Roto Grip RST X-2 | Bowling Ball Review | DON'T SLEEP ON ROTO GRIP!!

Roto Grip RST X-2 Review

Name: Roto Grip RST X-2
Brand: Roto Grip

While no longer in production, the RST X-2 remains a solid option on the used market for bowlers who need serious heavy oil performance with angular backend motion. The combination of the RST asymmetric core and eTrax Plus Pearl coverstock makes this a tournament-worthy piece when fresh backends are available.

By BowlingBallVideos.com Staff Reviewed Apr 22, 2026 7 videos analyzed

this ball is crazy that is crazy should be good welcome back to jr pro shop vids today we have the new roto grip rst x2 this is a sequel to the very popular rstx1 one of jung's favorite bowling balls this

ball features the same core that's in the rstx1 which is the rst core also known as the rotostar tour core rotostar tour core and it also features the etrax plus pearl cover stock now this is a step down in cover stock as the original rst has the microtrax hybrid cover stock so this having a pearl cover stock we expect it to go much further down the lane and have a sharper change in direction and we also have the ufo alert now comparing the ufo alert to the rstx2 i expect it to be much earlier due to

its very tumbly core and it's also a hybrid as opposed to the pearl now the ufo alert is actually junk step down off of the rstx1 so we're looking to see if this rstx2 can fit somewhere in the middle so i'm excited to see if jung's gonna like it out on the lanes maybe he'll use it mail fit in his bag today we are bowling on 44 foot titanium it's a bit of a longer pattern but these balls demand oil so it should be the perfect foundation for today's review enough talking here let's set it to jungle on the lanes

all right jungle's here next lane over we've got the long pattern rst x2 [Music] you know this ball looks really nice looks like the high road pro no cento all right let's give it a shot feet on 35 going over 22 21 at the arrows out to 12 or 13. [Music] [Applause] [Music] holy smokes i think turn the corner like

crazy obviously you're going to be a little bit longer a little sharper than the rstx1 we already know that this ball is definitely for later in the day medium long patterns super sharp all right moving two left gotta shuffle up on the approach a tad because of the freaking ball return [Music] wow that was a pretty good shot just do it a little bit slow ball hooked like crazy through the face wow that's sharp mind you it is fresh though so the back ends are super clean screw the rstx1 this should be good on this

[Music] should be good should pick up a little sooner be a little smoother more controllable on this [Music] yeah definitely smoother more controllable more useful on the fresh still like you know really angular compared to the other bowling balls like the proton physics and stuff like that but compared to the rstx2 much better on the fresh all right let's toss that again

[Applause] yeah that's why that ball is my go-to on the long on the fresh really controllable but still got some pop down lane all right about halfway through the vid with jungle question time do you ever try and match the color of your inserts to the color of the ball or the lettering look at that my green thumb outer green thumb slug almost matched the rst logo perfectly all right so the x2 is much sharper let's go three more left now we're in front of the ball return [Music]

i missed the hair right there too that was crazy alright ufo alert [Music] let's go the same line as that i'm actually not sure what this is going to do compared to the rstx2 i wasn't listening to what the boys said in the shop so we'll give it a try rounder shape about the flat 10 there interesting all right just 10 pin with the ufo alert let's go a couple boards left slow it down a touch

and we'll see if we can come back like the rstx2 [Music] yeah definitely not i missed left there for sure and it held its line didn't jump didn't jump to the nose or brooklyn so that ball's definitely smoother and you can see how angular and continuous it is compared to the ufo solid so that's just how crazy the x2 is so the ufo is definitely more continuous but much rounder shape you know it uses energy over a longer period of

time rstx2 uses all his energy at once so you get that really sharp motion but then that's it that's all you got same line as ufo [Music] [Applause] yeah you see that just much quicker transition where the ufo alert left a flat 10 there from way in that had a much quicker transition sharper shape was able to get that 10 out very similar bowling balls but very very small difference there okay let's go three more to left test the limits [Music]

wow i really thought i was going to flat 10 there or something that ball went through the pins still really good zen master rstx2 releasing on the same day here two completely different bowling balls we got one that i couldn't stop rolling out my ankles and this one looks like crazy in the back end well let's go three more then [Music] wow almost four nine from that far inside that's crazy that is crazy the ufo and the rst x1 will not hook from there so i'm gonna try i love it when

that happens all right we just four nine with this almost let's go three more to the left this ball is crazy [Music] all right that's the limits one more strike with the x2 and we'll send it home [Music] oh

that'll do that'll play all right jungle is back from review number two today rstx2 this thing is long and snappy total opposite end of the spectrum of the zen master all right so starting off rst x1 one of my favorite balls for long i use it all the time in longer conditions and even a little bit broken down mediums when i gotta get play way inside very controllable for me but it still has that pop down lane that i need on the lawn so my go-to ball along and so i was really excited about the rst x2 because it should just come right after the rst

x1 so i was using the ufo alert as my step down from my rst x1 it worked pretty good had a lot of success but i think i'm going to replace it with the rsd x2 here i just know that the same core same layout going to be a little bit more predictable for me when i change balls so comparing these two pretty close but the ufo alert just a little bit more rounder shape a little bit more continuous where the rst x2 here is a little bit more sharp uses more of its energy quicker in that short amount of time give you that really sharp response down lane where the ufo just takes a little bit longer

and you can see i left a couple ten pins there with this where this really turned the corner and went through the pins really good i was bowling fresh today on titanium 44 feet so the rstx2 really made a left turn in the back end probably will not use it on the fresh i'll use it after the x1 here a little bit more surface a little bit more controllable step down for this and then after this probably the uh rubicon uc2 so recommended condition probably a little bit longer oil maybe 42 feet plus maybe a little bit lighter conditions as well a little shiny

surface gonna get down the lane really easy and really make that motion down lane so a little bit lighter oil a little bit longer oil this ball is really going to shine we recommend this ball to guys with lower tilt so what that means is their natural roll gets the ball started up pretty early and they have trouble making a hook down lane uh simu's got his arm raised over here he knows who he is other than low tilt players i would say players with a little bit lower ball speeds this ball is really going to get down the lane nice and easy and make that corner where a couple of the other balls will just start up a little bit too early but too flat and you won't get that carry percentage that you really need two good players with this ball is really going

to be good for so for me personally when i ball change down from like an rst to rstx2 i really like using the same core so i like using idle idle pearl uh iq tour i could tour pearl that kind of stuff when i go down to my progression i like using the same balls while the same cores and just changing the cover stocks it seems more predictable for me with that being said it makes it really easy for me to ball change with confidence i know exactly what i'm going to get and i know exactly what it's going to do same layout same core just changing the cover stock right one variable don't sleep on these rotor grip balls guys they're

really really good they're just as good as a storm balls made in the same factory same design really really good yeah they're just not stinky don't forget like and subscribe everyone don't forget my question down in the comments do you match your inserts to the color of the ball or the color of the engravings let me know down in the comments really interested to see i do well no i don't i use green and everything [Music] don't forget next vid brandon riley back with midnight blue melee jab and his arsenal he's gonna see if this ball will fit in his bag for the upcoming season

[Music] you

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6.8

Overall

Good Score

Weight

12-16 lbs

Coverstock

Pearl

Core

Asymmetric

Hook

High

Performance Analysis

Independent testing on a 44-foot titanium pattern revealed the RST X-2 to be a significantly more aggressive and angular ball than its predecessor, the RST X-1. Testers observed that while both balls share the same RST (Rotostar Tour) core, the shift from a hybrid to a pearl coverstock creates a noticeably longer skid phase and much sharper backend reaction. On fresh oil, the ball displayed dramatic hook potential—testers were able to strike from extreme inside angles (nearly 4-9 boards from the far left) where competing balls in the lineup would not recover. The X-2’s motion was characterized as “snappy” and “using all its energy at once,” which created a quick, continuous arc through the pins with strong pin carry, though this also meant it could over-hook on overly fresh conditions.

When compared directly to the UFO Alert—the previous step-down option in many bowlers’ arsenals—the X-2 demonstrated superior sharpness and quicker transitions while the UFO Alert maintained a rounder, more continuous shape that disperses energy over a longer distance. Testing also showed the X-2 sits between the UFO Alert and the original RST X-1 in the lineup, but leans toward the aggressive end of that spectrum. Testers found it less controllable on the fresh pattern and recommended reserving it for medium-to-long oil conditions (42+ feet) where its length and backend aggression become assets rather than liabilities. On broken-down or worn lanes, the pearl coverstock allowed the ball to get to the pocket with confidence while still delivering the sharp response bowlers expect from the RST core family.

Who Is This Ball For?

The RST X-2 is best suited for bowlers with lower tilt angles—those whose natural hand position causes the ball to read earlier in its path and struggle to generate enough hook in the backend. Bowlers with lower ball speeds will also benefit significantly, as the pearl coverstock allows the ball to travel further downlane with minimal friction before making its aggressive turn. The ball excels for players who need to open up their angles and attack from deep inside, making it particularly valuable for competitive bowlers managing long oil patterns or transitioning to drier backends later in tournaments.

Bowlers who already throw the RST X-1 and want a direct step-down option will find the X-2 ideally suited to their progression, since the shared core means predictable carry and consistent motion characteristics—only the cover aggression changes the equation. This ball rewards confidence in ball changes because bowlers know exactly what to expect. However, it is not recommended for high-tilt players or those with naturally strong hand speed on fresh oil, as its aggressive backend can result in over-hooks and unpredictable carry. The X-2 belongs in the bags of players who prioritize backend motion and need help storing energy until the mid-lane, then releasing it sharply downlane.

Hook Potential

8.0

Length Through Heads

7.0

Back-End Continuity

8.0

Pin Action

8.0

Versatility

6.0

Value for Money

7.0

The Pros

• Strong asymmetric core provides excellent angular motion
• eTrax Plus Pearl coverstock offers good length with strong backend reaction
• High flare potential creates impressive pin carry

The Cons

• Limited versatility on lighter oil conditions
• Discontinued status makes finding consistent drilling layouts challenging

Who Is This Ball For?

Heavy oil tournament bowlersPlayers seeking strong angular backend motionBowlers comfortable with asymmetric ball reactions

Technical Specifications

Core Details (Roto Grip RST Core Core)

RG (15 lbs) 2.53

Differential 0.053

Int. Differential 0.016

Coverstock Roto Grip eTrax Plus Pearl Reactive

Core Type Asymmetric

Factory Finish 1500 Grit Polish

Color Purple

How It Compares

7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What oil condition is the Roto Grip RST X-2 best for?

The Roto Grip RST X-2 is designed for heavy oil conditions. It features a reactive pearl coverstock with a 1500 Grit Polish finish, which gives it the surface traction needed to grip through heavier oil patterns.

Is the Roto Grip RST X-2 good for beginners?

The Roto Grip RST X-2 is a high-performance ball with high hook potential, which may be difficult for beginners to control. It's better suited for intermediate to advanced bowlers who have developed a consistent release. Beginners should consider an entry-level ball like the Brunswick Rhino or Roto Grip Hustle series first.

What is the RG and differential of the Roto Grip RST X-2?

The Roto Grip RST X-2 has an RG of 2.53 and a differential of 0.053, with an intermediate differential of 0.016. The higher RG means it stores energy longer, pushing further down the lane before transitioning. The high differential creates strong flare potential and aggressive ball motion.

How much does the Roto Grip RST X-2 cost?

The Roto Grip RST X-2 is priced at varies by retailer. This is a competitive price point for a ball in its performance category. You can find it at BowlersMart.com with free shipping and 60-day returns.

What type of bowler should use the Roto Grip RST X-2?

The Roto Grip RST X-2 is best suited for bowlers who want maximum flare potential and angular ball motion. With its reactive pearl coverstock on heavy conditions, it works well for medium to high rev rate players who need a ball that can handle oil and still make a strong move on the backend.

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Roto Grip RST X-2 Review

Performance Analysis

Performance Analysis