Supermo, here is one way I use particles. Currently I'm on a shot that is pretty heavy oil for about 40 feet then very dry back ends. If I use reactives on it they read the heads and mids well, but when they hit the dry the bounce left. It's almost impossible for me to play this shot with reactives. Particle, on the other hand, doesn't have that bounce on the back. I get a much more mellow read on the back end and have a much more playable shot. While I'm not a big fan of particle, I think it is necessary to have one or two in your arsenal because when you need them you really need them.
BTW, if you give me really long, very heavy oil I will often NOT use particle simply because I've found a way to use resin on this shot. All I need is a ball that will tilt up a tad on the back even if it doesn't cross a lot of boards and resin (some) will do this.
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"To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace." (Tacitus)