Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
Weight Block: Modified Inverted 2-piece
Ball Color: Candy Apple Red & Chrome
Ball Finish: 1500-Grit Polish
Radius of Gyration: 2.56 (Medium-High)
Differential: .033 (Low)
Durometer: 75-77 Rex D-scale
Track Flare: Low (2.5-4.5")
Weights 10-16 lbs
Post by: Doug Sterner on March 30, 2003, 12:10:13 AM
I was debating between the Hot Rod and the Sonic X. Well the Hot Rod won out because it was a Storm ball :-)
I was struggling on flying backend and then the heads broke down and it went early so I drilled this ball for length and a medium aggressive reaction....more of an arc really.
Specs.....
Pin out 2-5/8
Top weight 2.06 oz
Ball weight 15#
Drill pattern:
Pin over ring with cg stacked under
Basically ends up a 5 x 4-1/2 for me
No weighthole
Side weight: 1/2 oz, Finger weight: 3/4 oz
The lanes:
Typical top hat house shot. Oiled to 32 buffed to 37. 45-55 units in the middle that drops off to 5-7 units at 8 board and under 3 outside of 5.
The Hot Rod gives me more area than any ball I own. I have more room with it than I do my X-Factor, Deuce, XXXL, Nino Gold, Big Hit Solid or anything.
The ball has a smooth, hard roll in the midlane and again a smooth but not too arcy backend. I can't explain the breakpoint shape. It is not an arc but it not angular either. The only way I can explain it is...perfect!!!!
The ball does not overreact, I have left exactly 1 9 pin and 1 4-9 split. That is not normal.
One thing you will not see or hear is a thunderous hit and blown away rack. That may change if you rip the ball hard but what I get is a powerful but not bone crunching hit. The ball clears the deck better than most balls I own but it does not sound that strong. It gave me from 5 to 15 on the lanes. I could pipe it hard up between 12-15 and it would hold. If I sent it wide the ball would go out, sit and then roll smooth back in. I have been used to 3-4 boards worth of area with my X Factor so this was huge.
Over the last 2 weeks I have averaged 210 while carrying a 189 average. I have not had a 600 set since Christmas. The lanes have been way too dry and hooky for me. If I was a better spare shooter I would be averaging 225+ for the last 2 weeks.
This is THE ball if you want to eliminate mistakes and give yourself some room.
I know I have sung the praises of the X Factor but I am telling you....this is a must have.
I am saying the X is a 9 out of 10. This ball is a 9.8 out of 10. It is that good. And best of all, they are cheap!!!!!!
THANK YOU STORM !!!!!!! This is another reason I am a Storm head.
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Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
www.dougsproshop.net
Post by: Dakota on March 30, 2003, 06:22:02 AM
I purchased my Hot Rod at the Knoxville ABC’s to overcome the hooking conditions. I had it drilled with the Storm layout pattern #1. The pattern is a label drilling providing good length and a mild backend reaction. My pin is just below and right of the index finger and the CG is 1.75 inches above my thumb. The Pin, CG, and thumb are aligned at a 1:30 angle. This is a 15-pound ball.
I really like this ball! It does not read the lanes to early. It has a strong backend movement on synthetic lanes or wood lanes. It has power in the pin deck. With a stronger hand, I normally stand in the 25 to 30-board area, target the 7 to 10-board area at the range finders and work the break-point area around the 6-board at approximately 45 feet. With a weaker hand and considerable head oil, I find targeting 2-board area at the range finders with an approach position of 10 to 15 to be satisfactory. My speed is a little faster than most bowlers. The ball is responsive to the different releases that I use to gain mid-lane read or delay mid-lane read. The scores are better in games 1 and 3 on synthetic or wood lanes. Game 2, lane transition is a problem
It picks up a lot of lane and ball return dirt / grime and should to be cleaned after each event. I use 409 and neo-tac Renew-it. Also, you could use WinDex as a cleaner. It is a great ball for the price and I would not limit it to entry-level players.
Post by: Mike Austin on April 16, 2003, 11:53:39 PM
3.86 Top Weight
Pin out 3 1/4 inches
Drilled Specs:
3/4 Finger weight
7/8 Positive side weight
1 1/2 Top weight
Layout:
I put the pin over my ring finger, with the cg directly below or in a strong position. This comes out to about a 4 1/2 X 4 1/2 layout in about a 90 degree position.
The first poop I got from Storm was that this ball was a suped up Too Hot. I love the Too Hot, and there are times when I wished the Too Hot would do just a little more, but the Eraser or Eraser Blaze were just too much. I thought this ball would be cool.
The Too Hot is my dry lane ball, and I like it. I have had about 4 Too Hots, and have liked all of them. I thought I would use this ball as my reference point. I warmed up during the day, before the lanes had been run for the evening. The lanes were pretty toasty, I was standing about 35, looking around 15 down the lane, and had a nice reaction. Sooo time for the Hot Rod.
Kept everything the same, feet and target. Missed the head pin to the left. Ball didn't make it 3 feet past the arrows, and it was going left. Brooklyn the next shot. By the time I got lined up, I was standing 49, looking at 22 at the arrows, but the ball was really laboring on this condition. Clearly, this is not a dry lane ball.
Two days later (Tuesday) I decide to try the ball in my scratch league on fresh lanes. This ball was right at home. I shot 753, my high series for the season in this league. Hardly moved my feet all night, which is rare. I was still hooking the ball plenty, but it was very clean through the front (mellower coverstock). The ball had plenty of backend, but did not jerk or bounce really hard, giving me some room to the right (weight block). The Hot Rod finished all the way through the pins, hit very hard, carrys extremely well. That Friday I threw the first 19 bowling some pot games on an open pair of lanes during the early shift. I kept moving my feet and target trying to get tapped during the second game, but the ball just kept striking. I think I could have bowled back to back 3's if I hadn't been trying to not run off the competition.
This ball is a very nice ball. Great at this price point. It is NOT exactly what Storm bills it as though. They are gonna have to come out with another ball to replace the Too Hot. This ball is almost as strong as an Eraser, maybe just as, but not as sharp a break point. I think all kinds of bowlers can use this ball, whether they have an arsenal or just one ball. Would make a decent entry level ball because of the amount of performance at the price. Straighties will love it on drier lanes, may need some ball speed for toasty lanes. Tweeners will like it on mediums to some drys. Twisters can throw it on some fresh and most medium lanes. Not well suited for oily lanes, better choices here.
Pretty good medium type reaction for most players. Pretty predictable. Only does something stupid if you make it. Must have some head oil for laydown. Only a good dry lane ball for the high speed guys.
Hope this helps ya....
--------------------
Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
strikes4days@sbcglobal.net
Coming Soon!! www.bowlingthunder.com
Post by: Bob Hanson on April 24, 2003, 06:18:09 PM
For lower rev player like me it gives a nice even but strong move out of the dry, and more important it will find a little bit of hold when you want to square up on that last residual of 10 board oil. The one thing I can't do is start it in the oil and play much out angle to the dry. It will recover but the price is a bunch of weak corners. For you power players it could give you the opportunity to open up the lane from deep inside by storing a lot more energy through the heads than some of the stronger polished stuff you may now be throwing.
This and my Tour Power will be my dry condition balls. The tour power moves earlier but stands up and stops after an early midlane move making it great for up the board shots outside 2nd arrow on strong back ends. The Hot Rod goes longer but has more continutation throught the back end. This allows me to hug a longer low volume pattern outside, or feed a drier track from deeper inside. The latter being something the Tour Power just won't do for me.
Nothing spectacular here, but a real nice, what you see is what you get, dry lane ball.
Post by: khescock on May 06, 2003, 10:36:01 AM
The new one that I got a couple of weeks ago I drilled week with the pin just over the fingers and the CG. It gets good roll through out the entire lane.
I throw these two more then anyother ball in my arsenal and I'm even thinking of getting third one.
Post by: ih8stupid10pins on June 11, 2003, 01:42:28 PM
Low top
16#
At the time I drilled this ball, I was carrying a Deuce, and a Trauma. So I needed something that would give me alot of length and good oll in the backend when the lanes got torched. Upon recommendation of the shop operator, I went with the Hot Rod over the Sonic X.
Oops. Contrary to Storm's belief, the Hot Rod was too much ball for drier lanes. I layed it out with the pin under my ring ringer, CG kicked out about 1/2" towards my axis, balance hole on my axis to level it off. This ball was only about 2 boards weaker than my Trauma, which had a similar layout on it. As most of the other reviewers have stated, it reads the dry very early and makes a left turn without warning. I wanted this ball to shoot like 8 and out with, but now it's become my ball for swinging 12-7 like thirds or fourth game.
This ball is awesome, don't get me wrong. It's just stronger than advertised. It out hooks my Eraser Blaze, which I used a label drilling on. Don't let the price fool you, you get more hook than you pay for.
--------------------
~Matt
----------------------------
Junior Coordinator
AMF Sayville Lanes
Long Island, NY
Msulzer300@aol.com
Post by: Frobro989 on July 19, 2003, 09:25:57 PM
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It's NOT the ball, it's the bowler.
Post by: StormLefty on September 05, 2003, 05:11:24 PM
Bowler specs...lefty, 215+ average, stroker, medium speed.
I got the HR to possibly replace a Too Hot as med-dry ball. The goal was to have a bit more pop/carry than the Too Hot, which is a great ball but sometimes can be a bit weak. The HR has a lower Rg and more diff/flare, so it should be a bit stronger. In a month of use, the HR seems to be only a couple boards weaker than the XF to me on a fresh league shot (dry hooking backends), which is enough to provide an angle or control change if needed, but its not a big stepdown. It is almost equal to my Eraser, but without the power ball it does not hit quite as hard. On shots when the XF or Eraser burns early, the HR will still go a bit longer. As others have said, it is much stronger than advertised...it might be a dry ball or a high speed player, but for a 15 mph tweener like me it hooks a lot when it hits the dry.
Overall for the price its a bargain. For higher speed players it will be a dry lane ball, for lower speeds with any amount of hand it will be too much for dry, and be better suited to mediums as long as you have dry to make it hook.
Post by: PGdragon on September 22, 2003, 03:59:17 PM
Post by: ScottyJ on September 24, 2003, 12:33:10 PM
BALL
15 lbs.
3" pin
approx. 3 oz. top weight
box finish
BOWLER
Left-handed
Medium ball speed
Medium revs
Medium axis tilt
The Hot Rod is a good, inexpensive ball. Like others have reviewed, it is a good bit stronger than advertised, but I found that to be a pleasant surprise.
I laid this ball out with the pin approx. 1" away from my PAP, with the CG just above the midplane. The pin and CG are basically on the same plane just above the midplane.
This ball is extremely controllable, reading the midlane nicely. Very smooth off the dry and hits 'em hard. It doesn't like it when you yank it up in the oil, but that's not what it was made for. This ball is great for later shifts when the carrydown's not too heavy and there's still a little juice left in the heads.
If your looking for a solid, low-buck, medium condition ball, this should be your choice. Good ball!
Post by: frobro on January 03, 2004, 07:22:38 PM
Reaction: Goes Long, Turns Hard
Carry: Good, watch out for solid 9's (righty)
Great ball for the money.
Post by: shawn on January 11, 2004, 10:47:56 PM
Post by: Bill-in-Ohio on January 13, 2004, 09:58:36 PM
--------------------
Bill S
Post by: bowlfishing on January 26, 2004, 07:20:27 PM
drilling - balance hole on pap.
OO *
c -not sure of the exact numbers but pin about 4", cg kicked in about 5"
()
For me the ball drilled this way is not very flippy but will come back strong if sent out to the dry by accident. I like to play 5-10 boards (depending on the break point) inside the dry with this ball and belly it out.
Great reaction and again great carry.
Oh yeah, I was not able to used this on light oil to dry. Had to play too deep and lost the great carry. Perhaps drilled differently...maybe.
Post by: David Lee Yskes on January 27, 2004, 03:53:26 AM
specs are
16#
3.60top weight
3 1/2 in pin
ball drilled something like 4 x 4 1/2 but pin is above and to the right of ring finger and cg is under ring finger, about mid palm. no weight hole
well i used this ball first on a second shift league tonight 1-25-04 and well first couple shots the ball jumps right off the dry. so i took the ball had it polished with some diamon gloss and it seemed to help a bit.
but i ended up playing about 25 out to 15 and ball had plenty of snap to rip the pocket.
Well i was hoping this ball woudlnt have this kinda hook, but it does get down the lanes well, hopefully it will be money on a fresh shot.
lanes where burned out from from 15-gutter on right side from previous league. So i was playing 5th arrow out to 15, anything that got out early went brooklyn, or high. But ball had nice reaction on this type of shot.
--------------------
" Lift Your Skirt Grab Your Balls and Learn How to Bowl "
Post by: David Lee Yskes on January 28, 2004, 06:18:25 AM
Well i used it tonight on a fresh shot, same lanes as review #1
i tried playing my normal line which is standing 33 and throwing over 15 out to 10. it didnt work, started with 3 opens, and finally made a big move deep.
I moved my feet to 43 and was throwing the ball over 25 and had room from 15-10.
The one thing i didnt have on these lanes was hold room if i tugged the ball, i always ended up going high.
But even on a fresh shot this ball hooked like a Monster! When the ball was in the Pocket the ball ripped the pins. I left 2 9pins and 1 10pin all nite. first game wasnt too great but considering i started with 3 splits i ended 169 second game had 1 open, and shot 224, third game shot 236, front 5, 9pin, next three, then greek church= no hold lol.
But for the price of this ball its well worth it!
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" Lift Your Skirt Grab Your Balls and Learn How to Bowl "
Post by: bowler851 on April 11, 2004, 03:10:58 AM
THE HOT ROD WITH SAME PIN PLACEMENT BUT CG CENTERED UNDER PALM THE HOT ROD WAS ONLY A BOARD WEAKER THAN THE XXX. THIS IS A STRONG BALL NO MATTER HOW YOU DRILL IT. I LIKE THE STORED ENERGY YOU GET FROM THIS BALL, BUTT IT IS A MED. OIL BALL NOT DRY LANE BALL I THINK I WILL DRILL A BARB WIRE FOR DRY LANES AND LATE BLOCK CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE HOT ROD IS JUST TO STRONG. FOR THE MONEY STICK WITH STORM'S LOWER PRICE LINE AND LEAVE THE X FACTOR LINE ALONE.
Post by: ken823 on June 14, 2004, 12:50:05 AM
guy.
Post by: mmike1053 on March 01, 2005, 04:05:50 PM
Thanks Doug.
This ball has amazing pop. It is not for Dry Lanes. I can use it in any game. I prefer to use it on medium to medium dry conditions. I have mine drilled with the pin below ring finger and CG in palm. The ball goes real long and makes a strong move to the pocket. It is more angular than skid/snap.
I rolled 300 with this ball last week.
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--------------------
"Strikes and Honor" - Gladiator(sorta)
Storm... hits like no other. PERIOD.
High Game: 2 - 300 on 6/21/04 and 02/25/05
High Series: 788 on 06/21/04
Post by: dirtbikebowler on March 08, 2005, 09:13:58 PM
15lb 3-4oz i think, how it came from factory.
5 1/2 pin to PAP, PIN above and inbetween the fingers. 1500 grit polish for cover.
Picked this up from my left hand buddy, single drill, for my new 15lb light oil ball.
Well it does very well for my light oil shoots. For the long PIN, it has good backend but is VERY controllable. I very strong arc, but nothing snappy.
Very solid ball. I have already shot some high scores with this, more to come.
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Taking over the lanes with Mother Nature!
Eye of the Storm(founder)
Post by: NickS on January 26, 2007, 05:35:15 AM
I would say this ball reacts like a brunswick bvp punisher a little less hook but this coverstock wont die
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LEFTY LIFT!
Post by: JessN16 on February 19, 2008, 02:45:47 AM
Me: PAP 4 over 3/8 up, mid-tracker, tweener
Surface prep: Box
Bought this ball off Jeff Carter as an experiment. The Curelyon coverstock and weight block make this ball very similar to an original Thunder, a ball I loved.
The drilling on this ball was one I'd wanted to try for a long time. With the pin over the middle, it put it about 5.5 inches from my PAP and promised to give me length.
I only spent a limited amount of time with this ball but found out quickly that the Curelyon coverstock, which is old enough to be considered very tame by today's standards, was going to be too tame with this drill. I only did a minimal alteration to the coverstock and found that the reaction didn't change much. The ball was almost too mild for what I wanted.
Carry was quite good, especially on high-flush hits. Off hits were below average.
Had I to do over again, I might have plugged it and tried a different drilling. The pin-over-middle drilling is something I'll need to use on a newer piece of equipment in the future to make sure it's the technology and not me that was the problem here.
If you can find one of these, I still recommend it. The core/cover combination here is a proven performer from Storm. Whatever drill you choose, the ball will likely be a dry-lane-only piece.
Jess