Storm Lightning Blackout Bowling Ball

Orientation: Right Handed Rev Rate: 400 RPM Speed: 16-17 MPH PAP: 4 ½ over and 1 1/8 up Location: Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO Pattern: High Volume THS VLS Layout: Layout 1: 4 5/8 x 4 x 2 ½ (Pin above bridge) Layout 2: 4 ¼ x 4 x 4 (pin below bridge) The Lightning Blackout is a great HyRoad Pearl replacement. It’s WEAK! But good weak. SOOO clean, and super smooth backend. Part of the reason I think the Hyroad Pearl went away was it was too clean and too sideways off the spot. It always needed a weight hole to slow it down on the back a little. The Lightning Blackout solves that problem. It’s clean clean clean but it doesn’t go SIDEWAYS on the back, which I like a lot. I legit have it below my Hustle RIP but it fits there GREAT. I can literally throw it as slow as I want and it really doesn’t ever get too quick. It’s a staffer’s dream IMO, but the price point may throw some people off! What I can say to that is if you need it, you better have it because it’s a very unique shape!

HAND: LEFT (ONE HANDED) PAP: 4 3/8 OVER / 1/16 UP BALL SPEED: 16MPH REV RATE: 420 AXIS TILT: 20 AXIS ROTATION: 50 LAYOUT: 60X4.5X40 The Lightning Blackout has an RG of 2.53 and a differential of .029 putting this ball in similar territory as the IQ Tour but it features a stronger cover stock in ReX giving it a little more traction in the mid lane. This ball has the same layout as my IQ Tour that way I can use them as a good 1-2 punch when I'm able to use them. This ball surprised me a bit with how strong it was, it is cleaner going down lane than the IQ Tour and it has a similar shape off the friction, I'm able to stay in the same spot with my Lightning when the lanes breakdown a bit and my IQ starts up too early. For me this ball makes my tournament bag when I'm trying to keep my angles more in front of me and there is a decent amount off hook in the pattern. Players with a higher rev rate who are looking to control the friction on their house shot will love this ball and the tournament players who are looking for something cleaner with a similar shape to the IQ Tour make sure to go to your local pro shop and pick up a Lightning Blackout.

It's a BLACK pearl ball!!! Rolls very nice! For myself, I had to hit it with a 3000 pad to tame down the out of the box shine. It just went to long and had the back end snap. To place it between bowling balls, hooks less than the Roto Grip Attention Star, Hook more, reads the lane a little sooner then the Storm Revenant and hooks a little more. Then the 900 Global Xponent Pearl, same, it reads sooner, and almost the same on the back end. I liked the Blackout Lightning a little more deeper (with the surface) and rolls very well on the back end. Its a ball I like in my bag to say the least. It's a very readable bowling ball! Storm did wonders with this ball! Thank you!

Sam Cooper. Roto Grip Amateur Staff. Layout 55x4.75x35. The Storm Lightning Blackout features the REX pearl cover which is found on the Virtual Gravity Blackout. I am personally a big fan of REX coverstocks. This ball features the Warp AI Core which is a medium-high RG core with a differential of .029. This core is not as high of an RG as a Hyroad but not a lower RG ball like the IQ Tour. Initial thoughts about where this ball fits in IQ Ruby territory. This ball looks and smells great. I want Storm to make more balls with darker colors and the 3 logos. Just looks so good going through the pins with the logos flipping. The first testing session with it was burned up house. It allowed me to stay closer to the friction but when I had to move into the soup on the house shot it was too clean. Had to go to a stronger ball but the Lightning Blackout came back around since we bowl a 4 game set on burn. On house it made a quick yet rounded motion. I would not say hockey stick motion and that could be because of the layout. Another notable testing session was the 36ft Del Ballard pattern. I could you play right down the gutter with this and the strength of the cover would get the ball moving strong off the gutter. Or I could move left and slow down throw it at the gutter and it would react nicely to the pocket. This ball would be usable late in blocks or someone that has lower ball speed. I will admit this ball was much cleaner than anticipated some surface prep is required for me anyway.

Introducing The Lightning Blackout! Featuring a unique low differential A.I. Core and the proven REX Pearl cover, this ball provides a smooth, continuous motion complimentary to that of the IQ Ruby, but with a stronger cover formula that can handle more oil. If you like the IQ Ruby but need a shell up from that piece, or if you found that the Ruby was too clean or too over/under for your house condition, Lightning Blackout will fill that spot in the bag with a unique a new take on an old favorite! -Chase Valenzuela

Storm Lightning Blackout Coverstock: ReX Pearl Reactive Finish: Reacta Gloss Core: Warp A.I. (14 pd) RG: 2.55 Differential: 0.029 Layout: 5 x 4 x 3 1/2 - 2LS Layout Extras: 2 1/8 Finger Depth, "X" - 4 1/2 D and 1 Inch Left Tester: PAP 6 1/2 R, 1 1/4 D Review: The Lightning Blackout (LBO) features the newer Amplfied Inertia (A.I.) core technology. This core as you would expect will help the Lightning Blackout in providing a predictable shape at the end of the pattern. As A.I. core technology has been previously tested that means a few extra percentage points of carry can be anticipated. For my review I compared the LBO to the the Hy-Road Max. I must note here that these categories of bowling balls allow you to keep in your spot on the lane longer and help avoid steeper angles that can get a lot of players in trouble on many conditions. The Hy-Road Max in concept was a great idea on paper, but did not quite have what I was looking for as the lanes transition. The LBO coverstock combination is much more suited for today's environment. Both of these balls try to fill in the players arsenal where straighter is greater but as the front part of the lane starts to go. These balls will shine when getting steeper is tricky. The LBO coverstock at box finish is a tad clean for me so I recommend a 2K to 3K finish on this ball. This recommended surface adjustment should allow you to feel the ball is not getting away from you down the lane. If more angle is your flavor I'd say The Road is a better option for you over the LBO. Do not sleep on these type of bowling balls where you want to play up the boards for better scoring. The A.I. part of the equation will kick in as well where close hits will have a better tendency to carry. I recommend the the Storm Lightning Blackout for the player seeking straighter angles longer as lanes transition. I'm definitely excited about this ball from Storm. Please be sure to visit your favorite pro shop today or https://youtube.com/channel/UC1VA-MgFBo9mIZde-G3T11A for my occasional ball videos. Be sure to grab you Storm Lightning Blackout today! Michael Slatky 900 Global Staff Member York, PA

TESTING ENVIRONMENT Length:43 Volume:Med-High Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS 12:1 Ratio BALL: Coverstock: : ReX™ Pearl Reactive Core: : Warp™ A.I. Core Finish: Reacta Gloss RG: 2.53 (15lb) Differential: .029 (15 lb) ME: Right-Handed Tweener Speed: 12-13 mph Rev Rate: 315 Axis Tilt: 14° Axis Rotation: 74° PAP: 5 1/8 R 7/8 Up Ball Layout: Pin Up 4 1/2 X 4 3/8 X 2 3/8 VLS Storm has added a new ball to the signature line called the Lightning Blackout. This modernized version of the classic storm ball features the ReX Pearl cover that has been so successful of releases like Dark Code and Virtual Energy Blackout. To drive the reaction the new Warp Core with A.I. Technology puts a lower flaring core with the powerful cover to make a unique shape in the line, in the vein of balls like the Zero Gravity. I tested the Lightning Blackout for the first time in league. Our house pattern is long and heavy, but the front panels have a lot of built in friction and they transition a ton over the course of 3 games. My idea was for the lightning blackout to be my game 3 ball when the fronts really go. I noticed right away that the cover, despite its polished finish just saw too much of the front of the lane. Even when I got way left the ball just wanted to tip a little too early. This isn't unique to this ball, game 3 has been the toughest for me as I'm always looking for a ball that will clear the fronts in this house. I next took the Lightning Blackout with me for our annual State tournament. Most years the lanes tend to hook a alot so I thought a lower flaring option could be helpful. I was surprised to find a good amount of oil on the lanes to start our doubles and singles sets, unfortunately the players I crossed with didn't break them down well so when i had to move inside of the track, I really lost my reaction. I tried to move just left and my ball wanted to over-read. I tried to ball down and move left and when the ball cleared the front it didn't want to save enough energy to get back and go through the pins. After fighting the lanes a few games without figuring much out I started paying attention to the other players on the pair and realized they were now right of me, but able to play closer to the track because they had more ball speed. I decided to go back to the lightning blackout that I had put away after trying to play left of everyone with it, and just throw it as hard as I could up the friction. Immediately I had a look. This is far from my A game but the Lightning Blackout responded beautifully and I managed to put together a 240 game to close out the day. I have since experimented with the lightning blackout in varying states of transition and have found it to be constant that it is the best ball I have thrown when I need to stay on the same line after my other equipment will not let me play there. I've also observed players with more ball speed and the ball seems to be much more versatile for them as the strength of the cover is a little more easily negated with their ball speed. I would recommend this ball for speed dominant players and matched players who have more speed and revs especially. It work pretty well as a niche ball for players like myself when they want to stay closer to the friction and can add a little to their normal ball speed. Lonnie Pemberton Storm Pro Shop Staff Vise Pro Shop Staff Revolutions Pro Shop

The Lightning Blackout is Storms newest signature line ball. The Lightning Blackout (LB) features the low differential, mid RG Warp AI core wrapped in REX pearl. This produces a stable, low flaring control option for lighter volume conditions. I see myself using the LB on lighter volume house shots or later in tournament blocks. The LB fits right on between an IQ Tour Ruby and Xponent Pearl. Review Video: https://youtu.be/m8kwJp5QHzI?si=A96eiZNmzPZPD5-I

Storm Lighting Blackout: REX coverstock and finished at 2000ab with reacta shine. The flare potential of the Warp A.I. Core falls under the same rating as the immortal !Q™ Tour. Medium-low differential cores don’t migrate as fast which produces more forgiveness and longer transition zones between skid, hook, and roll. A.I. Core technology is now offered across all weights so the benefit of “Amplified Inertia” can be experienced no matter what weight you use. Layout: 5 x 4 x 4 My updated specs: Ball speed: average 15.5 mph. - Rev Rate: 425 – Axle tilt: 16 degrees – Axis rotation 70 degrees The new Storm Lighting Blackout, known now to me as LBO, the second release in the Blackout series that started with the very popular and versatile Virtual Energy Blackout, aka VEBO, the LBO is a next generation of Storm ball released with the A.I outer core. The first thing I noticed right after drilling the ball, it was not very kind to me on fresh, and after several days of practicing and using it, I came to the realization that this ball is not the “first out of the bag” type of ball. After talking with other staffers, I started to pay even closer attention to the reaction of the ball after games 3-6 during practice along with my current fresh lane balls the Roto Grip X-Ray and The Road, which is the ball I used in my YouTube video as a comparison ball to the LBO. As I used the X-Ray or The Road for games 1 and 2, especially with the X-Ray which I feel is my best house pattern ball in a very, very long, as soon as I see the carry going away or see the X-Ray slow down in response in the backend, I jump immediately to the LBO and I pick up where I left off when it comes to carry and scoring pace. Very sleek looking and very snappy in the backend and can stay with the LBO through the first and second transitions on the lanes. I just simply LOVE this ball and I have a TON of confidence in the ball once the X-Ray slows down and my carry is reduced. Don’t hesitate to try an LBO out when the Storm Matchmaker events come to a bowling center near you. My link to my YouTube video is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5epjpUL7luQ

Hey, and welcome back as we have a great one for you from Storm Bowling Products the Lightning Blackout! If you're a fan of these reviews, first and foremost, I want to thank you for hopefully enjoying these reviews and videos and hope it gives you some information to take back when looking to get your next bowling ball. From the previous reviews and videos of the Hustles, I've mentioned being more speed dominant than rev dominant, the weaker equipment tends to give me a really bad over-under reaction but with this ball, I did not really see it unless it was human error. The Lightning Blackout video starts off with the ball hitting very heavy so I moved 2-1 and the ball looked really good from that area. Once again, balls lower than the mid-performance balls usually don't fare too well for someone like me who is more up the back of the ball as the ball is forward most of the way down the lane. As you can see this ball was something that moved left which again is something I don't tend to do a lot as I usually focus staying within bigger balls. This ball has changed my mind a little bit and really can't wait to work over the summer dialing in those Hustles, The Road, and the Lightning Blackout. I am definitely going to keep at its box finish and manipulate a few balls around this one and really define the bag and I definitely see this ball being a staple in the bag for some time to come. If you like this or any of the jerseys in our videos, please head over to www.iambowling.com and use coupon code Hirsch for a 20% discount at checkout. Info From #Stormnation Feeling nostalgic? We’re bringing back a favorite and giving it a major upgrade! The Lightning Blackout throws it back to classic style and performance that long-time fans of Storm can appreciate. Just as the original did, this modernized Lightning carries on the same reputation across length, power, and control. Utilizing a pearl version of the ReX coverstock in black obsidian pearl, along with the performance proven A.I. Core Technology, this bowling ball is designed to stand out on the lanes. Release Date: May 17th, 2024 Fragrance: Pineapple Cherry Delight BOWLER STYLE: RH - Power Stroker Rev Rate: 320 Ball Speed: 15-16 PAP: 4 7/8 right 5/8 up. #Storm #VISE #BowlersChoiceProShop #BabesAndBallsBowling #IAmBowling (coupon code HIRSCH 20% off at checkout)