REIGN OF POWER review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
   
   The REIGN OF POWER specs are here:
   http://www.stormbowling.com/products/balls/reignofpower

   A picture of my REIGN OF POWER is the review in my blog here:
   http://www.11thframe.com/page/reviews_id_11

   DRILLED Jan. 21, 2013

   I was somewhat leery of the REIGN OF POWER because I struggled so much with the REIGN OF FIRE and they have the same C.A.M. core.

   I loved the REIGN, which I shot my career high series of 867 with in winning a tournament, and the REIGN SUPREME remains one of my all-time favorites -- a shiny, high-pin REIGN SUPREME still in my arsenal for hooking conditions.

   But the REIGN OF FIRE was a poor match for my moderate speed (17-18 mph) and rev rate (300-325) -- I always felt like I needed to get my feet too far left when using it and it always seemed to be going too sharp through the pins.

   But with a different coverstock on the REIGN OF POWER (PFT) instead of the REIGN OF FIRE's R2S Solid, I hoped for a better match with the core.

   And let me tell you the difference between the ROP and ROF can hardly be exaggerated, as the REIGN OF POWER I drilled is one of the smoothest balls I've ever thrown.

   My REIGN OF POWER is 5 1/2 pin-PAP x 4 3/8 Pin-PSA x 5 1/4 pin buffer = pin under middle finger, drilling angle about 60 degrees. I left the cover in the box finish of 1,000 Abralon. My weight hole is on P3, which should increase flare 21 percent.

   Yet the most notable thing about it is how little my ROP flares -– probably about 1 1/2 inches, although the spec sheets says the flare potential is 4 to 5 inches. I'm far from a big hand guy but I usually come close to the flare potential of balls so this perplexes me. 

   I used it on the Team USA Montreal pattern, a 41-foot Sport pattern with very high oil volume of 27.5 mL, and practiced with it on two house shots.

   My ROP rolls early and smooth, with no sharp breakpoint move, and it was great the first game on Montreal as I blogged here -- it gave me control playing an outside line on Montreal that my other heavy oil balls didn't.
   http://www.11thframe.com/page/blog_id_5608_grp_-1

   My first practice effort was on a fresh house shot at Ten Pin Alley, a Brunswick synthetics house that opened in 2003. The house shot there is very wet/dry.
   
   My ROP smoothed out the over/under reaction and I had no problem hitting the pocket, but it was a ring 10-pin, 4-pin reaction. The roll was very good, it just wasn't right to carry.

   I also threw it some practice balls at a tournament on Brunswick synthetics with a heavier oil house shot. It struck a lot, but I ended up choosing a SYNC instead.

   The motion and roll of the ROP reminds me of the SECOND DIMENSION.

   If you're looking for a strong ball to tame down reaction on Sport shots or wet-dry house shots, especially those with fresh oil, I think the REIGN OF POWER would be a great choice. If you want a ball that makes a sharp move at the break point, the ROP is not it from what I've seen.

   I don't intend to change the cover on my ROP because it fits perfectly in my arsenal as it is.

LANE CONDITION

Length: Various

Volume: Various

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):
THS, Sport & Challenge

COMMENTS

My layout is 55 degrees by 4 1/4 inches by 3 1/2 pin buffer

After throwing the Reign of Power for the last month there is no doubt in my mind that the C.A.M. weight block and PFT cover are a great match. The second week bowling league with the ball I shot 300/827 in a house I typically struggle mightily with under/over, especially in game 3 (300 game). I was extremely impressed that the Reign of Power was able to maintain the same reaction all night long and not quit in the back as the night went on. If anything it felt like the reaction got better as the night went on for a change.

The most noticeable characteristic of the Reign of Power is the ease which it gets down the lane even with the 1000 grit finish of the PFT cover stock. The next noticeable characteristic is the way the ball handles the transition from oil to a dry surface, it doesn't just hit the dry and stop or go directly in the opposite direction. You'll see a strong but smooth and controllable reaction shape which also continues through the pins very well.

When getting the Reign of Power drilled up I was hoping to have something similar to the Reign of Fire, which I really liked. What I ended up with was an even better ball and reaction. I remember the Reign of Fire to be more angular in reaction shape and more sensitive to dry surfaces.

Based on what I have seen from mine and what I have been hearing from other staffers as well I feel Storm has really hit a home run with this ball. Don't be left out while your competition is striking up a storm with their Reign of Power.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_ahgOt4_r4

The Reign of Power is the latest release in the Thunder line from Storm.  15lb balls have an Rg of 2.57 and a diff of 0.048. This is the same CAM core that debuted on the original Reign. The cover is the new PFT cover that debuted on the IQ. The blueberry scent compliments the sky blue/purple color combination.
I drilled my RoP with the pin under my ring finger at 5”, with the PSA (6 ¾” straight through the cg on symmetrical balls) at 4”. This compliments a Victory road pearl that is drilled the same.
After using the Reign of Power for a few weeks now, the biggest thing that stands out to me is the ability to change direction as well as it does, even though it has 1000 grit surface on it. Usually, balls this rough have a much more blended reaction on the lane, and just chew up the front of the lane, and slow down way to quick. Even though this is the same core as the original Reign of Fire and 1000 surface prep, the cover change really changes the motion on the lane. The Reign of Fire was better when going away from the pocket for me, and the Reign of power is better when I keep it in front of me, on oil. The PFT cover seems to read the oil better than what the R2S on the Reign of Fire did, while still changing direction down lane. The Reign of Power is more of a hook set motion, usually a shape that I get out of asymmetrical pieces.
I have been able to use the Reign of Power on Viper, house conditions, and also Cheetah. Even with the cover as rough as it is, the best reaction I get is when keeping my angles tighter through the front of the lane, and I can utilize the aggressive change of direction I see.
The Reign of Power will be a good choice for bowlers heading to USBC Nationals. Bowling on fresh lane conditions every block will require a ball that reads the lane in the body of the pattern, but has a predictable motion. Just to be clear, even though earlier I said this ball has a strong change of direction, doesn't mean it “flips” or is uncontrollable. Drill angles can also enhance that shape or decrease the transition length, giving the bowler a more controlled or stronger move out of the oil.

The New Reign of Power is a real treat.  I drilled it with my normal dull soild symmetric layout (Pin above the Bridge), and WOW was I surprised on how smooth this ball was.  I have been practicing on the nationals pattern and this is definitely the ball of choice on the fresh.  Will tame down very sharp backends, and even out of the box with 1000 abralon it is very clean through the front.  A trick ball that is a must in your bag!

Erik Ramos
Storm/Roto Staffer

Hello all and thanks for reading and as always please review our videos here : http://www.youtube.com/user/CompetitiveEdgeBowl

Not much I cannot love about this ball.  Handles heavy oil, Strong arc on the back part of the lane, predictable with controllable breakpoint.  I used 85 x 5.25 x 55 for the layout in this ball to promote a longer arc phase and smoother more predictable backend reaction.  The core of the Reign series has been proven in the past and now proven once again when Storm wrapped the PFT Coverstock on this engine.  Also I have played around with surface a little bit.  The ROP comes very strong out of Box at 1000 abralon surface but I have must say that I have gone all the way up to a step 2 polish on it and had much success.  With a couple of these in your bag and and couple different surfaces you can get away with a lot of play just by changing surfaces.  High ball speed and lower rev players should be very excited about this ball.  This ball also reads the end of the pattern and does not require a lot of free hook to the outside to stand up to the pins.   Reign of Power is a fantastic starting benchmark ball and laughs at carry down.  Keep this core going and wrap it with new greatness PFT Cover.  Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Storm. 

LANE CONDITION

Length:

Volume:

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):


COMMENTS

Likes:

Dislikes:
Power is the key word to describe this ball. This ball is very strong in the mid lane, and has a very nice arc on the backend of the lane. Mine is drilled with the pin up between both fingers and the CG just kicked out a little. This ball is very strong, and I had to shine it to get it through the front part of the lane. Shining this ball allowed me to open up a tight lane condition. Where the Reign of Power has the same C.A.M. core as the Reign of Fire, this ball has a much better look. It reads the lane early, but still has plenty of backend motion left. This ball can give a bowler confidence on any type of lane condition.

PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

LANE CONDITION

Length:36

Volume:Medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS


The Reign of Power is a very early rolling ball with a very continuous backend motion.  The layout I used was pin over the fingers with cg slightly kicked out the dual angle numbers are 65 X 5 ½ X 55. The Reign of Power in box condition wants to start up very soon and be very continuous.  In my humble opinion, the Reign of Power is the earliest rolling ball I have ever thrown in box condition. You need oil in the heads for this ball to work at its best.  I am not saying that this is a bad thing but just stating what I see. I tried throwing the Reign of Power on a typical house pattern and it rolled early and lost some of its motion on the backend. However, I moved farther left and opened up my angles and the Reign of Power made me look like a Cranker! My rev rate is somewhere around 300 and I throw the ball around 15 mph.  I was covering a lot of the lane in order to get the Reign of Power to the pocket but it still hit. I added some polish to it and the Reign of Power came to life! I touched up the surface with a 2000 pad and some Xtra Shine and that helped with getting the ball through the heads and the backend motion increased drastically! If you like the Reign of Fire this ball is a little more aggressive and a touch earlier! For me I am going to take some of the polish off it (Fresh 4000) and throw it kind of dull so it will fit into my bag between the IQ Tour and the Defiant Soul!

Likes:Very Aggressive

Dislikes:Sometimes reads the pattern too early.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS