Best Storm balls for the following:

[Smiley1994]

I am looking to purchase a couple of Storm balls for a friend. She is a lower rev, slower speed player who needs the length but a good strong motion on the back end. Want one for oil, and one for medium. What balls for each would you recommend?

Thanks!

[chip82901]

If you're looking for something for low speed/low rev, I'd suggest staying more toward pearls. For oil, I'd say something like a Marvel Pearl or the Soniq when it comes out. For a medium, or when things start to break down, I'd say something like Match Up (black/orange pearl). If you're into the Rotogrip side, I'd say Wreck-Em and Hustle HYB or INK.

[RobLV1]

If you're looking for something for low speed/low rev, I'd suggest staying more toward pearls. For oil, I'd say something like a Marvel Pearl or the Soniq when it comes out. For a medium, or when things start to break down, I'd say something like Match Up (black/orange pearl). If you're into the Rotogrip side, I'd say Wreck-Em and Hustle HYB or INK.

All you have looked at is cover material. What about core specifications? Don't cores make any difference at all?

[djp1080]

Your friend with lower speed likely doesn't need a different ball for the conditions as much as someone who has a bit higher speed.
If you take a look at the charts from the Bowling This Month website (or others) there are balls that seem to cover the range from oily to dry with pretty good ratings and a couple of them that have been on those charts for a good long time is the Storm Hy-Road (hybrid coverstock) and the Hy-Road Pearl. Both balls come with a polished finish which tends to give them both some extra length and the lighter balls have a higher RG which helps get them down the lane to finish well. I'd recommend either or both these and the price of them is about as good a buy as you'll find from any company. Perhaps you could place the pearl version into the medium slot and the hybrid version into the oily slot. How's that?

[Davidjr113]

If she is throwing less than 14 lbs, most Storm balls use generic cores and many balls are essentially the same ball. I.E. Timeless & Hyroad are same core and both R2S hybrid cover. Nice thing about Storm is their website shows exactly what core is used at each weight

[chip82901]

All you have looked at is cover material. What about core specifications? Don't cores make any difference at all?

Yes, they do. The Marvel Pearl and Soniq will be a bit more aggressive, symmetrical ball, both with an RG around 2.48. It will have a bit earlier motion, but smooth out on the back ends, which is awesome for a lower rev/speed bowler. As for the the Match Up pearl, higher RG (2.56), means it will go long and retain energy. There is no way I would suggest a high end, asymmetrical ball for someone with a low speed/rev rate. Probably the highest I would honestly go would maybe be something like a Torrent or a IQ Solid. Honestly, doesn't sound like that is what she needs. I'd stick to something a bit higher RG to help the ball get down lane and retain as much energy as possible

[RobLV1]

Yes, they do. The Marvel Pearl and Soniq will be a bit more aggressive, symmetrical ball, both with an RG around 2.48. It will have a bit earlier motion, but smooth out on the back ends, which is awesome for a lower rev/speed bowler.

A ball with an RG of 2.48 will have "a bit earlier motion" for a higher speed, higher rev player. For a low speed, low rev player, it will lose energy at about 45 feet. Not so good for carry.

[skfboiler]

For medium oil, I would recommend the Storm Match Up Hybrid in the Storm Hot Line, RG:2.57; Diff: 0.035. Also looks like a good ball to ball down to when using stronger balls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKjWsMAgWHs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgaeRii3E0s

For medium to heavy oil perhaps the tried and true Original Hyroad a hybrid cover ball in the Storm Thunder Line, RG:2.57; Diff: 0.046. It's been around for so long for a reason. Or perhaps what I've been eyeballin' myself, the Storm Son!Q, a pearl cover ball in the Storm Master Line, RG:2.47; Diff:0.047. I think it will be released in February. Good reviews already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMnzw5CFBXA

[chip82901]

A ball with an RG of 2.48 will have "a bit earlier motion" for a higher speed, higher rev player. For a low speed, low rev player, it will lose energy at about 45 feet. Not so good for carry.

All depends on the layout honestly. I would say something along the lines of 5 x 4 x 3 would help it retain quite a bit of energy and get down lane.

[RobLV1]

Nonsense! All the layout does is position the core within the ball. The numbers will change some, but you cannot turn a sows ear into a silk purse, as the saying goes. The fact that you are indicating a layout as 5 x 4 x 3 says that you have a lot to learn. Take a look at the Dual Angle System to begin to understand what layouts can do, or can't do as the case may be.

[bowl1820]

The fact that you are indicating a layout as 5 x 4 x 3 says that you have a lot to learn. Take a look at the Dual Angle System to begin to understand what layouts can do, or can't do as the case may be.

There's nothing wrong with using a Storm Pin Buffer layout, for every dual angle there's a matching pin buffer layout. Dual angle is just easier to map out on the ball.

5X4X3 is a 50°x5x45° dual angle layout

[Blacksox1]

There's nothing wrong with using a Storm Pin Buffer layout, for every dual angle there's a matching pin buffer layout. Dual angle is just easier to map out on the ball.

5X4X3 is a 50°x5x45° dual angle layout

Thank you bowl1820;)

[Smiley1994]

She throws 15# equipment.

[Davidjr113]

In that case, if it were me, I would buy the original Hyroad, perhaps most popular ball ever for a reason, then after using it, decide what kind of second ball I wanted, more or less length etc. Never had the Hyroad, wish I had tried one while still at 14 lbs

[chip82901]

Nonsense! All the layout does is position the core within the ball. The numbers will change some, but you cannot turn a sows ear into a silk purse, as the saying goes. The fact that you are indicating a layout as 5 x 4 x 3 says that you have a lot to learn. Take a look at the Dual Angle System to begin to understand what layouts can do, or can't do as the case may be.

Well, being that I primarily throw storm equipment, I've used the Vector system for awhile now. Don't get me wrong, I understand dual angle, but I prefer to lay my own stuff out using vector.

[RobLV1]

My comment had less to do with the system used, and more to do with the philosophy of using layouts to change what a ball was intended to do. I wrote an article for BTM a couple of years ago entitled "Making the Case for Limited Layouts." The jist of the article is that with all the hundreds and hundreds of balls available today, that there is really no reason to use more than one or two layouts that are proven successful for you to try and make a ball do something other than what it was designed to do. The idea is that if you use one or two layouts and learn about core numbers, it's easy to make additions to your arsenal and change bowling balls mid-game, with a plan rather than to see what they are going to do. Once you start using different layouts to alter ball reactions, your ball changes and arsenal additions become a crap shoot. I know that a lot of bowlers disagree, but the philosophy that I have is shared by many professional bowlers including, most notably, Pete Weber.

[chip82901]

My comment had less to do with the system used, and more to do with the philosophy of using layouts to change what a ball was intended to do. I wrote an article for BTM a couple of years ago entitled "Making the Case for Limited Layouts." The jist of the article is that with all the hundreds and hundreds of balls available today, that there is really no reason to use more than one or two layouts that are proven successful for you to try and make a ball do something other than what it was designed to do. The idea is that if you use one or two layouts and learn about core numbers, it's easy to make additions to your arsenal and change bowling balls mid-game, with a plan rather than to see what they are going to do. Once you start using different layouts to alter ball reactions, your ball changes and arsenal additions become a crap shoot. I know that a lot of bowlers disagree, but the philosophy that I have is shared by many professional bowlers including, most notably, Pete Weber.

Oh, I get where you are coming from. Pretty much everything I have in my arsenal is close to the same layout (5 x 4 x 3 on most). I mainly play with cores and surface. But, I still believe in the suggestions that I threw out.

[RobLV1]

Oh, I get where you are coming from. Pretty much everything I have in my arsenal is close to the same layout (5 x 4 x 3 on most). I mainly play with cores and surface. But, I still believe in the suggestions that I threw out.

And I still believe that balls with a low RG under 2.50 for a low speed, low rev player will lose way too much energy. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[JaxBowlingGuy]

I personally use 2 layouts on almost everything unless it's going to be condition specific and a Ball I may not throw a lot. I have one layout I like for asymmetric balls and one for symmetrical. My changes come in the form of balls and surface.