The Hyroad Solid is the new ball in Storm's Master Line.  It features the Inverted Fe² Technologyâ„¢ weight block wrapped with the proven R2Sâ„¢ solid reactive shell.
I drilled mine with my favorite drilling 4 1/2 x 4 x 2 3/4 or 45 x 4 1/2 x 45.  I added Storm Step 2 to the cover to give me a little extra length.  The Hyroad Solid is now my new benchmark ball.  Very controllable, and keeps a consistent path to the pocket.
The Hyroad Solid picks up earlier than the original Hyroad and is smoother at the breakpoint.  The solid works great for me on the fresh house shots and sport patterns, as it just blends out the over under wet/dry reaction.  This ball compliments the original Hyroad very well.

First review in a while, but we're going to try to break the typical review mold and be relevant. 

First off, a few particulars:
Layout: 65x5.25x40
Rev rate: 400
Speed: 17.5
Angle of rotation: 45
Axis tilt: 5
I would consider myself a power tweener

My intention for this ball was to be a house shot killer, that's why I selected the layout I did.  The ball has a 2.57 RG, which will get the ball down the lane cleanly, and a .42 differential for moderate flare potential (#15lbs).  I wanted enough flare to grip well, but I also didn't want to pull a ton of oil off the lane. 

I put a light coat of polish on the ball without otherwise altering the box surface first.  I am intentionally leaving specific lane condition information out of this review, oil type, surface friction, humidity, etc., can all contribute to nebulous reactions despite similar information.  However, our shot at both houses is medium to light volume and medium length.  My recent weapon of choice has been a Tribal (70x4.5x35) though it goes longer than I want it to.  I drilled the Hyroad Solid to blend the pattern a bit better (react sooner and be a bit smoother off the dry).  Though it goes longer and hooks less overall than I expected, it's extremely close to what I wanted.  It gets easy length but still responds firmly on the backend and the continuation offers good to above average carry at the pocket, though it does get a bit squirty on carrydown.  Overall, 9/10

Despite being marketed for heavier volumes of oil, this is where the Hyroad Solid falls flat.  The virtually non-existant core does not rev well, and the cover, though strong, can't overcome the lack of revving by itself.  It does offer a stronger move on the back than most high end balls, it just unfortunately doesn't hook enough to do more than be over/under.  HOWEVER, once the lanes begin to burn, it could easily be the 2nd ball out of the bag, and I feel it reacts much better with a bit of polish.  It has a smooth, predictable reaction off the dry and would give you an extremely consistent reaction that others may not have.  Also once this ball comes out of the bag, you will be able to stick with it for a LONG time.  3/10 on fresh heavy oil, 10/10 once the track begins to burn. 

Overall, for the range of conditions the ball is intended for, it earns a solid 9/10.  I feel this ball is much better with a bit of polish on it, as the cover is quite a bit stronger than the core and this can lead to over/under issues.  Polish will keep you in a zone where the cover and core are matched up better which will give you more consistency.  Outside of the intended range of conditions, the Hyroad Solid fares much better on the drier side than the wetter.  The core is weak enough to still afford you length while still retaining an impressive amount of energy and being continuous rather than burning up, while despite the strength of the cover, the response to the dry is smooth enough that with firmer speed or reducing your rev rate, you can stay close to the same area.  However, if you are able to move left effectively, this is where this ball is exceptional.  This ball WILL retain energy, turn the corner and be continuous from any angle.  While in a marathon practice session, I never found a point where the ball stood up on me, and only when I'd destroyed the heads from the right gutter to the left completely did the ball begin to resist.  Where most other balls would be doing good to get a 5-6/10 rating on conditions outside their intended design, this ball scores a 7, and only that low because it is ineffective on oil. 

Ratings:
Power - 9/10
Control - 10+/10
Versatility 10+/10
Heavy/long oil - 3/10
Medium oil - 10/10
Light/short oil - 8.5/10

In summary, the Hyroad Solid is a must have ball.  It is at its best with a bit of polish, and although it then bears similarities to the original Hyroad, being that it's a solid, the shape is smoother and even more controllable, though you relinquish a bit of power.  While it doesn't hook as much as they advertise or that the box surface may suggest, if you pay attention to where the ball wants to play, you're going to find the best ball for the price on the market.  This is the ultimate benchmark ball and NEEDS to be your first out of the bag. 

Luke Rosdahl
Manager - In The Zone Pro Shop
Topeka, KS location

I have used the Hyroad solid on a house shot, London pattern, Open champ. team pattern.

I used my standard layout which is pin above my middle finger with my axis at 45 degrees. 

My first impression of the Hyroad solid was that it will be a really good ball for fresh patterns.  I was surprised at how smooth it was down lane since the Hyroad and Hyroad Pearl give me more angle down lane. 

The Hyroad solid excelled the first game or two, but then I had to transition to the Hyroad Pearl or Optimus to gain more entry angle as I moved deeper.  The Hyroad Solid excelled on the house shot as it eliminated the over/under I typically see.

For me, the Hyroad solid will get use on house patterns and shorter patterns or patterns that need more control down lane.  The Hyroad solid does hook a lot, so it probably won't get much use on drier lane conditions. 

If you like the Hyroad and Hyroad pearl, you should get the solid as it will be a great compliment to those two balls.  If you didn't like the earlier Hyroads because they were too angular, you might like the solid. 

 

The hyroad solid combines the Hyroads great most lasting core with an incredibly strong coverstock. This ball loves oil. If you like the way the hyroad rolls but just needed a little bit more on it for those longer patterns are heavier conditions, this ball is the one to go for.

LANE CONDITION

Length:Long Patterns

Volume:Heavy Volume

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):Mainly, Long Sport Patterns


COMMENTS

Likes:The HyRoad Solid is one of the balls you must have if you are bowling on a long pattern and you know you cannot give the pocket away. One thing I like is that this ball is not very angular and it reads the lane earlier and it sets into the pocket (kind of like a urethane ball). So overall, this would be the ball you would use on longer heavy oil sport patterns.

Dislikes:
I don't recommend this ball on Short, Medium sport patterns, or house shots because there is a lot of over/under reaction. If You try to open your angles when the lane brakes down, the ball doesn't have the umph to hook back to the pocket and carry, but if you throw your ball inside of target, the ball will over hook usually going high or brooklyn. Overall, not recommended for short or medium length patterns.


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