Color | Citrine/Ruby/Amethyst |
---|---|
Coverstock | Microtrax Solid Reactive |
Core | Defiant Low RG Asymmetric Core |
RG | 2.47 |
Differential | 0.053 |
Intermediate Diff | 0.016 |
Factory finish | 2000 Grit Abralon |
Weights | 12 thru 16lbs |
Cleared USBC | Yes |
24 Reviews
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Roto Grip Exotic Gem – WWRD 12/9/2022
Cover: MicroTrax Pearl Reactive Core: Defiant LRG Core RG . Diff. 2.47 Finish: Reacta Gloss Roto Grip’s new Exotic Gem is an Asymmetrical Pearl piece that is good for Heavy conditions. PAP is 5 5/16 R 1 3/16 Up. Rev Rate: 400. Drilled this piece with the Pin up between the fingers and CG kicked out 1” from the palm and 1” LeftRead more about review stating Roto Grip Exotic Gem – WWRD 12/9/2022 of the Mass Bias. Out of Box ball motion is clean through the fronts, starts in the Midlane with a smooth motion on the backend. I didn’t throw the Original Gem. I compared this to the Storm Proton PhysiX which is 3-4 stronger, 900 Global Reality 3-4 stronger, and Reality Check 4-5 stronger than the Exotic Gem. For me, this piece will be good to start off a block. This piece is good for all types of styles that are looking for an Asym pearl. Check Out the Ball motion Video on my YouTube Page: www.youtube.com/channel/UCI1YD-54pwPGHG4MGrYQjFw
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Mancstorm
Big cover big core produces the strongest rolling ball on the market. The absolute 1st ball to pack for tournaments it handles the toughest of heavy oil patterns especially for anyone who likes to keep it in front of them. Definitely the leader in backend motion for any ball ever produced in this category.
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Keith C
Gem - Ball Specs Cover Stock: MicroTrax Solid Reactive Cover Stock Finish: 2000 Grit Core: Defiant LRG Core RG: 2.47 Differential: 0.053 Intermediate Diff: .016 LANE CONDITION Pattern: Kegel Big Ben Length: 44 Type: Sport COMMENTS Likes: Strongest ball to date in the SPI lineup. Dislikes: None Big ball with big versatility options. Drilled my standard Asym layout 50x5x10 for my lower rev rate gets the ball through the fronts for my power tweener style. After 30 plus games this is my go to ball on longer patterns and the fresh THS. The big core combined with the cover carve a bigger footprint than the Proton and Reality. More rolly and continuous down lane where you can immediately tell if you are carrying ten back. Much to my surprise I enjoyed this release as much as my Reality. Always in my bag for all competition. Keith Cordy 900 Global Staff Ambassador #GoGlobal #SquadRG #stormnation #12InARowProShop #CustomThumbzProshop
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Rodney Gilmore
RG: 2.47 Dif:0.053 PAS:0.016 Defiant Core with the MicroTrax Solid Cover at 2000 Layout: 4 ¼ x 4 x 2 Rev Rate 275-300 PAP: 5 1/8 over 3/4 up. I have always had issues with getting a ball to hook and finish on heavier volumes or longer patterns. I will say that my game has improve tremendously over the past couple of years Especially ball speed. That being is no lack of hook potential in the new GEM. This ball is a beast! The shape smooth and round with a strong backend motion. The GEM picks up down lane and drives hard through the pins. This has been a ball and motion I have been waiting on for a long time. Especially for a big cover/core ball for fresh heavier conditions. The GEM is good for those that like play straighter and still shape the ball down lane. Getting deeper in may have some difficulty making the conner and depending on style of play. If you are looking for a strong ball for the heavier/fresher patterns checkout the GEM at t your local VIP pro shop.
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Luke Rosdahl
The Gem features the MicroTrax Solid cover that we saw on the UFO, plus the inspired evolution of the Defiant core in the Defiant LRG, producing the lowest RG Roto Grip has ever had in a ball at 2.47. The result is a very strong, heavy rolling and powerful asymmetric solid that's the strongest ball I've ever thrown. Despite this, it's somehow very usable, it doesn't see a lot of league action but on challenge and sport patterns, it's one of my go to's on the fresh, and being that I'm a lefty and see fresh on every pair I move to, it's something I can stick with in sweepers and can just move with in regular tournaments where we stay on the same pair. It manages to hook a lot without burning up and hitting flat, I continue to find myself stunned at the versatility and power at the pins. The Gem fits alongside the Reality and Proton PhysiX, it doesn't necessarily compete with them because they all have different shapes and slightly different hook potentials.
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Brian Hirsch
Roto Grip GEM Ball Review Hey everyone, I'm back with another ball review, and this time it's for the GEM and in 15 pounds this ball is wrapped in the Micro Trax Solid Coverstock and comes 2000-grit polish with an RG of 2.470 and a Diff of 0.053 and a PSA .016. Layout for this ball is 4x4x2 I have enjoyed when I am able to get this ball into my hands, but with bigger balls in my hand and the mid-dry I have at home I don't get to throw this ball as much as I would like too. I keep this ball in my tournament bag and its really good when the lanes start with a higher volume or longer pattern. I can see this ball being thrown on a fresher condition with players with more hand. I am on the lower rev rate side and need the stronger balls to see the friction so with the right condition I can stay in the track a little longer than most before having to move. BOWLER STYLE: RH - Power Stroker Rev Rate: 320 Ball Speed: 15-16 PAP: 4 7/8 right 5/8 up. #Storm #SquadRG #900Global #VISE #BowlersChoiceProShop #BabesAndBallsBowling #LogoInfusion #IAmBowling (coupon code HIRSCH 20% off at checkout) YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgKzdcnglpcCjAVFMBiVNg Brian Hirsch
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Kevin Duncan
Roto Grip Gem Layout: 4 x 5 x 3.5 Storm Vector Layout Rev Rate: 325 rpm Testing information: 41 foot THS (medium to light volume) Bowling Center: Fulton Bowling Center Kegel Machine – Brunswick Anvilane The Roto Grip Gem utilizes the Defiant LRG Core (the fastest revving, strongest continuing, lowest RG asymmetrical core ever offered in the Roto Grip history) and the MicroTrax reactive cover. The drill layout on the Gem put the pin next two my ring finger and slightly down. Our intent with the drill was to produce a roll off the end of the pattern (not a jump left reaction) to be used on fresh lane conditions. We want to be able to keep our target in front of us when needed. Therefore, the Gem we drilled will not be used to hook the entire lane. We were impressed with Gem. The ball reaction was definitely smooth. The best look we had was further right. When we missed right, it did not jump left. We drilled a Gem for a left-hander and he reported that the sound of the Gem hitting the pins was louder than any ball he had heard in his local bowling center. The Gem's best characteristic is its forgiveness. We say the Gem correct a lot of our misses – both in and out misses. #Stormnation
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Trevor Roberts
The Gem is possibly the strongest ball in the Roto Grip line. For me, it was a little bit earlier and covered more boards than the Reality! Typically in the bigger asymmetric balls, you will see the ball burn all its energy in the front part of the lane, and go pretty straight down lane. But not the Gem! This ball retained way more energy than I thought it would, and went through the pins very well even from left of 20. I saw the Gem go down the lane a lot when I was on tour, and now I see why. If you want some additional length and energy, don't hesitate to add some polish. Both Verity Crawley and Anthony Simonson used their Gems with polish, and they looked even better in my opinion.
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Stanley Waite
Gem - Ball Specs Cover Stock: MicroTrax Solid Reactive Cover Stock Finish: 2000 Grit Core: Defiant LRG Core Layout: 50 x 5 x 40 RG: 2.47 Differential: 0.053 Intermediate Diff: .016 Review The GEM is the latest addition to Roto Grips HP4 line of balls. Roto Grip circled the wagons back to the Defiant series to create the Defiant LRG Core by altering the composite shape of this core which makes it faster revving, stronger, and continuous, wrapped in the most aggressive MicroTrax solid reactive coverstock. Not only does this ball look great but it definitely throws it weight around. I tested the Gem on a 44 feet typical house pattern, I was able to play track area and deep inside with great success. The Gem reads early in the midlane and had a lot of energy on the backend for a continuous motion with great pin carry. This is a great ball for all levels of bowlers. Order one from your local pro shop today! My ball review videos are posted on YouTube channel Stanley Waite. Stanley Waite 900 Global Staff Member Dover, DE
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Kyle, Joel, & Dean Johnson
Ball Specs: Roto Grip Gem Coverstock: 2000-grit MicroTrax™ Solid Reactive Weight Block: Defiant™ LRG Core (Asymmetrical) Color: Citrine/Ruby/Amethyst Review: The Gem is a very vibrant, very strong, very early rolling ball. This ball reminds us of the Reality and the Proton Physix. This ball will be a monster on a fresh house shot. It seems to recover very well if you push the ball to the right so we really can move our feet left and open up the lanes. This ball is also a gem when it comes to continuous motion, and is very noticeable right off the bat. If you are looking for a first out of the bag asymmetrical ball that is very strong and very continuous look no further. Kyle, Joel, & Dean Johnson Roto Grip Pro Shop Staffers joel@parklanes.net kyle@parklanes.net dean@frontierfuncenter.net www.RotoGrip.com #SquadRG
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Curtiss Rasnic
Roto Grip's new high performance bowling ball the new Gem! This ball features the Micro Trax Solid Reactive Coverstock wrapped around the Defiant LRG Core. If you are looking for a ball to tackle the heavier oil conditions, look no further, this ball just flat out hooks. It starts picking up a roll very early like most heavy oil balls, but where this ball stands out, the recovery on the back end. Most hook balls for me, use so much energy up front, there isn't much movement on the backend, leaving a lot of corner pins. This ball still has enough energy on the end that it snaps them out. It also takes surface adjustments very well, as I shined it up just see how it would react, I was not disappointed. With shine, it cleared the heads very well, picked up in the mid-lane very well, and had plenty of backend. What impressed me most while shiny, was when I missed to the dry early, it did not jump off the spot, but rather a smoother reaction to the pocket. Don't miss out on one of the biggest hooks balls on the market right now in the Roto Grip Gem!
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Rick Klimowicz
Gem • Performance Line • HP4 Core • Defiant LRG Core Coverstock • MicroTrax (Micro Nanoparticle Traction) Solid Reactive Finish • 2000 Grit Abralon Weight • 15 lbs. RG •2.47 Differential • .053 Int. Diff • .016 Layout • 4 x 5 x 2 1/2 Tester PAP • 5" R, 5/8" D Tester Axis Tilt • 11° Tester Rev Rate • 325 Test Pattern • 42' THS (Typical House Shot) • Modified, Kegel Stone Street There is truth to the statement, "Sometimes evolution can spark new life into technology." And with the release of the Gem, Roto Grip has sparked a brilliant new dimension into their HP4 line. With the Defiant LRG Core and MicroTrax Solid Cover combination, the Gem delivers a powerful, cutting-edge new look to your ball motion. So let's break it down on a THS! The heart of the Gem is the Defiant LRG Core. And I loved how this core reacted from the first shot! The Defiant LRG Core rev's smoothly and earlier like you would see in a strong symmetrical core. However, when it makes the turn and stands up, it enters the roll phase with a rolling thunder of power! So if you are a straighter, low rev player like me, this core is ideal for your game! And what I found most appealing about the Defiant LRG was although, being it is a low RG core, it flared (hooked) more than expected. Yet it also delivered an impressively powerful continuation through the pins! So down and in, players will love the Defiant LRG's potential to dispense those frustrating ten pins even without having six degrees of entry angle! The MicroTrax Solid reactive cover is well-suited for straighter and down and in players. And being the MicroTrax is a strong solid cover, you can count on its teeth to bite into heavy oil! Yet, although it is an aggressive cover, I found the MicroTrax Solid didn't overreact to friction. I saw a smooth transition coming off the pattern on fresh oil playing the nine board. Then as the THS pattern began to break down, I liked how this MicroTrax cover blended the wet/dry conditions that developed. And as a straighter player, I enjoyed moving my target in decisively without worrying if I had enough hand to make the Gem turn off the pattern! The MicroTrax cover gave me the confidence to stand left while still retaining the Gem's intense hitting power. In closing, I was impressed with this new release from Roto Grip! The Gem performs brilliantly for down and in players and those with a challenged rev rate! And with the Defiant LRG's asymmetrical core and the MicroTrax Solid reactive cover, the Gem will be a powerful tool to add to your arsenal. So have your local pro shop operator drill yours up and tweak the Gem's surface today, then see for yourself why the Gem is the jewel in your arsenal! Rick Klimowicz Storm Products Pro Shop Staff Roll the Ball Pro Shop Penndel, PA
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Roto Grip Gem Ball Review by Ric McCormick
Roto Grip's new high performance bowling ball the new Gem! This ball features the Micro Trax Solid Reactive Coverstock wrapped around the Defiant LRG Core! This ball will give you a great option for the heavier lane conditions! My Gem I have drilled is Pin over my Bridge which is about 4 1/2 inches away from my PAP which is my standard layout! I absolutely love this ball because of how versatile it is! I've thrown this on league patterns and had big scores as well as thrown this ball on shorter/medium patterns after urethane goes down the lane! The Gem reads the body of the lane with a nice strong predictable motion on the backend!! If your looking for a ball that hooks but also looks sweet this Gem will be your answer!!
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William Tefft
Ball Specs: Roto Grip Gem Coverstock: 2000-grit MicroTrax™ Solid Reactive Weight Block: Defiant™ LRG Core (Asymmetrical) Color: Citrine/Ruby/Amethyst Review: I was excited to hear about this ball. When I saw it would have the Defiant core in the ball, I was really excited. The Defiant line was one of my favorite lines of all time. When I threw the ball I quickly realize that the Gem was going to be an upgraded version of the original Defiant. Much stronger and forgiving if you pushed the ball out. I plan on doing a little more experimenting with surface but out of box this thing cuts through just about any amount of oil that I have run into. I would recommend this ball to just about anyone of any skill level. Do not let this ball go by the wayside make sure you pick yours up soon! Will Tefft Roto Grip Staff Member will@parklanes.net www.rotogrip.com #SquadRG
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Zachary Woelfel (In reply to: Todd Benner )
The newest addition to the HP4 line in the all new GEM. The GEM features the Defiant™ LRG Core - (the lowest RG asymmetrical core Roto Grip has ever created.). The LRG Core is wrapped with the most aggressive solid coverstock we make known as MicroTrax™ Solid Reactive. This lethal combination makes bowling on high volume patterns an easy task. I have been pleasantly surprised with this ball, for how strong the ball is the ball is still able to retain energy through the pins. If you are looking for a strong continuous roll, look no further than the GEM. Go out and get yours today!
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Zachary Woelfel
The newest addition to the HP4 line in the all new GEM. The GEM features the Defiant™ LRG Core - (the lowest RG asymmetrical core Roto Grip has ever created.). The LRG Core is wrapped with the most aggressive solid coverstock we make known as MicroTrax™ Solid Reactive. This lethal combination makes bowling on high volume patterns an easy task. I have been pleasantly surprised with this ball, for how strong the ball is the ball is still able to retain energy through the pins. If you are looking for a strong continuous roll, look no further than the GEM. Go out and get yours today!
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Todd Benner
The Roto Grip Gem features the extremely low RG Defiant LRG Core wrapped in the MicroTrax Solid Reactive coverstock. The RG at 15lbs is 2.47 with a differential of .053 and an intermediate differential of .016. This ball is all sorts of strong...it is strong in the front, the mid, and still has some left for the backend part of the lane, not to mention the strong shelf appeal of this beauty. This ball is great for bowlers who are speed dominant or low rev players. The low RG core gets this ball rolling as soon as it hits the lane, so oil in the front part of the lane is a must for the Gem. For me the box finish of 2000 grit abralon was too much. I had to get some games on this ball just to tame it down somewhat so I could really use it at my home center. For me this ball is different than all the current SPI brand asymmetric balls. The Gem is much more of a heavy rolling ball with a very smooth backend. It is something that I will use on longer and flatter conditions where I need to keep my angles closed. If you are looking for a ball that handles the oil like no other, look no further than the Roto Grip Gem.
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Josh Shoemaker
Hey everyone, this is Storm staff member Josh Shoemaker here again with another ball review for the brand new Roto Grip GEM. As always, I would like to thank Storm for providing the equipment I use every time I step out onto the lanes and I Am Bowling for making sure I always look good no matter what! Today I will be bowling on a standard medium to higher volume house shot. This lane was just oiled with a fresh house shot. The GEM features Roto Grips lowest RG asymmetric core to date and is wrapped in microtrax solid. I will be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the color scheme on this ball. It's a little tougher for my eyes to pick up ball motion when the colors are so vibrant. What I will say is I absolutely love what I see out of this ball so far. With how stable and early revving this core is, I expected it to slow down extremely quick and have next to no shape downlane. When balls do this, they tend to not go through the pins properly unless you're on a ton of volume or crispy backends. The GEM provided me all the control I could need and wasn't too lazy when it encountered friction downlane either. I've worked a lot lately on staying more compact as well as lowering the amount of axis rotation I use to help close down my angles more. The GEM does exactly what I want a ball to do on the fresh. It be amazing at blending out higher ratio patterns and controlling the pocket on tougher tournament patterns. I decided to go with a different layout than I usually do on my bigger and slower response asyms since I just recently drilled a fresh Proton PhysiX and didn't want to see too much overlap. The GEM wants to go a little more forward off the end of the pattern and will play much better with closed angles whereas my Proton will do better from a little farther left. When compared to the RST-X1, the GEM is much earlier, stronger and creates a lot more friction overall. When compared to the Rubicon, the GEM is two steps up in terms of strength and friction created. Be sure to stop into your local Storm VIP Pro Shop and preorder your own GEM today for the March 11th release date!
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Glenn Wendel
Ball Specs: Roto Grip Gem Micro Trax Solid Reactive Asymmetric Defiant LRG Core Finish grit 2000 Sanded Bowler Specs: Right Hand. PAP 5" Over 1/2 up Rev Rate 300. Tilt 20. Rotation 50. Speed at release 17 Review: This ball hooks! I am becoming more and more impressed with the Roto Grip Gem as I bowl with it. This ball out hooks everything I have including the Proton Physics. When I drilled my first Gem I left it at box finish and it was super strong and hit hard but I had to put it away quickly because as the lanes broke down it was too strong up front an lacked a bit of hit as I moved inside. I have since drilled another one weaker and polished it. The polish makes it look even better and makes it a more angular piece. This was after trying a 5000 wet sand finish which I really like also. The bit of polish helps me stay with this ball longer on heavy oil and I never loose angle. The Gem polished is still an early revving aggressive ball. I still have to ball down sometimes because this ball is so strong. The ball looks great going down the lane and even though it is multi-color I still can see the roll and motion very well on it. Strong balls are easy to sell and we have moved a good bit so far and the customer feedback it very good. This ball never seems to skid too far and reads the breakpoint easily due to the strong core and cover enhancements Roto Grip has made. I am very happy to have this ball and have already had some big numbers with it. Summary: The Gem hooks early and doesn't stop. The Ball has a great look. This is a must have if you need a heavy oil ball. Glenn Wendel PBA Member Storm Pro Shop Staff gwendel@comcast.net www.stormbowling.com
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Mike Craig
I drilled my Gem with a pin under layout of 30 x 4.5 x 70. The intent is to have something that is smoother than my PROTON PHYSIX and NOVA when the condition calls for staying on line with a strong ball. I have only thrown it box finish. I threw my GEM on a 46 foot PBA pattern and on a league condition that always starts tight outside then breaks down in the fronts quickly. On the 46 foot pattern, the GEM was quick even with the pin down layout. I ended up having to separate my feet and target too much to carry well so I had to put it away. My NOVA was better on this pattern to carry with. On the league condition, the GEM's strong cover just ate thru the heavier oil. When it came time to move, the GEM was too much ball and just moving left into where everyone else had been playing made me have to get out of it quickly. So what I can see so far is the GEM is very strong. It is right on par with the PROTON and REALITY as far as big hitters go. The few pin up lay outs I have seen go down lane are very continuous and don't quit. So if you want a big cover/engine ball that will cover some boards and hit well, then drill a GEM up!
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Lonnie Pemberton
Cover: MICROTRAX™Solid Core: DEFIANT™ LRG Finish: 1500 Polish RG: 2.47 Diff: 0.053 Int. Diff: .016 Right-Handed Tweener Speed: 12-13 mph Rev Rate: 315 PAP: 4 7/8 Right 3/8 Up Ball Layout: Pin in Ring 4 1/2 X 4 1/4 X 3 VLS The Roto Grip Gem is going to live up to a pretty incredible amount of hype. I am always skeptical when I see "hookingest ball ever" type posts. I will say right now, I have never thrown a ball that hooks more than the gem. I was a big fan of the Defiant series balls so I was happy to see the Defiant core come back. Wrapping it in Micro trax has created an absolute hook monster. I am beyond grateful that my home center is using a high volume house pattern this year. First night out with the gem, it took me most of practice to figure out that I needed to stop trying to make my gem hook and just let it hook. Once I did that I felt like it could throw it anywhere to the right and get it back. My only 2 non strikes were both shots that I threw bad enough that the ball had no chance of getting right. On a pattern that has made me hyper aware of how the ball is coming off my hand it was unbelievably fun to just relax and let the ball go. The Gem is going to be the go to "hook in a box" in every shop. Tame the wettest conditions, get the max hook for your customers that struggle to get the ball to turn over. This ball has a huge footprint and you can't oil them too much for it.
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Storm Andrew
Roto Grip Gem Review: Roto Grip's newest asymmetrical will be the earliest and strongest asym to date. Designed for medium-heavy to heavy oil conditions the Gem will have no issues digging down to begin traction. I have used the Gem on Bowlero's 44' house condition in different house environments and the Gem blends the lane really well. I have used it on shorter differences and the reaction was just as good. The ball seems to slow down in the perfect part of the lane as it creates maximum entry angle to the pocket. For those looking for strong benchmark shapes the Gem will be a perfect compliment to your arsenal to tackle those house and sport conditions.
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Matt Fazzone
The Gem is Roto Grip's newest HP4 line, which is a MONSTER. It comes with the Defiant LRG Core, the lowest RG asymmetrical Roto Grip has ever made, and it is wrapped around the MicroTrax Solid cover and is finished with 2000 Abralon. I drilled mine 5.5 x 5 x 5 which is a little weaker than I normally do because I knew how strong this ball was going to be. I've been throwing this ball for awhile now and even with the weaker drilling the ball is still super strong. I compared the Gem to my favorite pin down symmetrical heavy oil ball the Idol Helios. My Gem and Idol Helios are within a couple boards with the Gem being a little smoother on the back compared to the Helios. This also shows you how strong the Gem actually is since the Helios is a lot stronger than the Gem. If you are in the market for a new heavy oil ball, tournament ball or just wants something to hook a ton, well you need to pick up the Roto Grip Gem !
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Adam Chase
Layout: 45 x 4.5 x 25 Surface: Box surface (2000 Abralon) The Gem is exactly as advertised, hook in a box! The Defiant LRG core is back giving this ball a really low RG rating of 2.47 and high differential of 0.053 and 0.016 intermediate differential in 15lbs with the MicroTrax Solid coverstock. As with current balls, I was able to test this on my typical 44ft house shot with 25ml and a 40ft 25ml sport pattern. On the house pattern, I had to play in the highest volume of oil in order to get a consistent reaction. If I got the ball closer to the friction it blended the backend more but didn't give as strong as a motion downlane due to the heavy up front hook. Keeping my angles in front of me gave the best ball reaction and lead to a lot of strikes. This ball definitely needs oil in the front part of the lane to have the most success. On the 40ft sport pattern, it played very similar to the house pattern but gave me more overall motion on the lane due to more head oil. I had no problem throwing the ball from 15 at the arrows to 5 downlane and seeing plenty of recovery. When I got the ball around the 10 board from the same spot, it read the lane nicely and still continued through the pin deck well. I still feel that this ball will yield best results with straighter angles. The strong and smooth overall motion will help blend the toughest of lane conditions and heavier volumes of oil. Adam Chase Strom Staff