- Manic

First Impressions
The Storm Manic stands out at first glance with its striking two-tone blue and pink color scheme and, as is typical for the manufacturer, gives off a distinctive blueberry scent. At the heart of this model works the proven symmetrical N.O.S. core, engineered for a stable and very predictable rotational plane. The technical numbers for this core are a 2.53 RG and a 0.045 differential, which classifies it as a classic ball with medium flare potential. The core is wrapped in the well-known R2S Solid Reactive coverstock. Out of the box, the cover is finished matte with a 4000-grit Abralon pad. This roughened surface texture is aimed at getting the ball to build traction early on the lane rather than sliding through the oil without resistance. Accordingly, the ball motion shows a strongly pronounced and dependable readability through the midlane. The construction is meant to guarantee that the material does not lose contact with the lane even at higher oil volumes and develops a continuous, powerful roll toward the pocket without coming across as oversensitive in the front part of the lane.
Comparison Compared directly to other established models, the Storm Manic slots in as an extremely controllable and reliable option. Looking at it in relation to the popular Storm Frantic, the difference in surface preparation becomes immediately apparent. While the Frantic, thanks to its polished cover, saves more energy for the last third of the lane and shows a considerably more angular and aggressive change of direction there, the Manic reads the lane much earlier. Its solid cover provides a smoother, more arcing backend reaction and responds less abruptly to any friction it encounters. At the same time, this model was designed as the direct successor to the Storm 2Furious. Against the 2Furious, the Manic delivers a noticeably higher amount of overall hook. It retains the appreciated control of its predecessor but generates a stronger and smoother overall motion. Placed next to aggressive heavy-oil balls from the asymmetrical segment, such as the Storm Virtual Gravity, the Manic behaves considerably more forgiving. It tolerates slight release mistakes better and is less inclined to overreact on uneven oil patterns, which makes it a classic benchmark ball in the bag of an ambitious player.
On the Lanes The ideal environment for the Storm Manic is freshly oiled boards with a medium to slightly elevated oil volume. Because of the early traction created by the 4000-grit Abralon surface, it is predestined for the start of a competition, when there is still plenty of oil in the heads and maximum control over the breakpoint is required. Players with different release styles benefit from the calm core characteristics, since the ball makes no sudden, unpredictable jumps at the end of the oil pattern. Especially if you generate higher ball speed, the solid cover provides the necessary resistance so the ball does not skid too far and miss the perfect entry angle. As soon as the lane moves into transition over the course of several games and the front part of the lane starts to dry up, however, the Manic could roll too early and use up its energy prematurely. In such cases of reduced oil, it often loses punch, which can negatively affect optimal carry at the pins. Even so, the material offers a high degree of versatility, since the R2S cover can easily be polished or sanded further as needed in order to adjust the shape precisely to individual demands or specific sport patterns. Used correctly, it should always deliver an even and reliable pinfall.