- Kinetic Ruby

First Impressions
The Track Kinetic Ruby was released in July 2017 and expands the popular Kinetic series with an option for more oil volume. Visually, the ball comes in a rich, solid Ruby Red. Inside works the legendary Modified Kinetic Core, an asymmetric core with a very particular characteristic: at 15 pounds it delivers a low RG of 2.49 and a medium differential of 0.038. Especially notable is the very low intermediate differential of just 0.005. This small amount of asymmetry produces a very stable rotation without making the ball too "twitchy." The core is wrapped in the QR-6 Solid Reactive coverstock. The surface comes out of the box with an aggressive 500/2000 Abralon finish. Unlike many other balls in this performance class (mid-performance), Track deliberately goes with a dull solid cover here in order to noticeably increase traction through the midlane.
Comparison In comparison, the Kinetic Ruby serves as the earlier-rolling complement to the Track Kinetic Emerald. While the Kinetic Emerald is known for length and a quick response to friction thanks to its polished hybrid cover (or pearl-like reaction), the Kinetic Ruby reads the lane considerably earlier. It offers an arcing, very controlled motion where the Emerald is more angular. Compared to the Track Heat X-Treme, which also uses a solid cover, the Kinetic Ruby provides an even more stable midlane presence due to the lower RG of the Kinetic core (2.49 vs. 2.50). Against stronger asymmetric balls like the Track Mako, the Kinetic Ruby gives up the massive flare potential and the extreme hook motion, which makes it much easier to control when the oil isn't spread across the entire lane.
On the Lanes The ideal range for the Track Kinetic Ruby is medium to somewhat heavy oil patterns. It works as an excellent benchmark ball for reading a freshly oiled lane. Thanks to the 2000 Abralon surface, it cuts through the oil in the heads and prevents the dreaded slide past the breakpoint. Because of the low intermediate differential, it behaves very forgivingly at the breakpoint: it doesn't jump unpredictably, but rolls full and powerful into the pocket. That makes it especially valuable if you struggle on wet/dry lanes (lots of oil inside, very dry outside), since the Ruby smooths out the transition. If the lane dries up over the course of the game, however, the ball can lose energy due to its dull surface; in that case, moving to the polished Kinetic Emerald or a similar pearl ball would be the logical next step.