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Author Topic: X-Factor Reloaded  (Read 23744 times)

admin

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X-Factor Reloaded
« on: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM »
Revised, Refined, RE-loaded



The latest edition to the X Factor series, the X Factor RE-Loaded by STORM, features the new RE (reaction enhanced) -Load coverstock. This precision-engineered coverstock material ‘loads up’ energy at the break point, and is the perfect complement to the X Factor and X Factor Deuce.



Custom designed for unrivaled performance, the X Factor RE-Loaded is in a class by itself; brought to you by the undisputed leader in the high performance ball market, Storm Products, Inc.



X Factor RE-LOADED Technical Data

Coverstock: RE-Load Reaction Enhanced Pearl Particle

Weight Block: RAD Motion Control Technology

Ball Color: Emerald, Navy, Silver

Ball Finish: 1,000-grit Matte

Radius of Gyration: 2.53 (Low)

Differential: .058 (High)

Mass Bias Differential: .013

Durometer: 76-78 Rex D-Scale

Flare Potential: High (6” Plus)

Fragrance: Cinnamon Apple

Weights: 10-16 lbs

 

Jason Fitzgerald

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #31 on: April 11, 2004, 08:42:12 PM »
I'm only 13 years of age, and have just started to bowl with Track. I throw a 90 degrees angle, and about 10-12 revs, throwing about 14 mph.

I got this ball because I needed a ball that would hook on heavy oil. When I first got the ball, I loved it. I have won 2 tournaments with it, and would never give it up. The only problem is, I have only had it for about 5 months (since Christmas) and the ball is already dead. Im thinking of getting it resurfaced. I recommend this ball if you are looking for a good hook ball.

Fluffy

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #32 on: May 13, 2004, 02:48:13 AM »
Got this ball through the colliagete pricing discounts that storm offers for college bowlers.  Originially wanted an original x-factor by my coach screwed up on the order so i just kept this one.  Drilled with the pin in the Middle finger and static in the palm.  Was hoping to get length and control, much like i would have had with an original x-factor.  Well its not exactly what i wanted but this is one great ball.  10 games into it i shot a 300 in practice, cashed in a touranment after switching to this ball in qualifying ( i was way out of making the cut) and shot over 750 3 times in a span of a month.  What this ball gives me is a solid roll and midlane read, as it revs up hard in the dry but doesnt "bounce" out of the dry it more rolls out of it.  It is very hard to find a ball that gets down the lane and still gives you a controlled break point.  The carry is typical of what you get with most particle pearls. The ball doesnt drive too hard but actually gives me enough deflection so i dont leave those stone 9's (right handed).  Very good ball, probabley my first one out of my bag.
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"yes i throw it like a girl, but i throw like a girl exactly the same every time"
"yes i throw it like a girl, but i throw like a girl exactly the same every time"

Drillmn300

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #33 on: May 19, 2004, 12:27:34 AM »
This has to be my favorite all time Storm Ball, I have drilled up at least 5 of them and all with a 5x5 layout and someone tries it and buys it before I can even get any great numbers with it. This ball has the perfect amount of particle than any other ball on the market, if your reading this and make balls find out how they did it and make a fortune. There is nothing worse than bowling and finding the pair of lanes your on just don't play the same, get this ball out and due to the right amount of particle they will play identical or close to it. This ball doesn't push real easy and is better for conditions that require you to square up with the lane but if you run across this, and you will, then you better have one of these to bring out the numbers. I know I have at least 2 300's and an 822 with this ball when others were having a bad night, when every adjustment I try just doesn't seem to get me the carry I am looking for I break this one out and just run away with it.




Drill

Barbados

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #34 on: July 14, 2004, 01:15:58 PM »
This ball has to be one of the best balls I have ever thrown. I am a med-high speed bowler medium revs and I am known as a stroker. This ball has handled any lane condition I have put it on and handled it accordingly. On carrydown this ball will finish no matter what. On a sport shot it will move as much as a Killer Instinct Sanded. This ball has to be one of the greatest balls in the world right now. I just finished getting it and i havent shot below 225 with it. This is just a very versatile ball that everyone should have in their arsenal.
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BaRBaDoS    

tonygee

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #35 on: September 14, 2004, 03:27:50 PM »
1.5 inch pin
2.8 TW
got it on Ebay from ball celler I asked for a different pin and top weight but "You Can't Always Get What You WA--ANT" <singing this phrase while writing it>

So I improvise I drilled it 45 degrees way low with CG just above the thumb with shallow fingers and thumb to try to keep as much top as possible.

With this drill, it's place is special like a place kicker or Waterboy...not always in need but good to have.  

The core makes this ball, the corners snap out faster than "Flash, Fla--ash Master of the Universe"...uhh sorry, but "I got the music in me, I got the music in me, I got the mu-sic in meeeeeee yeaaaah"...heh heh heh...corny so I smacked myself

This ball hits like a truck or a bus or a hippo or like diarhea if you throw it and scream like Monica Seles but if you act like a porn star and pinch or squeeze this ball, it'll leave you corner stiffies <corner pins, GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER! ... NoNoNo don't blame me, I just sayz it like i seez it>.

Hmmm and the smell, just like mom's Shrimp Fly Lice <don't have a cow fellow asians>...WHAAA, she adds apples and cinnamon...IS THAT SO WROOOONG <mimicing Harvey Fierstein>

Los300

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #36 on: September 28, 2004, 10:54:56 PM »
I picked up a Re-Loaded last week and have had some good results with it so far. The ball picks up strong in the midlane with a sharp, arcing backend reaction with strong hitting power. I would say that it is a perfect compliment to my Triple Xtreme in the fact that when the Xtreme is a little too much on the backend you can pull this one out and smooth out your reaction. Overall another outstanding release from Storm. Pick one up before they are all gone.
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www.stormbowling.com
www.juniorbowling.comhttp://

morrison22

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #37 on: December 05, 2004, 12:36:49 PM »
This ball is the greatest, goes long and snaps back at the last second. this ball pounds the rack it hits like a truck.

dizzyfugu

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #38 on: December 07, 2004, 02:49:23 AM »
Ebay struck again and left me with another used ball . I couldn't resist... I got my 15 lbs. X-Factor RE-Loaded in a very good condition for less than EUR 60,- incl. shipping, which is currently about $ 75,-, plus plugging and drilling. I was looking for a strong particle pearl ball for more oil than my Eraser Particle Pearl could handle, and, being very content with the EPP and a Trauma in my arsenal, I gave the RE-Loaded from Storm a try.

When I received the ball it was polished. The surface felt very strong, tacky, awe-inspriring! I was afraid of the ball's strength and my potential to control it, and I did not want it to burn out halfway down the lane. With this in mind, I kept it polished after drilling to fine-tune the ball's reaction to local conditions later.

About me:
Style = Stroker/mild Tweener, right-handed
Speed = 13,5-14,5 mph
PAP = 5" & 7/8"^
Axis tilt = 18,7°
Revs = 250-300 RPM at release
For more details, check out my profile, please.

The 3 3/4" pin-out ball was drilled with the Pin at 4 1/2" from PAP, CG & RAD in parallel to the ball track. Pin ended up 1" at 1:00 from ring finger hole, RAD located at ~90° from PAP, at 16:00 from thumb hole. CG ended up in the palm area on midlane, but kicked out about 1" from midlane towards PAP. Thumb & oval silicone finger inserts, no X-hole necessary.

=====*==
==o=o===
========
====#===
========
===Om===
.........

* = Pin
# = CG
m = mass bias/RAD mark


Ball picture: http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3473650

Well, the polish... Not a good idea. On my first games on my dry house with a 30-35' pattern the RE-Loaded only covered 2-4 boards, it behaved much like a polyester ball - although it still felt tacky and I wiped it after each frame. I never expected THIS from a particle ball! I had to fight hard for a 100 game: no control, so so carry, ugh

Lesson to learn: NEVER polish an X-Factor RE-Loaded.
Or, at least, do not keep it in this condition!

After my first shock and disappointment I took off the glaze with a white pad, wet-sanded the ball gently to about 1.000 grit, matching box condition. Suddenly the ball came alive, just like having made a kind of conjuration ceremony or voodoo rite! Now this ball rocks and shows power.

First game back on the short 30' track was a sudden 182 (I average currently ~165), followed by several games in the same region. Lots of control! Ball goes smoothly through the heads and starts a gentle but strong move in the midlane, just like expected from a particle pearl ball with a low RG core. Yeah!

I had to stand on board 25 or 26 with my right shoe tip at 2nd set of dots, laid the ball down at 18/19 at the foul line and played over target board 12 when playing slow (15mph) and with much hand, breaking at 5-7 after 35', or stand on 23-24 and target at 14 while raising speed and playing it straighter. Another line that worked fine when the original runs dry or the head area loses oil is standing 29-31 and play over 3rd arrow. Consistently found the pocket, even weak hits resulted in good carry!

On a 40' sport pattern with slick Brunswick synth cover (NOTHING really works there, except for people with revs like a formula 1 engine). The result was less hook than on 30', but this had to be expected. Stood at 20 at first, playing over 12 again, which increased to 24 in the end when the lane ran dry. Breakpoint stayed at 35' down the lane, less snappy than on the former 30' pattern. Control was also not as good. I tried several releases with no consistent results but I blame this on the diffcult lane in general.

On another occasion in the same house I found out that the RE-Loaded works very well on broken-down (sport) lanes, where it can deploy its particle coverstock to full potential: The 40' pattern collapsed after 12+ games, out of a sudden, and the backend ran dry in some areas in the middle and in front of the 6 pin.
Balls like my Raging Red Fuze or TPC Player were hard to control, almost always hitting either too high when playing outside or Brooklyn when I changed my target to the left. Nothing to lose, my last ditch was my RE-Loaded I had brought with me. Well, the RE-Loaded turned out to be a GOOD remedy. An outside line semms to be the best option to handle the ball with my drilling: stood at 21st board and played over the 2nd arrow. The ball would not hook much overall, but it consistently found the pocket and made some good games on this spotty hell, great carry and much saved energy for the pins.

Finally, on a heavy 42' crown pattern with brand new System 300 synthetics, the RE-Loaded worked fine, too: It went down the lane, and as soon as it got something dry to hold on it turned into the pocket. But not with a skid/snap reaction, rather with a sudden, arcing turn. I stood at 21 1/2, aiming at 12-13, and made consistent high results. It was the ball choice of that day to be competitive - which was very surprising for me.

Conclusions:

After surface adjustments and my experiences on several lanes and oil patterns I rate this ball generally high, although I am not sure where it finally fits.

I give it only an overall 7 from 10, not more. Honestly, I'd shun from recommending this one. It is, with a matte finish, a solid ball, but nothing outstanding. Nothing that will be remembered in 2 or 3 years time. I expected more of it, and I suppose that you need 300+ RPM to make it work effectively?

Lane utility for tested ball (pattern length vs. oil volume):

|S M L
|h e o
|o d n
|r . g
|t
_______
|0 0 +| Light volume
|0 X +| Medium volume
|+ X 0| Heavy volume

Legend:
X = Best suited with effective control & carry
+ = Fairly suited (works, somehow, but lacks control)
0 = Unsuited (ineffective, either slips or burns up)


The chart concept is borrowed from Storm's 2003 catalogue. Surface prep and drillings may change the results, it is just personal experience with my style

It seems to fill only a special role in my arsenal for late games or medium oil, but that quite effectively. On heavy oil/fresh patterns it does not beat my TPC Player or Fuze Eliminator (pls. see my review there for reference), my first balls out of the bag for this occasion. The RE-Loaded is only a fall-back option for me.

Furthermore I found out that it really need frequent surface maintenance. To have some grip on oily/fresh conditions, I need to refresh the 1.000 grit sanding more often than on any other ball I own. As soon as it starts to shine up through playing and oil suction I have to re-do it, probably twice as often as other equipment (even from Storm with particles!). Not very smart design, I think.

Despite my personal mixed results, the X-Factor RE-Loaded offers good control on medium oil and/or spotty backends. I was and am able to play it successfully with almost the same line wherever I tried it, for a long period.
This seems to be its best positive asset? Nothing convincing, but not negative at all. Besides, the RE-Loaded is a hard hitter with satifactory pin carry. It produces that typical low Storm particle ball thumping noise upon impact and keeps pins the very low.

For somebody who can make use of it, the RE-Loaded should be a good tournament choice when you change lanes and need consistency of ball reaction. The pearl coverstock gives good length, the particles soft control. It is a kind of joker - fits everywhere, but does not win the game

The Fear Factor for a benchmark and being its (also unlucky) successor in the Storm Master line, has definitively more traction in oil - a comparison of both balls with similar drill patterns on the sport shot showed this clearly. But it tends to burn up much faster. You will be able to keep the RE-Loaded in the game for much, much longer.

PS:
Maybe it is the time of the year, but the sweet apple-cinnamon fragrance of the RE-Loaded, especially in warm surroundings, makes my mouth water. With this ball, anytime is Christmas time
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe
 
Edited on 26.09.2011 at 7:42 AM
DizzyFugu ~ Reporting from Germany

MajorHook

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #39 on: February 20, 2005, 01:38:33 AM »
I got this ball hoping to get a good heavy oil ball. I got what a wanted. This ball has great length and strong backend reaction. On fresh oil patterns this ball is extremely predictable and it will plow the pins over. When the oil breaks down, i have to put this ball away. On anything other than heavy oil patterns this ball will become very unpredictable. This ball is usually a 1 game ball for me. I recommend this ball to anybody who needs a heavy oil ball with great backend reaction. It also has a great color and great smell (cinnamon apple).

Recommendations
Lane condition: HEAVY OIL
Lanes: all wood

Rating   (scale 1-10)
Backend 10
Length 8
Versatility 5
Recovery 9
Pin action 9
Overall rating 8

CAN ANYBODY TELL IF THE THE STROM EARSER BANSEE IS A GOOD MEDIUM-LIGHT OIL LANE CONDITION BALL?

jayleno

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #40 on: May 06, 2005, 01:06:21 PM »
lets just get straight to the point shall we, this is simply the greatest ball i've ever thrown!


cid16

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #41 on: July 31, 2005, 08:51:26 PM »
16lbs
pin over ring finger
cg located below ring finger (pin in 2-3)

i got this ball in order to bowl in fresh lines,
at mid oil pattern, cause its small pin-cg..
but surprisely, this particle ball even with
this layout, hooks like a monster..
and get revs like a strong layout ball!
gains medium deep, and makes a real violent turn to the pin
deck.... i sanded at 1500 and polished with magic shine..
to go further... but still hooking like monster...
what makes uncontrollable for dry lines...
i will try balance hole near axis.

is incredible how a very low pin ball and a weak drilling
draws that kind of hook.!!
great ball but i have to make some adjustments to score
huger.

smells like a real cinnamon apple pie!!!!

greetings
Cid16




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"Knowledge is Power".

BirwinJR

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #42 on: March 11, 2007, 01:01:21 AM »
One word turd

JessN16

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #43 on: May 31, 2008, 01:21:49 AM »
The balls:
*Ball A -- 14.3 pounds, 4.5-inch pin, 3 oz. top weight
*Ball B -- 15.2 pounds, 4-inch pin, 3.34 oz. top weight

The drills:
*Ball A -- 14 pounds, pin above and left of middle (almost in the track), CG in the palm, MB in the thumb-positive quadrant inside the VAL, no weight hole, works out to a 6.25 x 4 x 4 drill for me. Finish is box.
*Ball B -- 15 pounds, pin above and right of ring, CG in the palm, MB in the thumb-positive quadrant inside the VAL, no weight hole, works out to a 3.5 x 4 x 4 drill for me. Finish is 4000 Abralon plus polish.

Me: PAP 4 over 3/8 up, tweener revs, good speed, good circumference coverage

---

I've had every ball in the X-Factor line, even the overseas balls, except the Vertigo and Trifecta. This has been the only X-Factor to have given me problems.

I've owned two of them and the first one I had was the 14-pounder listed above. The ball came drilled for a lefthander, a "control drill" where the pin was above and left of the previous owner's ring finger and the MB was track side. I plugged the holes to change pitches but redrilled everything back the same. That left me with a pin on my track side but the MB in a strong position.

I wanted to use this ball for late in a shift, or for playing tough patterns. The problem was the drill was TOO mild. The ball had no problems carrying on full hits, but I couldn't get it there enough. I also had a problem with it clipping the thumb hole unless I applied maximum tilt.

The second ball was drilled to mimic my original X-Factor, which I loved dearly and still use. However, in box condition, the ball had a problem picking up, and then got squirty on the backs at the first sign of carrydown -- a surprise given this is a particle pearl.

After fiddling with the cover for a year, I finally made a big move and took it up to 4000 Abralon and polished it with Storm's Moon Shine. The result -- in addition to being able to comb your hair in the reflection from the surface -- is that the ball woke up. Unbelievably, control got better even with the high shine. The ball was now able to play up the boards and in the middle earlier in the shift.

Had I not done that, I would likely have labeled this ball a turd. It's definitely the most finicky of the X-Factor series and it's not a control piece. It's kind of like having a race car as a daily driver -- good performance, but you're going to be busy keeping it running.

Here's the breakdown:

14-POUNDER
Positives: Could play extreme outside angles, good carry.
Negatives: Drill handicapped it, touchy surface issues, didn't do what Storm advertised.
Summary: A narrow, condition-specific piece that ended up being given away to someone else.

15-POUNDER
Positives: Can play all over the place, carries well, offers a much different look than the original X-Factor despite similar surface prep.
Negatives: Surface is touchy and the wrong prep will wreck performance, doesn't behave like a typical particle pearl, isn't useful for anything over medium volume.
Summary: A great piece for mediums to medium-lights and can play deep into a shift, but not an oiler or even close to one.

Jess

keithsweat

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Re: X-Factor Reloaded
« Reply #44 on: June 03, 2008, 02:45:51 PM »
JessN16, I have not used my Reloaded since my Germany days.  I got back to the states in '06.  I too am an advid Storm fan (wouldn't know it now by my current arsenal) but got into Storm balls when I joined a German Bowling Club.  We travelled to different houses and the equipment I had did not work on their heavy oil patterns.  So I started with the Deuce X-Factor, then the Reloaded, then the Vertigo and ended with the Triple Extreme (which I ended up selling).  I would take this ball with me during my travels and found it hard to control.  I would send it out between 5 and 2 board and it would snap back to the pocket.  I was a down and in bowler then (still somewhat today but can adjust a lot better now) and it would scare the crap out of me.  My teammates loved it but I told them that I did not mean to do that.  So I would put it back in the bag and go back to the Deuce.  I am curious to see what it would do on the lanes here.  Will have to try it and let you know.

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Pesky 10 pin!!!