Let me clarify any misunderstanding from anything I may have said earlier.
My Melee is stronger, in that it will handle a bit more oil than the Platinum Ringer. I knocked some of the factory gloss off and it's even better. From the factory the two were pretty darn close.
After putting many games on both, my Platinum Ringer is stronger than expected once the lanes get drier, and is more angular and responds more quickly than the Melee. I have used both balls on two different lane surfaces, with varying amounts of oil - not just one house shot.
BOTH balls have been exceptional. If one isn't carrying the other probably will. I realize that bowler error plays a part regarding carry, too. I LOVE the read of the lane that the Melee gives me. It just reads what is there! The Platinum Ringer is slightly less predictable, but that's not necessarily bad either, just different.
If you want a dry lane ball and aren't afraid to open up your angles more, then the Platinum Ringer will be your ticket. If you want a dry lane ball good for playing closer to friction then I think the Strike King will be your friend. My Melee has allowed me to play on the dry some, and the control I had was phenomenal.
No factory can possibly anticipate the 1,586 different bowler styles, as well the the unlimited amount of different conditions we bowl on from hour to hour. They leave it to the individual bowler to decide which ball may fit his arsenal, as well as layouts and surface changes to compliment their conditions.
In this forum we can only give feedback as to what we've experienced on our conditions. If the Melee is my favorite it may not be for the next guy, who may prefer the motion of the Platinum Ringer (which is also great). "Different" doesn't have to be a bad thing since we are all different...