- Cyclops

First Impressions
The Radical Cyclops, released in April 2017, marks an interesting point in the Radical Bowling Technologies lineup, since it brings high-performance features into a more attractively priced segment. Visually, the ball comes in a combination of black and bronze pearl. Inside works the symmetrical Spindle core, developed specifically for this model. At 15 pounds, this core shows an RG of 2.548 and a strong 0.048 differential. These numbers are notable for a ball in this class, since the high differential guarantees solid flare potential while the higher RG provides easy length. The cover is the Xeno Pearl reactive shell, chemically derived from the stronger Xeno line. Out of the box, the ball is finished with a 500 Siaair sanding, followed by Crown Factory Compound and Polish, which creates an extremely glossy surface designed for minimal friction in the heads.
Comparison Compared directly to the Radical Xeno (solid), which came out shortly before, the Cyclops serves as the perfect complement for drier conditions. While the Xeno Solid reads early and makes a rounder move, the Cyclops offers considerably more skid and a sharper reaction at the breakpoint thanks to the pearl cover and the polish. Bringing in a competitor such as the Storm Hy-Road Pearl, the Radical Cyclops shows a striking similarity in length, but its slightly higher differential (0.048 vs. 0.046) often generates an even more defined change of direction once it hits friction. Compared to the Radical Rack Attack series, which sat more in the entry-level segment, the Cyclops offers noticeably more core dynamics and a stronger overall hook. Performance-wise it positions itself below the legendary Radical Ridiculous, but offers a comparable "skid-snap" characteristic typical of Mo Pinel designs.
On the Lanes The Radical Cyclops is made for medium oil conditions and typical house shots. Its greatest strength lies in the transition phase, when the heads of the lane are already played off and stronger balls lose energy too early. The polished Xeno Pearl surface shrugs off the dry areas in the heads effortlessly and stores rotation for the backend. It works excellently if you like to "open up" the lane and play deeper inside-out angles, since the core delivers enough torque to secure carry in the pocket even from wide lines. For newer bowlers with moderate speed it is an excellent first performance ball, as it gets through the heads easily. On very heavy or long oil, however, the ball will reach its limits, since it is too smooth for that and would likely slide past the breakpoint.