So, I'm getting the Platinum as an early Christmas gift. Should be in next week. Right now, with the slightly low volume of oil and my heavy hand paired with high speed, my Blackout has been looking almost like a Jet Black Taboo. Not QUITE as snappy, but still huge backend.

That being said, should I expect to be playing straighter with the Platinum, or expect to be further inside?

Going to get the same layout on it, as I REALLY like what the layout is doing for the Blackout. Just a bit overkill sometimes.

Note: I haven't been able to make my Venator/Stampede/Dominion stay in play for more than 5 frames at either house I bowl in. Even when flattening out.

I'm not sure if it's the oil, or if it's just the absorption rate of the ball. I can try and work the inside with Venator, but it doesn't hold up any longer than it does when I swing it. I mean, I still have oil on the surface of the Blackout, but eh.

Probably going to polish the Venator back up, but the roll it has at 2k is reallllly sweet.

Experiencing the exact same thing in my house here in VA.  Do all of you happen to be bowling in an AMF house as well?  Things have gotten very crazy since the merger, causing some league bowlers to quit during season already....couldn't believe it!
But I have a Pt that I got used, but haven't had it fit to me to throw it yet.  I'm definitely going to get this done next week so it can be ready when I get back from vacation.  I'm forcing myself way further inside than I'm used to, but the lanes have been playing so touchy that for the most part, I'm noticing normal league bowlers with little to no rev rate carry almost everything to the big wheelers reving it up across the entire lane.  Those bowlers in between are very much struggling.  As Tripcee said in his first post...flattening out has not offered any relief for the lane conditions I'm seeing.  The site manager at the AMF where I bowl said since the merger, he doesn't have to oil the lanes daily anymore (where last year, regardless of league or open play, they were oiling the lanes).  They also don't do a second pass of oil and just run a single pass downlane.  Volume total has been reduced both in the heads and throughout the length of the pattern.  Just been very tough this year for a shot that at one point was much more consistent in playing.  So I'm still searching in my arsenal the best piece to combat our ever changing condition.  Funny thing is I shoot well last week and was actually able to use my Venator 3rd game (strong grab of the lane but beautiful recovery to the pocket).....and couldn't get her to turn consistently last night as it got through the heads it lost energy very fast.  Hopefully the Pt will be my answer in a few weeks.  The Desperado TSE I demoed couldn't get here fast enough!