- Show Off

First Impressions
The Roto Grip Show Off, released in August 2017, caused a stir when it came out because it brought a high-end cover into the mid-priced HP2 class. Visually, the ball comes in a colorful mix of purple, royal and orange. The technical highlight is the Micro DNA Solid Reactive coverstock, a cover originally introduced on the high-performance No Rules. This aggressive chemistry is finished with a 2000-grit pad out of the box, which provides plenty of traction. Inside works the newly developed, symmetrical Hotshot Core. With a 2.55 RG and a 0.045 differential (at 15 lbs), this core delivers medium inertia and a healthy flare potential. The combination of a strong solid cover and a stable symmetrical core aims to read the lane early and create a very smooth motion that has unusually much "bite" in oil for this price class.
Comparison
Compared directly to the Roto Grip Dare Devil, which is also placed in the HP2 line, the Show Off behaves in completely the opposite way. While the Dare Devil (pearl) skids through the heads and snaps at the breakpoint, the Show Off uses its Micro DNA surface to grab early in the oil and run a round, arcing path. It works as the logical complement for more oil. Compared to the Roto Grip No Rules (solid), the Show Off can be called the "little brother": it uses the same tacky cover, but with its symmetrical core it offers less torque and a more controllable reaction than the asymmetrical No Rules. Against a Storm Phaze II, the Show Off shows a similar philosophy of early control, but because of the slightly higher RG value it often appears a touch longer through the heads before it moves into the roll.
On the Lanes
The Roto Grip Show Off is an excellent choice for medium to heavier oil conditions and works very well as a benchmark ball. Thanks to the Micro DNA surface, it has no trouble cutting through a moderate amount of oil in the heads without going into skid. It is ideal for reading fresh lanes, since it smooths out the wet/dry transition extremely well and makes no unpredictable jumps. If you normally have to buy high-performance balls to generate enough hook, the Show Off offers an affordable alternative with a surprising amount of overall hook. It is less suited to dry lanes or heavily played heads, where it would burn up energy too early, but it is a "must" in the bag when you need control and traction on a slick surface.