Finish: 400 matte
Hardness: 74-77
RG: Med-Low (2.50")
Flare: High 5-7" (.056" differential)
Length (1-100): 59
Back end (1-100): 83
Hook (1-100): 75 (oil) - 83 (dry)
Avail. Wts: 13-16# (Gryphon 3 core)
10-12# (on request - light wt. core)
Lane Conditions: All but Extreme Conditions
 
The Frankie May signature Gryphon harnesses the power of the G-3 core design and surrounds it with the newly developed React-A-Tack coverstock. This reactive coverstock uses a revolutionary tackifying agent to create more traction in the oil, yet it still allows the ball to have very aggressive backends. This ball is very versatile and can be adjusted to fit all but the extreme oil conditions.

I am left handed, speed around 16mph and a descent amount of hand. My pap is 5 and 1/2 inches over and 3/8ths up. My FMG is drilled 4x3 with an x-hole on my pap. I've tested the FMG on several different patterns. I've started out with this ball with the box finish.  The box finish was too much for the THS pattern.  I hit the spinner and took it to 1000 abralon.  That got it longer but still had the midlane read that I wanted.  As long as this thing had some head oil to get it down the lane it was perfect. What I’ve noticed is that the ball is very versatile.  The coverstock it great for changes and still keeps the controlable reaction down the lanes. I like a sense of control with my equipment. Not surprisingly, that’s what I get from this ball. This ball is very responsive to hand changes. I’ve played up the back with more speed and turned on it. I haven’t seen any problems with carry from either angle. I would say that the FMG would be a smart choice for those who face heavier house shots or someone looking for a control ball on medium THS as long as you tweek the cover.

I have to say thank you to Jason at VBP for helping me in selecting my arsenal and a HUGE Thanks to Doug Sterner for drilling them and helping with every other aspect of my game!!!!!

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Becoming a father isn''t difficult, But it''s very difficult to be a father.

10/21/05 Kaitlyn Emily and  02/01/07 Meghan Alexis, Daddy''s little girls!

R.I.P Kevin Trombley 11/26/05 You were taken too soon!

Visionary Test Staff Member 07/08
Frankie May Gryphon
Immortal Pearl
Ogre Pearl
B/G Centaur

My specs:
Left handed, ball speed around 16 MPH, rev rate around 300 RPM, axis rotation of around 60 degrees, and axis tilt around 30 degrees.

So you’ve read or heard about the “Rico” drilling.  You’ve wanted to give it a try but weren’t sure which ball to try it with.  My friends, your search is over.  I had read that the Rico drilling worked well with lower RG symmetricals, and that it would cause the ball to roll earlier.  I wasn’t sure how much earlier, so I knew I needed a ball with a very versatile cover so I could tweak it as needed.  Being a Visionary lover, the FMG was the obvious choice.  Based on previous experience I knew what a monster the ball is in box finish, so I took it from there (400 matte) up to a 1,000 grit wet sand finish before I even drilled it.  I headed to the nearest lanes to give it a try.

This particular house, for me, has a tendency to make the ball push pretty long through the midlane and can overreact off the dry.  All in all, something that should be tailor made for a Rico drilling.  To make a long story short, I would judge this ball / layout combination to be a success.  I consider 290 out of the box to be successful.  The ball was amazing.  Nothing eye-popping as far as a back end reaction went, but I could play pretty much straight down the edge of the oil and it blended the oil / dry marvelously.  The next two games (220 and 250) I tried to spray the ball around a bit, to get a feel for its range and what it would do.  I could miss to the outside and have the ball recover, but not boomerang.  I could miss to the inside and it might leave a single pin, but not “dart and dive” and leave those designer spares.  I couldn’t throw it too much away from the pocket, because with my amount of hand the even arcing back end the Rico drilling gives it simply wouldn’t let it recover enough to carry the corners.  But as long as I went fairly direct (up to about a five board swing), the ball couldn’t miss.

I know that this ball has been around for a while (forever, the way most ball companies change their lineups), but it still has one of the most versatile covers you’ll find, excellent dynamics, and super hit and carry.  Bowlers shouldn’t overlook this beauty just because it wasn’t introduced last week.  It can still more than hold its own with anything out there.

Axis 5 x 1/2 up
Ball Speed 14 - 15
medium Rev Rate
right hand

Weight: 16.0
Top: 3.0
Pin: 3 - 3.5
Layout: 4 1/2 X 5 1/2

This ball is my benchmark ball.  I have at finished at 2000 Abralon. Gets down the lane good, strong arching motion.  It carries very well for me.  It seems that more of my strikes are no doubters.  i don't have as many trip 10 strikes. I hope that makes sense.

I have had 2 300's with this ball and won my first singles tourney throwing this ball exclusively.

It was hard getting this ball out of my hand last year.

Debating whether i should get a G-3.    

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Visionary test staff 08/09