Erin:

I like the odor thing about Storm balls. When they lose the smell, time for a surface touch up/resruface.

You plan on throwing it tonight? If so I look forward to seeing how it reacts.

I know two guy's who picked one up last week. From what I've seen it really diggs when it catches the dry!

I like the videos of it. Looks like a very strong ball. For the amount of oil I see, I would never use it. If I was on sport patterns, it would be next in my bag.

I'm going over there early tonight to get it drilled and if possible I'll throw it on the house shot for a game or two before league to see how it fits/reacts. During league practice I'll try it out and if it looks good I'll keep using it.

That's how it's reaction looked to me as well when I seen it last night.

I picked mine up last night. Had it drilled pin above ring finger with a weight hole ~ on PAP to go long and release energy hard once it hits friction. I wanted this ball to complement my Virtual Gravity which was drilled for early roll.

I had a chance to throw it before the PBAX league on a somewhat fresh house shot. It was very smooth through the head part of the lane and once it hits dry it makes a hard turn and finishes well hitting the pins hard. I was carrying just about everything that got near the pocket. During the PBAX league (chameleon) I threw it a couple of times during practice, but it didn't feel like it matched well with shot so I put it away and used my VG during league play. After league, I tried the VE again on the same set of lanes during open bowling. It seemed to match up better on the chameleon after it broke down a bit. I was hitting the pocket with it at both the 10 & 13 boards while moving my feet accordingly. It went long and made a turn into the pocket once it hit the breakpoint/drier backend.

So far I'm happy with the VE. I'm looking forward to using next week on a fresh house shot during the Pro-Am league. The only bad thing is I really don't like the smell of this ball that much. Initially, when I was at the lane testing the ball, I thought they just got done cleaning the area with something then I realized it was the ball.

I finally got mine today as a birthday present from my dad. I've yet to throw it and am anticipating it. I hope to god it will help me get through the lanes we've been having that have been flooded with oil.

The virtual Gravity would be the better ball for flooded lanes.

Threw it for a while today. It's a great ball. When it left my hand I thought there was no way it was coming back into the pocket but [censored] this ball has a nice snap to it.

Ok, I am intrigued now. For the Virtual Energy, what style of bowler seems to benefit most from it? Thanks

Went to watch PBA Pattern practice last night. The practice has turned into a steady group of about 8 guys, who show up every Monday, and help each other read the lanes and where to target and stand. It is really helpful. Well, I got there a little late, and there were 8 guys bowling on the 6 oiled lanes. It's strange how they do it, because if one is having trouble, another will come over to that lane, bring hisown ball, and try the lane before he ventures a suggestion. the lanes could be different, you know. So, people bounce from lane to lane.

They also compare equipment and sometimes, to the extent then can, they will use another bowler's ball to understand the reaction of the ball.

Well, last night, the Pro Shop had a run on a shipment of Virtual Energy balls he just got in. 4 of the 8 guys just had one drilled, and were using them for the first time. Others who did not have this ball were trying the balls of the ones who had them.
All were impressed. the ball was the strongest on the Scorpion pattern. Got some length and turned really strong. Hit hard too. Didn't see it carrying light hits too well, and some guys commented "that would have been a strike with another ball".

I didn't try it to actually give my view. I just watched. the Power stroker types were having the most success, as they got a few more boards of play. But, once outside, it still stayed outside of 8 and didn't come back. So, even on a Scorpion, most moved inside out to 10 to get a better read. Where, they would play more up the 10 board with other equipment. There is one fellow who uses the whole lane and he really struggled with this ball trying to get it to come back. Ding, ding, you not only play the lane, but your equipment too. It wasn't meant to snap, so why try to make it snap.