First Impressions
The Storm Bionic looks like it could be a very versatile piece that a lot of people are going to like right in the middle of the bag.
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Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 365 rpm
PAP: 5 1/8 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 4.5 x 50
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 5 x 50
Bryan Hoffman (Righty)
Style: Stroker
RPM: 280 rpm
PAP: 4 1/2 & 1 1/2 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: high
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 4.75 x 45
“Keep in mind that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core creates the dynamic shape of the reaction. Your driller will alter the shape to suit your game.”
Pattern
THS: 44ft, 25.8ml, 12:1 ratio
Sport: TBD
Specs
The Storm Bionic uses the new Torsion™ A.I. symmetric core inside the NRG™ Hybrid Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.47, diff of .50
14 pound = RG of 2.48, diff of .047
Coverstock finish: 4000 abralon
Power Player’s Perspective
The Bionic uses the versatile NRG Hybrid which has been a pretty tunable cover traditionally. Setting it to 4000 OOB puts it into that mid to moderatly strong zone. The Torsion AI core is some symmetric variation of the Ion Max core with the stacked ellipse structure. It actually reminds me all the way back to the Paragon core from the Defiant line. The onlane shape is kind of what you could envision with the shape of this core. The ball smoothly transitions around those ellipses but the cover allows it to get a little length and has a moderately quick response to friction so has some pop. I imagine adding some surface could move the balance of motion closer to you if you wanted a little more lane control but I’d say generally for house shots, having that punch downlane will help with carry. The ball takes to hand variations well and has some visible changes depending on where you put it down, meaning, missing in vs out, etc. Again, I think this is due to the 4000 abralon which let’s a ball read the lane more. I like having a pretty low RG and medium diff as that make sit more versatile so all those different hits seem to store enough energy to carry well. Here are some interesting comparisons. The Optimum Idol looks a touch earlier and rounder. Compared to the Motiv Evoke Mayhem, the Mayhem is clearly a bit less, just a bit of a step down but not very from from over shape energy. Finally next toe Motiv Raptor Reign and you can see the Reign is a clear step up due to the traction. Overall the Bionic was a pretty good look for Tyler.
Tweener’s Take
This is the first ball I’m looking at with my first full approach after hip replacement so my mechanics will be a little gentle but I can see the ball motion generally speaking. I can tell you the ball worked spectacularly missing in. Just an easy stuff with this pretty slick middle of the lane. That aside, I really liked that early rolling but climbing punchy motion downlane. It’s obviously not early with the cover stock finish so I can basically park in the track between the 2nd and 3rd arrow with a very nice motion to my eye. I like this comparison here to the Evoke Mayhem. You will see how different the smoother motion of the Mayhem looks vs the punchier Bionic. The Mayhem has a better lane blending which I can see using a bit more for me when I want to control the lane more but if that was not coming up, I’d pick up the Bionic in the same zone.
Stroker’s Stance
Bryan had a pretty good look with the Bionic generally speaking. It was too reactive to get very close to the friction, just a bit too quick responding. On top of the friction, it hooked too much. Too close and it bled too much energy. Once he got inside the 2nd arrow and up to 3rd arrow, that’s where he had a good look. Generally, if he was as deep as the 3rd arrow, he keeps the breakpoint a bit in as well. The ball went through the pins very nicely. The ten pin was pretty rare which is a good sign. He couldn’t open up the lanes too much but he did have to move away from the friction like I said. He also had a quick comparison to the Motiv Evoke Mayhem and while again, they are in the same zone, the Mayhem had that little bit overall smoother shape. It’s a little slower to friction response than the Bionic while being a smidge earlier.
Final Thoughts
Big picture, I think a lot of people will like the Bionic and Storm was smart to release it at 4000 abralon so it can show off that more usable nature of being a bit cleaner and responsive downlane while still having a very controllable motion. That slots this ball maybe a step up from Mid Control but would need some surface to take it up to Strong Control. That will likely make it pretty versatile for the typically higher volume house shots these days.
Thanks for watching.