- Hustle Au (Gold)

First Impressions
The Roto Grip Hustle Au (Gold) shows up in an attractive two-tone gold design and uses the proven Hustle Core (2.53 RG, 0.030 differential). The VTC-P18 Pearl Reactive coverstock comes with a 1500-grit polish out of the box, which gives the ball its characteristic skid. When Roto Grip originally developed this core, the goal was to offer more performance in the entry-level segment while maintaining control and stability — a goal that was clearly exceeded. The VTC-P18 Pearl Reactive coverstock was first used on the Winner and immediately became a favorite, since this pearl formula increases friction all the way down the lane while still storing enough energy for the backend reaction.
Comparison
Head to head, the Hustle Au gets noticeably farther down the lane than the Hustle Ink, but shows more backend reaction, almost resembling a weaker version of the Storm IQ Envy with a bit more backend. Compared to the other balls in the Hustle line, the Hustle Au — much like the Hustle 3TP — should provide the most length with a stronger backend reaction thanks to the pearl surface. In testing against the Storm IQ Tour Emerald with an identical layout, you had to move about 2-1 boards left to find a straighter trajectory through the heads and to make up for the reduced board coverage. A comparison with the Hustle HSB shows that the Au is cleaner and weaker, which isn't the optimal solution for every player type.
On the Lanes
The new Roto Grip Hustle Au is a very good choice for dry lanes or for the burn. It should give you a weaker option when you're dealing with very dry house shots or when the lanes break down and you want to stay farther right, especially if you have a low rev rate. If you have a high rev rate, slower speed, or you're on drier lanes, the Hustle Au should be a winner for you. One big advantage is that even with carrydown the ball shows less over/under behavior than stronger balls — you can simply move and find the friction you need to get a proper ball reaction. The Hustle Au should prove to be a useful addition for medium to dry conditions that still need some angle that urethane balls can't provide.