The Polar Ice is a new ball in the Ice line that features the U1S, urethane cover stock. This ball has the basic pancake weight block and comes in a blue/green solid and a red/purple pearl. The Polar Ice will be a great first ball for any entry level bowler looking for durability as well as a great ball for an experienced bowler looking for control on really dry lanes or a more durable spare ball for those pesky single pins. The Polar Ice is also the first ball in Storm’s Ice line to come in 6, & 8lbs, as well as 10-16lbs. Another attractive feature of the Polar Ice is its ability to “glow” under the black lights.

I drilled one solid and one pearl Polar Ice. The solid, I drilled with a 3 3/8” pin, and a 9” hole. This drilling puts the traditional pancake weight block in a position to allow for the most flare potential based on release strength.  The pearl I drilled with a basic over label drill, that puts the pin below my ring finger, and static weights are left at ½ positive, ½ finger.

The cover is “weaker” than that found on the Naturals, with durability being the key phrase. I lightly sanded the solid with some green scotch brite to allow the ball to pick up its roll a bit sooner, and have a nice even reaction into the pocket. As long as there were dry boards on the backend, the Polar Ice continued to make its move into the pocket with surprisingly good pin carry. Once the large volume of oil from the front part of the lane carried down to the mid lane, the Polar Ice started to have trouble making the turn into the pocket, and the seven pin started to show up. While the solid allowed me to swing the ball a couple of boards, the pearl made me go straighter through the lane, but still roll very smooth into the pocket.  The carry down made me go to a Natural pearl, and eventually a Tropical Breeze, to get a good  “footing” of the lane, and get the proper angle into the pocket to once again start striking.

The Polar Ice will cost a few dollars more than the plastic Ice Storm, but will be well worth the added money because of the more durable nature of the ball.  Anyone looking to buy a ball for that first time bowler, and not looking to spend a small fortune, should look into the new Polar Ice by Storm.