- Rubicon UC3

First Impressions
The Roto Grip Rubicon UC3 from 2022 comes in a sleek Platinum Pearl look and represents a notable innovation in the urethane segment. The ball features a newly developed Tour-ethane Pearl coverstock with a 1000-grit Abralon finish, which should provide a dependable urethane reaction for just about any player. Technically, the UC3 works with the asymmetric Rondure core, which at 15 pounds shows an RG of 2.49, a differential of 0.052 and a mass bias strength of 0.011. All three Rubicon models use the asymmetric Rondure core, which generates the most flare of any urethane ball in the Storm family.
Comparison
The UC3 hooks so much that it can hardly be compared to other urethane balls in the Storm family — the Storm Pitch Purple and Storm Hot Cell come closest, but they're not in the same league. The ball hooks about two arrows more than any urethane since the 1990s and is played by pros almost like a reactive resin. Compared to traditional urethane balls, the UC3 shows a completely different ball reaction — it revs up quickly like typical urethane balls, but continues the motion through the pins, even after 5-6 games with oil on the surface, where other balls would already be deflecting. As Storm's strongest urethane ball, it lets you stand considerably further left than with the Storm Pitch Black or Storm Fast Pitch.
On the Lanes
The UC3 is designed for medium to lighter oil conditions and should deliver a controllable, arcing hook down the lane. The ball works excellently on fresh, heavy oil, on all medium and longer sport patterns, and definitely at the USBC Open Championships. For wet-dry house lanes the UC3 is ideal and can be played where balls like the Roto Grip Idol Helios would normally be used — with a bit more skid through the oil and not quite as strong a backend motion. Speed-dominant players in particular, who think they can't throw urethane balls, will change their minds after the UC3. It's ideal for fresh sport patterns with a decent oil volume, less suited to short sport patterns where reactive resin would be too much.