Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
The specifications of the Flame Reactive are: Coverstock: Curelyon Reactive; Factory Finish: 1,500-grit Polished; Color: Orange Marmalade Pearl; Hardness: 76-78 Rex D-scale; Weight Block: Traditional three-piece core; Radius of Gyration: 2.674 (High); Differential: .018 (Low); Flare Potential: Low (2"); Hook Potential: 10/7/Dull/Shiny on Storm's scale of 1-20; Length: 8 on a scale of 1-10; Backend: 3 on a scale of 1-10; Recommended Lane Condition: Dry.
Post by: Paul Meyer on September 28, 2000, 02:00:00 AM
Otherwise this seems like a ball for dry lanes, since it doesn't flare much at all, but the hit is better than an Attack Zone /R or /MR.
Post by: Kelly Beasley on December 03, 2000, 10:55:48 PM
Post by: Bradley Hay on December 18, 2000, 02:04:19 PM
Post by: Goof1073 on January 08, 2001, 11:05:55 AM
**Please check my profile for my style and typical house shot**
Ball works great on the drier conditions...but can be played on wet as long as there is some dry to bounce off of. Ball works best for me straight up second arrow. As expected I get great length with this ball with a nice little kick in the back end. Have used this ball in both houses in the area. Works well on the burnt heads in one house...but is mainly a third game ball in the other. However, I did get to use the ball for a complete series on a fairly dry shot and actually shot an 802!
Goes to show you that even the "low tech" stuff can get you good results! I give this ball a solid 9 out of 10...great dry lane ball from Storm.
Post by: stormy normy on January 18, 2001, 09:13:57 PM
Post by: cgarguy1 on February 24, 2001, 08:52:28 AM
As advertised, this ball is long. However, if you rev the ball, as I do, and find the dry on the backends, it is a smooth arc to the pocket. It hits better than I thought it would. In fact, I have gotten some of the strangest pin action out of this ball I have ever seen.
If you buy it, it gives you a great alternative for a dry shot, plus you can kill it for spares.
Good ball for the money. 8 of 10.
Post by: cgarguy1 on March 25, 2001, 09:40:19 PM
Post by: ThatBowlinDude on March 27, 2001, 07:27:23 PM
Post by: Mike Austin on May 09, 2001, 11:40:16 PM
I got two e-mails today asking about this ball, so here goes....
I drilled my Flame with the pin under my ring finger, and the cg directly below. The pin is out about 2 inches from the cg. This ball had 3.5 top weight before drilling.
This layout comes close to being a 4 1/2 X 4 1/2 for me. With the big top weight, and the overall weakness of this ball, it is a DART. It hooks about a board or two less than my Too Hot #1. (See Too Hot Review) The motion is different than the Too Hot though. The shape of the hook is smoother with the Flame, snappier motion with the Too Hot.
You better have some dry to work with. On most any kind of oil pattern this ball will be used for spares. But for kids, Seniors, dry lanes, and possibly some entry level resin buyers, this ball is nice. Good control, not much track flare if any at all. Pretty much the drier the lanes are, the better off you will be, as this ball doesn't hit very well, especially compared to all the monster mashers on the market today. Sometimes, 9 is better than Big Four!
Hope this helps ya.....
--------------------
Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@aol.com
Post by: PopPop200 on June 22, 2001, 08:06:55 PM
Post by: Mike Austin on August 23, 2001, 12:25:36 AM
Please note this review is for the NEW Flame Reactive Solid coverstock ball. The original Flame is a pearl.
I drilled my first one for Johnathan Wiley, probably the best player in the Houston area. (Man, can he throw it, he gets crowds just to watch him practice)
Nothing really special about the drilling. Pin under the ring finger. Used a pin out about 2 inches ball with about 3 1/2 top before drilling. Drilled over the lable, no X hole. John had the original Flame with him, the lanes were hooking, so I thought this would be an excellent comparison.
I shined the solid Flame with Ebonite Extender Polish right on the box surface, nothing else. The ball had about 3-5 feet less length than the Orange Flame. The breakpoint was not nearly as sharp, and the overall hook was about 1-2 boards more with his feet, same target.
What was significant was the hitting power and the reaction when a little oil carried down the lane. 1) The hitting power was noticably better with the Solid Flame over the Pearl. Hit like it weighed 20 lbs. 2) You could square up/change lines with the solid and work around carry down. With the pearl, the ball was just skittish (for lack of a better word). You could not really tell with confidence what the pearl Flame was going to do when it left John's hand. The carry down seemed to help with the solid Flame, letting John create some angle to the pocket with the lane instead of with his hand. The ball seemed to run over the 8 pin no matter what though.
Overall, very impressive ball. Great for kids, Seniors, dry lanes, but may be a little weak for an entry level ball. The solid shell is a nice improvement over the Pearl.
Hope this helps ya.....
--------------------
Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@aol.com
Post by: Damien P-L on October 15, 2001, 05:00:18 PM
So, it is very very forgiving. The only thing I would say about this ball is that there is a border line between this ball working and not working. If you try and use it on medium oil conditions it will not carry at all unless you have a load of hand.
I think the reaction on dry lanes is similar to the Trauma on med to heavy oil, it has a big backend if it finds some very dry boards, and it doesn't lose it's energy. Also, on extremely dry lanes you can polish it up a lot and it won't lose energy even on the driest lanes.
I'll give this a 9 out of 10 for dry lanes.
Post by: UNObowler01 on January 04, 2002, 10:25:20 PM
I drilled my 15.4 pound flame (pin out 1.5", 3.25 oz. top) with a 4 x 4 pattern to produce the best backend reaction possible. I wanted it so I could use it on dry, but still give it enough power to carry something.
I must say that I am very impressed by this 3-piece ball. I can use it when they're torched, and play my normal line. It gives me the same look as my heat 2 does on a fresh shot. Good length, and excellent backend. And, it carries EXTREMELY well for a 3-piece. I can also shimmy way over to the twig (an unfamiliar place for this strong-handed righty), and actually play down and in on a house shot (oily 7 to 7, dry outside, semi-clean backends), without having to take my wrist out of it. So, it also adds another good angle to my game.
I have only gone to Storm for my dry lane equipment, but this ball has the Tour Power looking better and better every day. Solid 8 out of 10, good for dry and good carry for 3 piece, loses points in overall versatility.
Post by: NYEBONITE16 on January 05, 2002, 08:53:09 PM
15#
drilled 3X3
box condition
I know I mainly bowl with Ebonite equipment, but I got this ball for a steal, drilled grips, slug for a grand total of $45. This ball is my dry lane ball. I can play down the boards when the lanes are fresh or move feet and eyes left when the lanes dry up. Once this ball changes direction, it has a smooth roll up. This ball, for me does not have an over/under reaction. This is my go to ball when nothing else is giving me a good reaction. I reccomend this ball to every one. I give it a 9/10. Very versatile, doesnt carry on some conditions.
Post by: snakes on January 07, 2002, 11:43:10 PM
5 1/2 PAP
Lefty
375-420 RPM
17-18 MPH
Ball Info:
4.5x5.5
Pin below ring finger
Shined to the gills
This ball is only as good as the condition it is on. I know you can say that about all balls. This ball needs the dry. If you cover boards and it sniffs oil, you will be shooting a late or a flat corner pin. When you play up the boards, it will not forgive you if you tug it into the soup. When the heads are fried and the back ends are cooking this ball is right at home. Any other time it is funny smelling spare ball.
Snakes
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on February 19, 2002, 09:09:14 PM
This ball hits very well, and when the lane is just gone I can still play straight up the boards with the Flame.
If I carry this ball with me I can leave my plastic ball at home. This is a great spare ball when you have oil.
For the purpose this ball is made to serve I give it a 10. But as an overall ball if you have oil you don't need this ball.
Post by: Mongo on July 10, 2002, 09:04:05 PM
I recently posted a review on the solid Beast, essentially saying that is was wonderful...yada yada yada. The Beast is still a great ball, but I just drilled up it's big brother...the solid Flame Reactive.
Before I elaborate...here's the specs:
15 lb. TW 3 1/2 oz.
2" pin
Drilled 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 (pin under bridge)
Box finish
Surprisingly, the Beast and Flame Reactive are pretty similar. The Beast is a a bit earlier, but not as sharp off of the dry. I threw both balls on a fresh house shot (34' Top hat) and was really surprised by the results. The Beast was much smoother than the Flame, not that the Flame was jumpy, it just seemed to recover better than the Beast. I actually played a bit deeper with the Flame and was able to open up the lane where the Beast seemed to lay off.
To give you an idea of the difference between the two balls, I threw the Beast for the first game and leave 3 flat corners and a couple of buckets. I then move in 3 and 2 and pins begin flying all over the place and shoot 650 for the last 3 (I'm not the spare shooter lately).
I'm still a big fan of the Beast, but I really like a dry lane ball that H.I.T.S. and the solid Flame does that. Again, given the difference in cores I'm really suprised at the strength of the Flame...but not disappointed.
Great job Storm (again)
Post by: borden_john on August 16, 2002, 06:50:34 PM
that dosnt hit like a marshmallow. This ball has
worked very well for me on dry lane conditions.
parrtern 2(levarge) the ball clears the heads extremly well.
Almost to well, make sure to keep it out of the ditch if you
swing the ball. This ball will keep driving threw the pins .
And the carry is extremly good, No JOKE this ball hits hard!!
This has to be the best valued light oil ball on the market.
Overall i rate this ball a 10 for dry lanes.
I do belive i might be able to throw it on a fresh shot,
will try it in my matchplay league next week and post and
update on how it did on a medium shot.
Crankers will love it, strokers will hate it.
Post by: SHSbowlinboy on August 17, 2002, 03:54:08 PM
Post by: MTFD24 on September 24, 2002, 05:34:59 AM
Post by: CaughtbySTORM on October 01, 2002, 12:41:15 PM
Post by: The great one on November 20, 2002, 01:22:09 PM
The pleasure has been yours.
The great one
Post by: Lefty Power Y2K on December 02, 2002, 06:21:50 AM
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Lefty 2K: Leftside Isnt Easy... We Make It Look Like That
Post by: Wrongside on January 07, 2003, 11:21:38 AM
Ball Specs
Simple label shift drill 1.5 inch pin. Pin under ring a little to the left and cg in palm
Surface has not been altered
My Specs
See Proflie
Tested Conditions
Condition A: Standard Xmas Tree oiled to 36 ft - good backends
Condition B: Standard Wet/Dry 10-10 oiled to 40ft - good backends
General Information
This is by far my favorite ball of all time. It is the most controllable ball ever made and even with it's 3 piece core, it hits extremely well. I have shot better with this ball on certain conditions than any other ball I have ever owned.
Condition A
Simple, Simple, Simple. Nice small controllable arc. I usually play a small swing on this from 14 out to about 6 or will throw straight up the boards. I can rev it as much as I want with no problems and it never overreacts. Outstanding for this condition.
Condition B
Same as above. Straight up the oil line or small swing out to the dry. Ball works well, recovers well and does what you want it to do.
Rankings, 10 point system
Condition A - 9
Condition B - 9
Final Thoughts
Even though most of today's conditions are different, urethane should not be underestimated. It does what you want it to do. Again you can change your release for a drastic change in reaction and this ball is the best for me on medium conditions without a doubt. It does, however; need backends that move decent and cannot handle carrydown at all.
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LEFTside
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Post by: PikevilleBwl on February 12, 2003, 01:22:46 PM
Post by: wannabebowler on March 08, 2003, 12:04:20 AM
The ball is very effective for the conditions it was made to handle. It is sorta "flippy" on the backend and carries pretty well. Ball is 15# drilled over the label(not sure it really makes a difference because ball has no "real" weight block) and it skids down the lane with a late, hard break. Bowled my highest ever game with it...278...ugly split in the first and then 11 in a row. Cheap and easy to find. Ball rates a 8 for dry conditions.
Post by: Breakpoint on August 19, 2004, 03:27:51 AM