Lot of changes to my game and circumstances recently, and I feel the need to adjust my layout "strategy."  In the past I've been higher rev, slower speed, so I've always needed length and control.  I also haven't been one to buy a ton of bowling balls, and even if I have several to choose from, I don't ever take more than 3 balls to league, and usually 2 of those are just to fill out the bag. 

I like using the differences in the balls to produce the reaction differences, I like to stay with fairly similar layouts from ball to ball, my focus is usually on ball selection.  But as my mechanics have gotten better, thereby improving my shotmaking, I haven't adjusted my layouts accordingly, or haven't adjusted them the right way, so I've actually been regressing lately because my ball reaction hasn't been very good. 

At previous stats of 375-400 revs and 16.5 mph, my favorite layout was 65x5.25x40.  My current preferred stats now are 425 revs, 18 mph, but the reaction I'm getting from my current equipment doesn't support that well, I get too much skid and a very soft, slow reaction on the backend.  If I play too much of the friction, I get too much energy loss or over/under. 

I tried changing layouts for a couple balls back in March, going to 70x4.5x35.  Worked well for my Tribal, but it just doesn't hook enough for me to use it regularly, and although it worked great for my Revolt, I can't get any deeper than 3rd arrow or it flares out on me.  It's hard to let go of the ball clean if you're not sure it's ever going to hook.  I went back to my old layout for my Sinister and Hyroad Solid, and although my Sinister is great, it still goes super long and my Hyroad goes even longer. 

I should be receiving my staff contract within the next couple days, and have my order list ready to go, but still debating direction with layouts.  At least now I feel like I have the freedom to experiment, because if a layout doesn't work out, I can just drill something else.  I used to have to be careful with layout and ball selection because I only drill 2-4 balls a year if I'm lucky right now. 

I prefer playing deep and creating angle, but I think it's something my head is comfortable with from how I used to throw the ball.  If I played too far right, I was uncomfortable because with slower speed, small misses usually started hooking too early, I had a lot more room if I played deep.  If I've got good reaction, I've been pretty comfortable playing further right now because instead of needing skid, I need hook, and my increased speed makes the response to friction slower and more controllable. 

Storm stuff is all REALLY clean through the heads.  Initial thoughts for layouts to play with first are something like 45x5.25x25 and 80x5-5.5x50.  More recently it feels like stuff has been flaring out on me rather than going too long and not hooking.  My Sinister barely flares at all, but it has a really nice transition and move as long as I keep the cover at 2k or 3k.  The Hyroad flares a lot more, which I find odd since they both have the same layout.  It also acts better at a lower surface, but I still have to keep my speed down with both of them to get them to pick up soon enough.  Thoughts or expertise?  Here are the balls I'm ordering:

Tour Solid
Crux
Tour Nano
Optimus
Zero Gravity

Would like a Tour Fusion, then a Punch Out to replace my Tribal but I just see too much oil to get much use out of either of those.  This video might help too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi8oo-D86xw&list=UUV8v0OjkH5AQJisYmr-mUwQ

This is after 15 games of practice on this lane only and still reigning in my speed, identified by the overhitting at the bottom.  Yeah I realize I'm pretty deep but the heads burn a lot faster than the track here.  However, on the fresh, just imagine the same shots from 3rd arrow instead, extremely similar reaction.  I can get a nice move on the back, but I really have to work it and a lot of times it results in me getting grabby at the bottom.  Thanks a lot for anyone who read through all this, just looking for some input or experience here. 

Agreed with Rico on making sure you're using the right surface you need.
One thing to consider is the inverted fe2 core is high rg so it will get natural push before starting up depending on surface. I had a HyRoad Pearl drilled similar to yours and polished it was too over/under and with surface it only made it a little better. If I had to drill one again I would go with a layout like 50 x 4 x 50 or some other variant to get the hook phase to not be so quick.
I'd put myself in the same category as you, slightly rev dominant. I'm about 15.5 normally and revs in the 325-350 range
My favorite layout on house shots with free hook has been 70 x 4.25 x 35 but when there is more oil it seems the balls that work better are ones that I went with longer hook phases plus getting the right surface

My question is this. If you went from 16.5 to 18mph even with the same revs you may have affected your release as well not to have the same rotation. I can add 1.5-2mph to my normal shot but its not going to have the same rotation as my more natural release.