The new Axiom Pearl in the Master line of bowling balls from Storm, the Bowlers Company, uses the same Orbital core found in the solid version, but with a new cobalt/graphite/candy apple pearl cover called NeX pearl Reactive. This version comes from the factory with a 1500 grit polished finish. The Axiom pearl numbers in 15lb bowling balls is 2.48 Rg with a differential of 0.050.
I drilled my Axiom pearl with a 4.5†pin and a 4†pin buffer. This layout puts the pin just below my ring finger, as I have a PAP of 5†straight across. Comparing the pearl Axiom to a solid Axiom drilled with the same pin placement, the pearl is cleaner through the front part of the lane, and is a more pronounced change of direction off the spot. This motion is better suited for when the lanes have a bit of play on them, and the backends have softened up a touch, or when there isn’t enough oil in the heads to get a solid Axiom through the front of the lane. The Axiom pearl is also better suited when chasing oil depletion of a pattern throughout the course of a tournament. I have used the Axiom pearl on many different patterns from sport to challenge as well as blended league patterns, and like it a lot. The pearl Axiom is at least a 3 and 2 move in to find more oil than my Idol pearl, drilled the same. The Axiom pearl is on the list for every tournament that I go to that has a pattern of at least 39 feet in length with medium to medium high volumes of oil. Even though the Axiom pearl has a defined change of direction, it is still very useful on more blended patterns and sport shots that have lower left to right ratios.
I really like the Axiom Pearl. Not only does it have a great color combination, but the performance on the lanes is outstanding. Seek out your local Storm VIP pro shop and drill an Axiom pearl so that you too can bowl up a Storm!