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Roto Grip Critical Theory
$134.95 Retail: $209.99Save 36%
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Product Features & Description
Roto Grip Critical Theory
SKU: RGBBMRCT
Brand: Roto Grip Bowling


- Coverstock: Insight Pearl Reactive
- Weight Block: Triliptic Core (14-16 lbs), Modified Triliptic Core (12-13 lbs)
- Ball Color: Cherry/White/Obsidian All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy Oil
- Ball Finish: 4000-grit Abralon
- Flare Potential: 7+ inches
- RG: 16#-2.49, 15#-2.49, 14#-2.54, 13#-2.57, 12#-2.59
- RG Differential: 16#-0.051, 15#-0.058, 14#-0.049, 13#-0.032, 12#-0.029
- A few tiny pit holes in the cover stock of the ball are normal
- Description: The Triliptic core helps the ball get into a roll easier due to the additional contours and elongation of the ellipses within the shape of the weight block. With the Critical Theory, Storm is expanding the Theory series with its first pearl Insight coverstock. Designed to maximize dry lane traction, this shell will help increase your entry angle and sharpen your break point, all in an effort to help you strike more! Testing proved that the Critical Theory created the most entry angle in the entire product line. Its textured 4000-grit surface increases the Ra value, minimizes oil sensitivity, especially at the end of the oil pattern, and maximizes your bowling enjoyment. Wrap the new textured pearl Insight cover around the high-torque, asymmetrical Triliptic core and you have some horsepower.
Avg. Customer Rating:4.8 stars
(based on 16 reviews) Reviewers described themselves as: League bowler (11), Competitive athlete (4)
  • Pros
    • Attractive (7)
    • Comfortable grip (7)
    • Flawless surface (7)
    • Great weight (4)
  • Best Uses
    • Local bowling alley (11)
    • Tournaments (10)
    • Upgrade (3)
Already own the Roto Grip Critical Theory bowling ball? Write a Review REVIEWED BY 16 CUSTOMERS sort by:
Displaying Reviews 1-10 of 16View All 16 Reviews
Displaying 16 Reviews
[3 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
ROTO GRIP - CRITICAL THEORY Review By John Brodersen from Helena MT
Reviewed on: 9/25/2011 Verified Reviewer Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Image Submitted by Reviewer:Customer Image (ROTO GRIP - CRITICAL THEORY Review) Ball specs – 15 lbs 1 oz, 3.15 top weight, 3 3/8-inch pin. The Critical Theory was drilled using the dual angle method. The layout is a 4 ½ inch pin, 50-degree drill angle and a 40-degree VAL angle. An x-hole was not needed. Using Storm's layout terminology the layout would be 4 ½ by 4 1/8 with a 2 ½ pin buffer. The cover was left OOB which is 4000 abralon. The first thing you will notice about the Critical (which is a pearl) is that the cover comes dull from the factory. This will allow it to handle heavy and medium-heavy patterns. The Critical had a great mid-lane read, made a medium-strong move down lane with great continuation. Hit and carry were very, very good. The Critical is a little longer and a little stronger down lane that the original Theory. Keep the Critical on some oil and you'll be striking often John Brodersen Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[3 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
Looking for HOOK... we go it now!! By Roto Grip Rick from East Berlin, PA
Reviewed on: 8/2/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Comfortable Grip, Flawless Surface, Easy to maintain surface, Polish it- Loved it, Attractive Design, Durable cover, Great Weight Best Uses:Kegel Longer patterns, Tournaments, USBC Blue patterns, Local Bowling Alley, Shark and Viper Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend CRITICAL THEORY #1 50 X 4 X 55 WITH P2 HOLE BOX CONDITION – 11RCTE25H086 INTENDED USE FOR HEAVY OIL SPORT CONDITIONS WITH DRIER BACK END TEST BALL ON TURNPIKE, DEAD MAN'S CURVE, AND AUTOBAHN AND A THS FOUND THE BALL TO ROLL QUITE NICE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LANE, IT WORKED TO MY ADVANTAGE TO HAVE THIS ONE LAYED OUT THIS WAY AND ANOTHER DRILL WITH A LITTLE MORE BACKEND IN IT. I ENJOYED USING THIS BALL ON SOME FRESH HOUSE SHOT WITH A LITTLE GRITTY LANE PANELS. THE BALL PATH WAS NICE AND CONSISENT AND NEVER SHOWED SIGNS OF ANY OVER/UNDER REACTIONS. ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THAT THIS REACTED MORE LIKE ANY MY CELLS THAN THEN ORGINIAL THEORYS THAT I DRILLED. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[2 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
buy it By Seth Rogen from Augusta Georgia
Reviewed on: 7/26/2011 Unverified Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend This ball is amazing. No matter where you throw it, it comes back to the pocket and with a vengeance. One of the strongest balls ive ever seen in my life. I luckily got one from my local pro shop owner 2 weeks ago and I love it. You will be at a loss for words Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[2 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
Critical Theory Review By SenorRotoGrip from Grafton, Ma
Reviewed on: 8/24/2011 Verified Reviewer Best Uses:Tournaments Describe Yourself:Pro Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Image Submitted by Reviewer:Customer Image (Critical Theory Review) Layout: 65 x 5 x 45 X-tra Hole: P-3 Surface: Box (4000 abralon) Lane Surface: Synthetic This ball was drillled to use on the B squad (no re-oil) of the Sr Master's and on the PBA Sr Tour 39' pattern. At the Sr Master's, the layout was clean through the heads, picking up an earlier roll in the midlane, with a strong move at the breakpoint. Pin carry was excellent. On the 39' Senior Pattern #1, I was able to use this ball to play outside on the fresh and then as the shot transitioned, was able to move and play inside. The 4000 abralon box condition does not squirt off oil like some pearl shells have a tendency to do. Carry is very good. For medium to heavy oil the Critical Theory will be your third ball in the Theory arsenal. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Perfect Ball for the Upcoming Season By Roto Grip Rick from East Berlin, PA
Reviewed on: 8/2/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Great Weight, Comfortable Grip, Great coverstock, Durable surface, Great core, Attractive Design, Flawless Surface Best Uses:Tournaments, Local Bowling Alley, Kegel Patterns Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line: CRITICAL THEORY #2 – 40 X 4 ½ X 20 OUT OF BOX CONDITION INTENDED USE: TO BE STRONGER AND EARLIER THEN BANDIT WITH SIMILAR LAY OUT. TESTED ON THS, AUTOBAHN, AND TURNPIKE. FOUND A BALL HOOKS EARLIER AND STRONGER THEN ANYTHING I OWN. I WILL SAY I PLAYED DEEPER AND LESS HAND THEN ANYTHING ELSE I EVER OWNED. THIS BALL OUT HOOKS ANYTHING ON THE MARKET WITH THIS LAYOUT. YOU HAVE HEAVY OIL HOUSE PATTERN WITH SUPER SLICK LANE PANELS... THIS IS THE BALL FOR YOU... Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
NEED MORE HOOK? By THE LEGEND from ATLANTA, GA BY WAY OF NYC
Reviewed on: 8/27/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:EYE CATCHING COLORS, Attractive Design, THE STRONGEST THEORY YET, Flawless Surface Cons:NEEDS HEAD OIL TO BE EFFE Best Uses:Tournaments, Local Bowling Alley Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend A STRONG ROLLING BALL THAT READS THE MIDLANE WELL AND REACTS TO FRICTION NICELY. PEARLIZED SHELL HELPS GET THE BALL THROUGH THE HEADS AND DOWN THE LANE AND THE BIG WEIGHT BLOCK GETS THE BALL INTO A HEAVY ROLL. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[1 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
Critically Acclaimed By THE HOFF from Bothell, Washington
Reviewed on: 8/18/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Attractive Design Best Uses:Tournaments, Upgrade, Local Bowling Alley Describe Yourself:Pro Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Layout- Pin over bridge, cg in the palm, mass bias by the thumb and no hole. I was interested to see what this ball looked like. I LOVED the Theory. I ended up drilling 2 and polishing the bejesus out of one to use on more conditions and left another one dull for when I ran into a flood (for the record, my dull theory out hooks my Nano on heavier patterns). The Infinite Theory, on the other hand, was a pretty conditional ball for me. It looked really good on medium length patterns on medium-light friction surfaces when I could straighten out more (so higher volume patterns in addition to those other qualifications). It rolled fine, but not as universally usable as I had anticipated from a higher end hybrid cover. The Critical was a tad weaker than I had anticipated in terms of overall hook (but I did lay it out kinda weak as well), however the reaction was A LOT more usable than I had gotten from my Infinite. It looks like a nice compliment to the Theory (or even the Nano) because it responds to friction a lot sharper on the back part of the lane, but does so in a controllable way, so you can transition from the control reaction of the Theory to the poppier (yet still controllable) reaction of the Critical as the heads go over the course of longer format tournaments or during league sessions where you see greater lane breakdown (say 4 game leagues, 5 man leagues or a lot of guys throwing charcoal in the track). The Critical Theory also stands out- I love how Roto Grip branched out into a different color scheme they usually wouldn't touch. They gave this ball great shelf/lane appeal. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[1 of 4 customers found this review helpful]
GREAT BALL! By Garrett Richardson from Martinez, CA
Reviewed on: 7/25/2011 Verified Reviewer Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Image Submitted by Reviewer:Customer Image (GREAT BALL!) Video Submitted by Reviewer:Customer Video (GREAT BALL!) Hand: Left Ball Speed: 15-16mphBall Weight: 15lbsPAP: 5 left 7/16 upDegrees of Tilt: 17Layout: 5 x 4 x 3The Roto Grip Critical Theory is the strongest back end motion ball Roto Grip has in their ball line. I have it drilled pin up with the mass bias an inch away from the thumb to help control the strong motion it has. With the factory finish at 4000 abralon and using it on the kegel highway to hell pattern, I can get the ball clean through the front of the lane so it can have a strong finish on the back end. It reads the mid lane fast on the heavier pattern, but still has the drive after the pattern to put all 10 pins in the pit. I am very impressed with how it reads and how strong it is. I polished it over the 4000 abralon and it is even cleaner through the fronts, does not read the mid lane as fast and has a more angular back end motion which is great on a medium condition or even on a house pattern for the high speed or low rev bowlers.I have a video on [...] Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Critical Theory By Mikelj from Hebron KY
Reviewed on: 10/9/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Flawless Surface, Comfortable Grip Best Uses:Local Bowling Alley, Tournaments Describe Yourself:Pro Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Critical Theory, introduces the first pearl Insight™ coverstock. Designed to maximize dry lane traction, this shell will help increase your entry angle and sharpen your break point. The Critical Theory comes out of the box with a 4000-grit surface increases which is designed to minimizes oil sensitivity, especially at the end of the oil pattern. I drilled my ball with the pin above the finger and a weight hole below the PAP on the VAL line. This high differential (.058) and low RG (2.49) goes long down the lane with a really nice angular motion to the pocket. I found this ball to really snap off the friction. I am using this as my ball of choice on the 40 foot pattern. I am able to send the ball out to about 4 and then watch the ball make the corner and face up to the pocket. It seems the harder I throw the ball out to the dry the more it responds back to the pocket. With this extreme angle, I am seeing more 9 pins as the ball continues to drive through the pins. MIke Johnston Roto Grip Staff Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Critical Theory By Cmsubowler from Connecticut
Reviewed on: 9/9/2011 Verified Reviewer Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Hello all and thanks for reading. Here is the link for the Critical Theory by RotoGrip where you can see my video review:[@] I really have to hand it to RotoGrip for putting yet another ball in the Theory line that I just cannot put down. What a great looking great performing and great hitting bowling ball. Full pearl with some surface and another winning combination. The pearl allows this ball to clear the heads very clean but the surface and core help pick up in the midlane but let me tell you when you allow a ball to store that much energy for the last 15 feet of the lane........ You might find the ball comes back but the pins may not want to. I will mention for review purposes that this ball was the first one on a fresh oil pattern and it certainly didn't disappoint. I was left of 25 with my feet and throwing from the middle of the lane to the track area an watching it scream on the back part of the lane with ease. There is so much power stored in the ball that you do not need to add much. Great for players of all levels and rev rates. Comparing to the Infinite Theory you can see how much straighter through the front part of the lane the Infinite will travel on its was to a strong arc motion while the Critical Theory will start further left, travel further right, and move off the break point like reactive compared to Urethane. But wow does this ball HIT HARD!!!! Keep up the Great work and I can't wait to see whats in the future for RG. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

I love the way this ball rolls By Rod_myster from Duluth,Ga
Reviewed on: 4/14/2012 Verified Buyer Pros:Great Weight, Attractive Design, Comfortable Grip, Flawless Surface Best Uses:Local Bowling Alley, Upgrade Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Pete Weber and his staff is the reason why I bought this ball. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

Critical Theory By Mikelj from Hebron KY
Reviewed on: 10/10/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Comfortable Grip Best Uses:Tournaments, Local Bowling Alley Describe Yourself:Pro Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Critical Theory, introduces the first pearl Insight™ coverstock. Designed to maximize dry lane traction, this shell will help increase your entry angle and sharpen your break point. The Critical Theory comes out of the box with a 4000-grit surface increases which is designed to minimizes oil sensitivity, especially at the end of the oil pattern. I drilled my ball with the pin above the finger and a weight hole below the PAP on the VAL line. This high differential (.058) and low RG (2.49) goes long down the lane with a really nice angular motion to the pocket. I found this ball to really snap off the friction. I am using this as my ball of choice on the 40 foot pattern. I am able to send the ball out to about 4 and then watch the ball make the corner and face up to the pocket. It seems the harder I throw the ball out to the dry the more it responds back to the pocket. With this extreme angle, I am seeing more 9 pins as the ball continues to drive through the pins. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

the best roto grip ball to date By roto grip fan from spotsylvainia
Reviewed on: 10/6/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Comfortable Grip, This ball hooks like hell, Attractive Design, Flawless Surface Cons:You will lower handicap Best Uses:Upgrade, Tournaments, Local Bowling Alley Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend this ball is the best i have ever had in my hand most nites i dont put it away just move left as lanes break down no need to carry 4 balls anymore but my dagger,cell,pearl cell still go along for the ride thanks roto grip love your equipment keep up the good work audrey mullins at mullins pro shop is the bomb Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

Critical Theory By Kingpin from Nashville, TN
Reviewed on: 9/18/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Great coverstock Cons:NOPE Best Uses:Local Bowling Alley, Tournaments Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend The first chance that I got to throw it was at the TAT. It reads the mid lane so well you'd think you were throwing a solid. It is stronger and more angular off of the spot than the Infinite Theory. It really plays well for me on medium patterns. When I got home and used it on a house shot, it rolled really well on them fresh but as they dried out it got to burning up a little quick. So I took it and applied some polish on it and then it came back to life, and I never lost my reaction. I kept on moving left and it continued to strike. I never moved to far left for me that it didn't recover. The box finish on this ball makes it react on slicker oil patterns where you normally wouldn't think about using a pearl. ONE AWESOME BALL!! Ricky Woods Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

hard hitter By miz300 from hoopeston,il.
Reviewed on: 4/28/2012 Unverified Pros:Flawless Surface, Comfortable Grip, Attractive Design, Great Weight Best Uses:Local Bowling Alley, Tournaments Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend I bowl mixed league, ladies league and lots of tournaments, average 195, this is the hardest hitting ball i have thrown, starts up midlane and has so much energy on the backend, Great looking ball, beautiful color scheme, no cons for me. Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.

Strong ball! By shanny from Ann Arbor, Mi.
Reviewed on: 12/22/2011 Verified Reviewer Pros:Aggresive, Strong carry, Looks good Best Uses:Heavy oil, Local Bowling Alley Describe Yourself:League Bowler Bottom Line: Wow, what a strong ball. 4x4 layout with 2.5" pin buffer. Nice carry, but watch out for the dry back end and keep your speed up! May have to polish this one a bit. When I was on target or even a bit inside this thing was a pin destroying monster, but when I missed right I was praying for enough speed to keep it out there or for a Brooklyn when it hit the back end. STRONG HOOK! Was this review helpful to you? Yes / No- You may also flag this review.