First Impressions
The Perfect Gem is Chef’s Kiss.
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Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 365 rpm
PAP: 5 1/8 & 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
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium
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: 55 x 4.75 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.”
ExploreSports Gear
Pattern
THS: 44ft, 25.8ml, 12:1 ratio
Sport: TBD
Specs
The Roto Grip Perfect Gem uses the Gem AI Asymmetric Core inside the E-R1 Solid Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.49, diff of .057, mb of .017
14 pound = RG of 2.52, diff of .056, mb of .016
Coverstock finish: 2000 abralon
Tweener’s Take
About the ball first, they took the original Gem, gave it a slightly higher RG and a slightly more responsive coverstock. This seems to make it the Goldilocks, hence the Perfect Gem. Big picture, it does get a smidge more length but has that kind of big ball that goes shape. It’s the kind of big ball that you trust will shape. I immediately thought about the Proton Physix and Reality. Sometimes balls that are meant to cover lots of oil cover less boards and that can confuse bowlers. This one will cover some boards while managing heavier oil. As a one hander, I love the shape. Feels like it manages the skid hool roll phases with a perfect balance for my game. As a 2-hander, I thought I would be able to manage the motion with it rolling earlier and controlling the lane but the thing that I mentioned before with it still hooking actually made it the totally wrong ball for this pattern for my 2 hand game. I had to roll it very forward to get to the pocket. The Wicked Gremlin for example was much more suited. Slower cover, earlier roll, more control for this particular pattern. Now, give me some heavy oil and I think the Perfect Gem will come into play.
Power Player’s Perspective
For Tyler, you can see the same thing I described overall with the Perfect Gem. Strong read but pushes just enough to make it a big ball that will still have good backend. He’s also slightly rev dominant so the Perfect Gem forced him in this medium pattern to find more oil. It hits very nicely and he finds a nice spot. But he is still dealing with a situation where he is just deeper than he wants and has to occasionally contend with less than ideal hit. Again, we are demonstrating the ball on a standard house shot and while he wouldn’t need this much ball for this pattern, it’s got a very reliable attractive shape that he liked.
Stroker’s Stance
The tell-tale for how good this ball is comes with watching Bryan and realizing it works for all 3 of us. That small change of a slightly higher RG and coverstock just makes it do the same thing for all of the bowlers. He is more direct but gets again, just the right length of pattern read with good continuous punch.
The Perfect Gem is a very nice Strong Defined ball. It is on the smoother continuous side of that part of the bag as compared to the Equinox Solid for example but I think that makes the Perfect Gem the more versatile piece. I can see Anthony Simonsen using this a ton given how much he loved the original Gem. I can also see myself keeping this one for a while.