Phase 2 has been my benchmark ball but it's beyond burnt out, it's so tough being a league bowler so many choices but the costs is pricey so unfortunately my bag does not have the proper equipment, but I do with what I can afford, great vid breaking down your bag, I wish more vids wear geared towards what is good fir us league bowlers from the fresh down to the burn.
Discontinued balls get heavily discounted. Pick up a ball to fill/replace a spot in your bag when you they go on deep discount or single drilled/low use balls is a good way to go too,
Black Widow 2.0 hybrid. I can't see anything replacing it especially at it's price point. Always the first out of the bag and often only one needed all night
I'm still throwing the OG Idol with 90 million games on it, me and the ball are growing old together. Still works on everything. I can put 3000 plus shine and stand left and throw it on old fried 3 day old unoiled Bowlero medium length lanes, or fresh 44 foot house. Your new Ion looked great on the shorter pattern, and I'd consider it for the shorter house, but apprehensive that the cover is too strong.
just to make sure i secure my spot as the first comment, also this ball is pretty good. i hope they can start releasing more multi-purpose benchmark ball
@@jimk9290 yeah! Seen some comparrisons, ION, envy tour and Black venom all look the same really. But considering how much i love my Black venom this will be a really good ball for the spi loyalists 😅
I'd say my current benchmark is the Zen Soul. It is a very controllable piece for me, works almost everywhere. My Sun Storm is getting the most use however.
Xponent is currently my benchmark ball. I have the Attention Star, Xponent, Hustle USA & Ice. I only bowl senior league and it's rarely on a fresh pattern.
I have an Xponent as my benchmark, too. Which ball out of your arsenal gets used the most for you? I have a Storm Nova that I like for fresh house shot.
@@TheLlamaD The Attention Star is new and being drilled tomorrow morning. My time between the Xponent & Hustle is pretty evenly split. There's a league right before mine so the lanes are never fresh.
@@TheHaggard82 I just shot a 708 in a 3 game series with my Xponent(2 games) and Nova. I sanded the ball before league from 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, and 4000. It really crushed the pins! True house shot killer.
My benchmark is hammer hazmat I ball up to the hammer effect or BW 3.0 and I ball down to the Arctic vibe or Nu blue. Hazmat is an incredibly symmetrical hybrid works on almost every condition.
ive got zen soul. since its hybrid it does pop more in the backend than a solid but i can manipulate it and it follows rlly well. roll more forward and it goes forward, rotate it and it hooks more downlane. i’ll find another benchmark ball sometime when zen soul gets old
Phaze 2 is my benchmark solid for this past season, Duo is my benchmark pearl, Motiv Black Venom and Hustle M-M below them and BW 3.0 as my big strong Asymm solid... Pitch Black is the urethane piece... I will use a combination of 3 of these for my league bag, but the Phaze 2 is always in the middle lately. It is strong, predictable, and dependable.
Surprisingly zen gold label. I have a 3 inch pin on it so it’s very smooth on transition. And surprisingly my 1st out the bag strongest is a 3 inch pin on phase 2
Benchmark is the Phaze 2 & the Optimum Idol depending on the day. I’m converting from No Thumb to Conventional so adjustment is needed. Is that polish on the Optimum? It looks much cooler than mine, lol.
My current benchmark is my Infinite Physix, though I maintain a decent bit of surface on it. It used to be my Zen, but it probably has over 200 games on it and needs to be retired.
IQ Tour is my benchmark (go figure) its very reactive to friction but sails on oil. I bowl on oldish wood lanes as a two hander so its pretty good for league shot
I have 2 benchmark balls. 1 is the Envy tour solid which allows me to keep my angles nice and straight on fresh (especially if it’s a little heavier for a house pattern). The other is my Infamous (I know Barks hates that ball 😂). That’s my go to ball for a house shot that allows me to play a little more angular than the tour while still being predictable
My bench mark ball is the Storm Zero Gravity. I had it as my ball down from my Virtual Gravity Nano. My intent was a clean ball that can control the lanes when the Virtual Gravity goes flat.
My Xponent should be my benchmark ball, but it is actually my Crux Prime that is lane shined and touched with a 3000 pad. The Crux Prime is less likely to fool me.
I have two bags I go to lol. One is 900G and the other hammer so my benchmark piece is the Zen Master/Soul in one bag and the hammer scorpion in the other
I'm definitely getting this ball...i REALLY want to see the X-Cell in action. I've had a Pi and Harsh Reality, but there's something about 900 Global that just doesn't work for me. I don't have the revrate to have them read the way everyone else can
That's not a bad idea. That way, when you find a ball that suits the condition, you'll throw it until it's too strong, then you ball down in your sequence of equipment. I may try that myself, although I've always thought of the benchmark as being the middle-of-the-bag ball. Well, it still is, but your method just looks at the lane condition from a different, and I think quite valid perspective. I suppose another way to approach it would be from the other end of the spectrum, and use your weakest ball first. That would be something like an IQ Tour, then work your way up the scale to the strongest ball that will work on the condition. But then when you get transition and work your way back down through the progression, you've already thrown everything a little. Try what works best, and go with it, from any of these 3 plans of attack.
My Benchmark is my Purple Hammer Reactive. It's the only solid I have that responds to all friction. I'll move into the TNT Infused after that if it's not finishing on the back-end.
Truly a treat to watch Jordan roll! I'd say maybe my Web Tour? That Tungsten shot looks tricky for your game, although once you were using the ion and uped your speed; it was score-city. That Pi is a beast. Amazing to see the difference on the patterns. That ball appears to rev up the most, although with the one-coloured balls (which you love) it's hard to tell. Jungo, do you not use a spare ball? Only wondering as in two three-rollers you listed six reactives. Either way, that Ion is sick & I could see you using the Pi, Ion, Ruby, iqU47 Idol Optimum & spare. If no spare than maybe the Vibo. Or you could always bring a Harsh or Attention Star. Anywho, thank you JR ProShop for another great vid, loving the cameo Jacob! 😂
My benckmark ball used to be the Zen. Now I've grown to really enjoy my Envy Tour and thats my benckmark. I dont know if its possible to have 2 benckmarks but both my Zen and Envy Tour feel like benckmarks for completely different reasons.
Tnt was my benchmark, but I hate throwing it after getting used to my pi. I use the pi as my benchmark now. Then swap to eternity or gold label off the reaction if needed
My Idol Synergy because it has two of my highest games on it with a backend that is not too smooth it burns out, and it's not too angular that goes past the head pin
Rate my arsenal? In order of purchase Storm Tropical Surge (sanded polish with 1000 grit for surface), Brunswick TZone, Storm Super Nova, Brunswick Teal Rhino Pro, Global 300 Teal honey badger, & the new Hammer Artic Vibe... Plan on exchanging the Tropical Surge with a Urethane. Probably going Purple Hammer
My center is very high friction and I've got a decent rev rate plus a lot of axis rotation. I end up having to play something smooth that won't jump off the spot, at least until lanes break down. For me, that has been the optimum idol, kept roughly at box surface. It is the smoothest ball reaction I've found, short of bringing urethane. I've found it very difficult to make asym equipment work due to my axis rotation. Strong asym balls hook too much and force me left, into the soup. I'd be interested in trying the Ion, but I'm worried that it's going to be too much ball. I've already got a p2 which has served me well.
My benchmark for the longest time has been the DV8 Damn Good Verge solid, but my new benchmark is the Summit. I just love the way it reads the lane and to me is very versatile no matter how burnt up the lanes get I can always adjust and still strike. Great ball!
Hy-Road is my benchmark. 1st out of the bag. With that ball. I know if I need to go up or down. But usually stay with that ball because it’s so versatile (for me) . It’s clean with backend on the fresh, typical house shot
Ronald Hickland, Jr. explained the difference in pearl, hybrid, and solid. He said the pearls before about 2003 had a liquid additive and the solid had a powder additive. Now they both have only powder additives, since the makers of the liquid additive priced themselves out of the market. In other words, there's really no difference, and for this reason, when they're brought to the same surface, the roll is indistinguishable. Who knew? You can see on the Storm extended video with Steve and Gio; when the ION is sanded, the ball rolls just like a Phaze 2, except that the ION has better continuation through the pin deck. That's OK, since the Phaze 2 was envisioned as a control piece with a pretty large core. Enjoy. And buy an ION. I think the ION will ride the shim on THS very well.j
Phase 2 has been my benchmark ball but it's beyond burnt out, it's so tough being a league bowler so many choices but the costs is pricey so unfortunately my bag does not have the proper equipment, but I do with what I can afford, great vid breaking down your bag, I wish more vids wear geared towards what is good fir us league bowlers from the fresh down to the burn.
Discontinued balls get heavily discounted. Pick up a ball to fill/replace a spot in your bag when you they go on deep discount or single drilled/low use balls is a good way to go too,
I'm not sure where you are, but if you can find any NIB Gamebreaker ball at a discounted price, you've found yourself what could be a great benchmark.
Summit is my benchmark ball. For me it doesn’t excel at anything but it just good overall.
Phaze Two !!! It is very controllable but still has a very good angle
That...p2 with some games on it is smooth, blends out wet dry extremely well, and I know when im leaving flat corners its time to change
My benchmark ball for the past couple years has been the game breaker 4 solid. That ball is so consistent on any pattern I throw it on
Zen Master is my benchmark ball. Because it good
Black Widow 2.0 hybrid. I can't see anything replacing it especially at it's price point. Always the first out of the bag and often only one needed all night
I'm still throwing the OG Idol with 90 million games on it, me and the ball are growing old together. Still works on everything. I can put 3000 plus shine and stand left and throw it on old fried 3 day old unoiled Bowlero medium length lanes, or fresh 44 foot house. Your new Ion looked great on the shorter pattern, and I'd consider it for the shorter house, but apprehensive that the cover is too strong.
just to make sure i secure my spot as the first comment, also this ball is pretty good. i hope they can start releasing more multi-purpose benchmark ball
Idol Cosmos Is my benchmark ball. I literally use It on everything.
Tour dynamix. I find that it’s just that nice middle of the bag that I can get a read from on the sport patterns
Tour DynamX is my current benchmark. Predictable. No over/under on fresh patterns.
Tour Dynamix here! I love the slight asym and how long it just floats down the lane not turning too hard at my house.
Black venom. Love the shape and fits perfectly in the midle of my bag
I think this ball is Storm's version of the Black Venom.
@@jimk9290 yeah! Seen some comparrisons, ION, envy tour and Black venom all look the same really. But considering how much i love my Black venom this will be a really good ball for the spi loyalists 😅
Benchmark for me has been the tour dynamx since it came out! Great hand feel and plenty of utility
I'd say my current benchmark is the Zen Soul. It is a very controllable piece for me, works almost everywhere. My Sun Storm is getting the most use however.
Xponent is currently my benchmark ball. I have the Attention Star, Xponent, Hustle USA & Ice. I only bowl senior league and it's rarely on a fresh pattern.
I have an Xponent as my benchmark, too. Which ball out of your arsenal gets used the most for you? I have a Storm Nova that I like for fresh house shot.
@@TheLlamaD The Attention Star is new and being drilled tomorrow morning. My time between the Xponent & Hustle is pretty evenly split. There's a league right before mine so the lanes are never fresh.
xponent is a house shot killer
@@TheHaggard82 I just shot a 708 in a 3 game series with my Xponent(2 games) and Nova. I sanded the ball before league from 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, and 4000. It really crushed the pins! True house shot killer.
Eternity Pi is a beast. Shot a 650 at league with mine last week.
My benchmark is hammer hazmat I ball up to the hammer effect or BW 3.0 and I ball down to the Arctic vibe or Nu blue. Hazmat is an incredibly symmetrical hybrid works on almost every condition.
ive got zen soul. since its hybrid it does pop more in the backend than a solid but i can manipulate it and it follows rlly well. roll more forward and it goes forward, rotate it and it hooks more downlane. i’ll find another benchmark ball sometime when zen soul gets old
Optimum idol, Tour dynamx are my babies right now!
Phaze 2 is my benchmark solid for this past season, Duo is my benchmark pearl, Motiv Black Venom and Hustle M-M below them and BW 3.0 as my big strong Asymm solid... Pitch Black is the urethane piece... I will use a combination of 3 of these for my league bag, but the Phaze 2 is always in the middle lately. It is strong, predictable, and dependable.
My IQ Ruby with some surface is my first go to ball. Then if it’s too much oil I grab the Eternity Pi
Surprisingly zen gold label. I have a 3 inch pin on it so it’s very smooth on transition. And surprisingly my 1st out the bag strongest is a 3 inch pin on phase 2
My benchmark ball is the IQ tour solid. Sometimes at tournaments I use the tour dynamx for a benchmark depending on the pattern out there.
Benchmark is the Phaze 2 & the Optimum Idol depending on the day. I’m converting from No Thumb to Conventional so adjustment is needed. Is that polish on the Optimum? It looks much cooler than mine, lol.
My current benchmark is my Infinite Physix, though I maintain a decent bit of surface on it. It used to be my Zen, but it probably has over 200 games on it and needs to be retired.
Idol Pro for my benchmark, but it’s probably more of a comfort thing. Very smooth and predictable in my opinion.
Idol/TDX/phaze 2 are usually my benchmarks depending what I’m bowling on
IQ Tour is my benchmark (go figure) its very reactive to friction but sails on oil. I bowl on oldish wood lanes as a two hander so its pretty good for league shot
My current benchmark ball is the global 900 xponent.
Ball is so good. I bought 2.
IQ Tour Solid
Great video Jungo! Love the contrasting oil patterns. Lots of great info!😊
Just what I’ve been needinggggg!!!🥳
My benchmark ball is now the Absolute Power. I had a P2 but didn’t match up with it.
Black Venom. It's good on everything and the same idea as the Ion Pro. Lower diff asymmetric core, except with a solid cover instead of a hybrid.
Idol Helios is my benchmark ball. Smooth roll and controllable back end. Very consistent.
I have 2 benchmark balls. 1 is the Envy tour solid which allows me to keep my angles nice and straight on fresh (especially if it’s a little heavier for a house pattern). The other is my Infamous (I know Barks hates that ball 😂). That’s my go to ball for a house shot that allows me to play a little more angular than the tour while still being predictable
So should you drill all your asyms the same when doing an arsenal? I figure this way you can see if you need to ball up ball down easier.
Xponent. Such an underrated ball
I agree
i.m using Motiv Venom Shock for my benchmark
4:46 RANDY!!!
Good shot, though.
But isn’t this ball too similar to the Roto Grip Tour Dynam-X?
Tour Dynamx was discontinued. The pros have so far said the Ion Pro actually does what the TDX was meant to do. The cover wasn't strong enough on TDX.
The columbia300 messenger pearl. I like to get inside and wheel on it with slower speed.
My bench mark ball is the Storm Zero Gravity. I had it as my ball down from my Virtual Gravity Nano. My intent was a clean ball that can control the lanes when the Virtual Gravity goes flat.
I’ve never been in many tournaments with challenge shots. But usually I start with my big ball and see how it responds and from there I move balls.
As someone that uses the reality check as a benchmark this will be a VERY welcome replacement when the time comes
My Xponent should be my benchmark ball, but it is actually my Crux Prime that is lane shined and touched with a 3000 pad. The Crux Prime is less likely to fool me.
I have two bags I go to lol. One is 900G and the other hammer so my benchmark piece is the Zen Master/Soul in one bag and the hammer scorpion in the other
I'm definitely getting this ball...i REALLY want to see the X-Cell in action. I've had a Pi and Harsh Reality, but there's something about 900 Global that just doesn't work for me. I don't have the revrate to have them read the way everyone else can
Ok, I don't get this at ALL with my Ion, it's so clean and smooth I almost want to call it too weak. My idol is WAY stronger than the Ion
That’s something I struggle with i usually start with my strongest asym and work my way down
That's not a bad idea. That way, when you find a ball that suits the condition, you'll throw it until it's too strong, then you ball down in your sequence of equipment. I may try that myself, although I've always thought of the benchmark as being the middle-of-the-bag ball. Well, it still is, but your method just looks at the lane condition from a different, and I think quite valid perspective. I suppose another way to approach it would be from the other end of the spectrum, and use your weakest ball first. That would be something like an IQ Tour, then work your way up the scale to the strongest ball that will work on the condition. But then when you get transition and work your way back down through the progression, you've already thrown everything a little. Try what works best, and go with it, from any of these 3 plans of attack.
I prefer the Innovator Solid over eternity Pi when bowling on soup.
My Benchmark is my Purple Hammer Reactive. It's the only solid I have that responds to all friction. I'll move into the TNT Infused after that if it's not finishing on the back-end.
Hammer Envy Tour strong but controllable.
@jrproshop what's the layout on Jungo's Ion?
My benchmark ball is my iQ tour because I switched to 15lb and its the only one i have (except a 15lb hyroad pearl that's not drilled yet)
Is your Optimum Idol surfaced? Looks a lot shinier than mine!
Utah made balls usually lane shine up pretty quick
Very hard to sway most bowlers off Phaze 2 for benchmark. Don’t always need the new stuff to get the job done. Ion does look like a good ball though.
P2 but I’m excited to give this a try
Game Breaker 2. Can use it on almost anything just like the original back in the day.
Truly a treat to watch Jordan roll!
I'd say maybe my Web Tour?
That Tungsten shot looks tricky for your game, although once you were using the ion and uped your speed; it was score-city.
That Pi is a beast. Amazing to see the difference on the patterns. That ball appears to rev up the most, although with the one-coloured balls (which you love) it's hard to tell.
Jungo, do you not use a spare ball? Only wondering as in two three-rollers you listed six reactives. Either way, that Ion is sick & I could see you using the Pi, Ion, Ruby, iqU47 Idol Optimum & spare. If no spare than maybe the Vibo. Or you could always bring a Harsh or Attention Star.
Anywho, thank you JR ProShop for another great vid, loving the cameo Jacob! 😂
My benckmark ball used to be the Zen.
Now I've grown to really enjoy my Envy Tour and thats my benckmark. I dont know if its possible to have 2 benckmarks but both my Zen and Envy Tour feel like benckmarks for completely different reasons.
Envy Tour. It's my smoothest and very controllable.
Tnt was my benchmark, but I hate throwing it after getting used to my pi. I use the pi as my benchmark now. Then swap to eternity or gold label off the reaction if needed
Primal shock ❤
Phaze 2 for sure. It does whatever I want it to do.
Does the ion pro work good on house shots
Would the Ion, Optimum Idol and Attention Star be a good trio?
Hy Road Nano my most versatile ball somewhere towards the middle of my bag
My Idol Synergy because it has two of my highest games on it with a backend that is not too smooth it burns out, and it's not too angular that goes past the head pin
Rate my arsenal? In order of purchase Storm Tropical Surge (sanded polish with 1000 grit for surface), Brunswick TZone, Storm Super Nova, Brunswick Teal Rhino Pro, Global 300 Teal honey badger, & the new Hammer Artic Vibe... Plan on exchanging the Tropical Surge with a Urethane. Probably going Purple Hammer
My center is very high friction and I've got a decent rev rate plus a lot of axis rotation. I end up having to play something smooth that won't jump off the spot, at least until lanes break down. For me, that has been the optimum idol, kept roughly at box surface. It is the smoothest ball reaction I've found, short of bringing urethane. I've found it very difficult to make asym equipment work due to my axis rotation. Strong asym balls hook too much and force me left, into the soup. I'd be interested in trying the Ion, but I'm worried that it's going to be too much ball. I've already got a p2 which has served me well.
Tour dynamx has been my benchmark since I got it. Sublime is a close 2nd.
I feel every stone 8. Like a punch straight to the kidney 😂
Piranha PowerCor has been mine. Good teeth like the Optimum Idol but Ion looks great. I loved my iQ Tour but it rolled out. Also use my Phaze II
Phaze 2 because it rolls so good for me I just got a second one rolls great on everything
Should be below the Optimum Idol. Hybrid version of the PhazeII cover, so below the P2 but with a little asymmetry.
messenger solid. so smooth and hits like a truck
White dot on house. Purple hammer on sport. Rev dominant.
My benchmark ball is the pink idol if I need to ball up it’s my dna coil and my balld down from it is the 3d offset
Hammer Envy tour, works everywhere.
Funny enough the core numbers for the Envy Tour are almost identical to the Ion Pro.
My Motiv Fatal venom is my benchmark ball right now
OG Zen...middle of my bag
My benchmark for the longest time has been the DV8 Damn Good Verge solid, but my new benchmark is the Summit.
I just love the way it reads the lane and to me is very versatile no matter how burnt up the lanes get I can always adjust and still strike. Great ball!
IQ Tour Sold
Got 4 different benchmark balls, Hyroad, Hustle USA (symmetrics), Code Battle, and Rubicon Attack (asymmetrics). All at 3000 grit and versatile.
For low speed is the Ion better than the IQ tour
Hy-Road is my benchmark. 1st out of the bag. With that ball. I know if I need to go up or down. But usually stay with that ball because it’s so versatile (for me) . It’s clean with backend on the fresh, typical house shot
Ronald Hickland, Jr. explained the difference in pearl, hybrid, and solid. He said the pearls before about 2003 had a liquid additive and the solid had a powder additive. Now they both have only powder additives, since the makers of the liquid additive priced themselves out of the market. In other words, there's really no difference, and for this reason, when they're brought to the same surface, the roll is indistinguishable. Who knew? You can see on the Storm extended video with Steve and Gio; when the ION is sanded, the ball rolls just like a Phaze 2, except that the ION has better continuation through the pin deck. That's OK, since the Phaze 2 was envisioned as a control piece with a pretty large core. Enjoy. And buy an ION. I think the ION will ride the shim on THS very well.j
Start of with VEBO if lanes are fresh...then to a FATE ...then bench mark is the IQ ruby...or the OG Virtual energy goes long then snaps ....
Just curious is this weaker than the Phaze 2?
Bowled it to go long storm virtual energy blackout
What’s your ball speed?
I want to buy the ion pro
A Columbia Yellow Dot. I’m too cheap to buy a new ball.
Sublime with 1000 grit is my Benchmark. Perfect blend of solid and pearl.
Phaze II. the GOAT
What is the surface on your pi
I have an old IQ and a newer phase 2, on sport my benchmark is the IQ it's a little weaker but smoother than the phase 2 at the moment.
My benchmark ball is the smoothest most predictable and earliest HArsh Reality by 900 Global.
Tour dynam-x. It tells me if I need to go to urethane or not. Easy to ball up from and easy to throw urethane off of it.
My benchmark ball is absolute power really smooth and really strong middle in my bag