The PHYSIX is Storm’s latest high-end asymmetrical in the Premier line, which had me expecting hook in the range of the SURE LOCK or Roto-Grip HALO or NO RULES.

The new Atomic core is very close in numbers to the SURE LOCK, which I reviewed here, but the motion is different: The SURE LOCK rolls very heavy and the breakpoint motion is abrupt with a quick and direct move, while the PHYSIX for me rolls in more of a curving motion.

(Reminder: I throw 14-pounders and those numbers typically vary from 15 and 16.)

One difference is that the SURE LOCK coverstock is a solid (GI-17) and the PHYSIX is a hybrid (NRG).

Another is that I drilled my SURE LOCK pin-over bridge and my PHYSIX pin under middle finger, both with CGs and MBs kicked right.

With my PAP of 4 7/8 over and 5/8 up, the numbers on my PHYSIX are 5 3/8 pin-PAP, 3 5/8 MB-PAP and 5 1/8 pin buffer. With the new USBC rule option, it has no extra hole and 1 3/8 positive side.

The one thing that the PHYSIX and SURE LOCK have in common are that they need plenty of oil for optimum performance.

The recent South Point Senior Shootout was a perfect test since it featured three patterns: 35 feet with 25.08 mL, 39 feet with 26.19 mL, and 43 feet with 23.05 mL.

Even though the short pattern had the highest volume of oil, the PHYSIX was just too much coming off the oil line with that many feet of dry.

The PHYSIX was playable but too dynamic on the fresh medium pattern and I used a Storm DRIVE that had smoother motion on the fresh.

But the PHYSIX was fabulous on the fresh long pattern, as I started with 225 and 203 in the Haynes Challenge that easily could have been more, and struck at perhaps a 75 percent clip in my two matches on the long pattern lane in the Logo Infusion Challenge.

It picked up enough to prevent squirting for a 2-10 combination or worse, but wasn't so early that I had trouble getting to the breakpoint. And it made a nice move and continued through the pins with plenty of power.

The one time I had the PHYSIX with me on a house shot that appeared to be high volume, the HALO’s greater power and better ability to go out and back made me choose it and I totaled 2,173 in winning the all-events, doubles and singles.

The key that I have seen so far with the PHYSIX vs. the SURE LOCK, HALO and NO RULES is that I can play a fairly direct “jam” shot when the lane isn’t open to the right, while those other three balls I need to give away the pocket some to use — other than one PBA50 tournament when I used a 4,000 pad to really gloss up the NO RULES.

This was even true with good, clean shots when I took the PHYSIX down from 3,000 box to 1,000 by hand not exerting a lot of force.

Overall, I’d put the HALO and NO RULES as 2-3 boards stronger than my PHYSIX and SURE LOCK, although my SURE LOCK has probably a couple hundred games on it and I believe a new one would be in the same range as the HALO and NO RULES.

The PHYSIX for me has proven to be best with fairly small angles, making it ideal for fresh Sport shots or softer shots that are wet-dry where square angles are best.

When the lanes are easy with plenty of oil and can be opened up, I’d choose the HALO or SURE LOCK.

I’d recommend the PHYSIX for any player looking for a strong ball with a little more control than those other power balls from Utah. 

The PHYSIX is a ball I expect to stay in my tournament arsenal for a long time.