- Winner Solid

First Impressions
The Roto Grip Winner Solid, released in November 2018, is the logical evolution of the HP2 series and brings a dull option to the Winner family. Visually it shows up in a dark combination of black, purple and green ("Black/Purple/Green"). At its center works the symmetrical Altered Hotshot Core, which with a 2.54 RG and a 0.054 differential (at 15 lbs) shows a characteristic that is unusual for solid balls: the high RG provides surprisingly easy length, while the high differential guarantees strong flare potential. This core is wrapped in the VTC-S18 Solid Reactive coverstock, finished out of the box with a 3000-grit pad. This combination aims to offer more traction than the original Winner without rolling out "dead" too early.
Comparison
In a direct comparison to the original Roto Grip Winner (Pearl), the solid version reads the lane earlier and offers a more controlled, rounder motion through the midlane without completely giving up the pearl's aggressive change of direction on the backend. Next to a Roto Grip Idol, which has a stronger core with a lower RG (and therefore rolls earlier), the Winner Solid is cleaner through the heads and stores more energy for the hit into the pocket. Compared to the Roto Grip Show Off, which it complemented in the HP2 line, the Winner Solid offers more length and is less prone to burning up energy immediately on drier heads.
On the Lanes
The Winner Solid is an excellent benchmark ball for medium oil conditions. It shines especially on house patterns, where stronger "high performance" balls often grab too early and lose energy. Thanks to the high RG it gets cleanly through the heads, while the solid surface in combination with the high differential provides enough traction not to slip in the oil. It is ideally suited to the transition phase, when you need a predictable reaction but still want enough carry when you throw the ball out to the dry boards. If you have a lower rev rate it offers enough backend support, while high-rev players will appreciate the control through the midlane.