Visionary Charcoal Executioner
Specs:
15.4 lbs.
Pin 3-4 in.
Top 2.4 oz.
Drilling:
Pin 4.5 in from PAP
CG 2 in from PAP
Surface Prep: Out of Box
Bowler's Style: Tweener/Power Stroker with 320 RPM (CATS)
Axis Rotation: 45-60 degrees (normally)
Axis Tilt: 0 degrees
Ball Speed: 19 mph (CATS)
Last Year's High Book: 218
Current High: 222
My first test with this ball was on a fresh pattern shortly before league. The lanes were oiled to 22 feet,
buffed to 36 (synthetic lanes). The oil was medium to light in the middle, lighter 10 and out, but not
scorching. First, for comparison, I lined up with my Crimson Ex., drilled with the pin 5 in from PAP,
CG 4 in from PAP. I got comfortably lined up playing the standard house shot around the 10 board, left
foot on 24, ball on 17 at the foul line, which put the ball around the 4 board at the breakpoint. I then
played the same line with the charcoal, which hooked about 7-10 feet sooner, and about 4-6 boards
more. I moved my feet four boards right, and my target 2, and flushed it. I proceeded to throw 7-8
more and flushed them all. It looked like I was ready for league, which was now starting.
I headed down to my pair and threw the same line on both lanes during shadow practice, all flush. For
good measure, I threw one up 15 through the oil, and that line looked good also, but didn't hit as hard
as it did from the outside. Scoring starts, and on my first ball, I went high and left a 6; I figured I was
slow with the speed. 2nd ball, high for a big four. I moved two right for the next ball, through the beak
for a baby split, and so on, until I was inside 15 by the end of the first game. This ball was just getting
warmed up and kept hooking the more I threw it.
By the middle of the second game, I couldn't keep it left, so I put it up. Doesn't look like this ball likes
light oil at all.
Pulled it out for Friday night league, where there's much more oil (also synthetic lanes), and a slight OB
outside 3. From heavy oil out to the dry, this ball is a true winner. Plenty of hook, hit, and mix. As the
night progressed, I could move into the oil with ease, as there seemed to be no end to this ball's power.
Ended up with 713 for the set, and that was because I opened in the 10th for 210 in the second game.
Should've easily been 740-plus.
Conclusions: Fantastic medium to heavy oil ball. Don't expect to grab the pearl and finish where the
(out of the box) Charcoal leaves off; you may need to move at least 5 boards outside if you're playing
the same breakpoint. My guess is they would have a closer reaction if the Charcoal was polished. If
anyone's interested, I'll do a review after I tinker with the surface some. 9 out of 10 for now.
