By now, everyone realizes that the hottest ball on the market is Roto Grip’s Cell™. The ball that has been used by 8 PBA stars on 5 different shows since it’s release. The most sought after ball in years, the Roto Grip Cell™. Roto Grip already produced very high end quality balls. Although they seemed to languish behind some other companies in perceived quality. I can tell you firsthand that Roto Grip has created an incredible tool for bowling the Cell™.
The Cell™ I received weighed 15lbs. 1oz with a top weight of 3.48oz and a 3inch pin. It looks aggressive out of the box at 2000 Abralon. The Cell™ features Roto’s Cytoplasmic™ solid reactive coverstock. The engine is the Nucleus™ assymetrical core. This core has symmetric characteristics in an assymetrical design. The RG is medium low at 2.52 with a high differential of .056. The MB differential is a medium high .018. I wanted to drill this ball to be effective in oil. I decided to drill it 5 X 3 pin above the fingers with a 3 inch pin buffer. The pin buffer is the horizontal distance between the pin and the VAL or vertical axis line. This determines the angularity of the balls reaction in the back end. Shorter distances produce more angularity. No weight hole was required.
The first condition I was able to practice on was an anvilane surface with a house pattern. A little lighter volume top hat pattern. The Cell™ on this pattern was way too much hook. I tried a number of lines moving deeper each shot. There were 2 things that stood out. First, the Cell™ did not stop hooking in the back. It was obvious that there was way too much friction for this ball and still it would not roll out. Second,when it did hit the pocket, the carry was ridiculous. I was able to loft the gutter cap and get this ball out to the 2-3 board and still it recovered and didn’t roll out. Unbelievable!
The second condition I was able to use this ball on was a tournament flood. The type of oil pattern that when you miss right you could easily get a 3 count. I was surprised when even the mighty Cell™ had a hard time hooking on this pattern. I was able to score as soon as I tuned down my ball speed a little. I was quite amazed that the Cell™ seemed to carry almost everything. On this pattern the flat tenpin leave was everywhere except with the Cell™ in my hand. This ball has enough traction in it’s box finish to play on any oil pattern . There aren’t many patterns heavier and longer than this tournament pattern I bowled on. The Cell™ seems to produce a louder crack when hitting the pins than other balls. It could just be my ears but it does seem like this.
Roto Grip should see a noticeable increase in sales due to the PBA success of this ball. I know for a fact that even Storm staffers wished they were able to throw this ball. The Cell™ produces some of the finest carry ever seen in a bowling ball. I was able to send pins flying like a certain two-hander from down under. I’ve seen straight guys with slow speed and low revs rip racks with this ball. This ball will definitely be in the Ball of the Year finals. Many thanks to Roger Noordhoek from Roto Grip, Steve Hocking from the National Bowling Store and Bob Hodge of Parkway Lanes, St Catharines.