Ball NPS Score: 100.00
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#  RG: 2.51
# Diff: .044
# Lane Conditions: Medium - Heavy
# Coverstock: Galea (Reactive Solid)
# Core: Mohawk
# Factory Finish: 2000 Abralon

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.

I've loved my other Visionary stuff so much I just had to try the Gladiator.  This past league season is the first time I’ve ever used Visionary equipment, and I carried a higher average than I ever have and had more honor scores than I’ve had in over 10 years.  And this in a house where they were having so much trouble putting out a consistent shot that I got to use everything from the Ogre SS to the Granite Gargoyle.  The balls just flat out perform.  Given the price, performance, and how long the coverstock lasts (very important to me), I can’t think of a reason to throw anything else.  To top it all off, the folks at Visionary have been more than helpful with answers to my questions, suggestions, and explanations about their products.  All in all, the best experience I’ve ever had with any ball company.  But on to the Gladiator review.

I drilled this one up pretty strong.  I bowl better when the ball has a defined break point.  I can make adjustments easier and I don’t have enough hand to get into too much trouble with these drillings.  The Gladiator is definitely not for dry lanes and not for a flood, but appears to be a player on just about everything else.  It gets good length, excellent read of the midlane, and is very smooth at the break point.  Now, sometimes you hear “smooth” as a euphemism for “I can keep it in play, but it’s kind of weak”.  Believe me, that is most definitely not the case here.  It doesn’t turn on a dime, but once this baby turns for home, nothing stands in its way.  It’s one of those balls that seems to pick up speed after the break point.  It doesn’t give you the impression that it “attacks” the pocket like some flippier balls, just makes a very strong arc and rolls through the pins like it weighs 50 pounds instead of 15.

When I saw that this ball is made with a wrap, I wondered if it would hit as well as Visionary’s non-wrap balls.  Not to worry.  It may not give me the screaming messengers that I get from the Immortal Pearl, but there’s more than enough pop to get the job done.  Even I could play pretty deep and not have to worry about the corners.

In summary, this is an outstanding medium condition ball.  It’s smooth enough to be used as a benchmark ball, and strong enough to stay with if you want to.  It is versatile enough and has enough range to let you cut down on the number of balls you have to carry.  It’s a ball you can pull out of the bag with confidence.  Great job, Visionary!

16# with 3" pin, drilled with pin just right of and above ring finger. Static weights are 3/4 + side and 7/8 finger with 3/4 top. Wood lanes with medium volume THS, moved inside of third arrow and sent the ball right. Long way down the lane ball made strong arcing motion to and through the pocket. Next outing had heavier volume but same pattern. Moved feet right a little, but still sent the ball right. Got the same strong arc through the pin deck.
With 12 games, ball seemed to lose reaction. Coverstock was shiny from oil absorbtion and lane surface polishing. Cleaned with hot water and dawn(used this since urethane came on the market), and reaction returned to original condition. I'm hoping the coverstock will maintain reaction longer now that it has been used a little.
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there are no magic balls, only MAGIC bowlers!

specs:
15.20 lbs
3.5" Pin
2.94 T.W.

drill pattern:
3 3/4" Pin to PAP (pin next to ring)
CG 4" to PAP
X-Hole 3" from PAP in thumb Quadrant

My profile:
PAP 5 3/4" x 1" up
Current wrist problems have reduced my "Power" game, making me now a light tweener/stroker.

Lanes:
THS on Brunswick Anvilane Lanes...(newly installed)

With my current condition, this ball is just what i have been looking for.  for a stroker this ball is a great benchmark ball.  ball is very forgiving on wide & pulled shots.  a stroker will be able to play 10-12 at the arrows, sending out to 5 for breakpoint, and having a nice strong arc to the pocket.  a tweener would be around 15 at the arrows with break point around 8.  i've noticed that the Visionary balls keep the pins low and flying.

On a few sessions i have been able to "HIT" on the ball, playing my normal high revs release, and this ball is just a beast!  on the THS, i was forced to play 5th arrow getting decent length and a nice strong move to the pocket.  but that was only a few shots seeing how my wrist couldn't take the abuse.

the Visionary Gladiator Solid is a very versatile ball and has made me a believer in Visionary Bowling Products.

Visionary Gladiator Solid Bowling Ball
RG: 2.51
Diff: .044
Lane Conditions: Medium - Heavy
Cover stock: Galea (Reactive Solid)
Core: Mohawk
Factory Finish: 2000 Abralon
2000 Abralon
Medium (.044" diff.)
3-5" flare


While testing the Gladiator Solid
 I’ve noticed that the Visionary balls keep the pins low and flying right to left.
This ball is at it’s best  in medium oil. The 2000 abr. finish on the cover is perfect.
produces the right amount of traction without burning up too soon.
The GLADIATOR  Solid line is equipped with an asymmetrical, dense center core design with a lighter wrap. This allows for a quicker revving ball that begins to roll in the midlane while keeping a controllable continuous arc reaction on the backend. The "MOHAWK" on the core creates a mild mass bias for fine tuning the balls reaction.
I’ll have to say the gladiator Solid really does drive continually through the pins.
All in all, the Gladiator  Solid has great continuation & consistent reaction,
This ball is not ment for lighter volumes of oil nor is it for a flood.
For most Medium Conditions this ball will work great for most styles of players,
That is why this is a good benchmark ball.
If you looking for a ball to start off with in the Visionary Line,
 The Gladiator Solid ball or the Ogre Pearl would likely be the best choices for a very consistent read, consistent  arcing motion,

Member of Buddies Pro Staff

Visionary Gladiator Solid
Lane Condition Med Heavy approx. 23.4 ml  House Shot oily side
Core :  Mohawk
Finish Sanded down to 1000 abrolon WET Sanded
Flare: 5 - 7 "
Became a Test staff for Visionary in July But didn't get a chance to throw
anything till I wet down to Detroit and bowled in the Ham Town Classic
on the 213 of July 2008!
I bowled with the gladiator averaged 220 for 4 games
My Specs:  Pin 3 to 4"  -   14 lb. ball with 2 3/4 top  1/2 oz.  Neg. Side
pin approximately 1 inch from ring finger center of gravity swung out to track
area for bomb to be approx 1/2 to 1 inch from my VAL.
this gave me all the length and backend i needed for my play my game.
Ball speed 14 to 15 mph line was 3 arrow out to gutter an back.
Ball hit like a tank...
This is a ball that was made for the heavier conditions so for get it if you
want to play on med to light conditions...
On the heavier conditions this ball works great up the out side around 8 to 10
board...

The Gladiator solid goes down as the most versatile ball I have ever thrown from Visionary.  

I have mine drilled with the pin right above the fingers at 12 o'clock, and the cg kicked out a 3/4 of an inch to give it 1/2 ounce side weight.

The ball is exceptionally smooth through the heads, even on dryer lanes.  It then has a smooth consistant backend reaction.  I'm yet to have any case of over under with this ball.

If you are looking for a smooth cosistant and forgiving reaction ball, I highly recommend the Gladiator!

Don't remember the exact specs on the ball, but 15lb 3 oz, close to 3 oz top and 2-4 inch pin. Stack drill with pin to the right of ring finger. Small weight hole.

Most of the bowling I did with the ball was on a THS in a 3 man summer league and in a Youth/Adult league with my son, so I saw very different lane reactions between the 2 leagues with the ball.

I have 3 games that are outlines in my profile. The Gladiator allowed me to play a bigger swing shot and then as the condition changed, I would move left and take hand out of the ball and let the ball play the lanes instead of me playing them. I was never really successful with the B game. As the lanes got dried, the ball was just too strong for the lanes and I would have to be thrown a lot harder to stay in the pocket. What I saw then was more deflection since I was also having to take too much hand out.

The ball does handle a decent amount of oil from what I saw. The ball reads a little early and had a strong continuous motion to and through the pocket. On fresh lanes, I don’t see the ball burning up. As lanes transition, I start to see a little less hook on the backend which I attribute to burning up. I don’t usually move left and try to stay in the oil since I am not a deep shot player, but the ball handled the transition well when I moved right and played less hand in the ball.

The overall reaction of the ball is more of a strong, aggressive arching shot. It reminded me very much of the reaction I got with my SledgeHammer, but easily able to handle more oil.

What I liked about the ball was that it plays well with my different styles. Slight hand and speed adjustments worked very well with the ball as I saw different reactions. As mentioned, transition is when I see the ball burning up more and not hitting as strong. My typical move will be to the right to cut down the angle and allow the ball to save a little of the energy needed to push through the pins versus deflecting slightly.

Overall, I give the ball a solid A. The ball was a replacement for my Cell and I found the Gladiator to be more useful than the Cell as I could play different shots more consistently without the ball overreacting, which I really don’t care for.

Gladiator didn’t read as early as the Cell, but the strong reaction at break more than made up for the early read, and again, solid read to the pins and through the pins is what made this ball a winner in my book.

I see this as an excellent choice for a medium to medium-heavy shot for most people. Strong recovery from the dry as well.


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