Track900,
I have been off of the scene for a while and only started bowling again in the past six months. I am starting to get the itch again.
I still own a Virtual Energy from way back in '09. I just recenly purchased a Byte and I purchased a Lucid when I started up again.
If I could do a quick comparison of the three, I would say that the Byte is the weaker of the three. However, it is designed to be strong on the backend. I can go to the Byte when the Lucid is too much ball. The Byte compliments my Lucid very well. Both the Lucid and the Byte are OOB. I prefer the look of the Lucid but the Byte is by no means a slouch. It is a very strong ball when there is some dry at the back of the pattern. My Byte handles carrydown very well, too.
The VE and Byte were at 1500 polish from the factory. I prefer the VE without the polish. However, my Byte is just too new to play with the surface, just yet. I will say that it does not like a long pattern at all, but if you give it some dry boards, then it will recover from just about anywhere. And like the others have stated, it does not appear to be jumpy at all. My VE was "violent" off of the dry when it was new at 1500. The Byte is not violent at the break, but because of the strong core, you know that it is coming back!
Honestly, I prefer to use the Lucid and Byte as a team. The VE does not get much time these days because the new boys are "new". LOL! I will probably get the new IQ Tour Fusion next month, so the the VE will get even less time.
IMHO, Storm needs a strong hybrid in their line. I plan to take the polish off of the TF as soon as I get it. Maybe that will be it! LOL!
Peace!