Under the lights at the International Training and Research Center, Brandon Bonta delivered a moment that instantly became part of PBA history.
In the championship match of the PBA Players Championship, the season’s first major, the rookie fired a perfect 300 game against EJ Tackett to capture his first PBA Tour title.
Bonta’s path to the PBA Players Championship trophy was anything but easy. He battled through the stepladder as a No. 4 seed, defeated current best player in the world, and closed the night with perfect game, handling two different oil patterns at the same time.
Let’s take a closer look at Brandon Bonta’s bowling ball choices that led him to the perfect start of his professional career.
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Bonta relied on the Storm !Q Tour 78/U on the shorter 37-foot Viper pattern, and it stayed in his hands all the way to the final shot of his perfect game in the title match.
The Storm !Q Tour 78/U, introduced in December 2023 in response to the
updated PBA 78HD minimum hardness rule, was designed to offer a modern
urethane reaction within the new regulations.
Built around the proven C3 Centripetal Control Core from the original IQ
Tour and paired with the Control 78 Solid Urethane coverstock, the ball
produces a smooth, early, and forward motion.
With its 78HD
hardness rating, low RG, and moderate differential, the !Q Tour 78/U is well
suited for medium to dry conditions, providing the controlled and
predictable shape that helped Bonta manage the shorter pattern all the way
to the final shot of his perfect game.
Roto Grip Transformer
Bonta relied on the Roto Grip Transformer primarily on the longer 50-foot Badger pattern during the stepladder matches against Spencer Robarge and Jesper Svensson, before making adjustments later in the semifinals against Graham Fach.
When the stepladder required control on the fresh 50-foot Badger pattern,
Brandon Bonta relied on the Roto Grip Transformer.
Transformer is one of the newest additions to the Roto Grip lineup. It
features the asymmetric Morph-Wing Core, designed to significantly alter its
motion depending on drilling layout. The mass displacement within the wing
structure allows for noticeable changes in flare potential and breakpoint
shape, giving players a wide range of motion options.
Paired with the V-R1 Solid Reactive coverstock, the ball offers a strong yet balanced traction-to-reaction ratio, making it a reliable choice on higher volume conditions where shape and continuation through the pins are critical.
Storm Bionic
In the semifinal, when Badger oil patter demanded a stronger move and
continuation through the pins, Bonta made an adjustment to the Storm Bionic.
Although the ball had not yet reached full retail release at the time (if
will be out on 27th of February), it was already proving itself on the PBA
Tour.
Designed as a symmetrical evolution of the Element Max Core found in the Ion
Max, the Bionic keeps a low RG profile while offering increased differential
through its stacked ellipse core structure.
Wrapped in the proven NRG Hybrid coverstock, it delivers a versatile motion that can be adjusted to different surfaces.
The center-heavy mass and added flip block create a defined torque effect at the breakpoint, giving Bonta the added motion he needed when the transition became critical.
Representing 900 Global, Brandon Bonta relied entirely on SPI bowling balls during his run to the PBA Players Championship title.
One key detail is that qualifying rounds were held at Bowlero Euless, while
the televised finals moved to a completely different environment at the
International Training and Research Center.
That change of venue mattered. A ball reaction that matched up well in Euless could behave very differently at the ITRC, making the right equipment choices especially important.
