1) Strong pearl reactive, Activator+ from Brunswick with a finer OOB finish than Brunswick uses.
2) If you drill it to do so... YES! For the dramatic look on the lane, this is a good choice. Hit and carry of this (and all Vanguard coer balls) is very good, too. But the ball needs some dry boards to grip and work. Spotty shots and carrydown are not its home turf (it is a pearl ball, after all). Coverstock is easy to fine tune, but has IMHO only a small "window" which strongly influences grip. Changing the compound finish only to 4.000 grit Abralon can make the ball read the lane 4-5' earlier!
3) I cannot watch your vids and you do not provide spped and revs. But for a "typical" player with 250-300 RPM and decent speed, I'd say it is OOB a very good medium condition ball. With lower speed, the ball will also handle medium to medium-oily shots, since it will need some (head) oil to work properly.
Overall: impressive piece, true high end for experienced players who have access to an experienced driller who can set the ball up properly (due to the strong MB in the core).
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany
Wacky style video (Oct. '06)
"Put some make-up on your face - Make this world a better place!" Kahimi Karie, 'Good morning world'