Update:

I used the Byte this weekend in the PBA Southern Regional in Gloucester, VA.  Bowling on fresh viper in an old wood house, A squad, with possibly a bit of ‘oil-memory’ from the Friday practice session/pro-am, this ball was absolutely amazing!

I started with my feet on 20, rolling 10 out to about 4-5 and had plenty of room.  Out of the gate, using plenty of speed and a flat wrist position, I threw the front 7 before stoning a 10 in the 8th.  I finished the first game with a 256.  I immediately began to wonder when I would have to put the Byte away.  I was thinking I would be lucky to be able to complete 3 full games.  Cut to game 8 (of 8 ) and I’m still using the Byte!  I made small moves left for the first 4 games and had to begin moving right again for games 5 & 6.  Games 7 & 8 required more moving left as the lanes had opened up, but I was in the pocket all day.

After A squad, I was leading with +297 and had a good look for the entire block with the Byte.  After B squad, I was still leading heading in to match play on Sunday.

This ball rolled fantastic all day Saturday and for half of the games on Sunday.  I ended up using it for 16 of 20 games total and it was magnificent!  I can’t say enough about the way this ball read the midlanes and made the move towards the pocket.  It was very smooth and ‘rolly’.  It made up for miss right and tug left.  It gave me more room than any ball I’ve ever rolled on ANY sport pattern.  I finished in 8th after an up-and-down match play (5-7), but this was definitely operator, not equipment.

I will be drilling another Byte with a touch weaker drill to have as a small step down from my current Byte.  This ball has earned a place in my bag for any tournament I’ll be bowling in the future.

I can honestly say that this ball is a MUST have from Storm. 

After using the Storm Byte for over two months now.  I have nothing but great things to say about it.  The lower differential adjustment to the G2+ core from the original G2 core it the sync, as well as the addition of the ERG Pearl Reactive coverstock have made all the difference in the world for me.  I typically do not use very many asymmetrical bowling balls as they read the lane to early for me.  The Storm Byte has been a very big exception for me.  I have used this ball almost exclusively in my Monday night house shot league.  It is very clean through the front with smooth midland read and a continuous back end.

I highly recommend this ball for medium to longer sport shots or anyone looking for a ball to be clean through the front with a strong backend reaction on a typical house shot.

Storm Staff Member
Chad Newman
Ballard's Bowling Solutions
Watauga, TX 

BYTE review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels

DRILLED November 2013
      The BYTE specs are here:
      http://www.stormbowling.com/products/balls/byte



You can see a picture of it in my blog here:
http://www.11thframe.com/reviews/27


While the SYNC may have been too strong for some bowlers, I loved it from the start and ended up drilling three — one VLS for control on wet/dry conditions or tight tough patterns, one high pin one for softer/open conditions with plenty of oil, and a pin-in-the-palm I keep shiny that is great for circling the lane. (I still have all three.)

That being said, I often thought how great it would be to have a pearl coverstock on the SYNC core with the core tweaked so it could get down the lane easier while retaining the hard rolling characteristics of the SYNC.

And then Storm announced the BYTE and it was like they were reading my mind.

You can hear Storm technical wizard Victor Marion on Above180.com discussing how the BYTE is designed to not need so much oil with a higher RG and lower differential but the same weight block shape, and a different cover.

I got one BYTE and drilled it with a weak pin to help me keep my angles straighter through the front of the lane — the last thing I wanted/needed was another stand left/throw right shiny ball.

The numbers ended up 6 1/4  pin to PAP, 3 3/8 Key to PAP, and 5 pin buffer. (My PAP is 5 1/4 over by 3/8 up.) The pin is above and left of my middle finger with the CG and key back down through my grip with a strong drilling angle.

The pearl ERG coverstock —- similar to the NRG but without the Nano additive, making it closer to a pure reactive — and G2+ core aim to yield “a strong change of direction at the breakpoint, giving you more angle to the pocket and better pin carry,” according to Storm.

Compared to the SYNC, that most definitely is true. But with my weak pin, I am able to use fairly square angles with great control.

I’ve found the BYTE to be good on soft and hard conditions and very usable on fresh conditions so long as they aren’t too oily and there’s a spot to generate some roll.

The motion is definitely a strong roll that keeps the pins low — it isn’t a ball my old bones and 3-operation wrist can generate messengers with.

Another good thing is that (like the SYNC) when the BYTE is done working (or doesn’t work) it lets you know with less than optimal reaction to the pocket and/or weak hits at the pocket. The perfect example was in our recent MBA Senior Masters, where I started spare, 8-bagger and then completely lost reaction with the BYTE and had it out of my hands by the middle of the second game.

I consider this to be a good characteristic of balls because one of the worst things is to have a ball that is close to good so that you choose wrongly to use it or use it too long, costing you valuable pins.
I have not changed the cover on the BYTE,  leaving it box shiny since it works so well that way.

I already have ordered a second BYTE and will drill it stronger. That order is the best endorsement I can provide.

I think the BYTE will be good for all styles, especially those with less power who will enjoy the strong roll.

If you were someone who couldn’t use the SYNC, I would be cautious with the BYTE but wouldn’t rule out trying it as it definitely is different. The key will be whether the SYNC was simply too early or whether you didn’t like the motion. If it was too early, the BYTE might be great for you. If you didn’t like the SYNC motion, I’d probably avoided the BYTE.

After getting to throw the Storm BYTE (Release date: October 1st) for a couple days now I can definitely say without a doubt that Storm has another huge hit on their hands with this one! I laid mine out 55x4.25x35 (PAP is 5.25x1) and my overall goal was to get the ball to utilize its strengths, clear the heads and let it respond quickly to friction.

First day out with it I wanted to see how long the ball would be usable under standard league conditions, whether it would possible for your standard league bowler to go out and use this aggressive asymmetrical pearl for an entire set, well let's just say I was pleasantly surprised! I bowled 15 games on a fresh THS and in total I ended up moving about an arrow left at my target from the start of my set until the end.

This piece did exactly what I expected it too, it acted like the heads didn't exist and once it got to the break point it made a very strong and angular move to the pocket. The thing I was the most excited about with the BYTE was the fact that it took very well to release changes. After about 8-10 games I decided I was going to move outside the track area to see what I could make the ball do and it responded well. Taking my axis of rotation down to about 15 degrees I was able to play outside of 5 and have the ball just lay there at the pocket and it still hit quite hard. There are very few aggressive pearls that I have ever been able to say that about but this one held up quite well outside the oil line.

If you are looking to find something that can give you a little more angle into the pocket I think you might be in luck on October first because the BYTE is definitely what you are looking for.

You can watch my video review of the Byte here:

Orientation:  Right Handed
Rev Rate:  400 RPM
Speed:  16-17 MPH
PAP:  4 5/8 straight across

Location:  Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO
Pattern:  High Volume THS
Layout:  50,5”,40

If you loved the Sync, you will really love the Byte.  The Byte features the first factory polished reactive cover from Storm for quite some time.  The polished ERG cover compliments the modified G2+ Core, resulting in a clean reaction in the front part of the lane.  Then on the back you get a very heavy roll that you’d expect from an offshoot of the Sync.  I found the most success with this ball both on fresh and in transition because the core isn’t too snappy and the cover is clean enough to retain energy in burned up heads.  The Byte is the newest generation of high performance asymmetricals that feature the best of both worlds in reaction.  Controllable length with predictable yet angular backend.  This is a must have for those looking for an asymmetrical to conquer the transition. 

Last year Storm released the Sync which I really liked.  The Sync was a strong ball for me in most centers around the St. Louis area.  Well Strom made a pearl version called the Byte late in 2013.  I was excited for this release because of the fact that there was a good chance it would see more action on the house patterns for me than the Sync.   I drilled mine with the pin above the fingers and the mass bias to the right of my thumb.  This layout is not typically recommended for left handed bowlers because of the lack of reaction.  I drilled the ball this way to help give me a little more length and a more controlled backend reaction.  This ball was what I was looking for, a stronger ball that I could play closer to the friction.  This ball does pack a punch when it goes through the pins.  I wouldn’t consider this ball the go really long ball with a ton of backend, I see it as a ball that gets decent length that picks up in the midlane with a strong continuous arcing backend. 
http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/Storm-Dustin/media/018F8510-09B6-4BAA-AB94-5CA2C071023E_zpsjpxwqhoh.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1#/user/Storm-Dustin/media/018F8510-09B6-4BAA-AB94-5CA2C071023E_zpsjpxwqhoh.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1&_suid=139156160993704423615546116563

By STORM staff: Dan Higgins
Right Handed
PAP 5 1/8 up 3/8
Rev rate 380-415

STORM BYTE link:
http://stormbowling.com/products/balls/byte#sectTech


I have drilled 2 BYTE’s

Pin down 5x4x4 ½ or dual angle 37 x 5 x72

With the pin down I drilled to try and copy the motion and replace the Anarchy I have used forever.
The motion was real close the cover of the BYTE compared to worn down Anarchy was a lot cleaner through the heads and midlane which made the desired reaction on the back a little later than desired.  I have tuned the BYTE cover with 4000 and 3000 abralon pads and now have mirrored the reaction of the Anarchy.
I generally use when I need the ball to set up early and be predictable on medium heavier patterns or longer flatter type patterns.  Also works great on house patterns for players with medium speed that like to open more of the lane up.  I use a Marvel S with the same out if the BYTE is not picking up fast enough.  Both Marvel S and BYTE make a great 1 -2 punch for me.

Pin up 5 ¼ x 3 ¼ x 3 or dual angle 40 x 5 ¼ x 42

With the pin up version, I use typically on house patterns or something 39-42 foot.  I like using this layout for more down and in play.  I have this layout numerous bowling balls, EX: Marvel S, IQ Tour, Freak N Frantic and now added IQ Tour Fusion. I usually use my IQ Tour as a benchmark and decide if I have to ball up or down based on desire reaction/carry.

The BYTE is a must have Asymmetrical Pearl!