- IDOL Ultra Black

First Impressions
The Roto Grip IDOL Ultra Black, released in February 2022 as an exclusive "Overseas Release" (international release), is a purist return to the roots of the popular Idol series. Visually, the ball comes in a deep, single-color "Jet Black Solid," which gives it a very classic and serious aesthetic. Inside works the proven Ikon Core, the symmetrical motor that made the series famous. With a low 2.49 RG and a high 0.052 differential (at 15 lbs), this core produces early revup and plenty of flare. The cover is a key update: instead of the original S18 blend, the MicroTrax-S20 solid reactive coverstock is used here, finished out of the box with a tacky 2000-grit Abralon surface. This combination promises maximum traction and control.
Comparison Compared directly to the legendary magenta original Idol (MicroTrax-S18), the IDOL Ultra Black offers a modern update through the S20 cover, which chemically bites a bit more aggressively in oil but retains the identical, confidence-inspiring round core motion. It differs from the Roto Grip Idol Helios (which came out in the US at roughly the same time and uses the XtremeTrax cover) in that the Ultra Black is often perceived as somewhat more "traditional" in its solid reaction — very early, very smooth, without the aggressive bite of the Helios. A fitting outside comparison is the Storm Phaze II: both are benchmark solids, though the IDOL Ultra Black often reads a touch earlier thanks to the Ikon core and works a bit rounder and less explosive off the backend than the Phaze II.
On the Lanes The IDOL Ultra Black is the epitome of a benchmark ball for heavy to medium oil. Its ideal application is as the first ball out of the bag on fresh oil ("fresh"). It serves to read the lane and smooth out irregularities in the oil pattern. Thanks to the 2000-grit surface and the early-rolling core, it blends wet/dry transitions extremely well. It isn't built to cross the whole lane from deep left ("to bend the lane"), but to control the pocket and the breakpoint. It provides a heavy, rolling motion through the pins that helps carry even on slight misses, as long as there is enough oil in the heads.