down a bit entering into game three.
I can see why Storm decided to introduce the Code Black to the domestic market. For me, the Code Black is almost interchangeable in my arsenal with my Crux Pearl. If you are in the need of strong pearl defined backend shape ball and have trouble getting the ball through the heads, you really need to look at the Code Black as an option for your arsenal. Thank you for taking the time to read my review of the Code Black. As always, bowl up a Storm!
