BallReviews
Reviews => Roto Grip => Topic started by: BallReviews-scodaddy21 on August 06, 2020, 09:18:15 AM
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Roto Grip is doing something different with the Rubicon upper-mid performance ball in their HP3 line of balls. This ball introduces the asymmetrical Rondure Core which was designed to provide more ball motion overall without the need for the now banned balance hole. This performance core is wrapped in Roto Grip's eTrax-S20 Solid Reactive coverstock which can be sanded or polished to meet your needs without reducing traction or responsiveness. Out of the box this ball is ideally used on medium to medium/heavy oil conditions.
Color: Azure/Black/Navy
All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown
Core: Rondure Core (Asymmetrical) (14-16#)
Coverstock: eTrax-S20 Solid Reactive
Finish: 3000-grit Pad
RG: 2.49 (for 15# ball)
Differential: 0.052 (for 15# ball)
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium to Medium/Heavy
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LANE CONDITION
Length: 40
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
The brand new RotoGrip Rubicon is the first asymmetrical ball in the HP3 line. This means that it is not as early or strong as the asymmetricals you will find in the HP4 line. In my YouTube review, I compared the Rubicon to the Idol and found that they are very similar. To me, the main difference in these two balls is that the Rubicon rolls forward at the breakpoint while the Idol has more continuation to the left. This allows the Rubicon to be more controllable and predictable overall. I like that the Rubicon is not as strong as the UFO because I will be able to use this ball for more games in a tournament, and even move left and cover more boards. I can’t wait to throw this ball in some tournaments on harder patterns and see how good it is!
YOUTUBE & SOCIAL MEDIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYuoeL5mWow
Click This Link Below For All Social Media :
https://linktr.ee/TrevorRobertsBowler
BOWLER STATS
Trevor Roberts
2016 PBA Southern Regional Rookie Of The Year
Storm / Roto Grip Professional Staff
Turbo 2N1 Grips Staff Member
Right Handed
Rev Rate: 440
Speed: 17
PAP: 5 1/2 up 13/16
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Orientation: Right Handed
Rev Rate: 400 RPM
Speed: 16-17 MPH
PAP: 4 ½ over and ½ up
Location: Enterprise Park Lanes, Springfield MO
Pattern: High Volume THS
VLS Layout: 5 x 4 x 2 1/2
The Rubicon is a new “Asym Lite†from Roto Grip. This ball was designed with the new USBC rules in mind, by making the core slightly asymmetric. I love the result. The Rubicon picks up like an asym and backends like a symmetrical. The first couple of shots I threw, I didn’t understand the motion because my eyes weren’t used to seeing a ball pickup and then still tip. I’m going to LOVE the Rubicon.
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The Power of the Rubicon at a Great Price Point
The Roto Grip Rubicon is impressively strong yet predictable solid reactive ball in the HP3 Line. I drilled mine 5x4x2. Threw it out of the box 3000 finish. It reads the lane very nice, got through the heads fairly clean without reacting early at all. Starts to read the midlane, then transitioned smooth with a good strong backend when it got to the dry. It allows me to play in the heaviest part of oil on the lane on our 25ml house shot when most balls skid way to far. I was most comfortable around 18 at the arrows playing it tight in the oil, but I could easily move as far left as possible playing the deeper inside lane. Just stand left, throw right and it struck a lot. The deeper I played it still drove hard thru the pins. I loved it the most when I bumped it to the dry from anywhere inside, but it was still good on most pulled shots inside as long as I started deep. To me this ball fits between the my UFO and Wild Streak. Compared to the UFO it skids longer, stores more energy and has more angle on the backend. Compared to the Wild Streak it starts sooner in the midlane and is sharper on the backend. Hitting Power is tremendous just like practically every Roto Grip Ball. My PAP is 5-1/8 and 1/8 up. Usually around 16mph, I’d probably be classified between and tweener and cranker.
See my ball review video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ZIkfFLc5c78
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Roto Grip Hustle Rubicon
Layout: 4.5 X 3 X 2 Storm Vector Layout
Rev Rate: 325 rpm, 7 degree of axis tilt, 40 degree of axis rotation
Testing Information: 41-foot THS (medium volume)
Kegel Machine – Brunswick Anvilane
Not only a great concept on paper but delivery of that concept by Roto Grip. See the Rubicon is designed to provide that ball motion that strong symmetrical bowling balls, with low weight holes, provided. See the Rubicon is a low-end asymmetrical bowling ball (PSA Diff. =0.011). Based on the ball reaction I see from my Rubicon, the Rubicon delivers on the previously mentioned concept.
The Roto Grip Rubicon utilizes the eTrax-S20 (pure reactive) solid reactive coverstock and Rondure core. This combination created a tighter than normal oil ring pattern on the ball for me. My experience tells me this tight oil ring pattern translates into a great ball for me and other bowlers. The Rubicon reads the mid-lane correctly for me, not too early of a read. It did remind me of my beloved Storm Code X, both in visual appearance and from a ball reaction standpoint. I can’t wait to throw the Rubicon during tournament action. The Rubicon will be that step-down ball from your hook monster ball and should be of use left of the third arrow. The bigger asymmetrical bowling balls sometimes don’t play well deep inside but the Rubicon will. I could see myself having two of these bad boys – one with surface and one with shine.
Visit your local Storm VIP Pro Shop to order yours.
Continue to bowl up a Storm!
#Stormnation #OwnIt
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My Stats
Right Handed
Ball Speed: 17.5 mph
Rev Rate: 325
PAP: 5 x1 up
Ball
Roto-Grip Rubicon
Core: Rondure
Cover: eTrax S-20
Surface: 3000 OOB
Layout: 65 x 4.5 x 35
To say that the Rubicon was impressive would be an understatement. It was stronger than most HP3 balls I have thrown in the past, but the nice thing is that it was strong in the right place. It didn't hook early and bleed off energy so that allowed me to have a generous amount of miss room to the outside, while still maintaining enough strength to hook-up when I missed inside into the puddle. This was true for me on both house patterns, as well as sport, obviously the former having a wider margin of error.
This ball was similar in motion to an Idol, however it was a decent amount stronger for sure. The nice thing is that the intermediate differential on the Rubicon post drilling falls quite similar to what the Idol does with a weight hole. So, if you are one of the people wondering what to do now that the extra holes have been outlawed, punching up one of these would be a good option for you.
See my video and comparisons here:
https://youtu.be/pUJTjlPiqaA
Mike Bauer
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LANE CONDITION
Length: 43'
Volume: 23 mLs
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
Likes: Similar to one of my all time favorites, the CodeX
Dislikes: Nothing, This ball slots in nicely to the arsenal.
For a straight solid reactive ball, this thing creates some angle! Although its an asymmetrical, it has very little asymmetry. It does though have enough asymmetry to provide a little extra torque that a symmetrical core isn't going to give. The straight solid e-trax S20, allows the ball to get down the lane, read the mids and give EXCELLENT down lane motion. This has similarities to one of my all time favorites...the CodeX! I drilled my first one 50x5x30 and I have already placed an order for a 2nd one so I can drill it pin down!
Other balls on rotation:
Parallax- 50x4-7/8x30
AstroPhysix- 50x4-7/8x30
IQ Tour Nano-50x5x30
Rubicon-50x5x30
Trend-50x5x30
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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LANE CONDITION
Length:41
Volume:Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS
COMMENTS
Cover: eTrax-S20 Solid
Core: Rondure Core
Finish: 3000
RG: 2.49
Differential: 0.052
ME:
Right-Handed Tweener
Speed: 12-13 mph
Rev Rate: 315
PAP: 4 7/8 Right 3/8 Up
Ball Layout: Pin way over bridge 55 X 5 3/4 X 15
The new Roto Grip Rubicon gives you an Asymmetric option in the HP3 Line. It features the Rondure Core. The design intent is to replicate a symmetric core that has had additional mass removed by a weight-hole. The idea worked very well on the HP4 UFO. I think I may even like this ball better.
The E-trax 20 cover is supposed to be all about versatility. It lands between the earlier and later versions of E-trax and is responsive to surface changes. With this being the first foray into an Asym in the HP3 line I was worried about the ball being too early so I opted for a long and strong layout. Turned out I didn't need to be worried, the R&D on this ball absolutely nailed what they were going for.
Overall the Rubicon lands between the UFO and Idol for me but it is cleaner than the Idol and more responsive down-lane. I took it with me to a tournament the first weekend I had it. Despite having thrown it zero times, I took it out in practice. The shot was very cliffed to the angle through the front had to be really steep. I didn't have a ball that was slow enough down-lane to cut any of the angle out and after trying 2 or 3 balls in practice I opted to stick with the Rubicon as it was cleaner than a few options and smoother than a couple other. The ball is really versatile in your hand as well, it responded beautifully to changes in speed and tilt as the lanes transitioned.
On oil patterns with a little less shape I definitely would have opted for an earlier layout. The idols were very early for me so I wanted to be sure I could get this ball down-lane. I like what i've seen from it so there's a 99% chance a second one of these is going to end up in my tournament bag with an earlier layout.
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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My initial reaction to this ball was WOW. This ball is not only clean, but it strong in the midlane and continues through the pins super well. Compared to the Idol, the Rubicon is stronger and is definitely more continuous considering it is an asymmetrical core. I drilled mine with 50 x 4.5 x 70 drilling and these types of drillings for me especially on an asymmetrical core do not continue well past about the 3rd arrow. The Rubicon not only continued through the pins at 3rd arrow but continued at 4th arrow and even further left than that. I was truly impressed with how well this ball continues throughout the whole body of the lane. I never feared once about this ball coming back to the pocket on the typical house shot. I can see myself using this ball on a wide variety of sport patterns as well that have some volume of oil to them.
Adam Chase
Storm Staff
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Featuring the brand new Rondure Core, the Rubicon will pack a powerful punch in the HP3 line as the only asymmetrical ball in that lineup. There is tons of overall shape and contination with this ball. For those missing their weight holes and the continuation it provided downlane the Rondure core replicates that shape in it's internal core to provide that desired entry angle. The Rubicon is perfect for those medium to heavy oil conditions.
This ball will be a must have!
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl61VF4vOBQ&feature=youtu.be
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Bowler Bio
Gender : Female
Rev Rate : 315
Ball Speed: 16.5 mph
P.A.P : 4 3/16 over 7/16 up
Roto Grip Rubicon
As Soon as the first shot left my hand I knew right away that this ball was going to be one of my new favourites. Strong cover with the new core that simulates a low weight hole really helps any bowler pack a punch on the back end. The Shape is strong but very predictable which is huge on house shots. I hate when I have a ball that will just turn sideways and not know what it’s going to do. I compared This ball to the UFO and it made me see how much my UFO laboured down lane. The Rubicon really revs up and generates good rotation with that new core helping with the new weight hole rule. The Rubicon was about a board or two more but not much. the Rubicon just drives through the pins different. The UFO was a rounder shape then the Rubicon. The Rubicon definitely has more teeth when it comes off the back of the pattern. This ball will be great for all types of ball speeds , rev rates and styles. !
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The all new Roto Grip Rubicon features the eTrax-S20 Solid cover and the all new asymmetrical Rondure Core which yields an RG of 2.48, Diff of 0.052 and a PSA Diff of 0.011. I drilled mine 4.5 x 4 x 4. Since the introduction of the Idol Solid I have loved the motion the one with this ideational layout in it but due to the new rule of no longer allowing extra holes I am unable to use it but I think I found something that is close if not an even better reaction in the Rubicon. This ball just flat out hooks and continues through the pin deck like nothing ever before. It response to friction without over reaction but when there’s more oil it doesn’t give up and plaque. This is going to be a very popular ball with lot of people and versatile as well weather you drill it pin up or pin down !
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LANE CONDITION
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
COMMENTS
Right handed
57 years old
Rev Rate: 320
Ball speed: 15 to 15 1/2 mph
Today, I drilled up the newest release from Roto Grip in the HP3 performance line, The Rubicon. Thanks to Steve Green of Green' Pro Shop for drilling it up. He has been very good with drilling equipment for myself and my daughter for several years now. If you live in southeastern PA, please consider making him your ball driller.
I used a 5"x4"x3" layout, hoping to enhance the ball's natural characteristics. I chose to leave it at the box finish of 3000 abralon since my rev rate has declined precipitously as I've gotten older, down to around 320rpm now. Bowling was done on a typical, StoneStreet type house shot. For comparison, I also threw a UFO and a SuperSonic, both with similar layouts and box surfaces. It seems that RotoSchlem was spot on with his intent and finished product.
The first two things I noticed were: 1) holy flare, Batman! It flares a lot and 2) It rolls like a ball that has a P4 hole in it. No kidding. Staying around the oil line, it was clean for a dull solid through the front. No need to jump into the puddle. Nice midlane read without being too quick a response while showing a strong downlane continuous motion and going through the pins well. Whether I went with a weaker wrist and going more up the back of the ball or firming up and getting around it more, The Rubicon exhibited the same type shape and ball motion, just more or less hook. The best word to describe it is "blendy". Compared to the UFO, it was not as early and more continuous on the backend. The UFO is clearly earlier and more inclined to burn up with just a little bit of friction. A 2 & 2 move left allowed it to store more energy and hit much harder but you can clearly see the difference in ball strength due to the coverstocks (Nano based vs. pure solid).
Next, I compared it with the SuperSonic, since that ball is a lower RG, quick-revving piece. The nano-based, hybrid cover enhances the early revving nature of the ball so I thoght it would be and interesting comparison. The Rubicon had a noticeably slower response and was more forgivng if I got it right early. The SuperSonic was much more likely to over/under for me, also. It did cover more boards, however.
Initial impressions of the Rubicon are very impressive. I believe it will be a versatile ball, showing success on both Sport shots and House shots, due to its blendy, more continuous shape. While making comparisons is a very subjective thing, I believe bowlers will see a lot of the Code X or Alpha Crux in the Rubicon. Make sure to get yours at your local Storm VIP Pro Shop.
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I drilled this ball 45X4X45. This is the first Asym in the HP3 line which offers the eTrax-S20 cover and the new Rondure core at 2.49 .052 .011. It offers a nice continuous roll for me on the left side. Its very comparable to the Idol solid except rollier in the back where the Idol seems to jump more off the spot. I ended up sanding it to 1000 to get and an earlier motion than the 3000. This ball would be good more inside shot or second game.
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PAP 4 ½ over and 1 up ball speed 15 rev rate 275
Drilling 75x4.5x55
So this is a new one for me, I've never had the opportunity to see a ball with this kind of combination before. I compared the Rubicon with My Halo Solid and my OG Idol being they are both solids with similar cover stocks. The Rubicon keeps up with the Halo overall but where the Halo loves the oil and starts to slow down after game 1 the Rubicon is a perfect step down/compliment to the Halo. Compared to my Idol, right from the start I love the strong down lane reaction I got from the IKON core and solid ETRAX cover, but when I just cant get my Idol around the corner when there is volume The New Rubicon is ready for battle!
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PAP 3 ¾ over 1†up ball speed 17 rev rate 475
Drilling 55x4 ¾ x40
I drilled the Rubicon the same as my Original Idol to give me a comparison for this HP3 design. I am super stoked to see and HP3 assymetrical, so right off the bat obviously we see more midlane motion its an assym. Although the combination of the Rondure Core and ETRAX 20 solid cover stock I am impressed. I have the feeling of a BIG ball in my hands without all the burning up and turn an burn issues I see when I use Strong pieces. Thanks to the core development I get much better continuation and see get to keep this ball in my hands longer through a league night as well as seeing this piece multiple times through a tournament block on the fresh at times with that stong ETRAX 20 cover or also during the transition areas where we need a bigger core than a iq or an idol but cant get a ufo or omega to get down lane. The Rubicon is my arsenal builder anytime im going to bowl a tournament start with this and build around, such an asset in the line.
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Roto Grip Rubicon
55 x 5 x 30
The Rubicon is a must have in ever bowlers bag. Being a tournament bowler, I'm constantly looking for control of the pocket, this ball is very smooth and predictable and allows me to play to my strengths. For me it is the most comparable to a pink Idol but its not quite as early. It gets through the front easier and has that same smooth predictable motion. I have it in a similar overall hook category as my Phaze 2's and Idol's. This ball fits between my big Asym balls and my mid range pieces. Everyone needs one! Order yours today!
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I have never been so excited to have a bowling ball in my bag since the Physix! This new Rubicon is something else! The newest addition to the Roto Grip HP3 line is the Rubicon. The Rubicon features the new Rondure Asymmetrical Core with an RG of 2.49 and diff of .052 and an intermediate differential of.011. I have yet to see a shape like this in the Storm or Roto Grip line. If you look closely at the numbers, the numbers are identical to the Storm Physix.
Picture a cleaner and sharper version of a Physix solid and this is what I see out of the Rubicon and the continuation of this bowling ball is unreal! I've never been able to get so far left and have an asym come around the corner and send pins across the deck like this ball does! By far one of the best bowling balls I have thrown in my entire career. If you can't get your hands on 4 of these, just make sure you get at least one and you wont be dissapointed!
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I was excited to throw this ball. The new Rubicon has a brand new core, the Rondure. The design intent with this core, is to allow players to have the same motion without a balance hole. This ball definitely does that and more. This ball reminds me of a Alpha Crux or Code X, but this balls doesn’t slow down. In the ROTO Grip line I find the UFO is very angular and the IDOL was a bit too smooth at times. The Rubicon is a great blend of the two balls. This ball has a nice arch motion and very controllable and easier to read the reaction. I drilled mine 50 x 4 1/4†x 45. This is my medium/benchmark layout. This ball is awesome with this layout in it for me. When it makes the corner it doesn’t seem to quit. It also doesn’t seem to burn up as easily as most solids if they encounter too much friction up front. This ball will be great for low rev players as well as high rev players looking for more control. If I want to play up the boards or get in deeper this ball allows for both. This ball will work great on a lot of different patterns, but most importantly will be very consistent. Awesome Ball!
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I was excited to throw this ball. The new Rubicon has a brand new core, the Rondure. The design intent with this core, is to allow players to have the same motion without a balance hole. This ball definitely does that and more. This ball reminds me of a Alpha Crux or Code X, but this balls doesn’t slow down. In the ROTO Grip line I find the UFO is very angular and the IDOL was a bit too smooth at times. The Rubicon is a great blend of the two balls. This ball has a nice arch motion and very controllable and easier to read the reaction. I drilled mine 50 x 4 1/4†x 45. This is my medium/benchmark layout. This ball is awesome with this layout in it for me. When it makes the corner it doesn’t seem to quit. It also doesn’t seem to burn up as easily as most solids if they encounter too much friction up front. This ball will be great for low rev players as well as high rev players looking for more control. If I want to play up the boards or get in deeper this ball allows for both. This ball will work great on a lot of different patterns, but most importantly will be very consistent. Awesome Ball!
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The Rubicon.
WEIGHT BLOCK: Rondure Core
WEIGHT: 15lbs
RG: 2.49
DIFF: 0.052
PSA: 0.011
COVER: eTrax-S20
OUT OF BOX: 3000 Grit
Pattern used for review is a modified HP.
PLAY
The Rubicon is the first ASYM in the HP3 line.
In my arsenal I was missing a strong solid ASYM. I could have gone with the UFO but in my hometown I don't usually see high volumes of oil. The Rubicon fills this gap nicelly. Just strong enough to get through the soupiest of conditions but still allows me to use it on medium conditions without losing energy.
For the pattern I had to play a little left of the track area. This ball was really clean through the fronts and picked up nicely in the mids. Missed left a few times and the ball still picked up and made its move to the pocket. Missed right and the ball hits the friction and comes roaring back.
LOW DOWN: The Rubicon is must in everyone's bag. The new Rondure Core gives you a bit more engine than what is normally seen in the HP3 line without having to go up to a much stronger UFO. #SquadRG
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The Stats ….
Coverstock: eTrax-S20â„¢ Solid Reactive
Weight Block:Rondureâ„¢ Core
Factory Finish: 3000-grit Pad
Radius of Gyration: 2.49
Differential: 0.052
PSA Differential: 0.011
BOWLER STYLE: RH - Power Stroker Rev Rate: 320 Ball Speed: 15-16 PAP: 4 7/8 right 5/8 up.
Layout 4 ½ x 4 x 2
My Thoughts…. Let me just start off by saying that I normally stick to the Storm brand of bowling balls and that is why you rarely see a Roto Grip review from me. So you may ask why this time? Why this ball? You are asking all the right questions. So why this ball you may ask, one-word SPECIAL. This word gets thrown around a little too much in my opinion but is the correct word this time for THIS ball. That is what attracted me to this ball. This ball is in the HP3 line and seems stronger when thrown next to balls like the IDOL, IDOL Pearl, or the UFO. Without the use of weight holes any longer the player and/or PSO needs to focus more on the layout.
#Storm
#VISE
#Logo Infusion Staff Member (coupon code HIRSCH 20% off)
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The Rubicon to me is the future of benchmark balls. Having a slow response asymmetrical core and a medium strength solid cover allows bowlers and ball drillers the versatility to create the ideal motion for that “first ball out of your bagâ€. The Rubicon to me is a ball that will be in my bag every single time I bowl regardless if it’s on a house shot or a PBA tournament. It is that good! It reminds me a lot of the Storm Code X which was my favorite bowling ball for a while until it was discontinued. The core revs up quicker than its symmetric counterparts which translates to a slower shape, and the cover allows the Rubicon to be in play when the pattern is fresh. To me this ball does not read as a hook monster that wants to dig high volumes of oil, but more of a ball that will allow you to read oil patterns easily and be in play way more than not. Every tournament player should have a Rubicon in their bag!
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Introducing the newest addition to the HP3 Line, the Roto Grip Rubicon! The Rubicon is an Asymentric HP3 Line ball that features the eTrax-S20 Solid Reactive Coverstock wrapped around the Rondure Core! The Rubicon for me fits right between the UFO and, the Idol. For me the UFO, Rubicon, Idol are a 1,2,3 punch when the UFO starts hooking to much I can switch to the Rubicon which will get through the midlanes a little cleaner and, smoother and, still have plenty left on the backends and, continue through the pins
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I drilled my 1st RUBICON with a layout of 45 x 4 x 35. I hit the box surface with a 2000 abr pad and let it lane shine back up. I drilled RUBICON #2 with almost the same layout of 45 x 4 x 30. The idea is to keep one at around 1000-1500 abr to use when there is more oil until the 2nd one is in play.
I used the 1st RUBICON on a PBA50 regional that was on 39ft Don Carter. We were squad C so the lanes were tighter for a 39 foot pattern than the practice session the day before. I like this motion. Good push and back end for a ball that is marketed as for more oil. The progression that day was RUBICON > MVP ATTITUDE > HYROAD X with pin in ring finger. I liked the way the RUBICON fit the progression.
2nd RUBICON has a slight bit more "pop" on the back compared to the 1st one. This is the one I am going to hit with the 1000-1500 CTD pads. My speed is naturally slow so this 2nd RUBICON with more surface will be in play on longer patterns than my usual heavy oil suspects (UFO, OMEGA CRUX, etc).
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Rotogrip Rubicon
Layout: 3x5x1
Surface: Box Finish
Lane Condition: THS medium volume
The Rotogrip Rubicon gives us our first asymmetrical cored ball in the HP3 line! With mild asymmetry it fills the gap between the OG Idol and UFO. With the layout I chose, the Rubicon is strong, early and almost too much for our house shot. I typically stick with longer pins but on this piece I wanted something that I could use on heavier tournament volumes. Because of my higher tilt, shorter or stronger pins allow me to keep the ball in front of me longer and that’s exactly what I need on tighter tournament shots. The Rubicon shines for me when I see that type of condition. I used the same layout on an OG Halo and it was simply too strong and allowed for limited usage through a tournament block. The Rubicon is much better and more versatile. It’s a must have for your arsenal!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oknB-4rO6sI
Youtube/Facebook: Round Holes No Grips Proshop
Andrew Groves
Rotogrip Proshop Staff
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Roto Grip Rubicon Ball Specs:
Cover stock S20 Solid Reactive
Rondure Core (Asymmetrical)
Color Azure/Black/Navy
Finish 3000 Sanded
Bowler Specs:
Right Hand. PAP 5†Over 1/2 up
Rev Rate 300. Tilt 20. Rotation 50.
Speed at cameras 15.5
Review:
The Roto Grip Rubicon is a very unique, very good piece of equipment. The ball is an Asymmetric but has a roll that is between an Asymmetric and Symmetric type of motion. The Rubicon starts early like an Asymmetric but provides a good motion throughout the ball path. The Rubicon has a more defined back end like a Symmetric. I think what has been achieved is a ball that helps overcome the new balance hole rules by having a less overpowering core. The Rubicon can handle a good amount of oil but the roll will deceive you. This ball fits between my UFO and Original Idol in hook with a very unique shape. I am impressed by the back end and how this ball goes through the pins. It creates good entry angle and gets the corners out very well when you need a few more degrees at the pins. The Rubicon is very forgiving and allows for miss to the dry without overreaction. We are seeing some very good scores with the Rubicon in our area. The best way I can surmise this ball is strong but clean with a nice back end motion and hit. If you are looking for a strong benchmark ball for wet lanes the Rubicon will be a good choice. I have been very happy with this release and when I go to it I have not been let down.
Summary:
The Rubicon handles medium to wet lanes easily,
The Rubicon has a nice unique ball motion.
This ball lets you use it longer than most Asymmetric balls.
Video Link:
https://youtu.be/zRJ7bpeSG2w
Glenn Wendel
PBA Member
Storm Pro Shop Staff
gwendel@comcast.net
www.stormbowling.com
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I really like this piece usually on the fresh. If my UFO is too strong to start, I will immediately go to the Rubicon. I like it around 2nd to 3rd arrow, that is where it best performs for me personally.
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LANE CONDITION
Length: 42ft
Volume: med/high
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS
COMMENTS
Likes: The new Roto Grip Rubicon provides a very unique shape in the lineup, especially for the asym balls. I put a 45*5*35 layout on mine and am very pleased with the results. Strength wise I have it less than my UFO and my Physix but more than my Phaze2 and IQ Tour. Length wise I have it alittle cleaner than the UFO but not Physix. Also cleaner than the Phaze2 and IQ. I threw it up against my Axiom as well on a higher volume house shot and it was more overall but again not as early as the Axiom.
I really think it compliments some of the shinier pcs in our lineup, like the Parrallax. For me its a great benchmark shape but with a stronger core. The Rubicon doesnt read the front part of the lane like the other asymmetrical balls i currently have so that makes it alot more usable for me. Migrating left after the pattern transitions isnt a problem either.
I got a chance to throw it on the longer Route 66 pattern and it was still really good there. Even with it being alittle cleaner than the other asmy balls it still was enough to pick up and roll through the pins. I like to keep a bit of surface it on the cover, I take a pad to the cover by hand about every 6-8 games just to knock off the lane shine it gets.
This is one alot of different bowlers will want to have. Can be used on a variety of different patterns, no matter if its house shot or sport pattern.
Nick Smith
Storm/Roto Grip Amateur Staff
Bowling Connection Pro Shop
Dislikes:
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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Length: 41 ft
Volume: THS
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):
Likes: Roto Grip Rubicon drilled up with the layout of 45 x 5 x 35. The Rubicon allowed me to play very deep angles and showed the strong cover of etrax S-20 and Rondure asymmetrical core. Great for the fresh on sport of heavy oil league pattern.
Dislikes: Hits oil to quick inside will flat 10
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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Roto Grip Rubicon Ball Review by PJ Haggerty
The latest addition to the HP4 line at Roto Grip is the Rubicon. With an RG of 2.49 and a differential of .052, this rock wants to hook early, often, and cover some ground down lane. Also, with the surface being at 3000, I’ve noticed the Rubicon can be a bit cleaner than expected. After drilling two of these so far, I’m thoroughly impressed. The one I can see using the most is mapped out as 5 x 4.5 x 70. This put the mass bias just to the right of my thumb. I also took the surface down to 4000 + water. This keeps the teeth of the surface in the coverstock so it gets through the front a little easier and still retains energy down lane.
I’ve been able to play all over the lane with the Rubicon, but have had the most success when covering a lot of ground with it. When my angles have been open and needed something to come off the spot in a smoother fashion, the Rubicon has been my go-to piece. From what I’ve seen, it compliments the UFO, Axiom pearl, and MVP pearl really nicely.
If you need a versatile ball that allows you to play multiple angles and varying speeds, the Rubicon should be the next ball you drill!
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The new Asymmetrical solid from Roto Grip is the Rubicon. Roto Grip's intent on the Rubicon's design was coming from the USBC's weight hole change. I drilled mine with standard pin up above bridge. The motion is like in between an asymmetrical and symmetrical ball. Still have that good mid lane roll from an Asymmetrical core but the downlane motion from a symmetrical. For a solid cover the Rubicon is pretty responsive to the friction down lane. The Rubicon has been very popular with the PBA guys all the way down to the everyday league bowler. Very versatile. The Rubicon has similar motion to Storm Code X with more backend motion. Good step down from a UFO but stronger than Idol line.
Brian Watson
Storm Pro Shop Staff
PAP - 4 up 1 1/8
Speed - 16-
Tilt - 17
RPM - 400
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Roto-Grip Rubicon
Core: Rondure
Cover: eTrax S-20
The Rubicon brings a new Asym core to the HP3 line. I say it over and over again...if you want bang for your buck you have to look Roto Grip.
The Rubicon is a solid but shapes like a pearl. It wants to go long and make a strong turn. It shows you the how much oil is out on the lane based on the move. In heavy oil I was seeing a quick turning, angular shape. On a normal house shot, I see a little earlier read and a much smoother reaction.
Biggest thing I have noticed about the Rubicon is that it is useful for a variety of players. I am seeing but high rev and low rev players scoring well and playing all parts of the lane with the Rubicon...which is not usually the case with asym solid balls.
Rubicon is going to fit between my Omega Crux and my well used, trusty Phaze 3 in my tourney bag.
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New core, new cover, even more awesome than before - the first HP3 asym since the Critical is a home run! The Rubicon brings an updated version of the Idol Pro cover (eTrax-S20 Solid) at a 3000-grit surface. The all-new Rondure core is the star of the show though - it was designed to mimic what would happen if you drilled a hole-down layout on an Idol core, and the tunability is incredible with this ball! It doesn't dig quite as much as something like an Idol or Phaze II, but also is smoother off of friction than a ball like an Idol Synergy, Idol Pearl, or Phaze III. If you loved the Code X from a couple years ago... this ball should absolutely be on your radar!
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Roto Grip Rubicon - 65 x 3 1/2 x 45 - 2000 grit ( box is 3000 grit )
e-TRAX S20 coverstock with Rondure Core
This addition to the Roto Grip HP3 line was a great add! using my Idol and Idol Pro with motion holes, I found that the Rubicon to be a great replacement for my Idols that had motion holes. The "light" asym core with the very reliable e-TRAX cover was very readable in all aspects of the lane. Very close to my MVP attitude with a 2 1/2 pin to pap layout that I used. Can stay outside of the traffic I run into when bowling league with 3 other lefties. The Rubicon is very constant and stable throughout a night a league bowling and also in tournament play on patterns 40ft to 45ft. You can be speed dominate or rev dominate and the ball works for all styles of bowlers. The flares are nice and tight and that shows how consistent the ball reads the pattern with out giving up hitting power. Check out rotogrip.com for a video from the RG pro staff on how good this ball really is. It rolls like a Super Hero!
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Winner winner winner. The Rubicon is a ball that will fit in everyone's bag. Clean enough to get play from the stronger players while strong enough to help the players with less hand get the ball to pick up. All styles will see a tremendous back end from a solid coverstock ball. Slower speed players who usually can't get much use from the big monster balls will get that big ball reaction from this ball.
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Speed: 15.5 Mph
Rev Rate: 300
Drilling: 50 X 4 ¼ X 25 Dual Angle
Being a bowler that likes to see the motion of the new ball before I drill it, I was excited when I saw Pro Staffers rolling this ball during the PBA League. My first impression was this is an asymmetrical version of the !Q Tour Solid. It is clean through the fronts and rolls earlier than the !Q Tour Solid but has the same shape down the lane.
In my arsenal this ball fits below the Phaze II but is stronger than the !Q Tour Nano. I have noticed after putting games on it the solid cover likes to lane shine quicker than other pieces in my arsenal. This will reduce the overall reaction but by having a 1000 or 2000 abralon handy will help with keeping the cover fresh. I use this ball in a second shift league or on a house with a little more friction down lane. The ball is just too clean in the fronts for me to use on higher volume house shots in my area.
For tournaments this will be a benchmark ball on lengths between 37-39 for bowlers with my speed and rev rate. This will give the bowler a smooth and controllable reaction off the end of those patterns.
Pete Dohan
Storm Amateur Staff
#StormNation
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Bowlers Info: RH tweener, PAP 4-1/2 x 7/8 up, 365 RPM, 17* of Axis tilt, 60* of Axis Rotation
Ball Layout: 45 x 5.25 x 70
Finish: OOB
Hands down, the Rubicon has quickly become one my favorite, more versatile balls in my arsenal for medium to heavy oil conditions. I almost passed on this ball but decided to give a shot and man I’m glad I did. I drilled this ball 5-1/2 pin that placed it under my middle finger and PSA kicked right for a controlled motion front to back. In two back to back Masters tourneys, this ball helped me lead qualifying in both those tourneys! This has such a nice controlled motion front to back and the carry is just tremendous! The shape of this block really does feel as if I drilled a 4th hole that’s no longer allowed. I drilled a 2nd one pin up with less surface and once again the motion is still strong yet controllable. One of the most versatile and reliable pieces and when you see pros consistently throw this, you know it’s good. Go get you one today!!
Chris Martinez
Storm Amateur Staff
www.stormbowling.com
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The Rubicon is a new asymmetric ball, in the HP3 line of balls from Roto Grip. This new release has a new core called Rondure and features a mild asymmetry of only 0.011 (intermediate differential) in 15lb weights. The Rg in said 15lbs comes in at 2.49 with a differential of 0.052. The idea behind the Rubicons lower intermediate differential is to produce a motion on the lanes similar to that of a symmetrical ball with a balance hole. The color combination of eTrax-S20 cover is azure, black, and navy, and comes finished from the factory with a 3000 grit abralon pad. Looking at the Rubicon, I am reminded of the very first Cell.
I drilled the Rubicon using a 4.5 X 3 X 4 layout based on Storm’s VLS layout system. The idea of the Rubicon is to give bowlers a shape on the lanes similar to that of symmetrical balls with a balance hole, and I would say that I can see that kind of shape out of the Rubicon. The Rubicon has a slightly more defined breakpoint, being asymmetrical, but still has a little more continuation like that of a symmetrical ball. The Rubicon is surprisingly strong with the out of the box finish. The read in the front of the lane is close to that of my Axiom with the same pin placement. The Rubicon rolls really well on fresh patterns with clean backends, and is a very good ball to start with. I can transition to my second Nuclear Cell with a 4.5 X 4 X 4 layout almost seamlessly.
I like the Rubicon enough that I will be getting a second one and using a different layout on it. Being a left hander, we see different conditions than what right handers see mainly because there just isn’t the same amount of lane play, and the lanes are not scratched up as much like they are on the right, so we tend to need balls that slow down a bit earlier to smooth out the breakpoint (pro tip of the day). Yester-year when we bowled on wood lanes and every so often they would get cut, lefties and righties would “see†similar ball motion until the right side of the lane got worn in again. Today, you would have to bowl on a brand new synthetic install to see similar ball motions on fresh conditions. With that said, I have watched plenty of right handers throwing Rubicons, and they look great for them too! In closing, left handed or right handed, drill a Rubicon and OWN IT!
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Length:42
Volume: High
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS
Rev Rate: 450
Ball Speed: 17 mph
PAP: 5 1/16 x 3/4 up
Here we have the Roto Grip Rubicon, the newest solid release in the HP3. The Rubicon uses the brand new Rondure core and has the eTrax-S20 cover. This is the first asymmetrical core released in the HP3 line in quite sometime. The layout that I went with was 5 x 4 x 4, this layout puts the pin under both fingers and kicked the mass out to the right of my thumb. I wasn't sure how this piece was gonna fit into a line that already had a few solids in it but man did it. With the asymmetrical core in the Rubicon compared to the Wild Streak and Idol Solid, it gave me a stronger read in the mids but with the eTrax-S20 cover it still had plenty of energy left down lane to continue through the pins! The Wild Streak is one of my favorite pieces and the Rubicon will compliment it really well! Stop out to your local pro shop and pick one up!
Earon Vollmar
Roto Grip Amateur Staff
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My Rubicon is layed out with the pin over the bridge of the fingers, and it's 3 inches from my PAP
This is one of the newer releases that Roto Grip has came out with, and it's an asymmetrical bowling ball. It will come out of the box with 3000-grit polish and it has the e-traxS20 coverstock on it.
I really like this ball when the block first starts, especially on higher volumes of oil. The Rubicon reads the lanes early, for me, but not too early either. I have found out that it blends the lanes perfectly when the block begins on fresh oil. I am also able to move left later in the day, and it doesn't seem to roll out for me - it continues through the pins great. It's nice having such a big core bowling ball in my hands later in the day and still seeing it have the energy that is needed to crush the pins. For comparison, the Idol would be the bowling ball that I could drop down from the Rubicon.
I believe this would be a perfect ball in anyones bag that is looking for an asymmetrical bowling ball to start out blocks with - either house shots or sport shots.
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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The RUBICON is the WOW ball you didn’t know you needed!
Patterns used for review are HP modified.
Pattern A: 42Ft, 28.56 Mls, 5:1 ratio
Pattern B: 43Ft, 29.86 Mls, 4:1 ratio
Pattern C: League 42Ft, 30.1 Mls 7:1 ratio
COMMENTS
PLAY
The RUBICON has become a big favorite of mine. Very few balls that OB I can use at the start, middle or end of a session. Easy to play, easy to manipulate and easy to roll it around!
Pattern A:
The RUBICON out of box is revved up and held the mid lane. Rolled quick but stayed on line and was able to play md lane control from multiple angles from 17 right. Once I moved in to the left the Rubicon faded a bit on the back but stayed with the angle.
Pattern B:
The RUBICON out of box just went a little further down lane and held the line with a strong arc. Great when I needed to be left and moving in deeper. Playing from the right tended to have a little over and under based on pattern design if I didn’t stay forward or up the back of the ball.
Pattern C:
The RUBICON out of box just went Vroom and I could basically just free wheel it from just about anywhere. What can you say… HOUSE shot and just go after until you no longer wanted to move, speed up or back-off.
NOTE A: This ball is very versatile. One of the few balls that I love it Out of box ad with lane oil in the cover.
NOTE B: The Rubicon is that ball that replaces the Pro Motion in your line up. You will be able to get the controlled roll of the Pro Motion but get more action and recovery with the RUBICON!
LOW DOWN: This RUBICON is my all-terrain ball. I will use it during league, tournaments or just a fun night of bowling. Able to play on just about everything and very responsive to speed and hand positions. She gets better as the surface picks up oil!
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Roto Grip Rubicon is one of the newest addition to the hp4 line. It will come out of the box with 3000-grit polish and it has the e-traxS20 coverstock on it.
I really like this ball when on fresh higher volumes of oil. The Rubicon reads the lanes early, for me, but not too early either. I have found out that it blends the lanes perfectly when the block begins on fresh oil. I am also able to move left later in the day, and it doesn't seem to roll out for me - it continues through the pins great. It's nice having such a big core bowling ball in my hands later in the day and still seeing it have the energy that is needed to crush the pins. My Idol is a nice step down to give a comparison to the Rubicon.
I believe this would be a perfect ball in anyones bag that is looking for an asymmetrical bowling ball to start out blocks with - either house shots or sport shots.
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LANE CONDITION
Length: Medium
Volume: Medium
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): HOUSE Pattern
A new addition to RotoGrip’s HP3 Line is the Rubicon. The Rubicon is different because it is an Asymmetrical Bowling Ball that is not in the HP 4 Line. The Rubicon Core provides enough strength even for the lower rev player. The e Trax-S20 Solid Reactive cover stock is strong enough for the slop and can be modified to handle almost any lane condition. The Combination of the Core and Cover stock makes the Rubicon a extremely versatile bowling ball. Out of the box the Rubicon tends to start up rather quickly and has a strong distinctive motion on the backend. I had to move away from the friction and play deeper into the lane and found out that the Rubicon was no joke. I will be polishing or hitting it with a 4K pad soon. The layout I used is 5 X 6 X 1 1/2 or 60 X 5 X 25. This layout I have used in numerous asymmetrical bowling balls and it seems to help the bowling ball conserve some energy but not be ridiculous on the backend. My coordinates are 5 5/8 over and ¾ up with a lower rev rate (approx. 300) and a medium ball speed. Hindsight is 20 / 20, I should of either drilled it stronger or weaker. The Rubicon is the most readable asymmetrical bowling ball I have thrown is the past 5 years. The motion reminds me of an IQ Tour but at least 5 boards stronger. With that being said, I would love the motion if I was bowling more sport shot or challenge patterns. I will be drilling another Rubicon for sure because of the readability and dynamic backend is just too good to pass up. The Rubicon is a great addition to anyone’s tournament bag.
Likes: Versatility
Dislikes:
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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Roto Grip Rubicon
Layout: 50 x 5 ½ x 35
The Rubicon has become my go-to ball on medium to medium-heavy lane conditions. The combination of strong midlane and downlane continuation that this ball possesses matches up perfectly with my game, and is one of my favorite bowling balls of the past few years. With the lower mass bias differential that this ball has, it does have slightly more skid and backend when compared to an Axiom or other similar solid symmetric upper-mid performance bowling balls; because of this, it is easier to get left and go around the lane when the fronts start to dry out a bit. I get excellent pin carry with this bowling ball when used on the right lane condition. When it does get a bit too dry to use the Rubicon effectively, I can switch to my Idol Synergy.
Mike LeViner
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Ball Specs:
Roto Grip Rubicon
Cover: 3000 eTrax-S20â„¢ Solid Reactive
Weight Block: Rondureâ„¢ Core (Asymmetrical)
Color: Azure/Black/Navy
Review:
The Rubicon is a perfect ball to roll out in the era of no balance holes. The all new Rondure core provides the shape down lane that you would typically find in a ball with a balance hole, which is now illegal in sanctioned play/competition. You may also notice that this ball is asymmetrical yet in the HP3 line. This means more bang for your buck and more versatility in your bag. Usually people associate asymmetrical bowling balls with high rev and/or high speed players. The thing that makes this ball stand out, like all “benchmark†bowling balls, is how it suits any bowler. For a high speed and high rev rate player, this ball works perfectly where the lanes start to break down but your strong asymmetrical solid is too much. For the low speed or low rev rate player this ball fits perfectly as their first out of bag or allows them to throw an asymmetrical ball longer in a set. Simply put, we love the price point and the versatility this ball provides for ANY bowler.
Kyle & Joel Johnson
Roto Grip Pro Shop Staff Members
joel@parklanes.net
kyle@parklanes.net
www.rotogrip.com
#SquadRG