Let me preface this article before we dive in. First and foremost, I believe it is all opinion on what the best ball or the best company is out on the market. Storm made a pretty strong statement with some of their equipment. Brunswick even perked some heads, but I am pretty sure everyone has talked about the Roto Grip Defiant (even if you didn't purchase the ball). Again this is all he said, she said, mumbo jumbo talk about some good equipment. With that said, lets look at what I feel are the top 10 bowling balls for this past season.

1) Storm Marvel Pearl - This ball was not only a hard hitter on your THS(Typical House Shot). The Pearl also won 3 televised PBA Events which were all on a different patterns. This shows the versatility of the Marvel Pearl, and establishing succes on the tour is always a good sign. The Marvel Pearl's success comes from it's unique Centripetal core shape, and the work Storm put into the coverstock to get it just right. The result is a bowling ball that creates more of a skip-flip reactiong that bowlers love. The beauty of this shape is that it's easy to drill and produces a very predictable motion that really packs a punch.

2) Storm Frantic - Not only did they get crazy with the colors on this one but also created a lot of success on and off Tour. Weber won his 5th US Open with the Frantic. Storm continues their hot streak with another versatile ball, and the price is hard to beat. Looking under the hood, you’ll find the innovative N.O.S. Core. When compared with the Turbine Core, Storm created an increase of flare potential by more than 15% with this higher volume core. Wrap this core with the same cover-stock as the Hy-Road and it’s easy to see why the bowling world is frantic over this new masterpiece!

3) Brunswick Nexus f(P+F) Solid - Brunswick calls it one of the biggest hooking balls they have ever created. It sure did its job! Sean Rash, Player of the Year recipient, used this ball to help him get that award. It may not have been the ball used on the final rounds, but it wad definitely the bowling ball that helped get Rash to where he was headed. ƒ(P+F) describes Brunswick's latest ƒormula that combines their new (P)rojection and their new (F)riction additives together to create Brunswick's most aggressive cover-stock to date.

4) DV8 Hell Raiser Revenge - Like the Nexus Solid, the DV8 Hell Raiser Revenge was able to generate a lot of success because of the amount of hook it was able to generate. Working off of the original Hell Raiser, the Revenge was only meant to get better! If DV8 keeps realasing bowling balls like the Hell Raiser Revengethen they should see some results on tour soon! The Hell Raiser Revenge has easy length through the front and mid-lane with a very quick response to friction on the back-end creating a highly angular motion for a matte finish ball that tears through the pins on medium oily to oily lane conditions.

5) Roto Grip Defiant - This was probably one of the most talked about bowling balls this year. The Defiant turned a lot of heads and also had a lot of success. This unique elliptical shape defines predictability of axis migration and allows you to perfectly match up your ball reaction to the condition at hand. Strong mid-lane roll and a HUGE continuous, sweeping hook on the back-end! Now it is time to see if the Pearl can hold its end of the original Defiant and go down as another great ball from Roto Grip.

6) Brunswick C-(System) versa max - This is a very versatile ball even though it was designed to be a skid flip ball. The C-System Veras Max was another great bowling ball from Brunswick that helped propel Sean Rash to win the Tournament of Champions! With its High Gloss Finish, the versa-max skids effortlessly through the front, saving axis rotation for the back-end with a strong continuous break-point. The versa-max is the most versatile ball motion from fresh to extremely broken down lane conditions on light to medium-oily lane patterns.

7) Track 716T - Provides excellent traction in the oil with a strong arcing motion at the break-point. You may have seen the Track 716T as Michael Fagan used it to win the USBC Masters this year. We have to commend Track for really making hings simple, and easy to understand what their bowling balls are capable of by using their numbering system. The GEN XT cover takes surface adjustments with ease for those needing more or less traction in the front part of the lane.

8) Hammer Taboo Dark Electric Blue/Silver - This ball may not have won any titles on the PBA but it sure has been the most popular selling ball of the year. Working off of the original Taboo, the Dark Electric turned a lot of heads by making the Taboo line even more aggressive with an electrical back-end.

9) Roto Grip Critical Theory - Very popular ball among bowlers this year. You may have seen Jason Belmonte use the Critical Theory to bowl a 300, and was an intrigual ball in his terrific 2011 – 2012 season . Designed to maximize dry lane traction, this shell will help increase your entry angle and sharpen your break point, which can only cause more Strikes!

10) Storm Hy-Road - The Hy-Road is a great example of a great bowling ball NEVER dies. I am selecting this awesome ball to round out the top ten. Eventhough the Hy-Road was introduced in 2008 bowlers are still using this ball on tour, and most importantly are still having a lot of success while using it. Very versatile, meant to handle heavier oil but still is able to get down the lane on drier conditions. To have a ball go for 4 years straight is a feat in and of its self.

Here are some examples of what the Pro's were able to do with the top 10 bowling balls for 2011-(Mid)2012:

Bayer Viper Open - Storm Hy-Road, Storm 2fast, Storm Tropical Heat - Stuart Williams

WSOB Chameleon Open - Storm Marvel Pearl, Brunswick Nexus Solid - Jason Belmonte

WSOB Scorpion Open - Storm Marvel Pearl, Brunswick Nexus Solid - Dom Barrett

Geico Shark Open - Roto Grip Critical Theory, Columbia Dark Encounter - Jason Belmonte

PBA World Championship - Storm Nano Pearl, Roto Grip Outlaw, Storm Hy-Road - Osku Palermaa

Carmen Salvino Classic - Storm Frantic, Storm Hy-Road - Andres Gomez

Pepsi PBA Elite Players Championship - Roto Grip Bandit, Storm Marvel Pearl - Jason Belmonte

Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship - Brunswick Nexus Pearl, DV8 Too Recklace, Storm Anarchy - Norm Duke Storm Frantic - Wes Malott

Alka Seltzer Plus Liquid Gels USBC Masters - Columbia Violent Eruption, Track 716T - Mike Fagan

69th US Open - Track 607A, Storm Frantic - Pete Weber

PBA Tournament of Champions - Brunswick Nexxus, Brunswick C-System Versa Max - Sean Rash