The ball models mentioned in the official USBC Press Release remain USBC approved.
For those participating in the national events listed we will offer you an exchange. For those who are unaffected by the national tournament exclusion rule, you can continue to use these products in league and approved tournament play.
The models affected by the national tournament exclusion rule include:
– Storm Phaze 4
– Storm Electrify Solid
– Storm Trend 2
– 900 Global Altered Reality
– 900 Global Wolverine
– Roto Grip UFO Alert
Information about the exchange program will be published later this week on stormbowling.com.
Read the full release here: https://bowl.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?id=23622337509
About Storm Products, Inc.
Storm Products Inc. continues to lead the bowling industry in innovation through our high-performance bowling equipment, accessories, and shoes featuring the Storm, Roto Grip, 900 Global, Master, and 3G Brands. In addition to creating the highest quality of products that the top athletes choose for PBA and PWBA Tour competitions, Storm strives to inspire existing bowlers, foster and develop new bowlers, and educate those in our industry to provide exemplary service to all bowlers.
For those of us who’s leagues or tournaments decide to adopt the USBC ruling, will we be able to exchange as well? How is the determination going to be made as to who gets an exchange and who doesn’t? Consistency and transparency through situations like this are key and should be at the forefront of thought.
We will be offering a voluntary exchange for all affected customers. Thanks for your patience.
I have a Storm Electrify (not sure of solid or pearl). How can I determine what type of ball I have.
Here’s a link to the Solid: https://www.stormbowling.com/electrify-solid-bbmves10
From the USBC press release, “These ball models remain USBC approved. Each USBC competition, whether tournament or league, has the option to adopt USBC’s national tournament rule prohibiting use of these balls or to continue to allow their use.”
Will you be providing exchanges in the event Sanctioned leagues or other tournaments decide to adopt the national tournament rule prohibiting the use of these bowling balls? I own many of these bowling balls, the many leagues and tournaments I bowl prohibiting the use of these bowling balls would limit my selection to a plastic ball. I would prefer to have these exchanged so I am not blindsided by a sudden ruling by an event I am attending. Will you please clarify this?
Thank you!
Hello Eddie! We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
Thank you for the update Blair!
So my husband and I both have the UFO Alert and are bowling state in a few weeks and other tournaments this year and the open in reno next year. Would we be able to get the trade in or are you only helping your customers who are bowling this year.
Hi Brianna! We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
I believe that ALL bowlers who have these products should get a chance to exchange for a USBC approved ball. There is no reason to exclude league and tournament players because there is always a chance that tournaments or leagues will not approve these balls. Also, there are regular competition bowlers who want to compete in national events, but they will not be able to use their preferred equipment.
Hi Tyler. We never said we weren’t offering an exchange program for all customers. We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
I bowl with storm products only and have for several years. My only concern is I just received the Global 900 Wolverine to replace the Spectre and I bowl the Trend 2 alot. These 2 balls were going the nationals’ with me and now I am out 2 balls to use and I only have 3 plus a spare ball. So will it be 1 ball and hope for the best?
Hello Steve! We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
I have already received the Wolverine(to replace the Spectre) and it is not drilled, will there be a different exchange process for that ball?
We ordered my son a replacement ball for his now-illegal Storm Spectre on 3/22/22 and chose the 900 Global Wolverine. He bowls Junior Gold, which is an affected tournament by this new ruling by the USBC. My question is what do we do now? None of the other replacement offerings fit my son’s placement of the Spectre in his arsenal. Would it be possible to get a 900 Global Zen (Pearl) as a replacement and pay the difference in price, as this is the only ball currently in production that has a similar motion to the Spectre. Because of my son’s relatively slow ball speed (approx. 15 mph) and low rev rate (approx. 300 rpm), he needs a stronger symmetrical pearl to place between his Roto Grip Rubicon UC2 and his burn ball than the Storm Hy-Road Pearl can provide. Thank you for your consideration. We are loyal customers to the Storm family of products and hope you will consider our dilemma so that my son can develop and grow in youth bowling to transition into collegiate competition. Also, we all know it’s just a matter of time before the USBC extends this rule to the local level as well.
Hi Staci! We will be contacting all customers who ordered a Wolverine! Thanks for your patience.
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These ball models remain USBC approved. Each USBC competition, whether tournament or league, has the option to adopt USBC’s national tournament rule prohibiting use of these balls or to continue to allow their use.”
Will you honor the exchange if a league bans them?
Hi Edric! We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
What if my league does not approve these?
Hi Michael! We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
The full release stated that Storm will stop making the five balls. I purchased both the Phaze 4 and Altered Reality just one month ago. Your communication states you will only give exchanges to those in competition. Well, I feel since you no longer make these balls and they have been banned, you should still take care of ALL your customers. I invested in Storm when I purchased these balls with my hard earned money. You need to do what is right for your customers.
Hi Scott. We never stated we wouldn’t replace the balls. We simply stated they are still USBC approved. We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
Thank you Blair for your response. I spent $515.00 for the Phaze 4, Altered Reality and having a pro shop drill them. Since the ban I feel like I am cheating when I am using them. This is why I feel they should be exchanged. Thank you again.
I am very disappointed in the “customer service” response to this ball exchange. While it sounds good in the beginning, you must pay shipping to return your defective ball. I had two that I put in the mail today, and it cost me $80.00 for shipping from Florida to Utah. Then the drilling voucher is for only $50.00 per ball. Bowlero pro shop charges $65-75 per ball. Bottom line is it cost me $110.00 to exchange my defective bowling balls that I bought one month ago at a cost of $515.00. I have never experienced such poor customer service such as this. No more Storm for me.
Whats the real reason behind all this? Let’s cut thru the chase and know the real reason. USBC approves balls then discredit them, why?
So the wolverine is the ball I chose to replace my spectre if my local usbc bans my replacement and by the way I don’t even have it yet will another replacement be offered
Hi William! We will be contacting all customers who ordered a Wolverine.
Crazy stuff. Just got back in the game after chasing kid for years. Had the spectre. Loved it. Storm quickly replaced it with the wolverine…..lol. just had drilled and rolled 4 games with the wolverine when found out about the new ban. Wow. Hopefully will be able to exchange. 3rd time is a charm I guess. I do appreciate storms prompt easy exchange process for the spectre.
Hi Justin! We will be contacting all customers who ordered a Wolverine.
The wording above sounds like they are going to limit replacements to those participating in National events. Hope that is not the case. You should not have to worry about whether a ball is legal for a tournament. We pay good money for them to ensure quality and meet standards.
Hi Brett. We will be offering a voluntary exchange process for all customers who have been affected. More information will be released later this week.
So I bought a Spectre a month ago, and selected the Wolverine as my replacement. What do I do now?
Hi Matt! We will be contacting all customers who ordered a Wolverine.
Storm’s position on this is BS. The balls still CAN BE BANNED by local association rule. Which means that those customers lose money and Storm doesn’t give a Sh$&. Not to mention that just because I am not participating this year doesn’t mean I won’t next, but “Oh Yeah, I can’t use my equipment.” Thanks Storm. If these balls were pre approved for competition, f$&@ing fight the USBC. If they weren’t, that’s on you Storm.
Hello Joe! Thanks for your message. We understand your frustration. The official release states: These ball models remain USBC approved. Each USBC competition, whether tournament or league, has the option to adopt USBC’s national tournament rule prohibiting use of these balls or to continue to allow their use.
USBC has shared this national tournament rule with Storm and has Storm’s support. Storm will offer owners of the affected balls the option to exchange their balls for a new product. Information about the exchange program will be published later this week on stormbowling.com.
Storm is an American Company and this says something! Problems in the manufacturing process happens in various companies. Will continue to be loyal to the brand. This too will pass!
Man I just got my ufo alert going good when this drop how do I go about getting a replacement for it and where can I find my choices for exchange?
We will be publishing more details later this week.
What if our league bans these balls, then what?!? I just had my altered reality delivered last week, I’m just out $250?!?
Hi Justin! We will be offering a voluntary exchange. More details will be shared later this week.
Thanks for responding, I know this is very stressful for all Storm employees, and understand the frustration and mental overload. Obviously the situation is fluid and changes and errors should be understood by your customers, however, you can see our confusion given the initial communication we received:
“For those participating in the national events listed we will offer you an exchange. For those who are unaffected by the national tournament exclusion rule, you can continue to use these products in league and approved tournament play.”
“For those participating in the national events listed we will offer you an exchange. For those who are unaffected by the national tournament exclusion rule, you can continue to use these products in league and approved tournament play.”
So, I have a 900 Global Altered Reality, but my real question is WHAT is wrong with the USBC, who did Storm piss off there? How can the USBC take a Storm product, put it through THEIR testing, give it approval to Storm for manufacturing and marketing, and THEN pull the approval? Is the USBC trying to put Storm out of business?
Justin, I completely agree as i have had the same experience. I have a Spectre and already got my Wolverine and have 3 games on it. Surely Storm will exchange the Wolverine’s they sent out in the Spectre exchange. I hope anyway.
We will be contacting all customers who ordered a Wolverine! Thanks for your patience!
Storm is and always will be the Bowler’s Company.
Watch the video.
They will show you why they are great people who care about bowling and their customers.
An American success story.
Question? I had the Storm Spectre and it’s in it’s box not getting used. I filled out the form for a replacement and chose the Wolverine because specs were similar. Now the USBC is picking on that ball also and it’s in process, I believe for refund. I bowl in a couple of semi-classic/ classic leagues and thus far we’re not changing rules because of USBC, mainly because most of us have your products! Problem is, I have an UFO Alert also and have been using most of year. What do I do with that because I’m bowling in nationals? I’m not worried about the Wolverine that’s probably coming, but I am worried about the UFO that I can’t use in any big tournaments. What to do? I have the pictures of the ball drilled and serial number. Do I submit the same way as the Spectre? Thanks.—–Mike. Really don’t know what to do here and hope the USBC is checking others like Storm, RotoGrip and now 900 Global.