precisionrotoguy
07-18-2011, 06:19 PM
Storm Tropical Breeze Pearl
Layout- Pin under ring, cg swung positive with a hole down by the thumb, medium width/depth.
I’m not sure how optimistic I would say I was about this ball when I first heard about it because I tend to have so many issues with weaker balls (especially the older weak Storm stuff) being too poppy off of the spot, but I was pleasantly surprised with this ball. It was angular yes, but it didn’t jerk once it made its move. It was angular but relatively smooth at the breakpoint. This ball is a far more useable piece than I had imagined and is a great compliment to my Roto Grip Rising Star- if the Rising Star gets a little to flat on the back to carry the 10, I switch to the Breeze (and likely move a couple boards right) and out the 10 goes. It looks pretty cool too and smells just like Old Spice deodorant….. Yum? Well my wife doesn’t complain I guess…
Storm Tropical Breeze Solid
Layout- Pin under ring, cg swung positive with a hole down by the thumb, medium width/depth.
I was sure this would be the better rolling of the 2 Tropical Breeze cover options for me, but I actually like the pearl more. That being said, this ball gave me a look that is quite helpful for me on patterns like Cheetah. It is exceedingly smooth for a “weak” ball, which is far too uncommon in today’s bowling ball market. That’s most helpful when playing out by the gutter on patterns like the PBA Cheetah or Kegel Boardwalk. It also would be nice for those that kinda get on the ball and want something to help them play straighter (when most of the time ball manufacturers create balls that either hook a whole lot or are way too poppy). It has an understated look and scent that many will find appealing as well, considering the bright colors we often see on equipment nowadays.
Storm Victory Road Solid
Layout- Pin next to finger, CG stacked with a medium/deep hole out on the midline.
I was skeptical on this ball because the Victory Road had been a little too angular for my liking- was this ball still going to be too angular? The answer was a resounding NO. This is one of the more versatile medium solids I’ve seen in some time- it rolled a lot like my Roto Grip Nomad did after I took the polish off of the cover of that ball, except it was around an arrow stronger- helpful on slicker surfaces like those released by Brunswick and also helpful on heavier volume oil patterns. When I was testing this ball out, it gathered a crowd- it looked that good. For those of you who bowl on lighter friction surfaces looking for a benchmark ball or those that are looking to replace or fit a ball over-the-top of their old Victory Road or Nomad Solid, this is a fine choice.
Storm Marvel Pearl
Layout- Pin above/right of ring, cg stacked and a hole down by the thumb, narrow and deep (longer pin).
I had been worried, prior to drilling, that this ball might be a little too long/strong for my game, but my mind was put at ease after throwing it- not because it wasn’t long and strong, because it certainly was, but because the breakpoint shape on it was surprisingly controllable. It cleared the fronts clean, picked up some roll in the midlane and banged on the back, but most importantly it continued well. For someone looking for a medium-strong ball with both angularity and control- this ball is a winner for sure. It is also nice to see a strong symmetrical ball like this that is buyable- because there are so few true “high-end” symmetricals in general, let alone one that is as useable as this on a variety of conditions for a variety of styles.
Roto Grip Outlaw
Layout- Pin above and right of ring finger, CG stacked with a narrow/deep hole out on the midline.
The new mid-range Roto Grip balls were the 2 new releases from the Storm brands I was most excited to get my hands on. The new weight block looked like a nice middle ground between the angularity in the Storm Victory Roads and the rolliness in the older mid-range Roto balls like the Mystic, Illusion and Grand Illusion. What ended up surprising me was how angular the Outlaw turned out to be for having a solid cover and a weight block that was pretty big around the equator. After throwing it a bit, I added the hole and some polish- the reaction reminded me A LOT of what my Roto Grip Riot had rolled like, except on steroids (quite a bit stronger). What is totally counterintuitive is the fact that adding the polish (and the hole) smoothed out my reaction quite a bit (I know what you’re thinking and it made little sense to me, but it’s true)- which is ALSO similar to what I got from my Riot. It actually does a really good job of blending out over-wall now- a lot like my polished Theory and 2 polished Riots, so the reaction is quite handy to have in my bag. I think folks with weaker hand that like to pla up the lane will really like this ball the most because of its relative strength in the price point and its ability to round the corner pretty well for a solid (see Storm Reign of Fire).
Roto Grip Bandit
Layout- Pin next to fingers, cg stacked with a medium size/depth hole out and just below the midline.
I was super excited to throw this ball (probably the ball I was looking forward to the most out of all the new Storm/Roto releases) and it absolutely did not disappoint. This ball is absolutely my ideal benchmark ball. It clears the fronts clean, it is super controllable through the midlane, it corners well enough to be able to use it in, but not so much that it precludes it from being used out and it continues as well as anything I’ve ever thrown. I threw it up against my Hy-Road and they were comparable in terms of strength, but what surprised me is that the Bandit was earlier, smoother, more controllable AND more continuous than my Hy-Road and these are all things the Hy-Road is known for. The reaction reminds me most of the Storm Eraser, which is my favorite ball of all time (hint hint powers that be, give me the Eraser again! Haha). It has a look that stands out on the lanes too. Countless people came up to me asking what that “Cool black and yellow” ball was. Overall this ball is about as close to a must have as any ball really can be in my opinion. It’s versatile enough to use on a multitude of conditions for a multitude of people and that’s rare in today’s hper-specialized game.
Roto Grip Critical Theory
Layout- Pin over bridge, cg in the palm, mass bias by the thumb and no hole.
I was interested to see what this ball looked like. I LOVED the Theory. I ended up drilling 2 and polishing the bejesus out of one to use on more conditions and left another one dull for when I ran into a flood (for the record, my dull theory out hooks my Nano on heavier patterns). The Infinite Theory, on the other hand, was a pretty conditional ball for me. It looked really good on medium length patterns on medium-light friction surfaces when I could straighten out more (so higher volume patterns in addition to those other qualifications). It rolled fine, but not as universally usable as I had anticipated from a higher end hybrid cover. The Critical was a tad weaker than I had anticipated in terms of overall hook (but I did lay it out kinda weak as well), however the reaction was A LOT more usable than I had gotten from my Infinite. It looks like a nice compliment to the Theory (or even the Nano) because it responds to friction a lot sharper on the back part of the lane, but does so in a controllable way, so you can transition from the control reaction of the Theory to the poppier (yet still controllable) reaction of the Critical as the heads go over the course of longer format tournaments or during league sessions where you see greater lane breakdown (say 4 game leagues, 5 man leagues or a lot of guys throwing charcoal in the track). The Critical Theory also stands out- I love how Roto Grip branched out into a different color scheme they usually wouldn’t touch. They gave this ball great shelf/lane appeal.
Storm Hy-Road
Layout- Pin under ring, cg shifted positive, medium width/depth hole down by the thumb.
Lets face it, I am a staff member who never had drilled one, so I just had to. I was pleased with the way the ball rolled- it actually cornered more than I had anticipated considering the Hybrid cover and reputation this ball has for being smooth and controllable. All that really means to me is that I’m more apt to use this ball from the track in and not from the track out when playing the lanes. I love the way the ball looks and smells (I like the fruity scents better than the aromatherapy scents for sure), it just feels….. Familiar. That’s a good thing for bowling, because it makes you more comfortable and relaxed. I was stoked to see that this ball is going to remain in the line this year- it is still prolly my best selling mid-range ball.
Storm Invasion
Layout- Pin over ring, cg in the palm, mass bias by the thumb hole, no hole.
I was given one of these by a supplier after they were discontinued. I had been looking to add more Storm stuff to my arsenal, so anything I could get a hold of was a plus. What surprised me about this ball was how angular it was for a high-end asymmetric solid. Every time I had drilled one of these for someone else they rolled quick and smooth and looked great as a ball to throw outside on a flood, but mine looked more like a medium ball in terms of breakpoint location and shape and looked like something I would throw from the track left. I sanded the cover down to 1000 and it made it a lot more versatile for me. I was also surprised how strong this thing was- it’s every bit as strong as my Nano- at least for ME, whereas the Nano seems to hook more for just about everyone else. I dig the colors and scent as well.
Layout- Pin under ring, cg swung positive with a hole down by the thumb, medium width/depth.
I’m not sure how optimistic I would say I was about this ball when I first heard about it because I tend to have so many issues with weaker balls (especially the older weak Storm stuff) being too poppy off of the spot, but I was pleasantly surprised with this ball. It was angular yes, but it didn’t jerk once it made its move. It was angular but relatively smooth at the breakpoint. This ball is a far more useable piece than I had imagined and is a great compliment to my Roto Grip Rising Star- if the Rising Star gets a little to flat on the back to carry the 10, I switch to the Breeze (and likely move a couple boards right) and out the 10 goes. It looks pretty cool too and smells just like Old Spice deodorant….. Yum? Well my wife doesn’t complain I guess…
Storm Tropical Breeze Solid
Layout- Pin under ring, cg swung positive with a hole down by the thumb, medium width/depth.
I was sure this would be the better rolling of the 2 Tropical Breeze cover options for me, but I actually like the pearl more. That being said, this ball gave me a look that is quite helpful for me on patterns like Cheetah. It is exceedingly smooth for a “weak” ball, which is far too uncommon in today’s bowling ball market. That’s most helpful when playing out by the gutter on patterns like the PBA Cheetah or Kegel Boardwalk. It also would be nice for those that kinda get on the ball and want something to help them play straighter (when most of the time ball manufacturers create balls that either hook a whole lot or are way too poppy). It has an understated look and scent that many will find appealing as well, considering the bright colors we often see on equipment nowadays.
Storm Victory Road Solid
Layout- Pin next to finger, CG stacked with a medium/deep hole out on the midline.
I was skeptical on this ball because the Victory Road had been a little too angular for my liking- was this ball still going to be too angular? The answer was a resounding NO. This is one of the more versatile medium solids I’ve seen in some time- it rolled a lot like my Roto Grip Nomad did after I took the polish off of the cover of that ball, except it was around an arrow stronger- helpful on slicker surfaces like those released by Brunswick and also helpful on heavier volume oil patterns. When I was testing this ball out, it gathered a crowd- it looked that good. For those of you who bowl on lighter friction surfaces looking for a benchmark ball or those that are looking to replace or fit a ball over-the-top of their old Victory Road or Nomad Solid, this is a fine choice.
Storm Marvel Pearl
Layout- Pin above/right of ring, cg stacked and a hole down by the thumb, narrow and deep (longer pin).
I had been worried, prior to drilling, that this ball might be a little too long/strong for my game, but my mind was put at ease after throwing it- not because it wasn’t long and strong, because it certainly was, but because the breakpoint shape on it was surprisingly controllable. It cleared the fronts clean, picked up some roll in the midlane and banged on the back, but most importantly it continued well. For someone looking for a medium-strong ball with both angularity and control- this ball is a winner for sure. It is also nice to see a strong symmetrical ball like this that is buyable- because there are so few true “high-end” symmetricals in general, let alone one that is as useable as this on a variety of conditions for a variety of styles.
Roto Grip Outlaw
Layout- Pin above and right of ring finger, CG stacked with a narrow/deep hole out on the midline.
The new mid-range Roto Grip balls were the 2 new releases from the Storm brands I was most excited to get my hands on. The new weight block looked like a nice middle ground between the angularity in the Storm Victory Roads and the rolliness in the older mid-range Roto balls like the Mystic, Illusion and Grand Illusion. What ended up surprising me was how angular the Outlaw turned out to be for having a solid cover and a weight block that was pretty big around the equator. After throwing it a bit, I added the hole and some polish- the reaction reminded me A LOT of what my Roto Grip Riot had rolled like, except on steroids (quite a bit stronger). What is totally counterintuitive is the fact that adding the polish (and the hole) smoothed out my reaction quite a bit (I know what you’re thinking and it made little sense to me, but it’s true)- which is ALSO similar to what I got from my Riot. It actually does a really good job of blending out over-wall now- a lot like my polished Theory and 2 polished Riots, so the reaction is quite handy to have in my bag. I think folks with weaker hand that like to pla up the lane will really like this ball the most because of its relative strength in the price point and its ability to round the corner pretty well for a solid (see Storm Reign of Fire).
Roto Grip Bandit
Layout- Pin next to fingers, cg stacked with a medium size/depth hole out and just below the midline.
I was super excited to throw this ball (probably the ball I was looking forward to the most out of all the new Storm/Roto releases) and it absolutely did not disappoint. This ball is absolutely my ideal benchmark ball. It clears the fronts clean, it is super controllable through the midlane, it corners well enough to be able to use it in, but not so much that it precludes it from being used out and it continues as well as anything I’ve ever thrown. I threw it up against my Hy-Road and they were comparable in terms of strength, but what surprised me is that the Bandit was earlier, smoother, more controllable AND more continuous than my Hy-Road and these are all things the Hy-Road is known for. The reaction reminds me most of the Storm Eraser, which is my favorite ball of all time (hint hint powers that be, give me the Eraser again! Haha). It has a look that stands out on the lanes too. Countless people came up to me asking what that “Cool black and yellow” ball was. Overall this ball is about as close to a must have as any ball really can be in my opinion. It’s versatile enough to use on a multitude of conditions for a multitude of people and that’s rare in today’s hper-specialized game.
Roto Grip Critical Theory
Layout- Pin over bridge, cg in the palm, mass bias by the thumb and no hole.
I was interested to see what this ball looked like. I LOVED the Theory. I ended up drilling 2 and polishing the bejesus out of one to use on more conditions and left another one dull for when I ran into a flood (for the record, my dull theory out hooks my Nano on heavier patterns). The Infinite Theory, on the other hand, was a pretty conditional ball for me. It looked really good on medium length patterns on medium-light friction surfaces when I could straighten out more (so higher volume patterns in addition to those other qualifications). It rolled fine, but not as universally usable as I had anticipated from a higher end hybrid cover. The Critical was a tad weaker than I had anticipated in terms of overall hook (but I did lay it out kinda weak as well), however the reaction was A LOT more usable than I had gotten from my Infinite. It looks like a nice compliment to the Theory (or even the Nano) because it responds to friction a lot sharper on the back part of the lane, but does so in a controllable way, so you can transition from the control reaction of the Theory to the poppier (yet still controllable) reaction of the Critical as the heads go over the course of longer format tournaments or during league sessions where you see greater lane breakdown (say 4 game leagues, 5 man leagues or a lot of guys throwing charcoal in the track). The Critical Theory also stands out- I love how Roto Grip branched out into a different color scheme they usually wouldn’t touch. They gave this ball great shelf/lane appeal.
Storm Hy-Road
Layout- Pin under ring, cg shifted positive, medium width/depth hole down by the thumb.
Lets face it, I am a staff member who never had drilled one, so I just had to. I was pleased with the way the ball rolled- it actually cornered more than I had anticipated considering the Hybrid cover and reputation this ball has for being smooth and controllable. All that really means to me is that I’m more apt to use this ball from the track in and not from the track out when playing the lanes. I love the way the ball looks and smells (I like the fruity scents better than the aromatherapy scents for sure), it just feels….. Familiar. That’s a good thing for bowling, because it makes you more comfortable and relaxed. I was stoked to see that this ball is going to remain in the line this year- it is still prolly my best selling mid-range ball.
Storm Invasion
Layout- Pin over ring, cg in the palm, mass bias by the thumb hole, no hole.
I was given one of these by a supplier after they were discontinued. I had been looking to add more Storm stuff to my arsenal, so anything I could get a hold of was a plus. What surprised me about this ball was how angular it was for a high-end asymmetric solid. Every time I had drilled one of these for someone else they rolled quick and smooth and looked great as a ball to throw outside on a flood, but mine looked more like a medium ball in terms of breakpoint location and shape and looked like something I would throw from the track left. I sanded the cover down to 1000 and it made it a lot more versatile for me. I was also surprised how strong this thing was- it’s every bit as strong as my Nano- at least for ME, whereas the Nano seems to hook more for just about everyone else. I dig the colors and scent as well.