First Impressions
The Storm Rocket AI is what appears to be a perfect clean mid late shape that does all the right things.
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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 45
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 Rocket AI uses the new Booster symmetric core inside the new A1S Pearl Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.51, diff of .051, mb of .015
14 pound = RG of 2.53, diff of .053, mb of .013
Coverstock finish: 4000 abralon
Power Player’s Perspective
I couldn’t help starting with Bryan making the 7-10 as it’s not something we see everyday. That was exciting. It also sets off a successful round of testing with the new Rocket AI. Think Sky Rocket revival. A more modern middle of the road pearl cover with the stable Booster core. Sometimes the basic concoctions are so good. We basically get a clean but controllably reactive backend reaction downlane. Essentially Rocket is a Mid Late ball. It’s in that realm of lowest ball in the bag when the lanes have opened up or broken down. Additionally, it can be a ball used on house shots when you want to stay close to the friction but also not getting hard snappy response off the dry. A lot of times you need a solid for that but with the Rocket Ai we get good length while still getting control motion off the friction and that increases the versatility a bunch. It reminds me a lot of the IQ Tour AI in terms of controllability but with a bit of a different shape. Specifically for Tyler, he was able to stay pretty close to the righty track, not having to open up his angles a bunch. Ball glides downlane quite easily and almost looks like it won’t pick up at times in the transition but it usually moves just enough. It’s deceptive in that regard but I think this is the characteristic that will make it super playable on tougher patterns. Here’s a quick look at a comparison to the Motiv Venom Hysteria. You can see that the higher bite from the Hysteria cover makes this ball a bit stronger and more of a Mid Control type ball. So they don’t fully overlap.
Tweener’s Take
Let’s take a look at the Rocket AI from the wrong side, I mean the left side. I had just as good a look as Tyler and I really enjoyed tossing it. Just so straightforward. I can stay in the lefty track and never really worried about overreaction and generally speaking while again it looked like it may not make the move, it always did. Even on the shots that appeared to not be going hard through the pocket always scattered the pins very well. Just good energy into the pins. In fact, if you recall we said the same thing about the 900 Global Vengeance. That ball is a good bit stronger but reminded us of the same kind of “energy” through the pins, even while it tickled them. For me, the Rocket AI has very similar usability to the IQ Tour AI but doing it with a bit more length and a bit less strong arc. I also had a look with my Venom Hysteria and saw the same thing. You can clearly see the Motiv ball is a step up. Don’t let the house shot fool you because they are just about on the same line.
Stroker’s Stance
Now on to Bryan. We know he can make the 7-10 but can he strike with the Rocket AI. It was the same answer as it was for Tylerr and I, yes. The ball motion is long and smooth and had great hit at the pins as long as it saw friction. The house shot was a bit on the tighter side for all of us so Bryan is right of the second arrow on top of the line of friction. If he missed right a board or maybe 2, the ball pushed and did not overreact to hit light in the pocket and most times it was a no doubter strike. He also was able to get the high flush miss in which is a good sign. Pocket control was easy and the ball never overreacted to the dry boards like some of the Mid Late balls. Sometimes Mid Late balls can be a little boxed in for Bryan with a narrow window but because of the smooth motion and good hit, he was able to stay close to the friction and get a little bigger window at the breakpoint. He also looked at the Venom Hysteria and you get a sense of the problem I just mentioned. In the same area, you can see the motion was a bit stronger and picked up earlier but he didn’t carry as well and had to make fine adjustments being that near to the friction line. Stronger balls like the Evoke Hysteria had a similar issue for him. So the smoother Rocket AI made more sense for the situation here being on top of the friction.
Final Thoughts
In closing, the Rocket AI is a really interesting option in the Mid Late. Long and Smooth is greater than Long and Snappy and this makes the Rocket AI more playable in tough patterns or staying on top of the friction. For those with big hand, you also won’t have problems getting this thing to turn the corner. The revival of the SkyRocket seems worthwhile in my mind.
Thanks for watching.