- Rubicon

First Impressions
The Roto Grip Rubicon comes in an eye-catching Azure/Black/Navy color combination and marks an interesting new addition to Roto Grip's HP3 line. As the only asymmetrical ball in the HP3 series, it uses the specially developed Rondure Core, which stands out with some unusual numbers. The core has a 2.49 RG, a 0.052 differential and an intermediate differential of just 0.011. The eTrax-S20 solid reactive coverstock is finished at 3000 grit out of the box and should be easy to sand or polish without losing traction and responsiveness to friction.
Comparison
The Rubicon's specs match those of the Storm Physix exactly, though it behaves like a cleaner, sharper version of the Physix Solid. The ball motion is strongly reminiscent of a Storm IQ Tour, but about five boards stronger. Compared directly with other balls, the Rubicon proves more versatile: next to the Roto Grip Idol Pro it offers more traction and more aggression off the backend, much like the Storm Code X or Alpha Crux — strong traction balls with controllable motion. While it doesn't reach the hook power of a Roto Grip UFO, it still outhooks every other ball in the Roto Grip line, including the original Idol.
On the Lanes
The Rubicon was developed specifically for medium to medium-heavy oil conditions and shows its best qualities on heavier oil patterns. The core design, with its low RG and small intermediate split, is meant to mimic the motion of traditional symmetrical cores with a balance hole, revving up already in the midlane while providing more backend motion than conventional asymmetrical designs. Bowlers describe it as the most readable asymmetrical ball of the last five years, with a motion that recalls an IQ Tour. The ball offers a wide range of use and never feels like it's going to break through the pocket. Its versatility is particularly noteworthy — while asymmetrical balls are normally reserved for high-rev players, the Rubicon works for every player type and is perfect for situations where strong asymmetrical solids would be too much of a good thing.