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Author Topic: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels  (Read 7333 times)

riggs

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HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« on: July 14, 2013, 07:50:38 AM »
DRILLED June 27, 2013

A picture of my HY-ROAD PEARL is at my blog here:

http://www.11thframe.com/page/reviews_id_16

When you look at the specs of the HY-ROAD PEARL, you automatically think T-ROAD PEARL: both balls feature the great R2S Pearl coverstock over the Inverted Fe Technology weight block.

But it’s not the same ball, as the R2S Pearl has been tweaked/upgraded some so it’s a little stronger than it was/is in the T-ROAD PEARL (I still have one I use now and then on hooking conditions).

Both balls provide easy skid and a strong back-end motion, but it’s apparent to me that the HY-ROAD PEARL is a bit stronger and not as squirty in oil.

I used my HY-ROAD PEARL a bit on Cheetah at a recent PBA Regional and it got down the lane easy without squirting.

However, the drilling I chose for my HY-ROAD PEARL simply wasn’t strong enough for the boomerang shot I was playing that weekend (using a VIRTUAL ENERGY and REIGN SUPREME mostly). 

Since I wasn’t really looking for another skid/flip motion ball, I decided to try a control drilling that I’ve found success with in other balls. The drilling features the pin above and left of my middle finger with the CG near the grip center and no weight hole. Assuming my PAP still is 5 1/8 x 3/4 up (I need to re-check it!) it worked out to 6 3/8 Pin-PAP, 4 1/4 “Mass Bias” (it’s a symmetrical)-PAP, and 4 5/8 pin buffer.  I left my blue/purple grape fragrance HY-ROAD PEARL at 1,500-grit box shiny.

The idea is a pearl ball I can play a little straighter with and have more control of on hooking conditions – where I don’t want that skid/flip motion.

So far, that’s exactly what I’m seeing.

If you’re looking for a ball that will go long and make a strong move – with a slightly stronger cover than the T-ROAD PEARL – the HY-ROAD PEARL is for you.

I have not drilled many of the recent Storm weaker/shiny/skid-flip releases like the LIGHTS OUT and FREAKIN FRANTIC so I can’t give a comparison to those.

I will say that the HY-ROAD PEARL definitely is smoother and less "wacky" than the FRANTIC, which remains one of my all-time favorite strong shiny balls.
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EFFEN 10

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2013, 07:26:21 PM »
Riggs,
   If I had to replace my Victory Road pearl,this would be the ball?
                                                 
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cheech

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2013, 07:28:32 PM »
this ball will clear the fronts like the victory road but have a different shape (smoother) down lane
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riggs

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2013, 08:02:42 AM »
Agree with what cheech says ... HY PEARL is not as quick at the breakpoint as VR PEARL (it's smoother).
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EFFEN 10

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2013, 06:58:50 PM »
Thank you,Gentlemen
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mswitz88

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2013, 03:21:31 PM »
I am thinking about getting one of these for the upcoming league year. My current arsenal has left me with consistency issues. I have a Storm Frantic drilled pin above ring finger which I find to be very unpredictable at times off the breakpoint and very sensitive to carry down which my house commonly has a lot of. Sometimes it looks like it gets kicked left when it hits the dry and other times it will skid past the breakpoint and come up light. I have a Columbia Wicked Encounter (also pin above ring finger) which is generally too aggressive past the first game since my house has medium-dry shot and everyone uses aggressive equipment and burns up the track. My Storm Tropical Heat hybrid black/silver has been the closest thing I have to a benchmark ball but I tend not to do as well with it on the fresh. I was thinking a Hyroad Pearl might be a good choice as a "first out of the bag" option. I am looking for something I can play around the track area and have a smooth controllable motion to the pocket. When I want skid/flip, I pull out my Frantic but I need something with more of a controllable arcing motion like my Wicked but in a much less aggressive ball. Would the Hyroad Pearl be a good option here or should I look at something else? I have really become a fan of Storm/RG equipment and would like to build my arsenal around that.  Any thoughts on this based on your experience with the ball? Let me know if additional info would help.
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riggs

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2013, 04:33:21 PM »
HY-ROAD PEARL definitely is smoother than the FRANTIC and stronger than your T-HEAT HYBRID. So it should be a better benchmark ball than either of those choices.
What surfaces are you using on these?
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mswitz88

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2013, 07:17:39 AM »
Quote from: riggs on July 29, 2013, 04:33:21 PM
HY-ROAD PEARL definitely is smoother than the FRANTIC and stronger than your T-HEAT HYBRID. So it should be a better benchmark ball than either of those choices.
What surfaces are you using on these?
That's what I was hoping. TH Hybrid is OOB. Frantic has been OOB but I planned on experimenting with some surface this year to see if I can smooth it out some. It just gets through the dry mids so well, I don't want to mess that up to smooth out the break point but I have to do something. Was probably going to attempt 3000 no polish and see how that goes.
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"Bowling is simple so don't over complicate it: stand here, throw there."
Currently in the bag: Lock, Critical Theory, Asylum, IQTP Frantic, Buffalo Bills Spare

riggs

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2013, 07:41:37 AM »
If you want a nice control motion ball for fresh it's probably best to use a symmetrical with some moderate surface on it. But that's a very general statement. I don't know your game or anything about the typical conditions you see.
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mswitz88

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2013, 09:00:54 AM »
Quote from: riggs on July 30, 2013, 07:41:37 AM
If you want a nice control motion ball for fresh it's probably best to use a symmetrical with some moderate surface on it. But that's a very general statement. I don't know your game or anything about the typical conditions you see.
Are you saying the HR pearl may not be ideal for my case then?

For some additional info:
My house is synthetic and uses a 44' medium-dry pattern with plenty of hook outside and no out of bounds. It is generally quick to burn up and one of my leagues being second shift following a women's league with a lot of straight plastic bowlers, tends to run into carry down pretty regularly.
My game: I have fast speed (17-18 mph at pins), medium revs (I'd guess in the low to mid 300rpm range). Very high track. I do not generally do well getting to the pocket when I have to make big moves left and prefer to play right of 15 at the arrows with my ideal line usually around 10-12.
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"Bowling is simple so don't over complicate it: stand here, throw there."
Currently in the bag: Lock, Critical Theory, Asylum, IQTP Frantic, Buffalo Bills Spare

riggs

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Re: HY-ROAD PEARL review by Storm staffer Jeff Richgels
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2013, 09:14:06 AM »
If there is that much hook with your game you should not need much surface. HR PEARL should be fine. One thing is that if it's a little too jumpy, take a 4,000 Abralon pad and lightly rub the cover BY HAND and it should tame it down a tad.
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