LANE CONDITION

Length: 43'

Volume: 21 mL

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes: Shape's down lane better than low end reactive balls.

Dislikes: comparing to other urethanes...nothing!


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
The Fever Pitch is the motion that I have been wanting from Urethane.  I have not always been able to use urethane because I like to see a little shape down lane, which is of course, what urethane is supposed to control.  Urethane from the past has hooked very early with not much shape down lane.  The Fever Pitch you are able to get a little further in, throw it out, or even miss out, with the ball still being able to recover and even create angle down lane.

Here are some other Urethane options that I was able to compare with. Where the Fever Pitch Shines is when you need to get in and create angle.  I said it before but it’s just magical how this urethane shapes down lane.  Maybe it’s the modified HyRoad Core, we all know that’s a special piece. The joke with a couple bowlers at my center is “when is it time to Ball UP to the Fever Pitch?”

Purple Flame Pearl-Old School and Drilled over the label
Pitch Black-60 x 5 x 30
Hot Cell- 60 x 4 x 45
Fever Pitch- 60 x 4-1/2 x 35

With the resurgence of Urethane it has become a popular tournament option and I do not see that trend going away.  This is the one that you do not want to pass on.

The gap between the Roto Grip Hot Cell and Storm Pitch Black was always a big gap as the Hot Cell has that much stronger Asymmertical core. Enter the new Fever Pitch, a pearl urethane that packs way more punch than its predecessor in the Pitch Blue. Fever Pitch was more back end and cleaner than the Pitch Black. This ball will be great on those patterns that are a little longer where the Pitch Black isn’t enough or once you need something with a little more pop on the back end but need that urethane type shape.

I have never gotten a look quite like this from a urethane ball before. Throwing it on a burnt up house shot allowed me to try and do quite a few different things with it to really see what it is capable of for a low/medium rev player. I was very pleasantly surprised with the motion I was able to get down lane compared to my Storm Pitch Black. Although it is not technically “true urethane” it still gives you that urethane feel with a little bit more of a punch coming off of the friction. I also got my mom this ball as she has a much slower speed she was needing something to get down lane and not over hook on the back end, but still come through the pins enough to get the ten pin out. I was never a person who even thought about throwing urethane until now.

FEVER PITCH: 55 X 3 X 30 - 14lbs.
POWER CONTROL COVERSTOCK - 2000 GRIT - 3"-4" FLARE POTENTIAL
LANE INFORMATION: 42FT THS ON HPL INSTALLED IN EARLY 2000'S
This being my first ball review since my accident, I felt I needed to start with one of the 3 balls I have been using since I was released to start bowling again. Comparing to the Pitch Blue and Pitch Black, the core and cover combo allows the ball to have more length and more angle into the pocket, and with my current slower ball speed than in the past, this ball is great on fresh for me, unlike the other "Pitches" I can stay in the same breakpoint area almost all 3 games of league, the ball does tend to tip a little heavy for me off the breakpoint, more then the Pitch Blue which is needed to enter the pocket it better. Great ball for slower ball speed bowlers on THS and lighter and shorter sport patterns.

Storm Fever Pitch

Core: Tour Block

Coverstock: PWR+CTRL Pearl Urethane

The Storm Fever Pitch will bring a urethane with more length to bowling arsenal's everywhere.

I usually don't play something that sets up early, so most urethane's do not match up with my style. With the Fever Pitch I get more length that I do with my pitch black but still smooth, easy to control reaction. This is a reaction that I usually see with equipment I drill with the pin on, or very close to, my PAP. My current light oil ball is a 1" pin to PAP Hustle INK. I will be practicing more with the Fever Pitch to see if this will be a useful alternative for me in my tournament back.

My recommendation for this ball would be short patterns but I am sure I a lot of my customers will want the Fever Pitch as an option for light oil house shots.

LANE CONDITION

Length:40

Volume:Med-High

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Coverstock: PWR+CTRL Pearl Urethane
Weightblock: Tour Block
Finish: 2000
RG: 2.61
Differential: 0.030

Me:
Right-Handed Tweener
Speed: 12-13 mph
Rev Rate: 315
PAP: 4 7/8 Right 3/8 Up
Ball Layout: Pin Over Ring 65 X 4 3/8 X 40

The New Fever Pitch by Storm take the controllable read of a Urethane ball and pumps up the power to give you more overall hook and increased continuation. The All New PWR+CTRL Pearl Urethane cover creates a blend that keeps the ball hooking downlane where traditional urethanes bail.

I've had time to throw my Fever Pitch on a variety of Conditions and I'm amazed at how many I can match up with. I have found use for both the Pitch Black and Pitch Blue but they are very pattern specific for me. When the look is up the outside they are fantastic, never miss the front of the lane and are amazing for controlling downlane reaction. My issue has always been staying with a urethane reaction as the lanes transition. When covering boards its much more difficult to carry as the traditional urethanes want to use ALL of their energy in the front of the lane

The Power+Control blend gives me much more read when I throw the ball left to right. I love the fact that I can still throw it where I liked the old urethanes with a slight adjustment for the increased hook overall. The greatest advantage to the Fever Pitch is that you can make incremental moves left for much longer and still get the ball to go through the pins. That difference is huge because many times going from Urethane to reactive is such a huge change in shape that readjusting can cost you vital frames.

I also find that the Fever Pitch is much more forgiving on Higher friction surfaces for me than the Pitch Black/Blue. It is easier through the front than the Pitch Black with more get back than the Pitch Blue. This is especially helpful for bowlers who like myself have lower ball speed.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

The Fever Pitch is the third release in the Thunder line of bowling balls that features a urethane coverstock. The use of the PWR+CTRL Pearl Urethane cover is different than that of the preceding Pitch Blue and Pitch Black. The Fever Pitch also has a different core called Tour Block, that yields more differential (0.030) and a higher Rg (2.61) in 15lb bowling balls. The bright Orange Pearl really stands out, sitting on the ball return.

I drilled the Fever Pitch with a 4” pin and 2.5” pin buffer. Using the Fever with the box finish of 2000 grit abralon, I am able to get a great deal of length from this ball, and more backend movement on fresh backends than the Pitch Black. The reaction shape is best described as a combination of the Pitch Blue and Pitch Black. The Fever is a little more rolly than the Blue, but still more angular off the spot than the Black. Fever is a little longer than Black, but picks up quicker than the Blue. The Fever Pitch gives me a more unique reaction by combining the two other Pitch balls, that actually compliments my Hot Cell more than it compliments the Pitch Black/ or Blue. The Fever Pitch seems to be at it’s best when the backends are clean and no carrydown is present.

I tried using the Fever Pitch in the box condition on the WTBA Tech Committee World Challenge pattern that is 34 feet with a low volume of 7.14mL. The Fever was too strong for this pattern in the box finish, and ended up using a polished Pitch Blue. I then tried scuffing the surface of the Fever Pitch with a 500 grit Abralon pad, and used it on a lighter volume, 41 foot house shot, with good success. The additional flare that is created by the stronger core of the Fever Pitch seems to like a little more oil than the Pitch Blue.

I will be carrying the Fever Pitch with me, anytime I know I will be bowling on a short or lower volume pattern. The unique shape the Fever Pitch gives me will be a monster on the right condition. The Fever Pitch has a unique reaction shape that will give slower speed players a good reaction on lighter volumes of oil, and very heavy handed players a more crisp downlane move on fresh backends than what traditional urethane covers will. Thank you for taking the time to read my review of the Fever Pitch. As always, Bowl up a Storm!

Let me start off by describing my style:
I am a classic 1940's style Suitcase Grip Full Roller.
I have low revs (110 rpms)
Low ball speed (12 mph off my hand)
90 degree axis rotation
Zero tilt
And, like the players of the distant past, I use a conventional grip.

So knowing the limitations of my game let me describe what I wanted out of the Fever Pitch and what it actually delivered.

As a Classic Full Roller my best play is down and in from the outside.
I needed a ball that could be rolled very direct to the pocket and not die out.
A ball that would be very clean, hold the line, yet have punch in the back without overreaction.
I have not had any luck with resin balls simply because they have too much flip in the back, or break loose too early on me.
I have used maybe 15 different urethane balls over the years looking for something that would work consistently at the three houses I bowl at, each of which have totally different oil patterns.

The best and most consistent results I have had are when the lanes are very, very broken down and I can pull out my Columbia Yellow Dot Bleeder and play down and in from the right.
I have the pin 2 1/4" past my PAP on the Bleeder and it simply kills the pins on those burned up conditions.
I love this Bleeder look so much, if only I could find it in a modern ball that would work when there is oil.
So I took a chance on the Fever Pitch.

For ultimate control and retention of energy and to encourage a nice punch in the back of the lane, similar to my Bleeder, I laid out the Fever with the pin 1 1/4" past my PAP. This layout should allow the ball to be very clean, get through the heads and then get into a nice roll close to the pocket just like my Bleeder does.
I then took the finish of the Fever up to 5000 grit Trizact wet sand just to be sure it would be very clean and pop in the back and be able to work on drier or wetter conditions.

The result?

Home Run!

The Fever perfectly replicates the Bleeder ball motion.
I can stand right and roll to the pocket and the ball will stay on line and then get into a heavy roll and sweep right in, but not snap, just roll in hard.
And man does the Fever hit hard! It is a Two-Piece ball after all.

The big surprise was when I used it at my house that puts the 44 foot Big Ben pattern down on Pro Anvilane. These lanes are slick and hook is a hard thing to come by for a low rev player like myself.
Yet, even with the short pin to PAP layout and 5000 grit finish, I was able to roll direct to the pocket and the Fever would crush the pins!
The shot required finesse of course. I had to stand with right foot on 4 board and cross the arrows over 8 board direct to the pocket. Yet the Fever rolled up hard right in front of the pocket and went through without deflection.

I can't say enough about the Fever Pitch, it truly is a one of a kind ball that is raising my game. It has really simplified things for me. I can just stand right and roll direct on any of the lane patterns in my three leagues. The only thing I need to change from house to house is where I target at the arrows and where I stand with my feet. Other than that the Fever is ready to deliver. It gives you that  confidence, if you make a good shot, you know it will be a strike. I rarely have had that.

Here is a look at me using the Fever Pitch at one of my league houses. This is the Stone Street pattern on the fresh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJxIUbFdnSU