- The Fix

First Impressions
The Radical The Fix, released in November 2016, brought a genuine technical innovation to the bowling market. Visually the ball comes in a purist black solid design that puts all the focus on technical function. The heart of it is the revolutionary asymmetric Shapeshifter Core. In its baseline configuration (at 15 lbs) this core offers a 2.511 RG and a 0.054 differential. What makes it unique is the construction, which allows the driller to massively alter the dynamics by placing the finger holes into specific zones of the core – anywhere from a smooth, almost symmetrical character all the way to a strongly asymmetric reaction with a high intermediate differential. This technology is wrapped in the GF-15 Solid Reactive coverstock, which comes out of the box with a 500/1500 Siaair finish for plenty of traction.
Comparison
Compared directly to the Radical Guru Supreme, the brand's previous heavyweight, The Fix offers considerably more versatility. Where the Guru Supreme was always locked into maximum hook and extremely early read, The Fix can be tailored by layout: it can play controlled like a Radical Primo Solid or aggressive like a high-end asym. Set against the market standard Storm Phaze II, The Fix generally grabs earlier in the oil and creates more friction in the heads thanks to the 1500 surface. Next to a Brunswick Mastermind Strategy, The Fix often looks more variable in the backend, since it isn't so rigidly committed to a single line but can instead be "custom-fit" to the bowler through the layout.
On the Lanes
The Radical The Fix is designed primarily for medium to heavy oil. It's an ideal tool if you need to fill a specific gap in your arsenal, because the ball is extremely adaptable. With an aggressive layout (the "Fix" layout) it generates massive hook and handles deep oil effortlessly by building traction early. With a standard layout it behaves more like a strong benchmark ball that approaches the pocket in controlled fashion. It works excellently on fresh sport patterns for reading the lane. Once the transition sets in and the heads start to dry up, though, it's time to switch, since the rough solid surface otherwise burns up too much energy before the ball reaches the pins.