BallReviews

Reviews => Roto Grip => Topic started by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM

Title: Sonic Boom
Post by: admin on December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM
The Sonic Boomtm is Roto Grip's latest addition into the entry level mid-priced market. We have added the all new Sonic Boom-IT tm core to give you added backend and hitting power.

This high RG, low-medium Differential weight block produces excellent length and a stronger backend move than the original Sonic X on medium-lighter oil patterns.

The combination of Sure Grip IItm pearlized coverstock and the Boom-IT core will shatter the "Sound Barrier".

Specifications


Factory Finish  1500- Polished  
Radius Of Gyration  High (2.60)  
Differential  Low (.029)  
Lane Condition  Light-Medium Oil  
Flare Potential  3 Inches  
Length  14 (20 scale)  
Backend  15 (20 scale)  
Coverstock  Sure Grip IItm Pearl Reactive  
Available Weights  12-16 Lbs.  
Weight Block  Sonic "Boom-IT"tm Coreâ„¢
Color  Red Pearl /Green Pearl  
D-Scale  75-78  

Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: walt8398 on January 22, 2004, 01:54:05 PM
Drilled one with the 2" pin layout. Very impressed with the hitting power and ease of clearing the front part of the lane. For me, this could be ideal for PBA Patterns A1, A2, E2 and E1. This could also be a great ball for a straight player who bowls the late shift in league.

I guess the best way to describe this ball is a Sonic X Solid on Steroids. Another fine job by RG! :-)
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Tony Walton
Roto Grip Staff Member
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: rotostar on January 25, 2004, 12:26:07 PM
The Boom is as advertised a stronger version of the original Sonic X. I drilled mine 5x5 with a small hole on my axis. Its clean through the from and has a sharp back end reaction. It only has 3 inches of flare so it is a perfect step down from the Sliver Streak Pearl. Roto Grip has definitely filled a need with this ball.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: PerfectStorm on January 26, 2004, 10:42:26 PM
Just wanted to drop my 2 cents here.  I drilled my Sonic the pin below my ring finger and the cg near my palm.  I was wanting to make this ball go long and then turn.  And I think I achieved this.  On any amount of oil this ball will travel, but when the dry boards are there; it is gone.  This ball is not recommened for dry or light oil.  Definitely a medium to light ball.  The length is great, but was hoping for more.  I wanted something a little stronger than plastic, bu this might be too much.  If you want something that moves on the backends, this will work.. Hope everyone enjoys this ball like I do so far..
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There is never a lane condition that a PERFECTSTORM can't handle!!
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Mr Scary on February 01, 2004, 03:30:27 PM
Drilling: Pin ½” off my ring finger, 45 degree angle, with the CG kicked out, and a weight hole to bring in back to ½ oz. Side.

How am I supposed to start.  How about this, my first 4 sets were 768, 726, 824, and 776.  I set a new all time record for an All-Events score in the Michigan State tournament with a 2318.  The first ever to break 2300.  One of the most predictable, and one of the best carrying balls I have thrown.  What more can I say, the scores speak for themselves.  Plays very well on any shot except heavy oil.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: JuniorsProShop - Bobby on February 07, 2004, 01:09:55 AM
We have drilled a couple of these in the last few days and this ball looks pretty good. It is definitely as advertised. This ball is definitely stronger than the original Sonic-X. This ball clears the front exceptionally well and makes a tremendous turn in the back. Very strong backend reaction on this ball. When it hits that dry in the backend it turns hard. Hitting power is exceptional for a low-end ball. The price is great on this ball for the quality of ball you are getting. This ball is not for extremely dry conditions, it is a medium to light oil ball, ball will over-react if too much dry is present. A good edition to the Roto-Grip line.
--------------------
Robert Gogolak
Sales at Junior's Pro Shop
visit us at:
http://www.juniorsbowlingshop.com
Full online pro shop with very, very competitive pricing.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Mrstrike on February 13, 2004, 03:25:42 AM
This ball is great, in a time when ball companies are making bowling balls to hook , hook and more hook. Roto Grip comes out with a ball that rolls true and that has a great reaction on the lane and into the pins. With the combination of the weight block and coverstock this ball gives you a great length through the front part of the lane but yet has a reaction in the back not a skid flip but a constant roll to the pins. With hitting power of a high end ball. A simple hand position change gives you a entire different look, making the ball very conducive to all types of lane conditions. This is the best Sonic yet!.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Old Coach on February 14, 2004, 05:36:09 PM
Just an update on my Sonic Boom post. Got one last thursday and threw it a few times at the drillers lanes. Went to my thursday night league, 259-252-268=779 on a medium Christmas tree. 30 out of 36 strikes. First game 10 stikes. Second game first 8 then punched the head for 4-7-6-9 got 2, then spare and closed it out (10 strikes). 3rd game rang the 10 the first two shots, (opened on the second 10) and made a two board move with my feet playing the same line I had played from the first frame of game one and threw the next 10 in a row. This ball had little flare, didn't even return an oil line and recovered like a champ if I pushed it a couple boards wide. Took out the 10 pins like the legs got chopped out of them. 3 3/8 stacked leverage pin under the ring. I am 59 years old and haven't been this excited over a ball for years. I have two honor scores this year, 300 Revmaster and 299 Inferno (On ABC Echo lanes mixed) and I can honestly say I have more confidence in the Sonic Boom than I had in either of the other two. I realize this was the first set, am anxious to try it Sunday 4pm mixed league on wood guardian, following 7 hours of little tikes throwing plastic against the bumpers as the lanes are always an adventure on Sunday and this was the condition I thought it might be good for.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: STEVEN HAUK on February 17, 2004, 09:52:21 AM
This my review if the SONIC BOOM. This ball is about three to five board more aggressive then the sonic x solid is. This ball gets through head very clean and with a little more pop on the backends. I recommend this ball when the heads break down and the backends get a little tighter .i drilled the pin right above the ring finger and kick the cg out 2 inches. I put a small hole in the side right on the midline to get in back to 3/4 side and 1/4 finger.Basicilly a common drill pattern for entry level ball that is design not to hook a lot. I bowled with last week on two different types of condition , one wet heads and fresh backends. Second condition was wet heads with carry down , the second condition was better of the two . So far the set have been 710 745 .
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S HAUK
ROTO GRIP STAFF
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: NeonSxTO2 on February 19, 2004, 02:23:33 PM
The Sonic Boom is definantly stronger than the sonic solid. I drill mine      3 3/8 with the mb in the strong (b) position and this ball has a turn signal on the backend. It gets through the heads as clean as can be and just flat out goes on the backend. Not to mention it hits like a mack truck. This ball turns the corner so hard.  If u want a strong skid flip ball this is it. Another winner from Roto!!!!
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Sam
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Charlie on March 11, 2004, 02:15:38 PM
Another great addition for the Roto-Grip line.  Ball drilled 5x6 with pin under ring finger.  Excellent length and smooth read off of the dry with excellent hitting power from all angles of play.  This ball will not job off of the dry.  Overall, about 5 more boards of hook than Sonic X Pearl drilled with similar pattern.  A must have for any late night league session or tournament bowler.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Steve Richter on March 11, 2004, 03:47:22 PM

I agree with the positive results posted below as we are seeing this Sonic to be slightly stronger than the solid and the pearl in the lineup.


My 2 cents here would be that we have found greater success in drilling those with longer pin-outs to get the ball to flare a little more and read the lane better with the weak coverstock.  We have found this doesn’t make it so dependent on dry boards to hook and hit.  We have also played with a slight scotch brite to get the ball to fit better between a Rush and Sonic X solid.  Although scuffing pearl balls has in the past been taboo, give it a try in this one and you’ll be surprised how well it responds.


I would like to add that this ball is very good at covering up release mistakes and seems to be one of those that you get out of it what you put into it.  Naturally, more hand equals more hook, but less hand doesn’t mean less hit and carry.  Thanks Roto Grip for a nice addition to the Sonic Line.



--------------------
Steve Richter
Roto Grip Test Staff Member
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: RonCase823 on March 12, 2004, 12:14:58 AM
Drilled pin and CG 4" from PAP.

The most hook of any of the Sonic balls.  With the surface lightly scuffed ball rolls very well but doesn't quit on the back ends.  You can play straight down the boards with this one.  Works surprisingly well in oil also.  With ball shiny you will need lots of friction on the lane unless you have a lot of hand.

By far the best Sonic ball I've thrown!
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: vivasrv on March 12, 2004, 02:09:53 PM
Besides being one of the best looking roto balls yet this one has definite applications for the league AND tournament bowler.  Core and cover combination give it significantly more POP than the two previous Sonics.  Mine was a 3 1/4" pin w/ 3.0 TW.  I drilled it with a basic 3 3/8" stack (pin and cg 3 3/8 from PAP stacked.  Cg is in thumb quadrant with a small hole on a line 6 3/4 from grip center through CG.  First time I used it was in a 4 game sweeper after league had bowled a full set.  Was able to stay 3-4 boards right of everyone else and get it through the heads with ease.  What opened my eyes was the backend strength.  It's about as strong as my ss pearl on the back with effortless length.  I shot 258-289-227-269 and won first time using ball.  The most impressive characteristic of this ball is that it gets through the heads easy when they're broke down BUT, it handles OIL well too---not too squirty.  It's in my bag now.  Go to Rotogrip.com and preview the upcoming retro resurrection available soon.

corey atkinson
roto-grip staff member
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: big hank j on March 18, 2004, 11:25:51 PM
I am using the Sonic Boom with "3" Pin
5 1/2" x 4" with no weight hole.  I have been using this ball on the late leagues and on the late squads of our travel league.  This ball clears the dry heads really easy and has a very readable reaction off the mid lane.  I am very satisfied with the pin carry and found no drop off of hitting power playing inside 20 on dry lanes.  This ball is a must for dry lanes.  This ball fits my in-between game really well.  

H Jordan
Roto Grip Test Staff Member
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Shim299 on March 20, 2004, 05:33:37 AM
The Sonic Boom is a great ball for light to medium oil along with fresh backends and shorter oil patterns.  When the Sonic X isn't quite enough, the Sonic Boom is the way to go.  It gets through the fronts great and starts reading in the midlane with good control on the backend.  I drilled a 4" pin stacked on mine with a small hole beyond my axis.  The normal house shot at our bowling center has very clean backends and this ball works great.  It doesn't over-react at all.  Its also a good ball to have when you want to square up and play a little straighter angle to the pocket.

Scott McLaughlin
Roto Grip Test Staff Member
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: rotomike on March 21, 2004, 07:58:45 PM
$200 ball at a $120 price point.

I drilled it over the label pin above the fingers cg kicked a little with no extra hole. Bowled late shift after a party and and a commercial league. I was worried that there would be too much carry down for this ball.  BUT NOOO!!!!!!
The Boom made a consistent and strong move to the pocket.  The pin carry is phenomenal. Once I relaxed and let the ball work I was very pleased with a 195-266-260-721 set.

I drilled a Boom for a 200 average woman.  Her reaction was quite good.  Strong move to the pocket.

Overall this is a very strong pearl reactive.  I would place this ball in the same performance category as balls costing $150-$180.  Not for heavy oil by any means but definitely good for all releases and styles on almost all house conditions and some drier Sport conditions.
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: thegame on April 18, 2004, 02:03:38 PM
Got this ball to fit in between my Sonic X, and Hot Wire, and it fits the bill perfectly.  When my Hot Wire is taking off on the backend the Sonic Boom goes a bit longer with less backend, but still more than the original Sonic X.  Drilled the Sonic Boom with pin next to my ring finger and CG in the middle of the grip for length, and good recovery on the back.  The carry is fantastic with this ball, and provides me with a very controllable option on drier lanes.  Great job Roto Grip!
Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: LuckyLefty on September 11, 2004, 08:46:26 PM
This ball is truly a best of breed!

If you bowl on lighter oil volumes which supply the midlane to the ball and you are getting an over churning midlane with lots of 4 pins and 10 pins and struggle to strike.  But you feel the shot needs some backend pick up this beauty.

Take this ball put your favorite near stacked drilling.  Small kick out stacked label whatever this ball has a light touch of midlane.

This ball is the new improved blue pulse for today's slicker oils but still light volume.

Drilled 4 1/2 X 4 (stacked for me) pin and cg up a little on this 2 3/4 inch pin out ball.

This ball is too be fit between your Silver Streak Pearl, Fuze Ignitor, Ego, or other high flare pearl ball and your Sonic X pearl(for the truly dry short pattern).

This ball will give you area if the Sonic X pearl won't and simplify your game if the shot doesn't allow you to open the lane up with the high flare babies above.

The perfect combination of backend and length for a very light volume 40 foot pattern.  The Sonic X pearl the perfect combo for a light volume and about 32 foot pattern.  Get it!

This could seriously raise my average on the near dirt I'm throwing on by 30 pins.

Note the beautiful thing about these balls is the little bit of midlane the core supplies is Just right!

One of the best balls in the game for when your proprietor wants to trick you up and make you look like a fool.  Now he's going to have problems.

Go outside the oil line play some dirt and get some attack angle!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS I'm ordering a backup!

Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: Re-Evolution on February 10, 2005, 03:56:21 PM
My Specs:
RH
stroker/tweener
15-18 mph
15 Revs/280-320 RPM
PAP over 4.75" up .75"
30-80° axis rotation,
10° axis tilt.
12" Track Diameter

Ball specs:
14# 4oz, 2.7oz top, 3.5" pin, 1500 polished
38° drilling
Pin; R/L 0", up 3.25", 4.25" to PAP
MB; right 3.5", down 2.875", 4.25" to PAP
Balance hole .375" past VAL, up/down 0

I have had this ball for about 2 months and I now feel that I am familiar enough with it to write a proper review.

First game on each condition.

Lane condition:
Wood, fresh 44' Tree, 5:1 (50 units 20 board @ 12', 10 units 3 board @ 12') not sure beyond that other than it tapers to 17-23 at 38' with buff out to 44'.

Plays straight up the 5 @ about 16MPH with 30° axis rotation. Not much I can say to describe the roll on this type of shot other than, it is dead straight all the way to the break point for me. When it makes it move though it has a flip/ strong arc to the pocket and drives very hard through the pins.


Lane condition:
Wood, second shift (5 man teams) 44' Tree, moderate carrydown in track area, 5:1 (50 units 20 board @ 12', 10 units 3 board @ 12') not sure beyond that other than it tapers to 17-23 at 38' with buff out to 44'.

Plays 12 @ arrows to 5 @ 45' about 16MPH with 45° axis rotation. Ball starts to read in the later midlane. When it makes it move it has a strong arc to the pocket with a bit less hitting power than on fresh. Doesn't seem to like the carrydown very much, if I don't get it outside to get around the heavier carrydown it wants to squirt even though it appears as though it has gone through the axis precession period and is ready to move. This may also be due to the long pattern.

Other balls I have used on these shots and there lines.
Fresh: (see profile for specs)
Unleashed  - 20 to 10 @ 60° AR
X-Factor (strong) - 17 to 8 @ 60° AR
X-Factor (weak) - 14 to 5 @ 45 AR
Sonic X Solid - 10 to 5 @ 45 AR

Second shift:
Unleashed - can't use
X-Factor (strong) - 20 to 7 @ 60° AR, works, but drilled to early for condition
X-Factor (weak) - 18 to 5 @ 60° AR, works good.
Sonic X Solid - 15 to 7 @ 45° AR, works great, use when Boom is squirting due to carrydown.
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Title: Re: Sonic Boom
Post by: redbear on April 14, 2005, 11:12:20 AM
It may seem strange to review a ball that has been on the market for a year-and-a-half and probably won't be available much longer, but I got this ball fairly recently and it does just what I want it to do in a niche that is hard to fill.

I'm a tweener and have the usual problems associated with being a tweener.  I have several balls that are meant for use on medium conditions.  They are similar, but different enough to give me several options for finding the best carry on a given night.  I also have a few balls for dry conditions.  My mirror polished Sonic X Solid is excellent on lanes that are quite dry, and I have a Slate Blue Gargoyle for toast.  The problem is that there is a substantial gap between the medium condition balls and the dry condition balls.  This is when the lanes have transitioned--and are still transitioning--and I am forced into a deeper position than I like and am losing carry because of it.  The lanes are, however, still not dry enough for me to get a decent move out of the Sonic X.  I have always had trouble filling this spot in my lineup.  Everything I have tried for this spot, regardless of drilling or surface prep, has always been too much or too little.

The Sonic Boom fills this spot brilliantly.  I have a 15 pounder drilled with the pin an inch-and-a-half from my PAP and the CG in grip center.  This is a low RG drilling, but this is such a high RG ball that even with this drilling, it is still a higher RG piece for me than anything else I have except for the Sonic X.  I drilled it like this to minimize it's already minimal flare, but to create a smoother move than what I would be likely to get from a higher RG drilling.  Besides, I've used this drilling successfully before.  High RG drillings give me a sharper move on the back than I like.  After trying the Sonic Boom in box condition on the recommendation of my driller--whose opinion I respect--I found that my initial impulse to put more shine on it was correct.  What I have arrived at as the best prep is to clean it with Renew-It, which shines it a bit to start with.  I then do all six sides with a dollop of Storm Step Three mixed with a dollop of the regular black label Black Magic.  After that, I go over it again with Renew-It.  The last run of Renew-It takes off a bit of a haze left by the polish and leaves the ball looking shinier and feeling tackier.  

The Sonic Boom fits my transition ball niche perfectly.  This may not be as critical a spot for some readers as it is for me, but a lot of tweeners will probably recognize the problem as being as difficult for them as it is for me.  Last Friday, my medium lane equipment had forced me up against the ball return and my carry was getting bad.  Except for a cranker and a high speed player, the rest of the bowlers on the pair were experiencing the same problem.  I pulled out the Sonic Boom and moved my feet back 4 boards to the outside and moved my mark one board back outside and got a nice long skid with a late midlane rev and a smooth arc to the pocket.  The carry was excellent and I had a good string going when the ball didn't come back from the return.  

The ball return had grabbed a couple balls by then, but I was the first to call the counter.  They sent a mechanic back behind the pins, but it was quickly obvious that the balls were backed up somewhere near the mouth of the ball return.  By the time he got up there and took the thing apart and dug out the three lost balls, about 8 minutes had passed.  The ring finger hole on my Sonic Boom was smashed.  Coverstock material was crunched up into the ring finger hole and the bridge was broken.  I was aghast because the ball was just what I needed at a difficult time in a close, important game.  I went up to the counter and the manager managed to crunch the material around so my ring finger hole (I use inserts) looked about normal.  He then used a glue made by Loctite that is similar to the usual type of Superglue used on inserts, but it sets a bit slower and squeezed a bunch of it into the smashed up mess around the bridge and ring finger hole.  It took only a couple minutes to set up and it seemed that it would hold together for the rest of the game.  (The center agreed, of course, to take the ball afterwards and have the pro shop drill it out, plug it, and redrill it at no cost to me.)  By the time I got back to the lanes, about 15 minutes had passed since the initial problem and everyone was waiting for me.  The other team was probably aggravated, but no one said anything because they knew I was already pissed and pouring fuel on the fire would be unwise.  (The league president was on the other team.)  Due to the lost rhythm and residual tension, I spared a couple frames before getting back my strike shot, and finished up with my best game of the night and the best game on the pair that night.  

That last little anecdote isn't really part of the review I guess, but I enjoyed telling it and thank you to anyone who stayed around long enough to read it.  The pro shop--which is new in this particular center--did a good job fixing the ball, and they reproduced my proper pitches.  They didn't know it, but I was testing them to see if they'd get it right, and they did.

The Sonic Boom is an excellent ball.  People with hand will probably be able to use it on a medium condition, and some others will probably be able to use it on a quite dry condition.  I would say this ball would be an excellent choice for a tweener who is in a bind during the transition game.