Roto Grip continues to do something different with the Rubicon upper-mid performance balls in their HP3 line of balls. Like the original Rubicon and the Rubicon UC2 the Rubicon UC3 (Ultimate Concept 3) uses 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 Tour-ethane Pearl Reactive coverstock which was formulated to offer max performance as well as control when facing high friction patterns and surfaces.

Color: Platinum Pearl
All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown
Core: Rondure Core (Asymmetrical) (14-16#)
Coverstock: Tour-ethane Pearl
Finish: 1000-grit Abralon
RG: 2.49 (for 15# ball)
Differential: 0.052 (for 15# ball)
Recommended Lane Condition: Light Oil – Medium/Light Oil

LANE CONDITION

Length: 43

Volume:26.5mls

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): CLIFFED House Shot


COMMENTS

PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

I was a teen in the mid-90’s when Urethane was still the dominant surface on what we would now call extremely short, low volume patterns. Aging synthetic surfaces and challenge/sport patterns have created a greater need for ball motion control. I avoided jumping on the urethane bandwagon for as long as I could; always able to adjust with speed, hand position and solid shot making. I eventually had to give in and get a Pitch Black and accept that this “old” technology was becoming a “new” necessity.

This season, our house pattern morphed into a heavy, flat mid-lane with a hard cliff at 9. I eventually gave into the over/under reaction I was getting and began throwing the Pitch Black. Surprising myself, I found a lot of “success”. Giving up the powerful pocket hits and crazy pin action for a controlled and predictable ball motion. But that was solving one problem and creating another.

Then I talked to my ball driller about other non-reactive options and he immediately suggested the Rubicon UC3. My first shot off the press… I was floored! A non-reactive ball that allowed me to move in and create predictable, powerful shape was not at all what I was expecting. This Tour-ethane cover’s ability to blend the edge of a super-cliffed house pattern and remain continuous on the backend without being super sharp off the friction is something I’ve spent a long time searching for.

If you're a speed dominant bowler who thinks they can’t throw urethane/non-reactive because they don’t have the rev to create power… this ball is going to absolutely change your outlook. You’ll stop fearing non-reactive after throwing the Rubicon UC3.

Ball Specs:
Roto Grip Rubicon UC3
Tour-ethane Peal Cover
1000 Grit 
Rondure Asymmetric Core

Bowler Specs:
Right Hand. PAP 5” Over 1/2 up
Rev Rate 300. Tilt 20. Rotation 50.
Speed at cameras 15.5

Review:
Roto Grip has something very special in the UC3. I Love this ball! I have never really matched up well with previous urethane balls before. I did not get enough hook or hit from them. This has all changed with the Rubicon UC3. Roto says light to medium oil but with the box finish I see this ball as having a very strong controllable motion in oil. The 1000 grit cover along with the high flare potential give this ball a big sweeping motion with plenty of hit. On the day we shot video the UC3 was under my Helios in hook but above my Wolverine. I also had my Pitch Purple with me and there just was no comparisons in total hook and hit. The UC3 made the Pitch Purple seem weak. I rolled the pitch purple, then the UC3 and a Phase 2 and let the oil stay on the balls without wiping them off. I then waited to see what would happen. After a while the oil was gone on the Phase 2 I saw barely any change on the Pitch Purple and the UC3 absorption rate was about half. That aspect along with the high flare of the ball seems to eliminate the carry down problem urethane balls get a bad rap for. I liked the box Rubicon UC3 so much I drilled one weak and polished it. The UC3 shines up easily. This was good but a bit snappier than I wanted so I sanded it back down then back to 4000 wet sand. This made the ball outstanding on a medium to dry pattern without too much angle on the back. In my opinion this ball is more than traditional urethane in the way it rolls, takes surface changes and hits. The UC3 does however give the control traditional Urethane provides.

Summary:
The UC3 is an excellent ball made for control and hit.
If you’re not a fan of urethane you need to give ball a try.
The ball looks great and is selling very well already.
This ball eliminates problems of carry down and provides excellent carry.

Video Link:
https://youtu.be/37KDyewL4zE

Glenn Wendel
PBA Member
Storm Pro Shop Staff

gwendel@comcast.net
www.stormbowling.com

Roto Grip Rubicon UC3
Cover: Tour-ethane Pearl
Core: Rondure
Layout: 4 5/8 x 3 x 2.5

Video Review Link:
https://youtu.be/-ViMWTQMrJc

Roto Grip's new HP3 ball is the Rubicon UC3 (Ultimate Concept 3) with the new Tour-ethane Pearl cover and asymmetric Rondure Core. This urethane ball is much stronger than any other urethane currently in the lineup at Storm. I can play left and throw it right with certainty that it will be back. The out of box finish was a little dull for me so I did take it up to about 2000. For the video, also have the Fast Pitch and Pitch Black near this surface for comparison purposes. I started with the UC3 when I began filming on the 38 ft Holman pattern and then filmed shots with the other two urethane balls. I had to be further right and much more exact with the Fast Pitch and Pitch Black to play anywhere but up the lane. Then, I show two shots at the end after filming to illustrate just how much the UC3 was still hooking after all of the urethane was thrown. This ball is very unique and a game changer for Storm Products.

Roto Grip Rubicon UC-3
Layout: 45 X 4 X 35 - 1000 grit from factory - enhanced to 3000 grit by hand
 Test drive on SPL lane surface with 46ft THS with a Kegel ION lane machine
OK, It is not your average urethane bowling ball. The Rondure cover was designed to have a better ball motion than other ASYS cores with a weight hole like in the past. Adding the new Tour-ethane to this already impressive core design made a motion not seen in the past from other "strong" urethane balls. I did enhance the cover to 3000 grit during the testing and practice sessions I had with the UC-3, it was still a little early moving in the front part of the pattern, a couple shots almost when dead right off of my hand - OPERATOR error - not the ball's fault... :-)... PLay the ditch and pretty much straight up for me and did not lose any motion or pain carry throughout the sessions. Friend of mine also purchased one - he is WAY speed dominant and still was REALLY impressed by the overall motion of the ball during the course of the night on the lanes. He actually got BETTER carry than the other 2 balls he was using that night. He did leave his surface alone, unlike me who is REV dominant and speed deficient. Great overall ball for anyone's game and does look really COOL on the rack. LIke the UC-3 WAY better than the Pitch Purple. Nice 1 - 2 combo of urethane - the UC-3 and Pitch Black. Best to urethanes out there!!!

The Roto Grip UC3 features the new Tour-ethane Pearl reactive cover and the Rondure Asymmetric Core.  The UC3 has a low RG of 2.49 a high differential of 0.052 and a low intermediate differential of 0.011.  To bring this all together, the Tour-ethane Pearl coverstock will glide through fronts and midlane very smooth like its predecessor the original Rubicon but you will find the UC3 to dig into the lane and corner harder on the backend. 
The layout chosen was a 60 x 3 x 40 which will give you a strong angular arc reaction shape, normal transition time and continuous ball motion.  With this layout the UC3 will be great on a variety of patterns such as a medium to long sport or a fresh house shot.  When the lanes get to be too cliffed then an adjustment to the ball surface would need to be done to blend the pattern I used a 4000 grit and that blended out the over/under.
I did a ball comparison to the Storm Pitch Purple and Pitch Black.  On a 42’ Stone Street Pattern.
First up is the Storm Pitch Purple.  The Pitch Purple features the Rev-Control Urethane coverstock with the Capacitor core.  The UC3 is stronger then the Pitch Purple when you need to create more shape into the pocket but when you are straight up and keeping your mark in front of you the Pitch Purple surprisingly enough can keep up with the UC3.  Like the UC3 the Pitch Purple is a combination of urethane in the midlane and reactive on the backend. 
Next up is the Storm Pitch Black.  The Pitch Black features the Control Solid Urethane coverstock with the Capacitor core. The UC3 is stronger on the backend by at least 5 boards but the pitch black hooks early in the midlane and sets in the backend like traditional urethane.  Moved 3 boards to the left to get into more of the friction but the Pitch Black still labored on the backend.
In my urethane bag, the UC3 will be the first out the bag, then I can go to the Pitch Purple then the Pitch Black.

Roto Grip Rubicon UC3
Coverstock – Tour-ethane Pearl
Finish – 1000 grit Abralon
Core –  Rondure Core
RG – 2.49
Diff- .052
Layout – 40x3’’x30
PAP 4 ½’’x ½’’ up
Roto Grip knocked it out of the park with the UC3. The UC3 has the most shape I’ve seen from a urethane ball. Generally, urethane has the classic early mid lane hook and smooth transition off the pattern.  The UC3 is engineered to see the phase skid, hook, and roll. The Tour-ethane Pearl coverstock combined with the Rondure core allows the UC3 to skid through the heads without early hook, pick up in the mid lane, and still hook off the spot without losing energy. I chose a layout of 40x3’’x30. This layout will allow for an early shape but still reserve enough energy to hook off the pattern. I wanted to keep similar layouts I use on other urethane balls but still see a reactive resin motion. I tested the UC3 on the 32’ PBA Wolf pattern, 36’ PBA Viper pattern, and a 42’ 12:1 house pattern. On the Wolf, I was 5 boards left of my typically starting position when using urethane. I was 10 at the arrows, and 3 at my break point. Same was true on the Viper. I was 5 boards left of where I normally would be when throwing urethane. I was 15 at the arrows and 5 at the break point. On the house pattern, I had no issues shaping the UC3, playing 20 at the arrows and 7 at my break point. The UC3 is a ball that could have many uses for different ability bowlers. Stop in at your local pro shop and see how the UC3 fits your game.
Sammy Shaffer, 900 Global Staff member.

I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical when It comes to asymmetric “urethane”. The Hot Cell was the last asymmetrical urethane option we offered, and it was very hit or miss for a lot of people. When I drilled my first UC3, it immediately surprised me. With having a much larger core than most urethane pieces, it wants to pick up and slow down from pretty much any part of the lane. The cover is also unique and provides a much different look when thrown against solid urethane balls (Pitch black and Fast pitch). Having a weaker cover and stronger core, the UC3 allows you to play a zone farther left as well as being enough ball to throw on a wide variety of patterns when the Pitch black might not be in play. I’ve been able to throw the UC3 on some higher ratio patterns and it’s been excellent at blending the friction as well as being able to throw it on the fresh on some harder patterns as well. I just drilled my second UC3 with a different layout and I can see a third in my future as well!