Since the new balls are finally up in the review forum here's the first blush look at the new Battle that I put up in the Roto forum. Ryan has drilled his already and has some videos online as well.

For those of you that don't want to read the text, the short of it is this is one freaking strong ball. It looks good too.


Took the new Epic Battle out for 8 games of practice today. Fresh house condition with backends striped clean. Normally the lanes are absolute toast on Sunday mornings but when you know the laneman sometimes you get a favor to test a new ball.

The ball is punched roughly 4 x 4.5 with the pin right next to my ring finger. So close that the pin was nicked by the drill bit toward the bottom of the finger hole. No Xtra hole needed. So a strong ball and strong layout. Although I have many of the current Roto Grip balls, I didn't punch and Epic solid and wasn't sure what to expect of the Battle in terms of roll characteristics.

Expected it to be strong but just how strong?

First few tosses to get warmed up I alternated between the Battle, an RSX and a Saturn (all new toys). Once warmed up I put the other balls away and focused on the Battle -- which was much stronger off the spot than the other balls.

The Battle revs up really nice and carries energy down the lane. Midlane read is superb. I was getting about 7-8 thick oil track rings with a bunch of drier rings visible. About 6 to 7 inches of obvious track flare. For a strong core / cover combination on a house pattern I was excited to see it wasn't rolling out or hitting weak.

I decide to swing the ball for a couple games to see how it would recover from errant pitches right and also if it would hold on inside tosses. It recovered well from outside misses but wasn't as friendly to inside misses. Not bad but this ball is strong enough that once it moves left it wants to keep going left so if you must miss with the Battle please miss outside. I had 5+ boards of room where I could strike and that is more than enough room.

How about hit? Nothing short of amazing. OK, folks tend to be excited about new toys and we may say that every new ball hits harder than the last one. Certainly all of the Rotos hit well but for reasons I don't always understand, some balls impart more energy into the pins than others. Whatever the reason, the Battle puts more energy to the pins than any ball I've thrown in a long time. It reminds me of the first time I threw a Hammer 3D or the Partical Silver Streak. The pins basically get sucked into the pit and anything not in the pit is bouncing and flying around looking for something else to hit. Very cool.

I'm a decent player (no laughing please) but my ball roll is a bit upright and forward so at times I may struggle to snap the ten out and I rarely send messengers or the four pin back across the lane. With the the Epic Battle, on anything resembling a good shot I was bashing four pins across the lane and the ten was sent to bed. The Epic Battle also keeps the pins low to deck where they can knock over their buddies. It's hard to describe but not only is the hit wicked strong but the pins stay low which is where they need to be in order to enhance carry.

After a few games swinging the ball I moved 5 right with my feet and squared up to the lane. This is the best way to play this center and the house shot for maximum carry. Basically square up, target 7-8 board with a smooth release and let the ball work. On this line with the Battle the pins exploded and were gone. Shot a few 250s and got bored. Loved the ball reaction and hit from this angle.

So to paraphrase one of may favorite cable TV shows, Dream Car Garage: "Do you want a ball like this"? Oh baby you better believe you want a ball like this!!!

Remains to see how this one works on big oil but the Battle seems stronger than the RSP and perhaps even more than the Partical Streak which are my choices for Roto Grip strong balls. When I see oil I know what's coming out of the bag first.

Finally, I usually don't care what a ball looks like, but the Battle is also quite attractive with the red/black/gray mix.

Mark

This ball is INSANE!!!

I got rid of my One, had to get another voodoo ball.  This is the craziest ball I have ever thrown.  It will really open up the lanes for every person who owns one.  The color looks cool on the rack, but when you throw it, it's ugly as hell, the ball looks like it's a beach ball.  That's the only bad thing.  I get some laughs when I throw it because it looks like crap, but when it transitions from the mid lane, they stop laughing.  This ball is friggin rediculous.  The most hook I have ever seen on any ball ever made.  Roto Grip did something good with this one.

Hello,
 
HOLY COW !!!!
 
Layout: Stacked under the ring finger. No hole 4.5 x 4.5 (pin x CG) MB is swung a bit towards my axis.
 
Sport Shot 43ft. heavy volume -
 
I'm the only person who had hook.  Small as it may have been but I could hook the ball to the pocket.  Shot a nice 627 for the first three.  I am very pleased with the continuation of this ball even on a super heavy condition.  
 
Sport Shot 42ft. League Legal version of 2006 Team USA Mens' Long Pattern
 
This ball made the pattern look like a house shot.  230, 237, 201 (the transition game where I usually have trouble making it past 185) and finally 245.  Never lost my hit!!!
 
This ball comes off the spot with such a positive move!!!! The hitting power is out of this world.
 
The biggest payoff comes from the looks on people's faces after they throw the ball for the first time.
 
I drilled one for a teammate I got to watch him in practice on Sunday.  He came back off of the approach looking dumbfounded.  As soon as he refocused his eyes and stopped drooling he commented that he had never seen a ball work like the Battle does on any Sport Condition.  
 
The strength of this ball is outstanding.
 

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Mike Sinek
Roto Grip Advisory Staff
Kingdom member for life

I had this ball drilled pin in (1 inch) with pin below my ring finger and cg bounced out a little bit. The Mass Bias is straight down past the thumb hole. Out of the box finish. No weight hole.
   I first threw this ball on a left over house pattern with considerable carry down. To my amazement, this ball recovered real well on the backend and still managed to conserve enough energy to hit real hard and keep the pins low. Also with this ball, my carry is unbelievable! I can carry with this ball just about any angle I enter the pocket. Compared to the way I have my oracle drilled (stacked leverage w/ weight hole. Pin out. Shined to 1500) the Epic Battle will read the lanes so much sooner and more aggressively then my Oracle, which is better used for transition. The Epic Battle is the ball you can take out of your bag during the A squad when the lanes are very slick, and open up the surface with.
   During my sport league, we bowled on a 36ft. pattern (Medium) on heddon synthetic lanes and I was able to stand on 21 with my feet and throw the ball from 9-10 at the arrows to 7-8 at the breakpoint and have it come back to the pocket very hard. I loved the way that I can use a little bit of angle and have the ball recover in the backend. My bowling style is a tweener with an average of 14mph down the lane so this ball’s aggressive cover stock (ultimate vision solid particle) helps bowlers with lower revs and ball speed like me to come around the corner on longer sport patterns with heavier oil.
   Overall, I love the tremendous hitting power and carry of the Epic Battle! If you are looking for a high performance low load particle ball, look no further and try the Epic Battle today! The reaction of the Epic Battle will leave you breathless. Roto-Grip has once again delivered another A+ bowling ball!

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Matthew Stromberg
Roto Grip Advisory Staff Member

I drilled up the Battle to tackle demanding lane conditions (inconsistent backends)  I got exactly what I was looking for.  The Maximus core design gives constant and continual motion, similar to a tank. Once you get it going you can't stop it.  The particle coverstock moved through the heads better than I expected and was able to chase the oil inside without losing performance.  I drilled it B,C off the drill chart to control the backend reaction. Results were immediate and not one ball skid through the breakpoint.  I consider this Battle won.  Keep off dry lanes as the coverstock is much to strong for shorter patterns without adjusting the surface.

Kelly ODriscoll
Roto Grip Staff

THE EPIC BATTLE IS THE BETS HIGH PERFORMANCE BALL THAT I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME .THIS BALL LOVES OIL . THIS BALL READS VERY WELL WITH HIGH VOLUME(UNITS)OF OIL.THIS BALL ALSO NEVER LAYS LAYS OFF LIKE SOME PARTILCES BOWLING BALLS DO. I DRILLED MINE STRONG 3 1/2 PIN I KICKED THE CG 3/4 DRILL WITH NO  HEIGHT HOLE NEEDED.THIS BALL WAS PRETTY EASY DRILL PATTERN TO USE SINCE MY PIN PLACEMENT,CG AND MASS BYASS WAS ALL LINED UP TOGETHER.
THIS BALL REALLY HELPS OPEN THE LANE UP MORE.THE FIRST NIGHT THAT I USED IT IN THE LEAGUE HOUSE SHOT 42FT WITH FRESH BACKENDS. I WAS PLAYING 3RD ARROW TO ABOUT 9 BOARD AND SHOT 733 . I CAN SEE THAT I WAS ABLE TO MORE LEFT THAN THE LEAGUE BOWLERS.I DI NOT HAVE TO MOVE MUCH MORE LEFT FOR THAT SET. I WAS THE ONLY SEVEN SHOT THAT NIGHT.WE HAD OUR ANNUAL CITY CHAMPSHIP THIS PAST WEEKEND AND WEEKND COMING UP . IN THE TEAM PORTION OF THE EVENT I SHOT 237 300 224 FOR 761 SET . WITH THE EPIC BATTLE. I WAS PLAYING 16 TO 10 AND KEEPING IN THE OIL .
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS BALL TO EVERYBODY THAT WANTS SOMETHING IN THEIR EQUIPMENT THAT GRABS THE LANE EVEN IF THE LANES ARE VERY TIGHT .


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STEVEN HAUK
ROTO GRIP  STAFF MEMBER

Stacked drilling, with weight hole.  Polished
Great addition to the Roto Grip line, for heavy oil conditions.  Very strong arcing ball, with great hitting power, and consistent roll.  A bit stronger that the EPIC, but still the same hitting power.  If you are looking for a heavy oil ball, or play straighter, and want more hook, this is the ball.  It is most effective with medium to heavy oil.

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Chris Slagter
Roto Grip Advisory Staff