I’ve probably been a bigger fan of the Jason Belmonte line of Storm balls than just about anyone. 

I was not a huge fan of the TIMELESS, but almost no one seemed to be. I loved the DRIVE and even have an undrilled one I intend to get drilled before this year’s USBC Open Championships, the PRO MOTION was great on heavier oil for me, and I liked the TREND and TREND2, especially the TREND2 with its stronger cover.

Whatever you thought of any of those balls, I’ve seen a consensus of reviews and comments that the FATE is the best of the Belmo line. 

I agree.

The FATE features the ReX Pearl reactive coverstock that also is used in recent releases NIGHT ROAD, DARK CODE and INFINITE PHYSIX.

It pairs it with the new symmetrical F-8 core with RG of 2.52, 2.52 and 2.54 and differential of 0.052, 0.053 and 0.052 for 16s, 15s and 14s, respectively. That means my review of the 14-pounder I use should apply to 15s and 16s. 

I chose my standard pin-up strong drilling for my FATE. With my PAP of 4 7/8 over and 5/8 up, the numbers are 5 1/8 pin-PAP, 4 1/4 PAP-MB, and 3 1/2 pin buffer.

As I do with every box shiny Storm ball, I hit it lightly by hand with an old 4,000 pad just to knock the gloss off before turning it over to Gregg Goldstein for drilling at Ten Pin Alley Pro Shop.

While I like the ReX Pearl, with the core being new, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the FATE. 

It turned out to be stronger than what I expected, able to handle a decent amount of oil and actually being a bit strong for lighter volume with its Reacta Gloss box finish. With the 4,000 surface, it couldn’t handle high volume though. 

It picks up in the midlane, not squirting through the breakpoint, and has strong downlane motion that to me was more of a curve than a skid-flip or hockey stick motion. 

I found it similar to a DARK CODE, but stronger in handling oil, stronger than the NIGHT ROAD, and perhaps most similar to an INFINITE PHYSIX shined up. 

I used my FATE on the burn during match play of the Henry Hitter, a local 3-man tournament, and went from 279 in one match to 180 the next on a pair that was more cliffed, as I left 3-7-10 and a pair of 4-6-7-10s to go with some shots that didn’t turn the corner enough.

Simply put, the FATE is a ball that excels for me when it fits the pattern and doesn’t when it doesn’t. And it's fairly easy to tell the difference, which is not the case for every ball.

I have not tried my FATE with surface changes, as I love how it is when I find the right condition. 

The best part of the FATE for me has been the area and carry it produces when it’s right, as in that 279 that featured 11 strikes and a 4-pin. It reminded me of the old PIRANHA-C I had nearly 30 years ago that was a strike machine on the right condition.

I would say anyone who likes balls that make a strong move downlane would like the FATE, unless they only bowl on heavy oil and have a low rev rate.

Everyone else can get in, get inside and curve it.

Belmo would approve.