By the way the Versa Max is a rare ball in our house.  I consider it on the stronger side.  Quite a bit of pop.

We have a straighty who tears it up with his and gives him a good amount of backend.  I have seen him shoot 290s and 300s in the same practice set.  Last year he was using his Avalanche pearl urethane and could not use a reactive.

Even bigger IS the Jet Black taboo.  Many in our house have trouble getting that ball down the lane to where they want to have it make it's move.  Real straighties with good loft are doing great.  Those with less penetration down the lane have had problems with the mass bias kicked out to strong in getting too early a move before they want it.

The Versa Max above is drilled old time label for that 14 mph stylist.  Pin next to and above ring and cg back near grip center under the ring.

I think a carefully drilled Black Taboo, or a Versa could be a good solution for playing a bit inside.   Others are even better at getting balls way down the lane. 

Have you considered a Motiv Ascent Pearl or an Avalanche reactive pearl or a Brunswick Damage(Some inside capability with it's higher diff) and a very clean easy to push coverstock? 

Regards,

Luckylefty

Also look into the wrecker or arson low flare

I have both balls myself and like many have said already: Jet black more of a hockey stick motion off the spot and the versamax more of a control strong arc motion. Versamax better on the Medium length sport tournament patterns. I wouldn't even try the jet black myself on anything but a THS with some volume.

To give some perspective. I am a medium+ rev, medium speed tweener and I use the versamax without polish at 2000 in the track on a 41ft house and on that same pattern after transition will jump inside a zone with the jet black that is at 4000 with heavy polish just to get it through the front. So for me those balls are not close in shape or  when they get into a roll but they are both black