The Marvel utilizes the same cover found on the Virtual Gravity, R2X solid. The color of the ball has a nice blend of teal, sky blue, and black. The core has a very similar shape to the Agent line of bowling balls, and yields numbers of 2.48 Rg, and .50 diff, in 15lbs. This is the same centripetal core found in the Prodigy.

The 2 Marvels I am going to review both have found homes in my regular arsenal. The first Marvel has the pin under ring at 5”, with a 25 degree angle from PAP.  This layout allowed for a 1” balance hole, 2” deep. The idea behind this drilling was to give me a ball that spins up really fast, so as to control the change of direction on short higher volume oil patterns. The Marvel did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, I have been able to use this ball on league conditions with very fresh back ends, the USBC nationals pattern (2010 and 2011 versions), and also the scorpion pattern from out. Leaving the ball at its 2000 grit abralon finish allows for the perfect complement of heavy roll in the front of the lane, as well as controlled motion down lane.

The second Marvel has the pin over ring (5 ¼”) with a 45 degree angle from PAP. I placed a ¾” balance hole 2 ½” down the VAL from PAP, drilled 2 ½” deep. I have also kept this ball at its box finish.  This Marvel still produces plenty of roll throughout the lane, but has a much more defined backend move.  The great thing about this Marvel is the amount of flare produced. A high flaring ball will allow for fresh cover stock to be meeting the lane, thus increasing the longevity of the surface prep applied to the ball. A bowling ball with tighter, fewer flare rings, will lower in RA values quicker, because the same surface of the bowling  ball is coming into contact with the lane surface more often.

Using this ball on a heavily oiled top hat house condition proved to be no problem for the Marvel to pick up, and go through the pins the right way and carry. As the oil broke down, I simply chased the shot in, with no worries of the ball quitting too early. This Marvel was about 4 boards stronger ( most of which was in the backend of the lane) than a Prodigy sharing the same drilling.   

The Marvel is a great addition to the master line of bowling balls from Storm. It gives the consumer a great fit between the asymmetrical ball motion of the solid cover stock, premier line of balls, and the symmetrical Prodigy and Reign of Fire bowling balls.

With only a 2Fast and 2Furious, I was a sinking ship drowning on the heavier oil patterns. I was called the after-lunch specialist at tournaments since I was great on drier patterns once the oil had broken down, while everyone else was struggling to get their balls to push down the lane. But before lunch with a heavy, fresh layer of oil, my balls were the equivalent of spare balls. So I got a Marvel to change that, which it certainly did.

All the way to the midlane, the Marvel would react a bit like my 2Furious, moving a smidge, showing it's chomping at the bit to carry to the pocket in the back end. But on the heavier patterns, my 2Furious just wouldn't be able to reach the pocket. The Marvel fits this heavy-oil niche perfectly, snapping to the pocket beautifully. Often I throw a little too far right of my mark. If I were throwing my 2Furious, it would be a goner. But somehow, the Marvel manages to find enough energy to make it back to the pocket, surprising me every time. My pro shop actually told me that I'm “not allowed” to use it on lighter oil patterns because of the hook potential it keeps stored up. Thanks to the Marvel (combined with the 2Furious), I can compete on any oil pattern.

Josh Longerbeam