This a copy of a post orginally in the forum section.

Retro Roto Pearl is deceptively an excellent ball. It works on all the mediums. It can handle clean backends as well as some carry down. This is a reactive ball with a fairly strong core.

The ball was drilled 4 ½ by 4. The static weights were ½ side and ¼ finger, 15 lb ball with a 1 ½ -2 inch pin. I fall in the category of a right handed tweener with medium speed. The ball was tested on (1) fresh oil 8 to 8 with very little oil outside the 8 and (2)a fairly oily condition across the whole lane after several hours of open play (original shot 8 to . On the fresh shot I was swinging 8/9 out to 6/7. On the other condition I was swinging 12/13 to 9/10.

The length is good. It gets through the heads well without squirting on the oil. Rate it a B. The backend reaction is a strong arc. (Someone with hand can make this ball snap.) It did not over or under react on the fresh oil. It also handled the carrydown on the lane with several hour of open play. Rate it a B. The ball revs up well when it comes out of the oil. There are balls that rev harder, but this ball has more than enough turn to do the job. Rate it a B. You get a solid hit when the ball comes in contact with the pins. A stronger hit and you would be looking at solid 8s and 9s. Rate it a B. The ball recovers on shots missed to the right and holds the line on shots missed to the left. However, don’t expect to throw the ball to the edge and have it come back. Rate it a B. Overall hook is a 17 or 18 on a 20 scale. Not a gigantic hooking ball, but it does hook. Rate it a B.

Because the ball does well all these areas, I would give it an overall rating of A. There are balls that are better in certain areas, but at the expense of another giving up something in another area. The Retro Roto Pearl is a complete package. It does everything well.

Got this ball drilled by Tommy Delutz Jr. This ball has major backend. Haven't shot under 600 yet with it with a high game of 259 average 209..

I usually shoot straight up and flip to the pocket, this ball carries every hit, cross, light, buried..

If you're a cranker you will absolutely love this ball.. I experimented shooting across the entire lane w\ 2 fingers(the only way I can crank) and it sails through the mid-lane only to violently slam the pocket with it's ferocious backend..

No doubt this ball is quality and will likely put the Ebonite bowler of the year, Mikey T down for the count..

Update on this ball...

last night I shot my first 300 and my first 700..

239,233,300

772

Thanks to Tommy Delutz Jr for an awesome drill and a great ball suggestion..

Get this ball it doesn't quit..

DRILL THIS PUPPY UP ON WED FOR 6PM LEAGUE. WOW WHAT A BALL BY ROTOGRIP. #15 DRILLED WITH PIN UNDER RING FINGER, CG 45 DEGREES(PIN 1.5-2)SMALL WEIGHT HOLE ON PAP. GREAT LENGTH WITH THAT SKID SNAP FEATURE. 233,237 AND 238 FOUR STONE 8'S. PLAYED DEEP INSIDE 25-10. THE BALL CAN CROSS SOME BOARDS, CRUSHING THE POCKET LIKE A MACK TRUCK. A MUST HAVE FOR ANY LEAGUE SHOT.

15# Drilled 5" from PAP with pin below middle finger and mass bias to right of thumb.  THIS IS THE MOST FORGIVING BALL I HAVE EVER THROWN.  I have only bowled 4 games with it but it holds the line if I pull the shot and comes back if I go too wide.  The ball hits like a truck.  In the hands of a good bowler, this ball would be awesome.  I love this ball so far.  The ball revs up and reads the midlane well and then gave me a nice arc to the rack.

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Just a Wannabebowler

If I could still find a case of these, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. Have mine set up with the pin above the ring finger and the CG kicked right about 1 1/2". It was a little too jumpy out of the box for me. But after a few games, it's been right on the money. The ball rolls very true and hit's really well. I've been able to play many different lines with it as well, hard and straight and the normal 25 to where-ever on a wall. It's a great medium ball and the first out of my bag. I've had 4 honor scores in the last year with this ball and it still rolls very well, very little drop off in performance. I hope the new Retro R is somewhat close to this gem.

K300

This ball's a gem, and it's the best long oil ball I own.  "Long oil ball?"  Yes, that's what I said.  I've used it on 42' oil with fresh backends, and it outperformed everything else in my bag, because it doesn't want to hook until at least 38' (depending on the line).  It's drilled 4 1/2", 90 degree, pin destroyed under ring finger.

I haven't thrown many games with this ball since I bought it a couple of years ago (maybe 45 or so), but when it's time to break out "ol' blue", it doesn't disappoint.  I've thrown it from 10-5 and from 25-10.  It doesn't rev a whole lot, due to the higher RG core and my shortened grip on this ball, but that's ok as the results still are good - strong move in the backend, plenty of pop at the pins.

So I think that if you're looking for a fresh shot flat oil/backend ball, this is a good find and for a good price, too (especially now that you might be able to find a few around somewhere on closeout or online).  Even a hand-me-down wouldn't be bad, either.

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Brian Longo
Manager of Kegler'z Korner
Toccoa, GA

My specs for comparison:
H-Axis: 4 3/4"
V-Axis: 3/8"
Average revs: 15-16
Average speed: 15-17 MPH
Axis Rotation: 25-50 degrees