agroves, there are numerous things that can turn a Viz-a-Ball into a second. Most of them are very acceptable as such with flaws that just don't allow them to be sold at top dollar as firsts. I have personally inspected 1000's of them in an effort to teach our inspection teams how to determine what is and isn't acceptable as firsts or seconds. If they are too bad, they are scrapped.
With that being said, it is still a crapshoot more than likely on what flaw you would see when ordering these. As for the ball hitting the thumbhole, not sure what's going on there, but we do not let any Viz-a-ball leave the plant that has any flaw that would cause any type of performance issue.
I hope this helps some. No guarantees, just trying to clarify the whole Viz-a-ball 2nds deal.
RoB LaW
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I'm gettin' old, I'm hurtin', but I've got Brunswick balls.......Color me competitive.