RIDE™
Review Date: 21 April 2015
Reviewed by:
Storm/Roto Grip staffer John Brockland
Style: Stroker Rev Rate: 280-310
PAP: 5.50" over and 1" up
The RIDE is another brand new development for the Storm arsenal. The new Cruiser™ core is wrapped with a hybrid version of the Reactor™ cover stock whose pearl version is used in the TROPCIAL BREEZE.
The design intention for the RIDE is to fill a performance gap between the TROPICAL BREEZE (Tropical Line) and the OUT Series which constitutes the rest of the Hot Line in Storm's arsenal. A comparison of the tech specs shows that the gap has been filled mostly with the differential (flare potential) in the RIDE compared to the TROPICAL BREEZE and the OUT series.
The RG for the RIDE is 2.58 - not all that dissimilar to the BREEZE (2.57) and the OUT series (2.55). The differential for the RIDE, however, is .021 - notably higher than the BREEZE (.009) and measurably lower than the OUT's (.038).
It's understandable then that Storm says that the RIDE "is designed for drier lanes...For the cover we chose the smooth and highly polished Hybrid Reactor™ material which refuses to acknowledge friction in the heads, the front 15 feet of the lane. And the new Cruiser™ core produces a modest amount of flare potential to help control your ball path as well." Storm calls it a "powerful hitting ball but one that doesn't bounce off the dry."
Because of the short 2" pin that my RIDE came with, I chose what for me is a smooth rolling pin under the bridge layout. The numbers are 55 x 4.75 x 75.
I have used the RIDE twice now on wet/dry STL house shots. I was skeptical about whether it wouldn't just make the usual over/under ball reaction I fight in league even worse. But I have to say this combination of core and cover really is something I haven't had in my arsenal until now. For both outings the RIDE has allowed me to get away from fighting over/under, move back to the right a bit, and attack the dry. Just as advertised, the RIDE didn't jerk off the dry at all. It also makes its way smoothly enough over lighter volumes of oil that remain in transitioned parts of the lane that I've had no problems with it squirting or skidding out. Obviously, though, the volume of oil you're dealing with has to be on the lighter side for this to remain the case. I have been very pleased with the way the RIDE rolls for me, especially not being a rev-dominant bowler. Even in a center where it's typically more than a little difficult to get the ball to go through the pins consistently well for good carry, the RIDE was the ticket to a third game 257 that salvaged a recent frustrating league set into a respectable series.
Based on what I've seen so far, I anticipate that the RIDE might be very useful for me in the later stages of tournaments when I would otherwise have to have migrated too far into the middle of the lane where my carry percentage typically becomes pretty awful. With the right surface preparation it may perform well on short and/or light volume sports patterns as well. That remains to be seen
I think Storm accomplished well what they set out to do in designing the RIDE. It's filled a spot in my arsenal for sure.
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