Ball NPS Score: 100.00
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The Storm Lightning Blackout bowling ball, a tribute to classic style and top-notch performance that loyal Storm enthusiasts will adore. This modernized Lightning maintains the legacy of its predecessor, delivering remarkable length, power, and control with every roll. Its symmetric design ensures easy drilling and smooth gameplay. Crafted with the Warp A.I. Core, the Lightning Blackout boasts a flare potential akin to the esteemed !Q Tour, offering forgiveness and seamless transitions between skidding, hooking, and rolling. With medium-low differential cores that don't migrate too swiftly, you can expect enhanced forgiveness and extended transition zones on the lane. A standout feature of this bowling ball is its benchmark coverstock—the renowned ReX Pearl in captivating black obsidian pearl. Not only does it catch the eye on the lane, but it also provides instant visual feedback and exceptional performance. The ReX Pearl effortlessly clears the front part of the lane and maintains remarkable consistency through the heads, allowing for precise and reliable shots every time.

Color: Obsidian
All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown
Core: Warp A.I. Core
Coverstock: ReX Pearl Reactive
Finish: Reacta Gloss
RG: 2.53 (15# ball)
Differential: 0.029 (15# ball)
Recommended Lane Condition: Light to Medium Oil
Fragrance: Pineapple Cherry Delight

The Lightning Blackout will instantly become a fan favorite for most bowlers arsenals. The perfect transition ball for a multitude of situations from step down off the super strong and medium strength balls; the Blackout will easily clear the fronts and give plenty of continuation down lane. I see the Blackout as a weaker version of the UC2 and with the Hy-Road pearl discontinued this ball will perfectly fit that slot for clean and angular when the heads hook early. Also, for those who fear it may be too weak I saw plenty of grab when I did miss in and the Blackout still read the lane properly and hooked where I needed it to. I did not see over sensitivity to either friction or oil which blended out the lane real nicely for me.

Storm Lighting Blackout:

REX coverstock and finished at 2000ab with reacta shine.

The flare potential of the Warp A.I. Core falls under the same rating as the immortal !Q™ Tour. Medium-low differential cores don’t migrate as fast which produces more forgiveness and longer transition zones between skid, hook, and roll. A.I. Core technology is now offered across all weights so the benefit of “Amplified Inertia” can be experienced no matter what weight you use.

Layout: 5 x 4 x 4

My updated specs: Ball speed: average 15.5 mph. - Rev Rate: 425 – Axle tilt: 16 degrees – Axis rotation 70 degrees

The new Storm Lighting Blackout, known now to me as LBO, the second release in the Blackout series that started with the very popular and versatile Virtual Energy Blackout, aka VEBO, the LBO is a next generation of Storm ball released with the A.I outer core.

The first thing I noticed right after drilling the ball, it was not very kind to me on fresh, and after several days of practicing and using it, I came to the realization that this ball is not the “first out of the bag” type of ball. After talking with other staffers, I started to pay even closer attention to the reaction of the ball after games 3-6 during practice along with my current fresh lane balls the Roto Grip X-Ray and The Road, which is the ball I used in my YouTube video as a comparison ball to the LBO. As I used the X-Ray or The Road for games 1 and 2, especially with the X-Ray which I feel is my best house pattern ball in a very, very long, as soon as I see the carry going away or see the X-Ray slow down in response in the backend, I jump immediately to the LBO and I pick up where I left off when it comes to carry and scoring pace. Very sleek looking and very snappy in the backend and can stay with the LBO through the first and second transitions on the lanes. I just simply LOVE this ball and I have a TON of confidence in the ball once the X-Ray slows down and my carry is reduced. Don’t hesitate to try an LBO out when the Storm Matchmaker events come to a bowling center near you.

My link to my YouTube video is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5epjpUL7luQ

TESTING ENVIRONMENT

Length:43

Volume:Med-High

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS 12:1 Ratio

BALL:
Coverstock: : ReX™ Pearl Reactive
Core: : Warp™ A.I. Core
Finish: Reacta Gloss
RG: 2.53 (15lb)
Differential: .029 (15 lb)

ME:
Right-Handed Tweener
Speed: 12-13 mph
Rev Rate: 315
Axis Tilt: 14°
Axis Rotation: 74°
PAP: 5 1/8 R 7/8 Up

Ball Layout: Pin Up 4 1/2 X 4 3/8 X 2 3/8 VLS

Storm has added a new ball to the signature line called the Lightning Blackout. This modernized version of the classic storm ball features the ReX Pearl cover that has been so successful of releases like Dark Code and Virtual Energy Blackout. To drive the reaction the new Warp Core with A.I. Technology puts a lower flaring core with the powerful cover to make a unique shape in the line, in the vein of balls like the Zero Gravity.

I tested the Lightning Blackout for the first time in league. Our house pattern is long and heavy, but the front panels have a lot of built in friction and they transition a ton over the course of 3 games. My idea was for the lightning blackout to be my game 3 ball when the fronts really go. I noticed right away that the cover, despite its polished finish just saw too much of the front of the lane. Even when I got way left the ball just wanted to tip a little too early. This isn't unique to this ball, game 3 has been the toughest for me as I'm always looking for a ball that will clear the fronts in this house.

I next took the Lightning Blackout with me for our annual State tournament. Most years the lanes tend to hook a alot so I thought a lower flaring option could be helpful. I was surprised to find a good amount of oil on the lanes to start our doubles and singles sets, unfortunately the players I crossed with didn't break them down well so when i had to move inside of the track, I really lost my reaction. I tried to move just left and my ball wanted  to over-read. I tried to ball down and move left and when the ball cleared the front it didn't want to save enough energy to get back and go through the pins. After fighting the lanes a few games without figuring much out I started paying attention to the other players on the pair and realized they were now right of me, but able to play closer to the track because they had more ball speed. I decided to go back to the lightning blackout that I had put away after trying to play left of everyone with it, and just throw it as hard as I could up the friction. Immediately I had a look. This is far from my A game but the Lightning Blackout responded beautifully and I managed to put together a 240 game to close out the day.

I have since experimented with the lightning blackout in varying states of transition and have found it to be constant that it is the best ball I have thrown when I need to stay on the same line after my other equipment will not let me play there. I've also observed players with more ball speed and the ball seems to be much more versatile for them as the strength of the cover is a little more easily negated with their ball speed.

I would recommend this ball for speed dominant players and matched players who have more speed and revs especially. It work pretty well as a niche ball for players like myself when they want to stay closer to the friction and can add a little to their normal ball speed.


Check out my full ball reaction video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lqUlkevcgKk?si=irmPCaH66BkNnioI

Lonnie Pemberton
Storm Pro Shop Staff
Vise Pro Shop Staff
Revolutions Pro Shop

Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/@k1ngsizepapa

Introducing The Lightning Blackout! Featuring a unique low differential A.I. Core and the proven REX Pearl cover, this ball provides a smooth, continuous motion complimentary to that of the IQ Ruby, but with a stronger cover formula that can handle more oil. If you like the IQ Ruby but need a shell up from that piece, or if you found that the Ruby was too clean or too over/under for your house condition, Lightning Blackout will fill that spot in the bag with a unique a new take on an old favorite!

-Chase Valenzuela

It's a BLACK pearl ball!!! Rolls very nice! For myself, I had to hit it with a 3000 pad to tame down the out of the box shine. It just went to long and had the back end snap. To place it between bowling balls, hooks less than the Roto Grip Attention Star, Hook more, reads the lane a little sooner then the Storm Revenant and hooks a little more. Then the 900 Global Xponent Pearl, same, it reads sooner, and almost the same on the back end. I liked the Blackout Lightning a little more deeper (with the surface) and rolls very well on the back end. Its a ball I like in my bag to say the least. It's a very readable bowling ball! Storm did wonders with this ball! Thank you!

Orientation:  Right Handed
Rev Rate:  400 RPM
Speed:  16-17 MPH
PAP:  4 ½ over and 1 1/8 up

Location:  Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO
Pattern:  High Volume THS
VLS Layout:
Layout 1:  4 5/8 x 4 x 2 ½ (Pin above bridge)
Layout 2:  4 ¼ x 4 x 4 (pin below bridge)
 
The Lightning Blackout is a great HyRoad Pearl replacement.  It’s WEAK!  But good weak.  SOOO clean, and super smooth backend.  Part of the reason I think the Hyroad Pearl went away was it was too clean and too sideways off the spot.  It always needed a weight hole to slow it down on the back a little.  The Lightning Blackout solves that problem.  It’s clean clean clean but it doesn’t go SIDEWAYS on the back, which I like a lot.  I legit have it below my Hustle RIP but it fits there GREAT.  I can literally throw it as slow as I want and it really doesn’t ever get too quick.  It’s a staffer’s dream IMO, but the price point may throw some people off!  What I can say to that is if you need it, you better have it because it’s a very unique shape!

Layout: 40 x 4 1/8 x 40

The combination of a low-flaring core with a shiny, high-traction coverstock creates a unique ball reaction that is killer on medium to medium-light oil conditions.  The medium-RG core revs up in the midlane stronger than expected and creates a more predictable reaction than a lower differential core would usually possess. Even with the strong REX coverstock, the Lightning Blackout is very clean through the fronts, and as such, will not work very well on heavier oil conditions in its shiny box finish. In the Storm lineup, this ball sits in between balls such as the Summit Peak and Virtual Energy Blackout which are for medium-heavy oil, and balls such as the IQ Tour Ruby or the Electrifies for lighter oil.

Mike LeViner