The EPICtm adventure continues with the introduction of the SAGAtm. Defeating much of the known lane conditions at an early time, the Epic Sagatm is a personal Journey of Conquest and Victory. The Sagatm seeks its rightful rule as it fights to overthrow the competition and reign over all its enemies.

The SAGAtm is our latest release in the storied EPIC line of High Performance Asymmetrical bowling balls, the synergy of asymmetry along with hybrid coverstock technology delivers the sharpest backend reaction of any High Performance bowling ball on the market today.

The Maximus IItm core has proven to be one of the strongest, fastest spinning cores ever developed. Since its original inception in the Epictm and modified version in the Epic Battletm it has proven to be a winner by taking home a Megabucks Title in February 2006 along with several titles around the world.

The final touch is the newly developed Ultimate Vision Hybridtm coverstock; the combination of 1 part solid and 2 parts pearl reactive delivers superior mid-lane read and pin shattering entry angle to the pocket like no other.


Specifications


Factory Finish  1500 Polished  
Track Flare Potential  7+ Inches  
Lane Condition  Medium Oil  
Cover Stock  Ultimate Vision Hybridtm  
Weight Block  Maximus IItm Core  
Color  Navy Solid / Blue Pearl / Silver Pearl  
D-Scale  73 -75  
Available Weights  14 -16 Pounds
Spin Rate  5 Seconds (15lbs)  




Core Dynamics


WEIGHTS  RG  DIFFERENTIAL  
16 lb.  2.47 (Low)  .046 (Medium-High)  
15 lb.  2.48 (Low)  .050 (High)  
14 lb.  2.52 (Med)  .040 (Medium)  



RG: X-axis  RG: Y-axis  RG: Z-axis  Mass Bias
Differential  
2.483  2.534  2.508  .026 (15lbs)

Here's my initial review of the Saga through the first 5 games.

Ball weight: 15 lbs.
Drilling : 4x3
Surface : OOB
Weight Hole : yes
Bowling Style : Tweener

This ball gets through the heads very nicely, revs up beautifully, and has great backend and carry.  I have noticed there are a lot more messengers flying across the deck with this ball. The surface on this ball is not for heavy oil, but great for any medium condition (Medium/Heavy with some surface taken off).  I see a lot of versatility in this ball as far as being able to use different hand positions and not having to worry as to how the ball will respond.  

Overall I give this ball a 9 out of 10

I will post a second review after 30 games.
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mmmmmmmmmm Beer

Roto Grip Epic Saga:

Pin to CG Distance:  1.5 inches
Topweight: 2-3 oz.

Layout:
Pin just outside and below ring finger with mass bias in strong position

Reaction:
Good length with heavy midlane roll and hard arcing / slightly angular backend reaction.  

Comments:

This ball is not junk as the previous reviewer stated.  He's entitled to his opinion, but I strongly disagree.  The other two balls in the Epic line were for heavier oil conditions and this ball is a very good complement.  This ball has very good length, especially considering the core characteristics.  This ball is $$$ on a medium THS because it likes to roll in the midlane and controls the over/under better than any polished ball that I've ever used because of the hybrid coverstock.  It rolls very similar to the Silver Streak SE, but with a stronger core which makes it about 5-6 boards stronger.  It has the same great hitting power and impressive carry as the Battle.  On the negative side, this ball will check up early and hit weak if the heads are completely gone, but that's to be expected given the stronger core.  I often  use this ball as a complement for my new Paradigm Domination because it has more length and a smoother backend.  This ball is at it's best on a fresh shorter pattern or on slightly broken down patterns where some head oil is still present.

UPDATE:

In the OOB condition this ball turned into a flipping monster on the backend when the track burned in a little more, which really doesn't suit my game all too well.  So with the help of my pro shop operator, the surface was taken down to 500-grit with Track Magic Shine polish.  What a difference this made, it's much more controllable, but still strong and the hit is insane.  First night I used it with this surface I shot 202-298-257 for a 757 series.  Where before I had to put it away if the backends were flying, now the reaction just gets better and better as long as there's enough oil to get it to the breakpoint.

Layout - PIN 4 9/16" underbridge - MB 6 1/2" ( all from PAP)

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4345881

Surface -  1000Abralon w/ light magic shine polish

Reaction
The reaction I get out of this ball is the ideal reaction I was looking for. It goes lone with a nice late midlane read and then a super strong arc/smooth flip. This is a reaction I was missing in my arsenal after the sale of my xception 5.0.
Rateng 10

Readabily
Not the type of ball you would use to read the lane with. This thing gets down the lane to easy and will snap the second it sees dry boards down the lane.
Rating 8.5

Versatility
Not really the ball you would want to be versatil with. I see this as more of a mid condition ball. Yet given to much midlane oil and not enough dry boards outside it can become very condition specific. Yet this ball is awsome when it comes to a carry down shot, it just seams to not even notice carry down.
Rating 9.8

Hit
This is one awsome hitting ball, and carries the 9 pin the best for me. Normaly I leave 9 pins a lot. Yet this ball just sends pins flying after it. I leave one to many 10s with it but I feel those are normaly me just maybe spinning the ball a bit. The ball hits great but not as great as my track animal (No ball reviewed as of 5:05 est. on 1/29 has yet to hit like my track animal)
Rating 10

Overall comments
I love this ball, it is normaly the first ball out of my bag and the last to go it. I can use it on almost any condition because of easy reads I can make of it. I would love to have the epic odyssey so I can try this core in a solid reactive. I would also love a particle pearl version.
Rating 10

Overall rating
10 for reaction
8.5 for readabilty
9.8 for versatilitay
10 for hit
10 for overall comments
Final rating - 9.8


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Mark "scoot" Trgovac
C-G Pro Shop
Offical "Spokesman"
Youngstown, Ohio

(The fallowing is said in a larry the cable guy type voice) "You mean to tell me that if I drill a Mass bias Ba-all, that the cd dunt matter for anything other then wens you weight it up?"

"Freak Bowling Ball cleaner of the TRACK Revolution."

Drilling is like    O O
                      . x
                   
                     o

                        rg

The drilling is kind of odd but the pro shop guy didn't know what else to do. I wanted a ball that got some length, was strong in the midlane, and was smooth on the backend. I got that and more.

I tried the ball tonight after a league had bowled to see what it would do on a dried-out shot. The ball got down the lane ok, but it was early for a pearl reactive. The midlane move was unlike anything I have thrown before. Usually for me anything left of the fourth arrow and my ball doesn't make a strong move, but this made a move harder then anything I have every thrown. I was playing 25 at the arrows out to 11 and the ball jumped in the midlane and smoothed out for a controlled backend. This is what I was looking for.

I threw it next to my Big One. The Big One is in box finish. The Saga was a 2 and 2 move left compared to the Big One. The Sage was earlier and more violent on the back.

Playing a shot that dried out, I left weak 10s and 7s with the Saga. The Big One played better with better carry, but it was a shot that favored the Big One. On fresh the Saga will be great. On fresh lanes length won't be a problem and the strong midlane will out perform the late break of the Big One. The two balls compliment each other well.

My Saga came with a three inch pin.  I had it drilled with a 4x4 layout with the mass bias in the strong position and the pin above the ring finger. I left the factory finish.  On the medium pattern, this ball was fantastic.  I moved further inside playing between the second and third arrow going out to the eight board and it came back strong.  If I got into the dry area too early the ball started rolling early.

This is the first Asymmetrical ball from Roto Grip I am able to get the lenght I need through the heads.  For me, this ball has a more dramatic move in the midlane and backend than either the Battle or the Epic.
--------------------
Mike Johnston
Roto Grip Advisory Staff

The ball: 14 pounds 3 oz., 3.5-inch pin, 2.4 oz. top weight before drilling
The drill: Pin above and right of ring, CG under ring, MB on track side of the thumb and just below it. Works out to a 3.5 x 3.75 x 5 drill for me. Surface tested in box and at 4000 Abralon.
Me: PAP 4 over 3/8 up, tweener revs, good speed, good circumference coverage

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Bought this ball because I'm a big Storm/Roto fan and I haven't thrown one of Roto Grip's upper-line assymetrical balls yet.

Color me flummoxed. This ball is one of the strangest balls I've thrown, and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way.

I decided to place the MB where I did in order to smooth out the reaction and make the ball milder on the backend. My arsenal has enough strong assyms that get sideways on the backend and I wanted something for control.

I probably overdid it, or at least that's what I'm left to assume. This ball revs up very, very fast -- the difference between it and virtually every other ball in my arsenal in terms of revving up is crystal clear -- but then it does  a whole lot of nothing.

The ball finishes with a deliberate arc. It doesn't jump off the spot, even in box condition, which carried with it a lot of polish until I knocked it off.

Carrying this ball to 4000 Abralon made nary a difference in performance. The ball still wanted to go too long and make a too-tame move in the back. My next step is 2000 Abralon and after that, I'll admit to being stumped.

I suspect the issue is in the cover, which is a pearl/solid hybrid. This is my third ball with a hybrid cover and my second Roto (a Silver Streak SE was the first) and I've had problems now with all three. Whereas some swear by these balls, I seem to have a problem with consistency.

The ball doesn't offer recovery right no matter how dry the outside boards seem to be. But it also doesn't offer the kind of hold you think you should get with a ball drilled for control purposes.

However, there is a shining aspect to this ball's game: the ability to score from deep inside angles. Even though this ball is just 14 pounds, I can get it to carry the corners playing extreme inside angles, which is difficult for me to do even with 15- and 16- pound equipment.

I'm not through playing with the coverstock yet, but I'm not sure 2000 Abralon is going to be much difference. I'm disappointed with what I've seen so far and a plug-and-redrill may be in my future. The summary follows.

Positives: Good from inside angles, fastest-revving ball I've ever thrown, attractive ball for those who care about such things.

Negatives: Not nearly the backend move you'd expect, didn't respond to surface change in any way, touchy at the breakpoint

Summary: A ball that probably has its uses somewhere, but I haven't found them yet.

Jess