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

New! Best way to describe the UC3 is new. Urethane but different then all other Urethane out there. It's like it knows when to be a Urethane ball and when to be resin. It will be an absolute must for all serious bowlers. If you don't have it there will be times you're at a disadvantage to everyone else who does.

Zach Shoff
900 Global Staff Member
BowlerMAXX Pro Shop Staff Member
Right-Handed Rev Rate: 350
Speed: 15mph
PAP: 4 Over & 3/4 Up
The Rubicon UC3 is an asymmetric pearl urethane that helps you have control on high friction and short oil patterns. This ball is a great piece for someone who likes something that will not overreact or underreact. This ball can even be used as a benchmark ball on some house shot patterns as well.

Ball Specs:
Roto Grip UC3
Coverstock: 1000-grit Tour-ethaneâ„¢ Pearl
Weight Block: Rondureâ„¢ Core (Asymmetrical)
Color: Platinum Pearl

Review:
When this ball was first announced I got excited. A pearl urethane? It instantly made me think of the old Natural Pearls which was one of my favorite bowling balls. But when I got the ball and drilled it then went and bowled with it, it reminded me more of the Badger Infused which was a hybrid mix of reactive resin and urethane compound. The Rubicon line has been very successful as a whole, adding a ball like this pushed that line to the next level. This ball is a little stronger than traditional urethane which makes it great for those tournament level bowlers. When the lanes start to get to much carry down, I switch to this ball which allows me to control my angles better and still stay striking, Make sure you grab one!
Will Tefft
Roto Grip Staff Member
will@parklanes.net
www.rotogrip.com
#SquadRG

  To be honest I personally have not been a fan of urethane.  I don't have a 500 rev rate, and have a lot of axis tilt.  The Pitch black and Pitch Purple was just okay for me.
Well Roto Grip introduced the UC3 with an asymmetrical core and a new Tour ethane pearl coverstock. I drilled mine 4 inch pin above fingers.  First off lets just say this ball is very different and it actually hooks a little down lane.  The UC3 has a very unique ball motion.  I have been able to use the UC3 on multiple sport patterns, especially the medium to short.  So for me being a tweener the UC3 allows to me compete with the higher rev guys throwing urethane.  So give it the UC3 a try today!

Brian Watson

Storm Pro Shop Staff

LANE CONDITION

Length:43

Volume:High

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS


COMMENTS

Core: Rondure Core
Cover: Tour-ethane Pearl
Finish: 1000
RG: 2.49
Diff: 0.052

Right-Handed Tweener
Speed: 12-13 mph
Rev Rate: 315
PAP: 4 7/8 Right 3/8 Up

Ball Layout: Pin in Ring 4.5 X 3.5 X 3 VLS
                                  35 X 4.5 X 50 Dual Angle

Roto Grip definitely did it right this time with powering up their urethane offering. The Rubicon UC3 features the same Rondure core featured in the original Rubicon and the UC2. This core has now proven to be a winner with whatever cover you decide to wrap it in. They teamed it up this time with their Tour-ethaneâ„¢ Pearl cover and again, it just works.

This is the most continuous urethane ball I've ever thrown. Its strong enough for the fresh, smooth enough to blend out any condition and continuous enough to throw right and get back through the pins.

I tested the Rubicon UC3 on the high Volume house pattern at my home center. I've never thrown Urethane on this version of our house pattern. Mostly because there's so much volume than I can easily throw my most aggressive pieces and partly because I assumed throwing urethane would force me right which would push oil downlane to the right and making the lanes flatter as the night went on. I threw the UC3 where I would assume I needed to be with urethane (very close to the friction) and watched it go left and keep going. I decided to move to the line I had been playing with reactive balls in the same hook range as the original Rubicon, figuring I'd adjust right to get the ball through the pins. Then I watched the UC3 go through the head-pin. I ended up 3 left of there watching the ball split the 8-9. I also figured I'm have to transition away from it after half a game or so. Instead I threw all 3 games and never stopped seeing the ball go through the pins the right way.

The Rubicon UC3 is the most usable urethane I've personally thrown. I don't have the kind of rev rate that usually keeps a urethane useful on higher volume patterns but the UC3 doesn't have the same weaknesses in down-lane hitting power than most urethane's do when covering boards.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

Rubicon UC3

RG: 2.49
Diff: 0.052
PSA:  0.011
Coverstock:  Tour-Ethane

Layout:  4 x 4 x 1
RPM:  360 (Left Handed)

Being a lower rev player and on the left side, I never felt the need to have Urethane in my bag.  Storm and Roto Grip put out some good Urethane balls over the years, but I always stayed away from purchasing one, until the Rubicon UC3 came out.  Something about this ball seemed different so I decided to give it a try and am I glad I did.  In my bi-weekly couples league on the 2nd shift of an extremely wet/dry pattern, this ball allowed me to play straight up the lane and give me that smooth / predictable motion on the back part of the lane. 
This ball always has a spot in my bag, whether I am heading out to league or a tournament.   


Glen Deutschendorf
Storm Staff Member 

LANE CONDITION

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Multiple, Sport and Recreational


COMMENTS

The Rubicon UC3 features mildly asymmetric Rondure core and the Tour-ethane Pearl coverstock. With disappearance of weight holes, such mildly asymmetrical cores became a go-to. I have had a good of amount of success with the Rubicon UC2, so having the same core with a completely different coverstock is very intriguing.

I drilled my Rubicon UC3 with a pin down layout: 50 x 5 x 75. Previously, I had little success with “urethane-like” bowling balls with stronger asymmetrical cores because a lot of times the cores were too strong for me to play straighter but then the coverstocks were too weak for more open angles. Rubicon UC3 seems to the one I can use much more. With this pin-down layout, my Rubicon UC3 doesn’t flare too much, which I believe allows it, together with a cleaner coverstock, to maintain a bit more energy and continue stronger at the end of the pattern.

I believe that the Rubicon UC3 is a good option to have in your arsenal for shorter medium patterns where a Pitch Black or Fast Pitch may be too weak. I can also see this ball being very useful on longer medium patterns if the structure of the pattern requires bowlers to play closer to the gutter. Rev-dominant bowlers who are looking for a smoother overall reaction should like the Rubicon UC3.