The VIVID ball details are here:
http://www.stormbowling.com/products/balls/vivid
DRILLED February 21, 2012
I chose to use the same drilling in my VIVID that I used in both my FRANTIC & MODERN MARVEL because I've had so much success with those balls and love the roll the drilling gives me. Adding the VIVID that way gives me a nice three-step change in ball strength with the same drilling.
The drilling is pin in my middle finger with the CG (and PSA where applicable) kicked to the right. For the VIVID, my PIN to PAP is 5 3/4, my PAP to PSA is 4 5/8, and my pin buffer is 4 1/2.
Just as I expected, my VIVID turned out smooth and controllable. And just as expected it is VERY strong with the NRG solid coverstock, the same as the NANO. However, it is 2,000 grit Abralon where the NANO was 4,000 grit so it is even stronger (earlier) in box finish. The difference in motion from the NANO also comes from the different core in the VIVID – the M.A.D. – that to me produces a smoother reaction than theNANO's core.
My experience with the VIVID so far is the 47-foot Team USA Paris pattern and the 2012 USBC Open Championships pattern in a tournament Sunday. I have not had a chance to try it on a house shot.
The VIVD was solid onParisand got better as the night went on, with a great reaction from around 20 the third game, providing me roll in the oil and recovery off the dry we had burned in without over-reaction. My MODERN MARVEL just wouldn't make a strong enough move from in deep by the third game.
But on the 2012 OC pattern, the VIVID was a touch too strong. My MODERN MARVEL was my best look on the fresh and was rolling through the pins where the VIVID was tending to use too much energy and leaving weak 10s.
That didn't surprise me with my ball speed and revs on a 39-foot pattern with a medium volume of oil.
I would say in box finish for both balls, the VIVID is perhaps 3-4 boards stronger than the MM, which is 4,000 R2X hyrbid. But it's actually hard to put a number on a difference that is more about earlier hook than number of boards hook.
Also, I certainly could smooth and/or shine the cover and get use of it on such a pattern, but my goal was to add this ball to my arsenal in the range of my NANO.
How does it differ from the NANO?
To me, the NANO has a very tumbly and rolly action going on that requires heavy oil for it to comfortably get to the break point and not blow up. When it works it is incredible.
The VIVID also requires heavy oil but seems smoother and more controllable with the way it rolls more affected by how a person releases it than the NANO. The is both good and bad because it allows you to control ball motion more with release, which I like, but it also means that if you really miss a shot the core action won't help cover for your miss.
I feel confident that the VIVID provides more control than the NANO, although it might not be as dynamic and potentially powerful a striking force as the NANO.
I would say the VIVID could look good for just about anyone with surface tweaks. Someone who liked the dullness of theNANO but maybe had trouble controlling the core should find the VIVID perfect, and those who find the VIVID too strong in its box finish could smooth/shine it and use it on less than heavy oil.
Storm Vivid Ball Review
by Storm Staffer Casey Murphy
Rev Rate: 400 rpm
Ball Speed: 17 mph
PAP: 4 5/8 straight across
Where: Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO
Pattern: 40 ft, medium volume, 4:1 ratio (close to sport)
Vivid layout (Dual Angle Layout): 50, 5 1/2 , 35
With a little higher RG than most of Storm’s or Roto’s asymetricals I was a little apprehensive about how the new M.A.D. core would matchup with the strength of the Nano’s NRG Solid Reactive coverstock. I drilled the Vivid similar to the first Nano I drilled last year which I was very successful with. I bowled on a very tough “house” pattern at my home center. The Vivid was extremely strong out of the box. So much so that I wasn’t able to throw it effectively until it had soaked up a little oil which didn’t take long btw. Once the cover tamed down a little bit I’m a big fan of the result. The new M.A.D. core clears the fronts very cleanly and leaves a lot of reaction for the backend. One trait my Nano had was it rev’d up very quickly with the lower RG and tended to stop after it hit the end of the oil pattern. The Vivid continues more off the spot. More energy, more recovery. I find I can play further right if I want because I can get the ball through the friction easier. It’s a very versatile ball and a must have for tournament bowlers.
Hand: Left
Ball Speed: 16-17mph
Ball Weight: 15lbs
PAP: 5 left 7/16 up
Degrees of Tilt: 17
Layout: 5 ½ x 3 x 1
I drilled the Vivid with the pin up really high above my ring finger. Drilling the Vivid in a weaker state and keeping it strong was a total surprise! I could not believe how strong the Vivid is. It has the Virtual Gravity Nano cover but with a new weight block. I have not seen a ball that goes through the pins with so much power and keeps driving through the pin deck like it does. This is probably the earliest reading ball I have seen from storm. I have rolled it on many different sport patterns and the Vivid made it look like a house shot. It for sure likes oil. It is not a ball that goes down long with a strong snappy backend. This ball is really smooth and controllable. It for sure fits in between the 2 nanos. If u want something smooth for oil this is the ball for you.
I have a video on youtube and a picture of my ball and the layout on facebook. If you have any questions about the Vivid email me at grichardson7716@aol.com.
Garrett Richardson
Storm/Roto Grip Amateur Staff
Vise Inserts Amateur Staff
The Bowler’s Advantage
www.facebook.com/grstorm
www.stormbowling.com
The new Vivid is the latest addition to the premier line of bowling balls for the Bowlers Company. Everything about this ball is innovative. The NRG cover is the latest technology from the masterminds of Storm products and made its debut on the Nano. This coverstock provides the highest RA values that the industry has seen thus far. The factor finish also comes in at 2000 abralon giving the ball more surface texture than the 4000 finish of the Nano. The Vivid also has a bright new look for Storm, with its black, green, and blue colors. It glows in the dark, too!
The RG of the Vivid comes in at 2.52, with a .050 diff, and a .017 intermediate diff in 15lb bowling balls. The M.A.D. core is a new core shape for the Storm line of bowling balls that provides a little more “lope” through the front of the lane than the lower RG cores like the Shape lock HD and Centripetal core. By combining this medium RG weight block with such a strong cover, the Vivid has a very high hook potential (just keep in mind, hook potential is all relative to the amount of revs and ball speed each individual bowler applies to the ball). What I have found for me personally, is the Vivid covers more boards than the Nano because of the core not revving up as early. With this type of reaction, I have a ball that can handle longer patterns with a more constant move in the backend of the lane. Many of the longer patterns, like the PBA shark pattern, of today has less volume of oil than some of their shorter counter parts, which makes low RG, strong cover bowling balls good for only a few frames, or a game or so at the most. Often times, there is just not enough oil in the front of the lane. Once the pattern breaks down, which happens relatively quickly because of the less volume of oil in the front of the lane, the lower RG super cover bowling balls hook too soon, and do not retain enough speed down lane to make the correct motion to get the ball to face up to the pocket the correct way. The Vivid is the answer!!
Two other patterns I have found the Vivid to work really well on are the USBC white pattern of 39 feet, and also this year’s USBC national’s pattern. On the white pattern, I am able to start out going up the boards around 7-8, and just chase it in with parallel moves(finding more oil), opening up the pattern as the session continues on. With the Nationals pattern, I am closer to 9-10 area, again just chasing the pattern in, but with 2 and 1 moves (the USBC nationals’ pattern for this year is flatter than the white pattern, thus meaning I need to get the ball to project to the hook spot with angles). I am really looking forward to seeing how the Vivid will perform on all the PBA animal patterns now that the east region will be getting busy with its schedule.
The specs:
I drilled the Vivid with pin in my ring finger, and MB in strong position, halfway between my VAL and initial ball track (5 x 3.5). I placed the balance hole (3/4” x 2 ½” deep) in the P3 position, using the gradient line theory. I kept the ball at the factor finish of 2000 abralon.