Volume: Very Heavy
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Kegel Route 66 on AMF SPL synthetics
This is my first ball from Storm (currently use Roto Grip also) and I think they hit a home run with this ball. Tonight, I did the long night at the lanes, getting in 10 games. Knowing that this place uses Route 66 often as one of the standard patterns, it was a perfect place to try the VG Nano.
This ball is set up similar to my other Roto Grip balls, in that I usually go with label drilling. To describe the layout on this, it's similar to Storm's 4x4x2 layout except I have a 2.5 inch pin and a P1 balance hole and CG kicked out.
On this pattern, there was little room for error since there was heavy volume in the center and also heavier volume near the gutters. One of the tips from another person bowling next to me was to stay primarily between 1st and 2nd arrow since that is the only spot that seems to have the track (he was using a Track 715T). I also slowed my ball speed down a little bit to help as well (normally between 17-19mph).
Throwing the VG Nano in this area produced great results. The length was what I expected, and it read the midlane well. Once it hit the dry, it had a great continual hook and just drove through the pin deck with a lot of loud strikes...the ones we all know and love when we have a good night at the lanes. Carry is excellent, and I was sending a lot of messengers. Heavy oil was always an issue with me, and it was nice to throw a few games over 200 since I had problems with that in the past.
I also got a lot of use on this ball for the first day trying it out since there was so much volume. Out of the 10 games in 1 night, I used it for 6-1/2 to finally get the lane carried down enough to switch to my Nomad Dagger. Another person on the opposite side of me was also throwing the VG Nano with good results.
Now, this center seems to be a little unusual with the high volume of oil, even for Route 66. From the regulars that I talked with, this seemed unusual to them also. There might have been an issue with the lane machine. If there wasn't and I were to normally bowl at this center, I would probably add more surface to it. However, most places with heavy oil should not need any changes or very few.
Bottom line: the VG Nano handled the flood of oil well, and it definitely earned its place in my arsenal. Anyone looking for a good heavy oil ball should consider this.
Likes: Does a great job on heavy oil, good midlane read, excellent through the pin deck. Sends a lot of messengers with keeping the pins low, helping carry.
Dislikes: None so far. If anything, it did make a room in my house smell like Fast Orange hand cleaner.
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Update as of April 10, 2011: Bowled 4 games tonight on a flatter 43ft medium-heavy THS with AMF SPL synthetics and the Nano flat out performed really well. Learning from my first time out with the Nano, I decided to experiment by hitting the cover with 2000/4000 Abralon to change it up a little bit. For me, I think it took the ball to a whole different level by allowing me to use it a little longer (2-1/2 games). It also gave me a little more roll on the backend, with more room to play towards the outside which is what I wanted. Carry continues to be great, and I'm very happy with it. The way it's performing, it may be safe to say it's probably the best ball I have owned to date.