Bowling Ball - Storm - Next Factor

Reimagined for what’s next.

The Next Factor brings one of Storm’s most iconic ball lines into the modern era. First introduced in 2002, the X-Factor quickly became synonymous with explosive backend motion and the unmistakable skid-flip reaction that defined an entire generation of Storm performance. Now, more than twenty years later, our Innovation Team—led by CTO Hank Boomershine—has reimagined that legacy for today’s game.

This new iteration blends Storm’s high-tech heritage with the advancements bowlers expect from our strongest modern releases. Clean through the front, dynamic at the breakpoint, and relentless through the pins, the Next Factor is built for when you’re ready to open up your angles and let your ball do the talking. It’s a revival with purpose—honoring the past while pushing performance into the future.

R3S Pearl Reactive Coverstock

The Next Factor is wrapped in R3S, a reactive cover uniquely positioned between R2S and TX-16 in terms of traction and response. This formulation was chosen specifically to amplify the strengths of the core: clean midlane travel paired with a controlled, angular move downlane. R3S provides a rare balance of traction and flip, giving players a predictable read early and a powerful continuation through the pins. It’s the ideal shell to bring a legendary motion profile back to life in today’s lane environments. 

RAD-TQ Weight Block 

At the heart of the Next Factor is the RAD-TQ, a reengineered version of one of the most influential asymmetric cores in Storm history. Originally introduced as the RAD (Radical Accelerating Disk) in the X-Factor, this modern revival preserves the core’s defining traits—high RG, high differential, and a conservative PSA strength—while utilizing updated internal materials for enhanced efficiency and stability.

The result is a core that clears the fronts with ease and stores an exceptional amount of energy for a devastating backend move. The RAD-TQ brings back the iconic motion that helped shape the Storm brand, now optimized for today’s higher-friction surfaces and modern bowler styles.