Storm IQ Tour Sapphire Bowling Ball

Storm !Q Tour Sapphire Coverstock: R2S Pearl Reactive Finish: Power Edge Core: C3 Centripetal Control Core RG: 2.49, Diff: 0.029 (15 lbs) VLS Layout: 5 x 4 x 2 1/2 Dual Angle Layout: 50 x 5 x 35 PAP: 5 3/16” right x 5/8” up Rev rate: 400 rpm Average speed: 16.5 mph Location: Prairie Lanes, Sun Prairie WI Pattern: Medium volume THS The !Q Tour Sapphire has arrived and is set to deliver the same feel and reaction as many of the previous !Q Tour Pearls – the latest being the Ruby. The Sapphire features the same R2S pearl reactive coverstock as the Ruby finished with the Power Edge finish, which has been on a number of Storm balls, and the C3 Centripetal Control Core found throughout the !Q line. There is no surprise here. The !Q Tour Sapphire is the next in line of legendary !Q Tour Pearl balls. I scuffed the surface lightly with a 3000 Abralon pad by hand as I’ve done on most balls that come with a shiny finish. I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen out of this ball. I’ve always loved the way !Q Tour Pearls roll and I get that similar roll and reaction out of the Sapphire as I did with the Ruby. Even after touching the surface with an Abralon pad, the Sapphire is still quite clean thanks to the Power Edge finish but reads the midlane extremely well and is sharp, but not too quick, on the backend. It’s a reaction shape that my eye really likes – slightly heavy rolling with some pop on the backend that helps it to drive through the pins. Compared to the !Q Emerald and Ruby before it, the Sapphire feels like it slots right in between those two. It’s very much a go-to for me on the medium oil house patterns with older lane surfaces. For tournaments, the Sapphire is a ball that’s in play after the lanes have gone through some transition and I need a ball that’s clean with some shape going through the pins. It just does the right thing in the right part of the lane. Chris Pollentier Storm Products Pro Shop Staff

Storm !Q Sapphire Ball Specs: C3 Centripetal Control Sym Core, R2s Pearl Reactive cover with Power Edge factory finish, Med-Low Flare, Sapphire color with a Blueberry fragrance Sapphire is the birthstone for September, but here at Storm, we believe in giving you outstanding ball reaction to celebrate all year long. There’s no better way to do that than with another stunning addition to the !Q Tour series, a ball that's sure to turn heads while leaving your competition feeling blue. Powered by the iconic C³™ Centripetal Control Core, the !Q Tour Sapphire delivers the smooth, predictable benchmark motion bowlers have trusted for years. This time, however, the proven R2S™ Pearl Reactive coverstock and Power Edge™ finish provide added length through the front of the lane, creating a cleaner look without sacrificing the control that defines the series. When you need a benchmark reaction that gets farther down the lane before making its move, the !Q Tour Sapphire is ready. It offers the familiar feel that made the !Q Tour a favorite, now with the extra length needed to stay ahead as conditions begin to transition. My Specs: Speed: (13-16 mph), Approx Rev Rt: (280-320), PAP: 4.25 x ½↑, Tilt: 10° Layout: 5x5x3 REVIEW: I loved both the Emerald and the Ruby so I knew I was gonna want the Sapphire, and I was not wrong! Like its predecessors the Sapphire gets through the head oil with ease, that R2S cover is as clean as they come, but the main difference here is the Power Edge finish on the Sapphire. With the Power Edge the Sapphire seems to be smoother than both the Emerald and Ruby, but more responsive once it sees friction leaving plenty of punch at the pocket. Originally, I thought this was going to be a transition to burn piece, however, I have been able to play the Sapphire from the start of the night and never came off of it on most centers I have rolled it on so far, covering three different lane beds (Pro-Lane, SPL & HPL). All three centers lay down a medium volume pattern for house so I have not yet seen this roll on heavier patterns yet, in which case I would think this would be more of that transition to burn ball. This will be my American Express ball, when going out to roll, I will never leave home without it! Be sure to visit your local Storm VIP Pro-Shop and pick one up today, you will not be disappointed. #stormnation #3GShoes

Storm !Q Tour Sapphire Coverstock: R2S Pearl Reactive Finish: Power Edge Core: C3 Centripetal Control RG: 2.54 Differential: 0.034 (14pd) Layout: 5 x 3 x 4 - 2LS Layout Extras: 2 1/8 Finger Depth, "X" - 4 1/2 D and 1 Inch Left Tester: PAP 6 1/2 R, 1 1/4 D Review: The !Q series continues on with the new !Q Tour Sapphire. This updated version of the !Q series features a Power Edge finish to the R2S coverstock. If you have enjoyed the !Q series this is a must have. If you are looking for a great reaction on a variety of house patterns you will want this one in the bag. At the moment, I'm leaving the factory OOB Power Edge finish untouched. In comparison to Reacta Gloss on the !Q Tour Ruby the Power Edge finish provides a nice balance and more controlled reaction. The !Q Ruby for me could be a bit quick off the spot down lane. The !Q Tour Sapphire provides great hitting power and did not make me feel the need to get super steep with my angles. Also, we adjusted the drill numbers a bit to retain energy and maintain hitting power. In my opinion, the iQ Tour Sapphire and the !Q Tour Ruby are different in overall reaction. The !Q Tour Ruby is about 1-2 feet longer and a bit over/under off the spot. Your !Q Tour Sapphire upgrade will not disappoint. The !Q Tour Sapphire is a nice addition for any arsenal and you'll likely find a spot in the bag for most medium/dry THS patterns. The blend of length, overall strength and control provides a lot of options for this ball. Be sure to grab one today!!! Michael Slatky 900 Global Staff Member York, PA

Just because it's been done before doesn't mean that it isn't needed! The IQ Tour Sapphire gives us that tradition shiny IQ shape that is so desperately needed on broken-down lane conditions. When you need a ball that gets through the fronts effortlessly and saves a ton of energy for a strong backend reaction, the Sapphire is what you need. I wouldn't quite label it is a “skid-flip” ball, though it does get close to being one. For me, it lands perfectly underneath equipment such as the Gremlin Tour-X or the Hyped up, when I need more length & backend than those two balls provide.

Storm released the latest in the iconic IQ Tour line, the !Q Tour Sapphire. It features all the tried and true components that have made the !Q Tour line one of the best and longest lasting names in bowling balls in the industry. The Sapphire features the C3 Centripetal Control Core. It’s fast-revving, but low-flare which creates a controllable, smooth predictable ball motion. The Sapphire does not feature AI (Amplified Inertia) so it will be a little cleaner and more responsible than the green !Q Tour AI. That core is wrapped with R2S Pearl Reactive coverstock. The R2S is another staple which is on all the !Q Tour balls except the 78U as well as being on the Hyroad, Summit Ascent, Road Warrior and Absolute Power. Since this is the Pearl version of R2S and it’s blue, a darker color, it should be one of the cleaner versions of the !Q Tour line, probably comparable to the Emerald from back in the day. The symmetrical core has a fairly low RG of 2.49 in the 15#. Even though the cover is pretty clean, the core will want to spin up so it shouldn’t blow past the midlane. Still this ball is meant for later in the block as the fronts start to hook and more friction develops on the lane. The dif is on the low side at 0.029 on the 15# so it’s not going to flare much which makes it a smooth and controllable ball motion. I drilled mine 5 x 4 x 2 which is the same layout I have on my Typhoon and !Q Tour AI. I was hoping it would fit right in between those 2 balls in my arsenal. Sure enough, that’s exactly where it seems to slot. The AI added to the core of the !Q Tour AI makes it earlier and smoother than the Sapphire, but similar overall hook. The Sapphire has a similar motion to the Typhoon, but more overall. On the house shot, I liked how the Sapphire can still be shaped in the oil if I softened up to give it time to come around the corner. Then, when I moved back to the right, the Sapphire didn’t bounce too quickly off the friction. Essentially, the Sapphire blended out that wet dry. The !Q Tour Sapphire is a great option for the low end of your bag.

Ball Specs: Sapphire IQ Cover: R2S Pearl, Power Edge Finish Core: Symmetric Scent: BLueberry The Storm !Q Tour Sapphire continues the legacy of one of the most trusted benchmark franchises in bowling, pairing the iconic, fast-revving C³ Centripetal Control Core (2.49 RG / 0.029 Diff in 15 lbs) with the time-tested R2S Pearl Reactive coverstock finished in polished Power Edge. Serving as the successor to popular staples like the !Q Tour Ruby and Emerald, the Sapphire glides cleanly through burned-up front heads while using its low-differential core to eliminate any over-responsive, jumpy behavior off the breakpoint. Instead of the violent sideways snap typical of high-diff pearls, it yields a smooth, blended, and exceptionally continuous arc into the pocket. For high-speed, high-rev power bowlers, it is the ultimate control pearl for transition and late-block play—giving you the freedom to move inside and trust that the ball will never violently jerk off the friction or blow past your target, maintaining elite pin carry even when the pattern gets cliffed. Review: Will Tefft Storm Staff Member will@parklanes.net www.strombowling.com #Stromnation

Easy review to write here. Thankful to see this one released as my Ruby had just cracked weeks just prior. Copy and paste ball reaction here. Loved the Ruby for it’s control and stronger R2S reaction. This one is the successor to the Ruby throne.

Storm IQ Tour Sapphire Coverstock: R2S™ Pearl Reactive - Power Edge Weight Block C3™ Centripetal Control Core (Symmetrical) Color: Sapphire Fragrance: Blueberry Review: Another great addition to the IQ line. We drilled this ball with our normal layout: tweener, 350-375 revs, 16.5mph, layout of choice is 5x4x2 (pin is above bridge). The lightweight core and pearl coverstock work incredibly well together to make this ball predictable and smooth from beginning to end of lane. Because this ball is so versatile you will see many players altering covers to get the reaction they want on a given lane condition. This piece fits best in our shop for tournament veterans and seasoned league bowlers. The IQ Tour Sapphire will most likely be the first IQ ball out of the bag for those who have several IQ pieces simply because of the versatility and predictability factor. It is more similar to the Emerald from years ago (probably due to the IQ ruby having Reacta Gloss which we were not fans of). For league bowlers looking for a pearl piece to add to their arsenal, this may be the direction you want to steer them simply because it is so easy to alter the cover and still work for multiple styles of play. For us this piece is going to be most used on the burn as we feel it controls the friction much better than the fresh. Overall a very solid piece from Storm and yes, it smells and looks great as always! Kyle, Joel, & Dean Johnson Storm Pro Shop Staffers joel@parklanes.net kyle@parklanes.net dean@parklanes.net www.stormbowling.com #StormNation #GoGlobal #SquadRG

One thing I’ve always found with the IQ Tour line is that no two IQ Tour Pearl balls seem to roll exactly the same, and the Sapphire is no exception. For this review, I tested the ball on a typical house shot using Glide oil. Fresh On the fresh, the IQ Tour Sapphire struggled to create enough recovery for me. When I tried to take it to the outside part of the lane, the ball simply didn’t have enough downlane response to make it back to the pocket, resulting in shots missing the headpin to the right. That reaction is not necessarily a surprise. The IQ Tour Sapphire is designed to excel in medium-to-light oil and transition. Transition: This is where the IQ Tour Sapphire really started to shine. I used the Wicked Gremlin for several games to create some friction and open up the lane. Once I made the move into the IQ Tour Sapphire, the difference was immediately noticeable. The combination of length, control, and hitting power was exactly what I look for from an IQ Tour Pearl. The Sapphire cleared the front part of the lane easily without jumping off the spot, while still providing enough continuation to drive through the pins. Throughout testing, the ball remained predictable and controllable. It never wanted to read the lane too early, and I always felt like I knew what the ball was going to do. Overall For higher-friction bowling centers, the IQ Tour Sapphire can easily find a place in your arsenal. With houses that have a heavier house shot, this ball needs to be benched. Get to games 3/4 and this ball will shine like a diamond....or in this case a Sapphire! Layout: 45 x 4 3/4 x 20

Orientation: Right Handed Rev Rate: 400 RPM Speed: 16-17 MPH PAP: 4 1/8 over and 1 up Location: Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO Pattern: High Volume THS VLS Layout: Layout 1: 4 3/8 x 4 x 2 1/8 (Pin above bridge) Layout 2: 4 x 4 x 3 7/8 (pin below bridge) Strength Rating (out of 10) : 6 Shape: Medium Sharp Best Use: Medium/Light Oil The IQ Tour Sapphire is a new pearl IQ Tour! I love the IQ Tour series and I’ve liked almost every IQ Tour Pearl and the Sapphire is going to be one of my favorites! It’s clean and snappy like a pearl, but also, like every IQ Tour, is a little blendy. The IQ Tours are the perfect combination of clean, shape and control. I will ALWAYS have an IQ Tour Solid in my bag and now I can add a Sapphire to the bag too for dry lanes or transition. You don’t have to overthink it, the IQ Tour Sapphire is a must have.