Show
Off
The SHOW OFF is Roto Grip’s latest addition to its HP-2 line and becomes a
companion there of the WRECK-EM and WRECK-IT.
However, do not let it’s HP-2 line status fool you!!!
This is one heck of a lot of bowling ball at its performance level and
price point!
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Match
Up(solid)
A few years back
I had become a big fan of the WIPE OUT, a part of the Hot Line in the Storm
arsenal with a simple symmetrical Turbine core and Storm’s famous R2STM
solid reactive coverstock. The
ball was great for me on STL house shots as well as lighter volume and some
versions of PBA Cheetah and other short sport patterns.
The one I had eventually cracked and I have been looking for a
replacement for it in my bag for quite some time without much success.
Timeless
The release of the TIMELESS has received a lot of hype because of the design
input contributed by Jason Belmonte and the fact that it is the first in what
Storm says will be an ongoing Signature Line. There’s a weight block inside
of another weight block in this new release. It produces an RG of 2.57 at 15
pounds, the highest RG ball Storm has produced since the FIGHT whose RG was at
2.62. The cover here is R2S hybrid at 1500-grit polish, which ends up being
super clean and hyper respectful of oil even with the ball’s high flare
potential and DIFF of 0.050.
Sure
Lock
Inside and out the LOCK was a brand new development in Storm’s Premier Line.
That hybrid bomber was followed by the pearl SNAP LOCK. Here now comes the
solid in the series. Its engine is once again the same fast and tight revving
RAD-XTM asymmetrical core. Here is the link to a video on which Research &
Development Director, Victor Marion, originally explained much of the thought
process behind this new engine.
Torrent
The TORRENT is the latest addition to the Thunder line in the Storm arsenal.
It’s core – the Booster HVTM (heavy volume) is a tweak of the BoosterTM core
that was in the ROCKET series. The coverstock is R2S Solid Reactive – most
famously think !Q Tour Edition. The combination produces a unique ball reaction
that I am really liking!
Code
Black
This recent release brings stateside a ball that has proven to be very
successful overseas for some time.
The RAD4 core is described by Storm as an engineering breakthrough.
It is wrapped with R2S pearl coverstock which has been most often used in
Storm’s midrange Master and Thunder lines.
Here, on this Premier Line release, Storm says it provides the “perfect
balance of length and reactivity.”
Match
Pearl
Not every ball is for
every bowler.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad ball.
It’s just the reality from one person’s game to
the next.
The MATCH SOLID is a ball I have never matched up with
well despite a number of different efforts at tweaking
things with it – surface changes, adding a weight hole,
etc. But one
should never right off an entire series of balls simply
because one in the series doesn’t work for you.
The MATCH PEARL has proven that for me.
Street
Fight
The original FIGHT was all around a
brand new development in Storm’s Thunder Line.
It combined an unusually large core (Iron CrossTM)
with a new R4S solid reactive coverstock.
The size of the core creates an RG at the upper
end of the spectrum (2.62) with a moderate diff (0.043)
at 15lb.
Phaze
II
This ball is NOTHING like its
predecessor!
When the original PHAZE was released, my first
comment in reviewing it was “this new addition to the
Master Line of the Storm arsenal is that this is not the
‘go long and hook hard’ ball motion that has been the
famous characteristic of most Storm products for years.
Nor, is it intended to be.”
Snap
Lock
Inside and out the LOCK was a brand new development in Storm’s Premier Line.
The SNAP LOCK is its pearl version.
Its engine is again the RAD-XTM core --- an asymmetrical core
built on the same design foundation as the other Radial Accelerating Disc (RAD)
high performance cores in Storm’s history (e.g. the PARADIGM).
Rocket
Ship
The ROCKET SHIP is the third release in with this BoosterTM core.
It follows upon the ROCKET (hybrid) and the SKY ROCKET (pearl).
This release is a solid. The core
is wrapped with Storm’s legendary R2S solid reactive coverstock – most famously
think !Q Tour Edition.
Hy-Wire
The HAYWIRE has been a fantastic ball for me, especially on medium to
medium-heavy volume and medium length patterns when it’s been important to get
something rolling through the midlane but still control ball motion on the back
end. It is built on the same Middle Roll 70TM core as the DISTURBED which was a
favorite of mine for similar reasons.
Phaze
The first
thing that needs to be said about
this new addition to the Master Line
of the Storm arsenal is that this is
not the “go long and hook hard” ball
motion that has been the famous
characteristic of most Storm
products for years.
Nor, is it intended to be.
Eternal
Cell The HYPER CELL has been one of the most
popular heavy oil situation bowling
balls on the market for the last couple
of years.
If there has been a down side to
it, it’s the fact that it can at times
rev and read too early on less than the
heaviest volume patterns and can leave
some bowlers struggling with the ball
burning too soon or other kinds of weird
carry issues from the ball trying to
start too early a move to the pocket
producing the wrong shot shape.
The
Devour
I was a big fan of the RUMBLE when Roto Grip first released it.
It was a smooth rolling ball without strong sideways
motion that performed really well for me on short patterns and
some medium patterns when it was best for me to stay right and
play up the lane. I
was sorry to see it make its way into Roto Grip ancestry when it
did.
The
Lock
Inside and out the LOCK is a brand new development
in Storm’s Premier Line.
Its engine is the RAD-XTM core --- an asymmetrical
core built on the same design foundation as the other Radial
Accelerating Disc (RAD) high performance cores in Storm’s history
(e.g. the PARADIGM).
Here is the link to a video on which Research & Development
Director, Victor Marion, explains much of the thought process behind
this new engine.
RIDE™
The RIDE is another brand new development for the Storm arsenal. The new Cruiser™ core is wrapped with a hybrid version of the Reactor™ cover stock whose pearl version is used in the TROPCIAL BREEZE.
CRUX™ Pearl
The CRUX PEARL is the newest edition to the Premier Line of the Storm arsenal. It builds upon its extremely popular and powerful predecessor, the CRUX hybrid, which was released in October 2014.
ROCKET™
The ROCKET is a brand new development for the Thunder line of the Storm arsenal. It has met with rave reviews both from touring professionals like Tom Daugherty and legends like PDW who've been saying it's "better than the HYROAD." That's quite an assessment given that the HYROAD is the longest running ball on the market because it has proven to be so versatile and effective for so many.
!Q™ Tour Nano
Now, with the release of the !Q TOUR NANO, Storm has wrapped that same high-revving C3™ Centripetal Control Core that so many have come to love with the NRG solid reactive cover that made the VIRTUAL GRAVITY NANO a huge favorite.
CRUX™
Inside and out the CRUX is a brand new development in Storm's Premier Line. Its engine is the Catalyst™ core—a design that has been seven years in the making.
Optimus
The OPTIMUS is a brand new development in Storm's Master Line. Its engine is the newly created Tri-Sphere™ core which Storm says "brings new meaning to the term power personified."
Hy-Road Solid
The HYROAD SOLID is a new development built upon one of the best performing and longest running Storm products of all time - the original HYROAD (hybrid).
Wipe Out
The WIPE OUT is the newest solid addition to Storm's Hot Line. Along with the PUNCH OUT (pearl) it is a follow up to the successful hybrid LIGHTS OUT.
Punch Out
The PUNCH OUT is the newest pearl addition to Storm's Hot Line. It is a follow up to the successful hybrid LIGHTS OUT. The coverstock is R2S™ pearl reactive which is also found on the very popular HYROAD PEARL as well as the !Q TOUR PEARL.
Code
Red
The CODE RED is the second release in a new series from Storm bowling products.
Its RAD4 core is a product of disc
technology in core design that has increased angularity and torque at the
breakpoint like little other, especially for an asymmetrical ball, since Storm’s
X-factor series. It is wrapped with R2S
hybrid coverstock which surpasses its
predecessor, the CODE BLACK (pearl), in its capacity to blend out a lane pattern
without sacrificing any significant measure of downlane motion.
The difference of hybrid to pearl between the two results as one might
expect in a foot or two sooner a transition from skid to hook and roll in ball
motion.
No
Rules Exist
If you were a fan of the NO RULES and its ability to handle heavy volume but you
found that it was sometimes a little too early and/or a little too smooth, then
the NO RULES EXIST might be just what you’re looking for.
Dare
Devil Trick
One thing I have learned over a lifetime of bowling and several years now as a
Storm and Roto Grip staffer, it’s never to write off an entire series of bowling
balls simply because one release in the series turns out not to be a homerun for
you. As I’ve reported elsewhere, the DARE DEVIL as been something of an enigma
to me. I tried adding weight holes in a few different places and plugged and
re-drilled it once changing the layout from a standard pin up to a standard pin
under drilling. Though I’m seeing more of the nice ball motion now that I see
others get from it, the DARE DEVIL still appears for me to be more of a niche
ball than one widely and diversely usable.
Wreck-Em
IThe Wrecker for me was a fantastic, up the track, award score producer around the STL. One of my all-time favorites. With a relaxed hand position I could get it to just tumble forward(rather than hook sideways). That's a perfect recipe for me on house shots.
No
Rules Pearl
It usually is predictable that the pearl version of a solid is
going to produce cleaner motion through the front of the lane, a little more
length, and a little more spark in ball motion on the back end.
Overall, however, the characteristics of the core continue to prevail
from solid to pearl.
Wreck-It
The WRECKER for me was a fantastic, up the track,
award score producer around the STL. One of my
all-time favorites.
With a relaxed hand position I could get it
to just tumble forward (rather than hook sideways).
That’s a perfect recipe for me on house
shots. I
remember that fresh out of the box in a doubles
tourney, it produced an 8-game set of 2091,
including two 300’s, and left me with no doubt about
it’s place in my arsenal at the time.
No
Rules
If you were a fan of the HYPER CELL and its ability to handle heavy volume and
if you liked the strong but clean way the SINISTER and MENACE handle the front
of the lane then I think you’re going to love the NO RULES.
Match
Solid
The MATCH SOLID is one of a pair of new additions to the Hot Line of the Storm
arsenal along with the MATCH PEARL. By
and large, they replace the OUT series. I
was a strong fan of the WIPE OUT for medium to light volume and shorter patterns
and my last one cracked, so I was intrigued to try the MATCH SOLID as its
replacement
Alpha
Crux
The ALPHA CRUX is a the most recent addition to Storm’s
Premier Line. Its engine again is the CatalystTM core --- a design that was
seven years in the making prior to the release of the hybrid CRUX. Here again
is the link to a video on which Research & Development Director, Victor Marion,
explains much of the thought process behind this core.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QSgVyO-N4&feature=youtu.be
Fight
The FIGHT is
an all around brand new addition to
Storm’s Thunder Line.
It combines an unusually
large core (Iron CrossTM)
with a new R4S solid reactive
coverstock.
The size of the core creates
an RG at the upper end of the
spectrum (2.62) with a moderate diff
(0.043) at 15lb.
The
Critical
The CRITICAL is Roto Grip’s newestaddition
to the HP3 sector of the Roto lineup.
It brings back into circulation the asymmetrical TrilipticTM core
that was one of my earliest favorites after
having the privilege of joining #TeamRG.
You’ll remember this core from the
CRITICAL THEORY, a ball now in Roto Ancestry
but which Norm Duke has often still turned
to in recent years opting for the
up-and-at-‘em approach to tackling some of
the PBATour’s
tough animal patterns.
Hectic
Being a older guy with medium speed and less
hand than many younger guys, the HP2 portion of
Roto Grip’s arsenal has always been a little
dicey for me.
I was a big fan of the RUMBLE when Roto
Grip first released it.
It was a smooth rolling ball without
strong sideways motion that was really useful
for me in being able to go up the lane on medium
patterns and even to play out and comfortably
still stay pretty direct on shorter patterns.
Its successor, the DEVOUR, has a little
more sideways motion and, for me, reads a little
earlier than the RUMBLE did.
Because of that the DEVOUR hasn’t proven
as versatile for me.
The
Optimus Solid
The original OPTIMUS was a brand new development in
Storm’s Master Line.
Its engine, a newly created Tri-SphereTM
core at the time, also appears in the OPTIMUS SOLID.
The
Haywire
My first reaction to the news of the release of the
HAYWIRE couldn’t have been more positive.
It is built on the same Middle Roll 70TM core as the
DISTURBED which has been a favorite ball of mine ever since I first used
it with a lot of success at the 2013 USBC Masters in New Jersey.
I’ve always liked that way that core rolls.
In the HAYWIRE, that core is wrapped with the 80H Microbite solid
coverstock from the HYPER CELL
The
Menace
The MENACE is the successor to the SINISTER which was
released last August in the strongest hook potential sector of the Roto Grip
arsenal.
Sky
Rocket
The SKY ROCKET is the pearl-covered successor to the hybrid Rocket which
Storm released in February. Like the Rocket, it features the BoosterTM
core that helped fill a gap between the lower tier OUT series and the HYROAD in
the Storm arsenal. The SKY ROCKET features the proven R2STM
pearl cover that bowlers are most recently familiar with on the HYROAD PEARL.
Hyper Cell Skid
There's no ball in the Roto Grip arsenal that had bigger buzz around it at this time last year than the HYPER CELL. And the buzz proved more than just nice noise. A strong rolling ball that turned heads left and right - it was the original Nucleus™ (CELL) core wrapped with the strongest cover stock Roto Grip had ever created, the 80H™Microbite™ solid.
Unhinged
After the HYSTERIA was released last August in the HP3 line of the Roto Grip arsenal - a polished solid cover (67MH™) around a brand new Late Roll 69™ core, it was pretty predictable that the next HP3 release was either going to be a hybrid cover or a pearl cover on that same new weight block. With the UNHINGED, pearl turns out to have been the verdict.
HYSTERIA
Inspired by what many had come to like in terms of smooth rolling and clean ball motion from the former NOMAD series, Roto Grip has released the HYSTERIA with a brand new Late Roll 69™ core.
OUTCRY
A new release for Roto Grip this August in the HP2 line was a pretty easy thing to predict. So much success had been had with the pearl UPROAR and the solid RUMBLE that a hybrid was pretty likely sure to come next. Hence, the OUTCRY. Same Late Role 51™ core as its predecessors, but a new 53M™ Hybrid cover stock.
SINISTER
A brand new core - the Cage™ core! It's an asymmetrical core with similar RG (2.52) and similar Differential (.054) to the HYPER CELL. But this ball is not at all a HYPER CELL clone! It's uniquely different, which makes it uniquely good.
