The Pitch Blue is the second urethane ball added to the current Thunder line for Storm. The
Pitch Black
and the new Pitch Blue both use the same high RG and low differential Capacitor core design. This core helps these balls control the lane and cover fewer boards going down the lane. The Pitch Blue’s Controll Plus Pearl Urethane cover will give it slightly more length and back end angle than the Pitch Black.
The Pitch Blue was best for our testers on our dry test pattern. Even with its rough 2000 Abralon box finish, the pearl urethane cover did not overreact when it got to the end of the oil pattern. All three testers were outside the 10 board at the arrows, keeping their angles straighter through the front. As the pattern started to break down, they all saw the Pitch Blue continue to go through the pins when the Pitch Black started to hit flat. We saw a bit less total hook, but more motion at the end of the pattern.
Cranker’s higher rev rate allowed him to have the best reaction on our medium pattern. He could play up the track area on the fresh, where he had hold to the left and a little recovery to the right. When the oil started to sit on the surface of the ball, he needed to make sure to wipe it down well between shots or he would see it straighten out before it got to the pocket. Tweener and Cranker did not have enough hook from this ball at the box finish to have a consistent look to the pocket. They lowered the finish to 1000 Abralon and started to point the ball to the pocket to get a better reaction. They had more success on the medium pattern after it had been dried out with reactive balls and they could see a more defined hook spot in the track.
Bowlers who would like to play straighter up the outside of the lane on most typical house shots will see enough friction to use the Pitch Blue. Bowlers who see their Pitch Black hooking too early would also benefit from having a Pitch Blue because of the extra length provided by its pearlized urethane coverstock.
Performance Ratings
NAME
VALUE
COMMENTS
Torque
5
The Pitch Blue is slightly more angular than the
Pitch Black
. Keep in mind that it is still urethane, though, so it is still very smooth compared to almost all resin balls, including lower performance options like the
Tropical Breeze
and
Ride
.
Length
13
The Pitch Blue’s pearlized 2000 Abralon finish gives it slightly more length than the 1000 Abralon solid-covered
Pitch Black. Urethane wants to read early and set up to the pocket, so even with this smoother finish, this ball still picks up fairly early.
Back End
12
As with the angularity and length, the back end reaction of the Pitch Blue will be slightly above the reaction provided by the
Pitch Black
. These balls will still offer less back end motion than any resin ball in the Storm line.
Total Hook
43
The pearlized Controll Plus Pearl Urethane coverstock will offer slightly less total motion than the
Pitch Black
. We had more total hook from this ball than we did from the last pearlized urethane ball, the
Natural Pearl
.
Strengths
The strongest benefit of the Pitch Blue is that its urethane cover will allow it to be in play on short and dry lane conditions. For bowlers who need a little later move than what is provided by the
Pitch Black
, this ball is worth looking at.
Weaknesses
Urethane will be best playing straighter up the lane. The Pitch Blue was not at its best going from left to right off our testers’ hands.
Overall Summary
The Pitch Blue provides bowlers with another urethane option for when reactive resin covers are creating too much traction and angle downlane. This ball will offer slightly more length and back end than the
Pitch Black
.
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