I drilled up the COSMOS with an experimental pin position of 6" from the PAP. The pin buffer is about 3.5" away. So I expected by the layout and the composition of the ball to see it as smooth that I could probably use as a great middle control ball. This layout and ball is exactly that. I can get the COSMOS thru the fronts rather easily and still get a nice controlled arc in the back end. I have used this as a ball down option from my INFINITE PHYSIX when the PHYSIX is starting to get a little too sideways in the back of the lane. I can also cut my angles down and sort of line this one to the pocket and have it hold line to give me another option to attack the lanes. Think smooth and controllable with this one and you won't be disappointed.

The Roto Grip IDOL COSMOS has me completely flummoxed.

In fact, the IDOL line has me flummoxed, as it features balls I love (HELIOS), balls that are valuable for certain conditions (SYNERGY on short patterns) and balls I can’t do anything with (IDOL).

While it took Cody Schmitt’s 900 to get me to order the HELIOS, it has grown to become a staple of my arsenal, and I like it even more than when I wrote my review.

The HELIOS opened up the lane and carried great for me in the 750 I shot in singles at the 2022 USBC Open Championships, which you can watch in this video. The HELIOS produced 17 strikes and five 9-counts in the 22 first balls of my final two games of singles, as I got to 750 for my best set at the tournament since a 743 in singles in 2009.

The HELIOS features the XtremeTrax coverstock in solid form and the Ikon core that is in all of the IDOL line.

The COSMOS uses a pearl version of the XtremeTrax, with Storm’s new 4,000 Fast that I really like in other balls like the 900 Global WOLVERINE DARK MOSS and Storm INFINITE PHYSIX.

But as I said, while the HELIOS is a slow ball I can open up the lane with and is one I’ve used with success on everything from house to Sport shots with 1,000- to 4,000-grit surface, the COSMOS has been a dud for me, though I know it’s not as I’ve seen others having success with it.

Instead of being more down lane as you’d figure with a pearl vs. solid of the same cover, I generally get less down-lane motion, or if I try to grab it more and/or slow it down I get too much. This has been true on house and Sport patterns.

And I have the same drilling on both the HELIOS and COSMOS: pin over the bridge stacked, with the COSMOS pin a touch higher. With my PAP of 4 7/8 over and 5/8 up, the numbers are 5 1/8 pin-PAP, 5 5/8 MB-PAP, and 2 15/16 pin buffer. (My standard caution that I throw 14-pound balls and that may lead to different ball motion. For example, the 14-pound Ikon core has a 2.54 RG compared to 2.49 for 15 and 16 pounds.)

Before I give up on it, I will be altering the surface dramatically, most likely taking it down to 1,000 and then shining it. I’ve heard of others who had success with surface changes on the COSMOS.

I could have waited to post this review until after trying that, but wanted to get a review posted. I feel like it's valuable to let people know what I've seen if they get a COSMOS and struggle with it, as they could then try a surface change or two.

I’ll post an update after I try the surface change.

Shows how versatile I went pin down I’m a 2 handed righty I can use this at leauge all night and maybe move 2 times amazing!

Ball Specs:
Roto Grip Idol Cosmos
Cover stock –Pearl Reactive
Symmetrical Core
Color Stardust Teal
Finish 4000-grit Abralon
Layout 45 x 4.5 x 45

Bowler Specs:
Right Hand. PAP 5” Over 1/2 up
Rev Rate 300. Tilt 20. Rotation 50.
Speed at camera 15.5

Review:
The new Roto Grip Idol Cosmos is a very good ball. I like the motion and total hook of the Helios but sometimes it is too much ball for certain conditions. The Helios is hard for me to see transition due to the color I think, so I use it took long before balling down. The new Cosmos is unique because it has the same feel as the Helios even though it has a cleaner and more angular motion and hooks less overall. I can easily see when this ball makes its move also. I have had pretty good luck with the Idol line but the last two have been my favorites. I still use the Synergy on some occasions also. The Idol Cosmos seems to play best for me on medium conditions and I like this ball in box finish or polished. I probably lean on the polished version more than the box finish where I normally bowl. This Idol Cosmos is different than the Helios in the fact it goes longer and makes a stronger move at the break point. I am not a high rev player but I am able to move inside on different conditions and still maintain excellent carry. It’s nice when a guy like me can get those extra corner pins to fall.

Summary:
The Idol Cosmos has a very good and unique motion.
The Cover sands and polishes easily for dialing in a shape on the lanes.
The hit is very good due to the entry angle.

Glenn Wendel
PBA Member
Storm Pro Shop Staff

Video Link:
https://youtu.be/_pWH80v-2uU

gwendel@comcast.net
www.stormbowling.com

This ball has amazing reaction down the lane, no matter your speed or the way you throw. Personally, I have been using a Hustle for a while now but I needed a ball with more movement when it comes to mid-end lane, as the power behind my Hustle it doesn't get to that pocket in time. This ball's reaction to where I throw and how I like to throw the ball comfortably, it's absolutely beautiful. Great ball, I highly recommend this ball to anyone who is looking for a smoother yet powerful hook towards bowling.

Roto Grip Idol Cosmos
Layout: 60 x 1 ½ x 60
Finish: 4k FAST
Lane types and pattern types: HPL lane panels with 48ft THS pattern and SPL panels with 46ft THS.

I decided to drill the IDOL Cosmos with one of my favorite THS killer layouts. I bowled in 2 different centers with vastly different lane surfaces and overall length and volume of the THS.
So, while my main ball out of the bag to start has been the Roto Grip HYPED Hybrid for about 9 months now, I was missing that later motion but not super flippy like a Hyped Pearl or even an Electrify Pearl. Normally, as the night of league matches goes on, The Hyped Hybrid is very clean and carries a TON, it actually is still at 1500 grit polished and I am determined to leave it that way, because if it is not broke, don’t fix it, but as the matches progress, I would find I would need to have a smidge longer length before it would start to make any direction changes, I tried an Idol Pearl, 2 Hyped Pearls, (2 in P2P and a 6 in P2P) in 1500 grit polished and 4K Fast and even my own rendition of 4K FAST with finishing it with a 5000 grit pad, nothing seemed to get me over that mid match hump, until the Roto Grip Cosmos came along. Was able to project outside where the other lefties were playing, was able to open up the angles and even close down the angles and play relatively straight with the Cosmos.