Author Topic: Set me up! Returning to Storm . . (Read 3550 times)

HamPster · « **on:** February 21, 2007, 10:26:40 PM »

After a long debate with myself and a few words from my pro shop guy . . I've decided to start drilling Storm again. Brunswick's last couple years worth of balls just don't fit my game anymore, it's really been hit and miss, the only few real successes being the Classic Zone, Red Zone, and Smokin Inferno, the more long and strong balls that they have. Storm's got a lot of newer balls with the reaction I'm looking for, but I'm still a little wary of Reactor. I have a few older balls I could order . .

Dark Thunder
Dark Thunder Pearl
Atomic Charge
Recharge

New ones I'm interested in:

Shift
Special Agent
Pyro
Paradigm Domination
Spit Fire

Need some stuff for my PBA Experience league this summer, but I also want to be able to use them for regular league too. Have one short dry pattern, one medium-medium pattern, and one that's all over the place. I need an oiler though, something that'll cut through on the backend, a first out of the bag ball (my 4.5 x 4.5 Red Zone is the one I use 90% of the time, and I can use it everywhere all night as long as the backends don't get too sloppy), and something for drier (my Smokin works very well as it's smooth, but strong). Suggest me some stuff here!
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:20:04 AM »

I am hoping that someone can jump in who throws both Brunswick equipment and Storm equipment because maybe they can compare the two for you.

Some random thoughts:

I am a big fan of the Dark Thunder as far as smooth rolling arc goes. When I went up in weight I switched to the Thunderstruck Solid just because I could get it through my pro shop and I wanted to try it out. Now I am not sure which one I like better. The Thunderstruck Solid seems to be a bit of a stronger Dark Thunder. I use the Thunderstruck Solid mainly now but I bet the Dark Thunder would still work just as well and probably be a little less jumpy off the back which is nice sometimes.

I am interested to see how the Special Agent compares to a Brunswick ball, maybe someone can chime in and compare that one.

I am thinking of ordering either a Dark Thunder Pearl or a Thunderstuck Pearl to sort of round out my setup. Unfortunately I don't have one yet so I can't comment on it. I am also thinking of getting Pyro instead but my pro shop is going to have to convince me either way.

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Special... Agent-man!

Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:36:20 AM »

I really don't think you can go wrong with the Agent line. However since you already have a Red Zone, I am guessing you're not wanting to replace it, or I would suggest the regular Agent. They would give you a very similar look.

My opinion would be to get a Paradigm Passion for the heavy stuff, but make sure it's heavy enough for the ball, or you'll be dissapointed. The Special Agent is a 2000 grit ball, which would be a good step below the Passion, The Agent would be a ball you could probably use most of the time and most likely would be first out of your bag. If you want something that can be used on a lighter pattern, but is not a weak piece, I'd look at the Tropical Storm. I think this could be the most underated ball on the market. It's not for super dry conditions, but when they get lighter or squirrely, this would be the go to ball.

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Formerly SGC300

bowlingmaniac017 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:40:55 AM »

Hotrod Hybrid in my opinion is one of the best if not the best Storm ball ever made. Call me crazy, but I have used a TON of different Storm stuff and I have been impressed with alot of it, but the Hotrod Hybrid offers a ton of versatility. On oil you can play the twig, or if they get dry you can swing the ball with no over reaction off the dry. I shot my first 700 with it and then I sold it to a local bowler

. What a dumb*ss I was!

Oh and you MIGHT still be able to find one of these on Ebay.
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Mike

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:50:38 AM »

How would the Red Zone compare to the Dark Thunder/Thunderstruck Solid? Is the Red Zone a smooth arcing ball like those? I thought it was, but I don't remember what I am basing that knowledge on.

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Special... Agent-man!

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:51:36 AM »

quote:
Hotrod Hybrid in my opinion is one of the best if not the best Storm ball ever made.

Yeah I wish they could put it back out and just call it the Thunderstruck Hybrid or whatever.
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Special... Agent-man!

bowlingmaniac017 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2007, 07:54:04 AM »

quote:
quote:
Hotrod Hybrid in my opinion is one of the best if not the best Storm ball ever made.

Yeah I wish they could put it back out and just call it the Thunderstruck Hybrid or whatever.
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Special... Agent-man!

Lol... Only thing I hated about this ball was when I could string like 6 or 7 in a row because I would REALLY start to smell the cinnamon apple and if I was starving it made it ALOT worse. Heck! Half the time I was tempted to lick the ball just to see if it taste what it smelt like

.
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Mike

Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2007, 08:40:52 AM »

quote:
How would the Red Zone compare to the Dark Thunder/Thunderstruck Solid? Is the Red Zone a smooth arcing ball like those? I thought it was, but I don't remember what I am basing that knowledge on.

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Special... Agent-man!

I can't really tell you how it would compare, since I haven't thrown either of the Dark Thunders, but the Red Zone that I had, had a heavy midlane, and it was pretty smooth on the back. Of course I only used this in practice sessions. I bought it used here to try one out, and it was 15 and I throw 16, so I never used it in league. I had a video of me throwing it, but it has since been deleted.
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Formerly SGC300

TravisG · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2007, 08:51:07 AM »

dlenart I'm hooked on the T-Road. Best ball in my bag right now.

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2007, 09:30:08 AM »

quote:

I can't really tell you how it would compare, since I haven't thrown either of the Dark Thunders, but the Red Zone that I had, had a heavy midlane, and it was pretty smooth on the back. Of course I only used this in practice sessions. I bought it used here to try one out, and it was 15 and I throw 16, so I never used it in league. I had a video of me throwing it, but it has since been deleted.

I was just looking at the 2007 Ball Guide in the USBC magazine and the Red Zone seems to be pretty similar to the Thunderstruck Solid only the Thunderstruck rolls a bit earlier and is a bit smoother off the dry. The Dark Thunder I would say is very similar to the Thunderstruck Solid but a bit smoother and a bit less overall hook. If you didn't already have a Red Zone I would say definitely try out one of these but since you do have a Red Zone I wonder...

Now as far as the Shifts, Dominations, Spit Fires, and T-Roads go, hopefully someone can shed some light on those.

You say you are wary of the Reactor coverstock? Why is that? Maybe this will help someone recommend a certain reaction or ball.
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Special... Agent-man!

HamPster · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2007, 05:08:52 PM »

Lol, well I definitely got more responses here than I ever did in the Brunswick forum . . I used to throw Storm exclusively, but balls like the Raging Red Fuze got me over to Brunswick. I was worried about Reactor because I had quite a few balls that had Reactor on them when the cover first came out, and hated every single one of them. Have a friend that throws Storm exclusively too, and he's hated every ball with Reactor he's drilled too.

Stopped by after class today to talk to my pro shop guy again, and yup, drilled a Special Agent. Figured I'd get some suggestions here for that ball, and didn't figure I'd go wrong with it. We drilled it something like 4 3/4ths x 3, pin under ring, cg kicked out, mass bias (I know, it doesn't have a marked mass bias . .) at 35 degrees, half ounce weight hole just a bit above my pap on my val. I've only thrown a few games with it on the special senior pattern, lol, 23 feet of oil, buffed to 35. Yeah, it's short . . and really dry. But the thing hooks. I could have comfortably played my Red Zone at 4th arrow (which is deeper than I normally play with it), and I was inside 5th with the Special Agent. Laying it down on 39 out to 5 and going through the nose. Rolled up great too, very strong on the backend and continuous, which is a first for me with Reactor. I wanted a clean, strong look on the backend, and I got it. The newer Brunswick stuff seems to be smoother and a bit lazy on the backends, and it wasn't working well with my style. I don't have to have hook in a box, I just need something that's got a decent amount of length and gives me a good read on the backend. I'm going back to practice on our slightly longer 23 feet buffed to 37 pattern in a few hours . . Got some timing issues to work out tonight too, but I definitely don't think I'll ever have to worry about oil being a problem anymore. I might put some polish on it, but not too much. Don't want to defeat the whole purpose of getting a strong ball, lol. Probably won't be a regular every day league ball, but that wasn't the point, and I think I'll be really happy with it on particularly the Shark and TOC patterns this summer. Not so worried about Reactor anymore . . my pro shop guy is really good with layouts, so I think we'll be able to make the stuff work! Thanks for all the suggestions and info, I'm planning on getting a few more balls, so keep it coming!
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.

HamPster · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2007, 10:30:56 PM »

Ok, got a lane after leagues were over with. Backends were a little soft from the track area, and some of the track was a little worn, not too bad though. Started out around 4th arrow, too much ball. Moved deeper. Still too much ball. Moved out to laying the ball down right on 39. I had to be tight with it, too far inside, it was brooklyn, too far right I was leaving washouts. After I destroyed the track in there, I slowly began moving right and taking hand out of it. At first it was tough, seeing as how I grip the ball and since I don't really get a clean reaction out of my Brunswick stuff, I tend to pinch it on release to try to get that extra bit of fingers into the ball to get it to keep coming on the backend. Well, this ball had the same reaction shape on the backend from ANYWHERE on the lane, and I mean anywhere. A nice clean, sharp roll. Reminded me a lot of a longer more angular Strike Zone.

I was crossing over my own burnt track the further right I was moving, but the ball was reacting strong, so any early hook could easily be fixed by taking more hand out. By the time I got in to third arrow, the left side of the lane was torched, and the mids between 14 and 20 were done, and the backends from 8-12 were pretty much done too. There was a playable area outside that, so guess where I went? By the end of my 15 games (on one lane, remember), I was playing straight up 5 on a 37 foot pattern with 3 units from 7 out. This is a ball I could easily cover all the PBA patterns with. It's strong enough to play an inside line on the Shark, but also gives me enough length with a strong move to play straight up on the Cheetah. Very responsive to what I did with my hand, but the reaction stayed the same, it's just that the less hand I put in it, the further it went before making its turn. The ball is amazing, I couldn't be happier. If I came up the back of it, it'd set. If I came around it, it'd roll up and keep going. Probably about as sharp and as clean of a move on the backend as I've seen out of a solid, and easily the most controllable hook (next to the Super Charge, lol). Everybody needs one!
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Overdose, lethal metal level in my blood, it freely flows, embrace the pain, crush the suffering and cleanse it with the river surging through your veins.

CBowl · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2007, 05:25:51 AM »

Welcome to the dark side

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2007, 06:22:45 AM »

quote:
Very responsive to what I did with my hand, but the reaction stayed the same, it's just that the less hand I put in it, the further it went before making its turn. The ball is amazing, I couldn't be happier. If I came up the back of it, it'd set. If I came around it, it'd roll up and keep going. Probably about as sharp and as clean of a move on the backend as I've seen out of a solid, and easily the most controllable hook (next to the Super Charge, lol). Everybody needs one!

It's funny that you mentioned that. I am finding this to be true as well.
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Special... Agent-man!

Fluff E Bunnie · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2007, 06:24:47 AM »

quote:
Welcome to the dark side

Dark side episodes 1-3 or 4-6? There's a difference... One is extremely cool and the other has a guy named Dooku.
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Special... Agent-man!

Author Topic: Set me up! Returning to Storm . . (Read 3550 times)

HamPster

Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

bowlingmaniac017

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

bowlingmaniac017

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

TravisG

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

HamPster

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

HamPster

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

CBowl

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .

Fluff E Bunnie

Re: Set me up! Returning to Storm . .