Color: Blue/Red

Coverstock: Reactive Pearl

Core: 2-piece Asymmeterical

RG: 2.53

Differential: 0.058

Factory finish: Polished

Weights: 14 thru 16lbs

Another great ball from Storm.  Both my brother and I have X-Factors, but they're completely different balls.  Here's the Specs:

X-Factor #1:
3.5-4" pin
Pin 4" from PAP, CG 3" from PAP/ slighlty above my grip center, weight hole on my PAP.

I'm using this ball on a standard 40' Top Hat, clean backend.

This ball goes long, starts to hook, and explodes when it grabs the dry backends.  I'm able to play straight up 8 when they're fresh, and I can move as far inside as swinging 18-8 and this ball still finishes strong, very VERY few 10 pins. The only pin that poses a problem when the lanes break down is the 9 pin.  

X-Factor #2
2-2.5" pin

This one's layed out to complement a Shock Trauma when the lanes get funky after a game or two.  The pin is inside the Bridge, and the CG is directly under it, slightly kicked towards the PAP.

At first we tried it without a balance hole, but it's reaction was so strong that it was out-moving the Shock Trauma.  I took it back to Mike D'Ambrosio(www.coachscornerproshop.com) and had a balance hole placed on the PAP for a little more flare/length out of it.  This ball STILL wants to grab a little early, so we're going to have to polish it up a little.  

Overall, this ball is very strong, yet very controllable.  We're going to add a little polish to #2 to try and tone it down a little, so as it will serve as a better complement to the Shock Trauma.

Happy New Year!!  Best of luck in the second half of this 2002-2003 Bowling Season!
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~Matt
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USAJOG Level I Certified Bowling Coach
Long Island, NY

"Nothing hits like a Hammer!"

This is my first Storm ball since the El Nino Gold and all I can say is that the X Factor is one of the best Storm balls that I have thrown. It gets to the breakpoint and just goes. If you want to throw this ball you better keep your speed up because if you don't the ball tends to less forgiving. This is a great tournament ball that is very easy to keep in play and should be in everyone's bag. I know it will be in mine for a long time.

I drilled this up a month ago and i drill up everything (i own a proshop)this is the biggest hitting ball that i have ever owned. my ten pins have cut down about 85 or 90 percent and im not kidding this could be the best ball i have ever hade just try one.

For me this was a very controversial ball. Got a reccommendation for this ball as it is supposedly the most versatile ball produced by the good people of storm have produced.

Drill - Pin placement 4-1/4" from the PAP, with the RAD placed at the PAL. Basically this drill is made to combat its skid/snap reaction and give it a more controlled breakpoint.

Reaction - This ball reacts similar to the specs provided with the ball, but even though i gave it a more controlled drill, give it a fresh backend and this ball bites. It gets through the oil well on any condition (unless the heads are dead) and comes up harder than any heavy-oil ball storm have made. In Terms of its reaction on the lane, i reccommend this ball for medium to heavy conditions medium carrydown.

Hit - This is what is keeping this ball in my favorites list, while it does have some problems kicking out the ten-pin when playing deep, give it a bit of hand and a bit of speed and this baby sends the pins scattering, i haven't seen so many messengers in my life. Its main advantage in carry is light hits, i think this is produced by its angle into the pins when the ball has been put out into the oil.

I strongly reccommend this ball for players with consistent hand on the ball, as this ball can be a bit hard to read.
I give this ball a 9.5/10

UPDATE: After using this ball with much success, I ended up selling my Vicious Particle.  My X-Factor hooks about 10 boards more than my Particle, and the X-Factor had a more tame drilling.  I'm definately going to drill another one of these for the summer, no doubt about it.
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~Matt
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USAJOG Level I Certified Bowling Coach
Long Island, NY

"Nothing hits like a Hammer!"

I've had the X-Factor since it came out but have been waiting to post a review on it.  First off I am 13, throw average speed and am know as the "man with the hand" so I get a few revs.  Ok, when I first got and threw it, it went thru the nose every time. I mean the snap is devastating. The second thing I noticed was that it carried everything.  I mean when it hit the pocket you could hear it thru the whole place.(50 lane center)Well after a few months it is still good. I rolled my first 700's with it and did very well at the Youth city tourney and qualified for the pepsi tourney at boardwalk bowl in orlando. O, and I shot my first 300 with it. So this is all I can say about it, and if your not convinced that it is the shizzy then your missing out on the best ball I have ever thrown. Might I suggest drill pattern 2b. It's great!

P.S. The smell is also killer!!!


Thanks.
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Stanky Stankerson

in addition to my voodoo this was another great purchase...although i dont think the hit is as nice as my voodoo it still drills the pocket...ive been able to use it on a variety of shots....from a decent amount of oil to a medium-light patern....this ball is provides the versistilty every bowler can use..i recommend picking one up if it wont be to much of a burden on your wallet...