First Impressions
The Gremlin has a catchy name but I’m not sure it’s as menacing as the name implies.
Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 330 rpm
PAP: 5 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 5 x 45
Bryan Hoffman (Righty)
Style: Stroker
RPM: 280 rpm
PAP: 4 1/2 & 1 1/2 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: high
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 5 x 45
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: med
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 5 x 45
“Keep in mind that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core creates the dynamic shape of the reaction. Your driller will alter the shape to suit your game.”
Pattern
THS: 44ft, 25.8ml, 12:1 ratio
Sport: TBD
Specs
The Roto Grip Gremlin uses the Solarion AI Asymmetric core inside the new V-R1 Pearl Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.50 diff of .058, mb of .010
14 pound = RG of 2.54, diff of .058, mb of .008
Coverstock finish: Power Edge
Tweener’s Take
On paper, the Gremlin looks to fit in that Rubicon UC2 territory and the initial impression is it’s not too far off. Core specs are fairly similar with the Rondure MaxD having a slightly higher differential. It’s got a newer cover but I don’t need to get into the details on that, you can read it on their website. The colors are also similar so Roto Grip is clearly trying to recall the UC2 with it also being a non-nano coverstock. It immediately is clear it goes pretty long. I immediately scuffed it lightly with 1500 grit which was enough to just make the reaction reasonable for this pattern, albeit still fairly direct. I couldn’t get really past the 3rd arrow as it becomes too over/under. But in the track, it was a reasonably good look for me even while still occasionally pushing a bit long. The Gremlin is one of those balls that for a tweener or stroker is probably a mid late piece, even with some mild asymmetry and maybe closer to mid defined minus for a power player. So it ha a spot in the bag but it’s kind of a tweener itself, not being the strongest shiny asym nor a weak clean symmetric. Although I have to say it didn’t really feel stronger than the Hy-Road 40 for example.
Power Player’s Persective
Out of the gate, it also looked somewhat over/under for Tyler. It doesn’t generate enough motion or response to make it from misses out, nor is it really able to hold. I think the cover is pretty responsive but the reaction feels a bit thin overall, again somewhat surprisingly for the Rondure core. It’s like the length is too much and the response is too quick and the core not strong enough to get into a roll early enough. However, we did go in an touch the 1500 grit a little harder for Tyler. Still a relatively light scuff but twice the amount of time and the ball properly came alive. Now it looked a lot more like the UC2 with the slightly earlier read but rounder and continuous motion. It just feels like this ball’s operating window is significantly better once the power edge is knocked off. That came as a bit of a surprise to us as we’ve not had any real issues since Storm went away from Reacta-Gloss to Power Edge compound finish.
Stroker’s Stance
Now onto Bryan and perhaps because he was able to bowl in his normal area or because we had preempted the surface change but he had quite a good look with it. Really no surprises. Now the length makes sense straddling the friction line while creating good motion through the pins with the quicker response coverstock. He had that nice look from around 12-9 and he could miss in for some hold but overall a strong showing for Bryan.
Bottom Line
My initial impression feels like perhaps a menacing name like the Gremlin could have been saved for something different. Nevertheless, the ball acquits itself nicely as a Rubicon UC2 replacement but we all definitely felt that the shape didn’t come into its own until the power edge got some grooves in it with surface. Still, I’d say it remains a tweener as a Mid Late Plus or Mid Defined minus piece.
Thanks for watching.