Roto Grip Rubicon UC3 Review
While no longer in production, the Rubicon UC3 remains a compelling option on the used market for bowlers seeking maximum urethane performance with asymmetric core dynamics. This ball bridges the gap between traditional urethane control and modern high-performance characteristics.
wow that hooked a lot does that count zilch welcome back to jr pro shop vids today we are reviewing the new rubicon uc3 from roto grip so you may be wondering why do we not have the original rubicon and the rubicon you see two here well
it's because this ball is a urethane bowling ball cool right so today we're going to compare it to the storm fast pitch one of storm's best urethanes and jung's favorite urethane so this rubicon uc3 features the same rondura core found in the original and the uc-2 and the cover is the tourethane pearl coverstock so that means it's a urethane but also a pearl cover stock paired with the rondura core which is asymmetrical to say the least this is not a very usual
combo an asym core with a pearl urethane cover stock it'll be really interesting to see out there my expectation because it's a pearl cover stock i believe it will hook later down the lane and hook a little bit more due to its asymmetrical core i think it might hook a little bit more than the fast pitch and i'm really curious to see what its motion is like down late it might even be able to compare with the purple hammer be interesting today we're bowling on two different patterns first off it is 42 foot carbon a 10 to 1 house shot
super easy dry on the outside a lot of oil in the middle but not specifically meant for urethane bowling balls and to show off these balls true power we are throwing on 36 foot pegasus pegasus has a four to one ratio a challenge pattern it's pretty hard i would say but jung can definitely do it because pro bowler before we head out on the lanes make sure to check out shop.jrproshop.com buy our new merch it's really nice now let's see what jung has to do on the
lanes [Music] hello everyone welcome back to jr pro shop vids jungle here got the new rubicon uc-3 asymmetrical urethane ball [Music] something you don't really see too often so this is going to be really interesting if you watch some of the rubicon vids before they're reactive
they hook a lot they're in the hp 3 in line so really aggressive bowling balls so we got that core wrapped around with a urethane cover so let's see how it goes house shot here we're going to play a little bit further to the right uh let's try and hit 12 here at the euros [Music] wow that hooked a lot wow i did miss a little bit right there got it to the dry a little bit early so let's try and hit my mark this time 12 keep it in the oil a little bit longer but i can already tell this ball hooks a ton for being a urethane okay we're going to line up in
the same spot here and try and hit 12 instead of 10. wow that has some pretty sick continuation for a urethane ball holy that is something you don't really see at all usually urethane is really early really smooth and has nothing much down lane but this thing hooks down late okay let's move a couple boards to the left and still try and get it to that spot there down lane see if i can recover this is a house shot though so
really dry on the outside [Music] okay not a bad shot but as you can see just a little bit more oil and it doesn't quite pick up enough so you definitely do need a really dry board for the right let's try it again let's try that same shot but i'll slow the ball speed down [Music] just a little bit left there at the break point but that ball really picked up and continued through the pins really
nice i am so surprised by this this is crazy it's like that perfect ball that we've all been missing between urethane and reactive right it's such a big gap there so we're trying to trick balls with layouts and stuff but this ball is really nice try that shot again get a little bit further right [Music] yeah a little steep through the front there which means got the ball to the right a little too early hit it back hit the head pin just uh not enough not enough boards covered so with that let's uh throw the fast pitch here
[Music] this has been the urethane ball that i've been using all the time this hooks a little bit more than the pitch black so it gives me a little bit more play let's go same line as the first shot [Music] yeah see that just early and then nothing down lane that's what urethane's supposed to do that's what urethane does so that definitely hooks maybe four or five boards less than the uc3 already i can see so let's
move a couple boards to the right and let's get to the dry a little bit quicker [Music] yeah i see that it just has nothing there's lots of oil in the middle you get it to the right the fast pitch doesn't really have much the uc3 will hook though same spot as i just do the fast [Music] pitch that ball has way more hook potential it's crazy flares a lot got that uc two and one core the rubicon
core yeah that hooks a fast pitch by a ton all right let's see if we can get to the oil a little bit and slow hook it let's see if it hooks see if it comes back around the corner 22 with the feet so we get out to five [Music] wow that came back all the way from there that's crazy man the fast pitch won't even try so i'm not even gonna bother let's go again from there that was awesome [Music]
all right i thought that was really good off the hand just missed a little bit left into the oil you can see it just did not make the corner even though it's uh asymmetric core really strong still need those dry boards still needs to pick up in the dry still allergic to oil a little bit we'll throw the fast pitch on that line and uh just show you how much less it hooks really tough to swing your thing same line with the fast pitch probably get three off the right here let's go really slow [Music] zilch nothing all right let's head over to the short pattern where these balls are built for
all right just past the halfway point in the vid with jungle and the uc3 a really strong asymmetrical urethane ball here i think it'll really fill that gap between my fast pitch and a reactive ball right in there because sometimes the urethane isn't enough reactive is a little bit too much so let me know down in the comments what you do to fill that gap personally i try and trick layouts on balls like an iq tour short pin uh throw a little bit more ball speed and kind of figure things out that way but let me know down in the comments what you do and maybe we can all learn
all right we're over here on the short pattern pegasus 36 feet this pattern is where these urethane balls are really going to shine so we got the fast pitch uc3 from the health shot we know the uc3 hooks about five to six boards more so let's take that into account and we'll start with the uc3 here we want our break point to be around five ten eleven at the arrows and get it out to five here [Music] that falls nuts i've never had a urethane ball do that but then again i haven't thrown a purple so who knows that ball really
continuous down lane where the other urethanes just aren't okay going right into the fast pitch here i'm gonna move five boards right right away standing on seven so this is gonna be around seven at the arrows up to five this should be good for the fast pitch [Music] not a bad shot just do it a hair quick you can see the difference in reaction right away fast switch definitely earlier smoother way less hook just throw that again turn up the pocket and we'll throw the uc3 right on top of it
[Music] yeah even if i slowed it down a touch there still has trouble getting back to the headpin so let's bump two boards more to the right with the fast pitch should be really good exactly what i've been seeing out of the fast pitch basically the only earth thing i use you have to go straight down the boards with it so strong go straight down six here [Music] all right move two boards there to the
right really good reaction triple four you can tell like five six seven boards maybe weaker than the uc3 craziness and let's go brooklyn just for comparison purposes [Music] right i may have missed the hair to the right there i just checked up brooklyn through the nose [Applause] a lot of hook down lane okay let's get back to the happy zone here with the uc3 [Music]
wow such a good sign rolling into just got to round it just a hair just to not quite hook enough to go flush but still got there got a strike let's just slow it down a touch i think this is the right spot [Music] does that count i don't know does that count but as you can see ball reaction wise really sharp continuous for a urethane piece let's move a couple left and slow hook it out to the ditch
really gotta slow it down here [Music] just a little too deport don't really want to be going left to right as a righty with urethane in my opinion anyways creator is greater with these balls [Music] okay that red perfectly a little earlier than the last shot but still really continuous straighter
is greater i think that was nice let's do that again [Music] really good hard and straight really confident let's try and get this one up to one board standing on 15 let's try and hit one [Music] that ball is dirty all right let's go have a chat in the shop all right we're back from the lanes throwing urethane we bowled on a house
shot and a short pattern we did the house shot first but what i saw of this ball was very surprising i was able to swing the ball from left to right and it was able to turn the corner down in the back end and make that move into the pocket that i didn't think urethane had that asymmetric rubicon core uh this ball is really really strong down lane like four or five boards stronger than i thought it would be i threw a few shots further right on the house pattern up the dry boards and this ball just hit the lane and took off left so so strong so i had to keep moving left into the
oil and i was really surprised how far left i could get and the ball made it all the way back to the pocket five six seven boards stronger than the fast pitch here i really really like the fast pitch it comes with me everywhere every tournament no matter what the lanes are what the pattern is just just in case and it's really predictable really smooth really early and i know exactly what it's going to do and this ball out hooked it by five to six boards easy i was really really surprised over on the short pattern fast pitch looked much much better on the short because you really have to play straight and you
really need lots of drive boards down lane rather than to the right fast pitch looked great we got going up five six and it just made that early continuous smooth move into the pocket and the rubicon uc3 was much more angular down lane and definitely covered more boards so i had to up my ball speed if i wanted to play the same kind of line or if i wanted to throw it the same i definitely needed to move five or six boards to the left and pitch it to the right with that being said i think this ball really does fill a gap in my arsenal between the fast pitch and say my iq tour which i drilled with a short pin to try
and emulate something like this for when my urethane ball isn't enough and something like the idle or the iq tour pin up is too much so i tried to drill a short pin iq chewer just to have another look on the short and something just isn't quite right this ball fills that gap for me and i'm super super happy i've been trying for years to fill that gap just experimenting different layouts different balls everything nothing seemed to quite fit it as good as this one so with all that being said i would definitely recommend this ball to people who bowl lots of tournaments and come
across a variety of lane conditions and also someone with a high rev rate because on the house pattern some of the high rev ray can definitely get some use out of this where a reactive ball might be too violent off the drive boards to the right this ball is really going to smooth that out and still have enough down lane so that you can strike carry a lot yeah so this ball will make my tournament bag if i'm bowling on shorter conditions or maybe short medium like 38 37 all the way down to like 34 35 feet we'll bring the fast pitch and the rubicon uc3 two completely different looks with urethane i think that's
something that i've really been missing in my bag especially later in the tournament on a short pattern when the fast pitch gets a little bit lazy down lane the fronts are kind of losing their oil and it's getting carried down to the back end and the fast pitch just looking a little lazy a little dead i think that the uc3 will be absolutely perfect recommend this ball for high rev rates like i said two handers for sure and i'm pretty curious to see what this does against the purple hammer so simon jimu just asked me what i think it would do against the purple hammer i think it would hook a little bit later
and be a little bit more continuous kind of like the old purple hammers where the new ones are much earlier and much flatter off the spot so i think this kind of looks like an older purple hammer just my opinion but maybe we'll experiment with that just to wrap it up here guys don't forget our question down in the comments what have you been doing to fill the gap between your urethane ball like pitch black fast pitch and your reactive ball i know there's definitely lots of different options what you can do let me know down in the comments really interesting to see what you guys came up with don't forget to like subscribe and stay tuned for our next vid
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Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Testing revealed the Rubicon UC3 to be an unusually aggressive urethane, defying conventional expectations for the coverstock type. On the 42-foot house shot, independent reviewers observed the ball hooking approximately five to six boards more than the Storm Fast Pitch, a widely-used benchmark urethane. Notably, the ball demonstrated significant backend continuation—a characteristic rarely seen in urethane pieces. When positioned on the dry boards, the UC3 picked up sharply and recovered into the pocket with impressive angular motion, suggesting the asymmetrical Rondura core substantially influences ball motion despite the urethane coverstock. By comparison, the Fast Pitch displayed the traditional urethane profile: early hook, smooth transition, and minimal backend reaction in oiled conditions.
On the 36-foot Pegasus short pattern, the performance gap widened further. Testing showed the UC3 required bowlers to move five to six boards left compared to the Fast Pitch to achieve similar entry angles, and ball speed adjustments proved necessary to match reactive ball-like motion characteristics. The UC3 demonstrated sharp angular motion down the lane rather than the smooth, predictable arc typical of urethane balls. Reviewers noted the ball’s ability to cover substantial board count while maintaining enough control to stay in the pocket—a combination that filled a notable performance gap between traditional urethane and mid-range reactive equipment. The pearl urethane coverstock paired with the asymmetric core proved to be an effective, unconventional combination that extended hook potential without sacrificing the controllability bowlers expect from urethane construction.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Rubicon UC3 is ideally suited for tournament bowlers who encounter varied lane conditions and need versatility without carrying multiple ball types. High rev-rate bowlers will find particular value in this equipment; the aggressive backend allows them to generate strong reaction on shorter patterns (37-42 feet) without the violent overreaction sometimes caused by reactive resin balls on freshly oiled backends. This ball bridges the gap for bowlers who find traditional urethane insufficient for medium-length patterns but view conventional reactive balls as too aggressive for their release.
Bowlers who prioritize consistency and predictability while still wanting solid backend motion will appreciate the UC3’s performance profile. It performs best on dry to medium conditions where its angular motion and strong continuation can be fully utilized. This is not an entry-level recommendation; the ball requires solid fundamentals and the ability to read backend motion accurately. However, for experienced bowlers seeking to expand their arsenal with an unconventional but effective tool for tournament play, the Rubicon UC3 delivers genuine performance gains over standard urethane options.
The Pros
- • Excellent control and predictability
- • Strong urethane hook for challenging lane conditions
- • Asymmetric core provides good length with controllable backend
The Cons
- • Limited to dry-medium oil conditions
- • Less pin action than reactive resin balls
Who Is This Ball For?
While no longer in production, the Rubicon UC3 remains a compelling option on the used market for bowlers seeking maximum urethane performance with asymmetric core dynamics. This ball bridges the gap between traditional urethane control and modern high-performance characteristics.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
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TamerBowlingVerified Bowler Reviews (95 reviews, 4.9/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers say the Rubicon UC3 is the strongest urethane ball Storm has produced, combining urethane control with reactive-like continuation and pin carry. It works well on medium oil sport patterns and house shots, allowing players to move farther left than traditional urethane while maintaining backend hook and energy through the pins.
AI summary of 95 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
I rarely throw Urethane although after testing the UC3 that will change. It acted as a weaker reactive ball yet provided plenty of control and angle down lane. I hit this with 500 and it looked fantastic on Scorpion. The UC3 is the most angular urethane to date from Storm. It could be a good step down off the Pitch Black when that begins to burn up too soon. The UC3 is a great compliment to the arsenal when trying to combat those shorter to medium sport conditions. It, also, may be suitable for bowlers on house conditions who love that urethane shape.
United States
Layout: 40 x 4 x 20 Box Surface When I first heard about this one, I was super excited because me and urethane don't get along that often at all due to my more heavy forward roll and lower tilt. Since traditional urethane shapes like this, I've only used urethane when there truly is a lot of overall friction or shorter oil. I tested this ball on the 42' PBA Scorpion pattern to see what it do more on the fresh of a higher volume, longer length, flatter oil pattern. When I first threw the ball, I played the lane like I would with a Pitch Black which is up the lane and a breakpoint a little closer to the pocket. When I did this, the ball went Brooklyn! I was amazed how much this ball hooked down lane and hoe much flare there was. I was getting 5-6" of flare which is unheard of in most urethane pieces. The lower RG and higher differential and mild asymmetry allows this piece to flare much more down lane as opposed to so much more in the front part of the lane. What I feel is great about this ball is the feel of urethane in the front part of the lane and the resin feel in the back part of the lane. The amount of flare this ball produces allows myself to use this ball for longer periods of time and from different parts of the lane that normally wouldn't be good with urethane. Compared to the Pitch Black, I saw about 5 more boards of total hook and significant more back end shape. For me, this is will come with me for a lot of flatter oil patterns with higher volumes of oil or longer lengths of oil. The past trouble that I had seeing enough shape with a Pitch Black will be replaced by the UC3. For those who never matched up with urethane, this ball give you a much better overall shape and more usability. For those who love more traditional urethane, this UC3 will probably be too much ball motion for you and not liked as much. For me personally, shorter patterns and lower volumes of oil, I would still likely stick more to a Pitch Black or Fast Pitch to control the backend further. Adam Chase Storm Staff
United States
The Rubicon UC3 uses the asymmetrical Rondure Core found in the Rubicon and UC2 but wrapped with new Tour-ethane coverstock material. This ball has taken me by total surprise as this is not your typical urethane ball. This is by far, one of the smoothest rolling balls I have ever thrown. It is strong like a resin ball, but still has that same smooth rolling urethane shape, but with more hitting power. One of the biggest problems I have with urethane, is its so much up front that it can be tough to carry the corner pins. With the UC3, that is no longer a problem. This ball blends out the lane so well, it almost eliminates any over/under you may have. Its tough to compare this to anything I have thrown before, but it is somewhat close to the Pitch Purple, it is just as strong, but is much smoother rolling. This is now my go to ball for league, simply because its strong enough to throw on fresh, and blends out the over/under that occurs by game 3. This will be in my bag for a long time.
United States
Rubicon UC3 - Ball Specs Cover Stock: Pearl Tour Ethane Finish: 1000 Grit Abralon Core: Rondure Core RG: 2.49 Differential: 0.052 Intermediate Diff: .011 Review The HP3 line has taken the Tour Level performance to a new level with the Rubicon Ultimate Concept 3 (UC3) which has the Rondure Core with the Tour ethane Pearl cover stock. The UC3 is engineered for medium/light oil, but let me tell you this ball strong. I tested this ball on 44 feet typical house pattern after Saturday morning junior bowling league. As a mid to low rev player I was able to stand any where from 21 to 26 board with my feet and between 6 and 10 board with my eyes. The UC3 has a great midlane reaction and power through the pins. This ball will be in my bag for league and tournaments. This is a great ball for all levels of bowlers. Order one from your local pro shop today! My ball review videos are posted on YouTube channel Stanley Waite. Stanley Waite 900 Global Staff Member Dover, DE
United States
The Rondure core has helped bridge the gap been the symmetrical cores to the bigger asymmetrical core with the Rubicon and Rubicon UC2, now Roto Grip has taken that core and added a whole new cover stock and style to the Rubicon line with the brand new Tour-Ethane pearl cover stock. I drilled mine 4.5 x 4 x 1and after throwing this ball I was completely shocked. I thought it was going to be a little stronger than the Fever Pitch, which was Storm’s pearl urethane ball, but this ball was a totally different motion. It revved up quick like typical urethanes do but then it kept going and continued through the pin deck even after it had about 5-6 games of oil on the cover where other balls would start deflecting. The UC3 is a lot stronger than any of the urethanes on the Storm line and will be a great addition to any bowlers bag who is looking for something when there is extra friction on the lane.
United States
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Frequently Asked Questions
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