BallReviews
Reviews => Storm => Topic started by: Ballreviews on March 24, 2015, 09:01:06 AM
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- Color: Scarlet Red/Platinum Pearl All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Coverstock: Reactor Hybrid Reactive
- Weight Block: Cruiser Core for 14#-16# (Modified Centripetal Core for 12# & 13#)
- Finish: 1500-grit Polished
- Recommended Lane Conditions: Dry-Medium
- RG: 2.58 (15#)
- Diff: 0.021 (15#)
- Fragrance: Paradise Punch
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Orientation: Right Handed
Rev Rate: 375 RPM
Speed: 16-17 MPH
PAP: 4 5/8 straight across
Location: Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO
Pattern: Greater Ozarks Open Singles/Doubles Pattern
Layout: 45, 4 ¾, 70 with p3.5 hole
The Ride is the perfect fit between the HyRoad/Lightouts and the Tropical Breezes! I’ve always been wanting a ball to fill the gap between those two lines from Storm and the Ride is the ball. The Tropical Breezes were always too over/under for me. The HyRoad/Lights Out were a little too strong to straighten up with too much.
I drilled my Ride pin down with a weight hole and it does everything I want it too. I can get my feet right and close my angles but I also have the ability to cover some boards and open up an area. The Ride gets down the lane great but rolls very heavy so I don’t have be afraid to hit the dry. It has a controlled but effective response off friction that is very predictable.
If you bowl on a lot of dry patterns, or bad surfaces, or are looking to get right on some sport patterns, then go get a Storm Ride today!
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Storm Ride Ball Review by Walter McKnight
Lane Conditions: Medium-Light Oil
Typical Conditions: Variety of Shots
Type of Lane: Combination
What part of the lane did you play? Second Arrow
Weight of bowling ball: 15
Surface of bowling ball: Factory/Box
What grit was the surface of the ball? 1500
Likes: The Ride allows you to play a lot straighter without losing power or pin carry.
The Ride is a the New edition to Storms Hot Line. The Reactorâ„¢ Hybrid Reactive cover is used in conjunction with the all NEW Cruiserâ„¢ Core. The Reactorâ„¢ Hybrid is specially designed to push down lane on the driest of conditions, that in combination with the Cruiserâ„¢ Core allows the bowler to create a straighter angle to the pocket. The Ride is not a hyper aggressive ball off the spot, it is very gradual and allows the bowler to read the lanes with ease after the lanes start to break down.
I drilled my Ride 95° x 4 x 50° the pin is to the right of my ring finger and the CG is almost dead center of the grip. I wanted this ball to get into a roll sooner than later and be very smooth, nothing skid flip here. I have been able to move more right after the lanes break down. Instead of fighting the lanes and moving 15 boards left, I can square up and restart my A game. I find I can use this ball on a variety of patterns and house shots. Whether it is a dry pattern or medium volume with dry backends. The ball is very tame but predictable which is a great balance. As you can see the Rocket is a lot more violent off the spot and pulls hard in the midlane compared to the Ride.
I would suggest this ball for bowlers of all ages and skill levels. The low price point is great and the amount of performance you get is spectacular.
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LANE CONDITION
Length: 42ft
Volume: medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
Likes: I like everything about this ball!!! It's very clean through the front and middle part of the lanes. It's not too responsive to the friction on the backend. I went with a 60*4*75 layout. For me this ball has a smooth change of direction downlane. It is great for drier lanes or bowling on a burn squad of a tournemant. I threw it up against my Punch Out and my Pitch Black. It is a few ft sooner than the Punch Out with alot less angle down lane and less overall hook. It it much much cleaner than the Pitch black with more recovery and total hook. It's a great addition for me because I wasn't able to get alot of use out of my Punch Out when the lanes hooked because it so responsive to the friction that it over hooked alot. The Ride for me doesn't bounce too hard off the spot when the lanes hook and allows me to control the ball motion.
Thrown by Storm/Roto Grip Staffer Nick Smith
Dislikes: NONE
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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Layout: 70x4x35, P3 hole
Bowler Specs: 17 mph, 400 revs, Tilt 7 degrees
Lane conditions: THS 39 feet, 2015 USBC Nationals Team, D&S pattern
The Ride is the newest entry in the Hot line releasing on 4/21/15. The intent was for this ball to bridge the gap between the somewhat strong balls of the Hot line and the much weaker balls in the Tropical line, and it fills that hole perfectly. It’s not exactly what I’d expected, but better than what I’d hoped for at the same time. It’s a weak ball that is controllable and smooth without being over/under. A lot of weaker balls have a lot of length and a strong backend transition, but that can cause issues when the ball doesn’t have enough traction in oil, but too much on dry. The Ride is very smooth and the transition from wet to dry is slow but strong, which creates a predictable motion and a lot of control.
On a typical house shot, the Ride will most likely be too weak to start with on the fresh unless you have a lot of hand or like playing straight down and in, but once track burn sets in, it will give you the length and control you need to stay in the pocket and ahead of everyone else. On this year’s Nationals patterns, while most other balls are jumpy, the Ride really smooths out the backend transition. It isn’t strong enough for use on the fresh, but once the lanes begin to dry up, the Ride should be a very good option.
The Ride plays well from any angle on the lane. It is smooth and continuous without losing energy, rolling out, or “standing up.†When forced deep, it still rolls up and continues through the pocket, blends wet/dry or spotty conditions, and hits well for as weak of a ball as it is. Overall, I was expecting it to suffer from the same issues that plague most less aggressive balls: over/under, weak hit, less control, but Storm seems to have focused on eliminating those issues and creating a better low end ball. In my opinion, they have succeeded. The Ride is a ball that definitely needs to be in everyone’s tournament bag for later games, shifts, or blocks where you need length, control, and hit when the lanes get rough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdZHve59b3E Ride on THS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HNX8NBPKm4 Ride on Nationals Team Pattern
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Ride review on a Typical House Shot
Here is my review of Storm's newest release, the Ride. The Ride is the newest member of the HOT Line with an RG of 2.58, a DIFF of .021 and uses the Cruiser Core. When I first got this ball, I wanted it for when the lanes are going to be dry and will allow me to still be able get the ball down the lane. The Ride definitely fits that need. My first attempt throwing the Ride at league (on fresh) didn't go so well because it was really clean through the front part of the lane. So, I bowled the second shift after there had been some play on them and I was able to see more of the reaction. For a lower end ball, this thing hits really hard. My ball speed is around 16mph and RPM around 360. This ball works great for me. If you throw the ball harder, I personally think hitting the ball with a pad so it reads earlier would be a good idea because the ball definitely is clean through the front part of the lane. If you bowl league at a center that has wooden lanes, this ball will be perfect for the transition. I wish I had this ball when I bowled in college when they really get hooking because this ball allows me to get the ball through the heads when other bowlers struggle. I'd recommend this ball for any level of bowler. With that being said, go #LetItRide!!
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Introducing Storm's latest addition to the Hot Line, the RIDE! The Ride is designed for drier lane conditions. It was created with a weaker coverstock and a slower revving core to give you a smooth and predictable motion. This ball is excellent for when the fronts start to burn up or when your other balls are just hooking too much.
I drilled my ride with a 3 3/8" pin to pap and a 5" cg to pap which places the pin to the right of my ring finger. I mapped out my Ride with this layout to create a ball that will give me a continuous read throughout the entire lane. It doesn't overhook while still not going as straight as a urethane would. This ball clears the front part of the lane like none other.
I have been able to use this ball on a variety of lane conditions. This ball has worked really well on drier house shots and in later blocks in tournaments. I have also seen great results with this ball on the US Open pattern. It allows me to play inside and keep my angles tight giving that it doesn't read the heads when I missed inside by a board or two; it pushed through the spot and would still hit pocket.
In summary, the Ride is very predictable and consistent. Grading this ball based on drier lane conditions, I will give this an "A" because it allows me to stay straighter for a longer period of time while still providing a furious punch into the pocket. Based on the cosmetics of this ball, I will give it an "B+." I like the red and silver swirl throughout the ball with the yellow Ride Logo. From tournament to dry lane conditions, enjoy "The" Ride!
Thank you for reading this blog and hope you stay tuned for future blogs,
Joshua Tajiri
BowlersDeals.com Technician
Storm/Roto Grip Amateur Staff
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Ball: Storm Ride
Layout: 60x3x50 polished
Tested on: 38ft THS, 39ft sport pattern, 41ft THS
Results: The ball's reaction was weaker then I expected at first. The smoothness overhelmed what my eyes were looking for reaction wise, with that being said; Once I understood to play straighter with it, the ball was amazing. Play just right of 10 on all the patterns, I noticed the ball held its position really well off the pattern, it did not over react once it hit the dry areas, and the pin deflection was surprising good and the pins stay lower then I was hoping for. Not a "BIG" hooker, like the typical reaction that everyone wants to see. I see this fitting in 1 step above from my Shouts, and 1 step below my Rocket and HyRoad. Also noticed that on the Brunswick lane panels the reaction was delayed a little more, but had a great angle into the pocket. If you are looking for the nice "rolling and true" bowling ball, the RIDE has it all.
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Senior stroker. 17 mph ball speed through heads. 280 RPM. PAP 4 1/2 straight over.
Drilled Ride out yesterday based on reviews. Tested it first on 38 ft USBC El Paso team pattern. It was a couple boards weaker and smoother off the break point than my Cobalt Vibe on this pattern. Not sure it would be my ball of choice on this pattern, but I was able to square up between 4 and 6 board with a decent reaction.
Next, moved a few pairs down on second shift 38 foot 9 to 9 THS. Here is where it really shined. I could still square up right on the original oil line and get hold if I missed in to 10, and get strong recovery if I hit 8. I could almost line up the same as I would with my Blue Hammer, but got a bit better continuation through the carry down for good carry. It has been a long time since I had something that I could play into hold area and both get the hold and a good ball reaction.
This is a great core shell matchup for me that gives me more options to square up with good carry than I could get from pure urethane
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Here’s my thought on the brand new Storm Ride:
My initial thought was that this ball would be apart of the Hot Line which in the past 2 years have been a lot of moderate strong balls that can almost belong in the thunder line. BUT….. with the modifications with core and overstock for this Ride I found this ball to be almost the opposite of what the older Hot Lines bowling balls used to be. This Low Diff Higher RG bowling ball might be one of the weakest but predictable bowling balls I have thrown in a long time. I really liked how weak the ball was but it didn’t puke or roll it hooked in the areas or spots where I wanted it to hook.
My Immediate thought after throwing the ball for a couple of shots was that in order to hit the pocket, I would easily have to stand 8 boards right of a Rocket or Punch Out (Punch Out is in the same line). Another difference I found with the reaction of the ball was how smooth and predictable this ball was. Storm_Ride_Core__16051.1426531421.1280.1280Smooth and predictable is a broad term, but what I mean was that the ball didn’t skid flip but it didn’t get into a roll. I knew where the ball was going to hook but it wasn’t weak enough where the ball may not finish. Another thing that appealed to my eye was how the ball didn’t skid flip and go sideways. The ball never picked up to quick and get 4 through the face. The ball would mellow out.
I would give this ball a 10/10 one because I have had success throwing this ball in many tournaments since getting it but this ball actually belongs to this price point. This may be one of the first balls that meets the price point because it is weaker than almost every ball in all of Storm Line. Plus I think it will be a home run in the drier conditions especially for right handers so they will not have to get deeper as the block gets drier. Go buy a Ride you won’t regret it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjza0aBKA4Q
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Lay Out: 4" from PAP at 60* PAP angle and 40* VAL angle. Dual angle measurement would be 60/4/40, weight hole on axis point (5 1/4" over and 5/8 up).
Surface: Box which is 1500 Reacta-Shine.
Purpose: I wanted a piece to fill the gap I have between my Super Natural and Punch Out.
Observations: The Ride reminds me of the Tropical Heat Hybrid from a couple of years ago. The numbers and cover stock are very similar. So to compare apples to apples, I threw this side by side with the Super Natural and Punch Out. The Punch Out gets into a roll much quicker since it is a stronger cover ball than the other 2. The Ride is perfect to ball down to from it for me. I also like the fact that the Ride is very smooth and lets me get on top of the friction more. My Super Natural is a different look entirely with a hook and early set motion (urethane reaction). The Ride gives me the impression that I can stay with it longer and not stray too far from the friction. I will be most curious to see the Ride on shorter patterns like the 32' PBA Wolf and the 34' & 35' Team USA patterns.
Conclusions: The Ride fills that gap between urethane and reactive perfectly for me. I also get the impression that heavy handed players will love the Ride since it look like you can rip on it and not have it boomerang off the back of the pattern.
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LANE CONDITION
Length: Various Medium and Short
Volume: Light to medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): All of the above
The Ride is the newest ball introduced into Storm’s Hot Line. The Ride’s reactor Hybrid Reactive cover stock and the new cruiser core gives the Hot Line a different ball motion. The higher Rg value with less differential than the PunchOut and WipeOut will allow the Ride to clear the heads and give a strong yet predictable back end motion. The layout that I used in my Ride was pin over the fingers with the cg slightly kicked out with no hole or for the dual angle people 75 X 5 ½ X 45. My credentials are: pap is 5 5/8 over and ¾ up, ball speed around 15 mph, Rev Rate around 300 and I am right-handed.
I used the Ride and the PunchOut on several different patterns. The Ride was very good on the wet dry of a house pattern with a slight surface change on the cover. The Ride allowed me to stay to the right and play the dry like it is supposed to but the real surprise happened when I moved in slightly and the strength of the ride was revealed. The Ride did not over react to the dry but rolled through it whereas the PunchOut was a Yo-yo bouncing off the dry like someone kicked it! The Ride might not be as strong as the PunchOut is but it more readable and strong enough to knock down 10 pins. The Shorter patterns I saw the same thing the Ride would just roll off the break point and be continuous through the pins. The PunchOut was just too strong on the back end of the lane. However, when there is a lot of carry down the PunchOut being stronger on the back end would be easier to go around the carry down. The Ride provides enough length and is strong enough to tackle the shorter sports patterns and the dryer house patterns. The Ride is the ball of choice in Storm’s Hot Line!
Likes: Length and Predictable backend motion
Dislikes:
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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The NEW Storm Ride is the perfect mid level ball I have been looking for. The lower diff core on this ball is great for higher friction surfaces, shorter patterns, and is a very reliable piece when you're trying to not to give the pocket away. The layout i used on mine is a 45x3 7/8×75 (axis 3 3/4 over, 7/8 ^). The stronger layout really blended well with the weaker numbers on this ball. This is a must have in your bag to fill the gap between the tropical and thunder line. Awesome Release Utah!
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Storm Ride Ball Review by PJ Haggerty
The Storm Ride is the newest addition to the Hot Line and fits perfectly ahead of the Tropical Storm line and below the Lights Out and Punch Out. I’ve been very impressed with the Ride so far. I’ve seen the high rev guys use it when they need to play straighter or when there’s a ton of friction. I’ve also seen our more seasoned players drill the Ride because of their lower ball speed.
Sometimes when I drill balls that are meant to be straighter and cleaner, I have a hard time getting them to go through the pins the right way. With a differential of .21, I would suggest adding a weight hole either on your axis or below your PAP to make sure it flares enough. I’ve figured out if you drill weaker balls too weak, they don’t flare enough and don’t go through the pins the right way.
I’ve drilled one Ride so far and am extremely happy with it. As noted above, I drilled it stronger to ensure it flared. The layout I used was 3 ½ x 3 ½ with a hole on my axis. By drilling it stronger, I made sure the Ride picked up in the middle of the lane and still continued down lane. I’ve used it mainly on Cheetah and shorter patterns that have friction. I’ve also seen a lot of folks use it with surface when there isn’t much hold in the middle of the lane and a smoother reaction is needed.
If you need a clean, smooth reaction in your bag, the Ride is a great fit!
#StormNation
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BALL SPECS
Pin Length: 4"
Starting Top Weight: 2.7oz
Ball Weight: 15lbs.
DRILL PATTERN
Pin to PAP: 5"
PSA to PAP: 5.5"
Pin Buffer: 1"
X Hole (if there is one): No Hole
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: 430rpm
Ball Speed: 17mph
PAP/Track: 4 3/4" x 1" up
SURFACE PREP
Grit: Box Finish compared to 4000
LANE CONDITION
Length: 30'-35'
Volume: Med/Light
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): WTB Bejjing/Sydney, PBA Wolf/Cheetah
COMMENTS
Likes: With it's smooth Cruiser Core, The Ride is an absolute must for any bowler looking for effortless skid with a smoother turn towards the pocket. I absolutely love this ball on short patterns that allow me to play the gutter. It gives me a much better reaction than urethane without being too jumpy. After knocking the shine off and going with a smooth 4000 finish, the Reactor Hybrid cover reads the mids even better and can handle some of the thicker volumes that are seen in the WBT short patterns. For the lower speed and/or senior bowlers, this ball is exactly what many have been looking for. It allows players to play in the dry and go up the boards without forcing them left into the puddle that we see in most house shots. There have been countless senior/low speed bowlers who struggle with keeping the ball on the correct side of the headpin either due to ball speed or unwillingness to move in due to habit/comfort. The Ride is the perfect fit for those bowlers on a house shot. For the tournament bowler, this is a rock that's excellent off of the friction or in the burn. It's a smooth rolling, reliable piece that fits perfectly below the mid ranged pearls/hybrids without losing the pop and power downlane that occurs when dropping to entry level reactives.
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Hand: Left
Ball Speed: 16-17mph
Ball Weight: 15lbs
PAP: 5 left 7/16 up
Degrees of Tilt: 17
Layout: 4 ½ x 6 x 4 ¼
Storm Ride is pin under the ring finger with the cg in and no hole with the factory finish at of 1500 polish. The Ride is a great gap filler ball that actually quite a few people in my area and pro shop have asked for. When you have a lights out, punch out or wipe out and it hooks too much at times then you go down to a tropical breeze or pitch black and it is not enough, the Ride fits in between so when you need that step down or step up.
With me being left handed and in my area I do not see a whole lot of dry but at the times I do I am able play more of a up the boards shot around the 8 9 board it does not make a strong move on the back end which gives me great control. When I go inside around 15 or 3rd arrow and swing it the Ride tends to fade and not have a lot of recovery which is fine with me because when it gets really dry I can play 15 if needed or usually play up the 10 board but I like to play a straighter line for more control and consistency.
All in a nutshell the Ride is great for dry lanes and to fill those really small gaps to give you just enough length and not over hook on the dry for the medium to dry lane performance balls.
If you have any questions about the Ride email me at garrett.richardson@pinolebowlerssupply.com. I also have a ball video on youtube for the Ride
Garrett Richardson
Storm/Roto Grip Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Amateur Staff
Pinole Bowler’s Supply
www.facebook.com/grstorm
www.facebook.com/pinolebowlerssupply
www.stormbowling.com
www.rotogrip.com
www.viseinserts.com
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The Storm “Ride†is the best of both worlds with the smooth roll of a lower end ball and the power of a higher end ball. What I love most about this ball is it gets into an earlier roll than the Breezes and Lights Out which really blends out friction. The Ride is easily the most versatile “Low End†ball I have ever had in my bag. I can throw it on the fresh, transition, and burn late in the day. No matter how deep I get with it, the ball stills keeps its smooth roll. My Storm “Ride†is drilled pin up in between my fingers with the cg stacked directly under my fingers. This way is retains some energy and allows me to play many angles. I rate it a 10 out of 10!
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The Ride is the new ball in the Hot line from Storm. This ball fills the gap between the Punch Out and the Tropical Breeze line. High Rev guys will love this ball for its control and ability to play further right when other ball tend to start to labor down lane. The Ride is also a good fit for bowlers with lower ball speeds as it is very clean through the fronts. Don't be afraid to drill it with a stronger pin, as this will help give the ball more flare and better shape. Too weak of a drill will affect carry. I drilled mine 5 x 4 x 2 3/4 pin up. I am able to use this ball on the drier league shots (3rd game) and also on the shorter Kegel and sport patterns. The Ride is very controllable and has a smooth transition off of breakpoint. So when the heads and mids start to go, the Ride is a good matchup. Another great addition the Storm Lineup.
Brian Watson
Right Handed
PAP 4 up 1 1/4
Speed - 16-17
Tilt - 15
Rev - 375-400
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The Ride from Storm is the latest release in the Hot line of bowling balls from Storm, The Bowler's Company. Ride has a new weight block called Cruiser core and is wrapped with Reactor cover. The Rg in 15lb balls is 2.58 with a differential of 0.021. The scarlet red/platinum pearl has great shelf appeal.
I drilled Ride with a 4 ¾ x 5 x 2 ½ layout, and left it in the box finish. I have been using my Ride the last few months, and have had great success with it on our well used, leftover from the night before, house pattern. I have also tried the Ride in a regional that we used Wolf pattern. The Ride rolled well on Friday’s practice session, but was a little too clean to the spot because of the high volume of oil in such a short distance come Saturday and Sunday. Ride just didn’t hook early enough, and when I tried moving left to the dry, it had too much backend. I will, however, be looking forward to using Ride on some different short patterns that won’t have as much volume as what Wolf has. Pitch black was a better option for the high volume, short distance Wolf pattern. I use Ride as a go to ball from my Pitch Black, when I dry out the oil line, and I have to make a move right, and the urethane covered Pitch Black doesn’t want to make the corner. Ride is also a step up from the Tropical Breeze. It offers a touch more flare, and more overall hook potential.
Ride is a drier condition ball, no doubt about it. Unless you have a very high rev rate with low ball speed, stick to using the Ride on the drier conditions it is intended for, and you will have a GREAT reaction to the pins. The biggest asset I have found with my Ride is the carry I get when I am able to use it. This is a huge bonus as Ride has limited pattern capability.
In the modern era of entire lane covering hook monsters, Ride is a refreshing change of pace in allowing me to play straighter up the boards on drier conditions. When urethane hooks too soon and hits weak, and your Punch Out is just too much hook, reach for Ride from Storm. You won’t be disappointed!
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Lane Conditions: Light Oil
Typical Conditions: Variety of Shots
Type of Lane: All Synthetic
Weight of bowling ball: 15
Surface of bowling ball: Factory/Box
Likes: Very clean through fronts, controlled move in the back.
My Ride Layout: 40º x 2 3/4" x 25º or 2 3/4" x 4 7/8" x 1 3/8"
The Ride fills a hole that most bowlers have in their bag. That weak ball that doesn't just blow up when it hits friction. Think of it as an IQ Tour-type ball in the Heat line.
Conditions I have used the Ride on: House shot, pretty tough to play anything but right up the track with it on a fresh condition. I've also used this during a singles tournament on the second squad on the 2015 USBC Doubles/Singles pattern. It let me play up the lane, just inside 15 at the arrows and not have to open up my angles too much and give the pocket away. Bowling on a ~42' house shot with synthetic heads and wood backends, this ball just wasn't enough, there was just too much volume, it really is a ball designed for when they are broken down a bit at least. I also used this on the 33' WTBA Stockholm pattern. It let me go straight up the lane around 7-8 without overreacting to the 27' of backend. This was my go-to ball on this pattern after realizing that a short pin to pap layout on a strong asymmetric was not going to work on this pattern.
Where the Ride fits in my bag: The Ride is the weakest ball I carry in my bag at the moment.
When I use the Ride: The Ride is a great option on shorter patterns, especially once they start to transition and urethane is not longer a good option. The Ride is also a "Get Out of Jail Free" type of ball. It reminds me a little bit of a Barbed Wire from years ago where if I had trouble getting my angles right with everything else I could just find a spot to pipe that ball up the lane.