VIRTUAL ENERGY
# 1 – 5 1/4 pin to PAP, 4 7/8 Key to PAP, 4 1/2 pin buffer
Pin is over bridge with key kicked a little right. About 75 degree drilling. No hole.
This is my favorite strong drilling for balls to get down the lane and make a strong move.
# 2 – 5 7/8 pin to PAP, 1 7/8 Key to PAP, 5 3/4 pin buffer
Pin is under middle finger with key kicked almost directly right. About 25 degree drilling. Hole on VAL.
Idea is an earlier and therefore smoother move at the breakpoint and down the lane. Had a DEUCE this way once that I loved for playing straight/staying on a direct line with a strong, asym ball.
My first experience with both VIRTUAL ENERGYs was on a wet/dry house shot on 6-year-old Brunswick Pro Anvilane synthetics.
The VIRTUAL GRAVITY has been perhaps my favorite Storm ball of all time – and that's saying a lot since I've been on staff since 1996. When the VG came out, I bowled for the title in seven of the first eight tournaments I used it. I now have three and they still are my go-to nuggets for oil for me.
The main thing I like about the VG is the way it rolls hard through the pins. I prefer balls that arc hard and roll, rather than skid/flip and perhaps quit. The only drawback to the VG is the R2X solid cover needs oil, so you can imagine how much I've been looking forward to the VE, which has a hybrid reactive R2X.
My hope for the VE was for a VG roll pattern that gets down the lane much easier ... and that's exactly what I got: All I can say is WOW!
I compared them to my original VG (1,000 Ab lane shined) and a HY-ROAD (2,000 Ab lane shined) and the VE was easier down the lane and rolled stronger in the back/end than both, which is what you'd expect with the cover preps on the other balls.
The strong VE I could play relatively straight up the oil line, going maybe 12 at the arrows out to around 10 at the breakpoint. It left a couple ring 10s but otherwise struck consistently.
The earlier and smoother VE definitely was earlier and smoother. My first shot was a 4-6 in the same spot where I was throwing the strong VE. A couple boards in with my feet resulted in a blower 5 strike.
What was happily surprising was how strong both VEs were when I moved in, slowed down and circled the lane some. I moved to where I was just inside 15 at the arrows going out to 10 or a little right at the breakpoint.
Both balls had no problem making the corner and rolling back to the pocket. The strong VE was a little more angular and would have been my choice while the earlier VE tended to hook and stay in the oil and was more likely to go high. Neither ball had any problem with the puddle, although I need to point out that this center does not use a huge amount of oil.
I will be bowling a regional on the Earl Anthony pattern this upcoming weekend so I will be able to update this review after that. I think the earlier and smoother VE may be especially good for tough PBA patterns like Viper and Chameleon.
Edited on 8/1/2009 5:56 AM
