- Hy-Road Live

First Impressions
Released in March 2017 exclusively for the international market (mainly Asia), the Storm Hy-Road Live is a special edition of what may be the most legendary ball in bowling history. Technically it is built on the indestructible foundation of the Hy-Road series: the inverted Fe² Technology core. This core is famous for its very high RG of 2.57 (at 15 pounds) and a medium differential of 0.046. Physically, those numbers deliver maximum length and a late but explosive energy release. The core is wrapped in the R2S Hybrid Reactive coverstock, exactly like the original. The difference usually lies in the color scheme (mostly a combination of black, silver and an accent color such as red or blue) and the surface prep typical of the Asian market. Out of the box the ball comes with a 1500-grit polished finish, which gives it a glassy look and signals: this ball wants to run.
Comparison Compared directly to the "original" Storm Hy-Road (in production since 2008), the differences are marginal, but noticeable to those who know these balls. The Hy-Road Live is often perceived as a "fresh" version of the classic. While the original Hy-Road was sometimes subject to batch variation, the international "Live" versions are often said to have a slightly "snappier" reaction at the breakpoint, presumably due to a minimally different mix in the hybrid blend or the specific factory finish. Compared to the Storm Hy-Road Pearl, the Live offers somewhat better midlane read thanks to the hybrid makeup (50% solid / 50% pearl). It doesn't push quite as far through the front as the Pearl, but offers more "pop" at the end than a pure solid. Against the Storm Phaze II, the Hy-Road Live is the complete opposite: the Phaze II digs in early, the Hy-Road Live glides long and kicks late.
On the Lanes The Storm Hy-Road Live is — like its American twin — the ultimate benchmark ball for dry to medium oil conditions, and above all for the transition phase. When the lane "breaks down" and the heads dry up, the high RG of the Fe² core is worth its weight in gold: it keeps the ball from burning up its energy too early. It's the perfect choice if you like to play deep inside-out ("fanning the lane"), because the core stores enough energy to carry the corner pins out even from steep angles (messenger). It's less suited to fresh, long oil, where it often skids too long ("squirt"). In a tournament arsenal it takes the spot of the "go-to" ball when the strong solids have to stay in the bag because they hook too early.