George....here's what I think. JMO but pretty Visionary faithful for over 5-6 years. I think, I've been a test staff member since 2000. I also do use some other equipment. I like to see what's out there and to compare against Visionary. I use some LM/L equipment...note they are much like Visionary high Rg thick covers. I tend to like high Rg balls rev dominant tweener.
First of all, I have always liked the little guy....better customer service. Betsy is the bomb and Jason will always help. Family oriented businesses these days are fewer and I'd rather give my $$$ to those kinds of businesses.
Add to that, I was Hammer faithful before Visionary always liked their equipment. Black, Blue and Burgandy my favs.
My first Visionary stuff came to me used. Bought in the late 90's a Magenta DC Tour, Greenie, and Orange Warlock from Rich Wonders the black sheep of the Wonders clan who has a bowling center in Racine, Wisconsin and pro shop. Rich has an eagle and is one of the top notch seniors in Cheeseland.
Over the years, I've tried these Vis. balls that I can remember have most of them did sell a few the 3 I mentioned above...plus either new or used Red Sorcerer, Blue Warlock, Crimson Executioner, Charcoal Ex., Glowing Amulet, Purple Ice Ex., Blue Sparkle Gryphon, Burgandy Gryphon, Midnight Scorcher, FMG, G-3, Blue/Green Centaur, All the Gargoyles.... Granite <from michelle>, Violet, Greenie, all the Ogres....Solid, Pearl and SS, and my last purchase an Immortal Solid. I have not used any of the AMB line Bronze, Solid or Particle...mainly because for the most part I either had those conditions covered by other Vis. balls and in my area they don't put as much oil down for those types of balls to work well. So, I've used just about everything.
Which ones did I like the best? Honor scores would reflect I matched up well with the Gargoyle line. Granite and Violet I did real well with. Also, Ex. line I loved both Crimson and Char were killer. I've mentioned before that I never have left so mnay 8 pins that with the Char. Ex. Also like Gary aka MI 2 AZ I loved the even bench mark roll of the Blue Warlock and Blue Sparkle.
But those were balls of the past...right now the Ogre line will cover all but the extreme flooded condtion and you have the AMB Particle for that. Normally, I start with the Solid pin above and right of ring 4" pin to PAP 60 deg. X hole on VAL 1" below midline and have it right now at 600 wet sand with light coat of Legends polish over on a THS. At a 1000 abralon with no polish I tend to leave flat 10's on most synthetic surfaces that I bowl on for league. Both the Solid and Pearl are nice arcing balls. If, I need a lil more kick on the backend I switch to an Immortal Solid pin over bridge slightly towards middle 5 1/2" pin to PAP MB 2" right of thumb no X hole 45 deg. 1000 OOB with a lil Legends polish over. Or I go right to the Pearl pin over ring 4 1/2" pin to PAP CG mid grip 75 deg. no X hole also can use this ball to start on some conditions....depends on length and backends. Tend to use a Solid to tame down ripping clean backends then move to Pearl. Then, SS will clean up unless there is a lot of carry down which I have not seen this year. SS is pin over bridge 5" pin to PAP CG mid grip 90 deg. no X hole.
The 3 Ogres plus the Immortal is all I have been using this year except for some tourneys. Used Blue/Green, FMG, Pearl on sport condition tourneys that I've bowled this year.
I'd say the 2 balls that I did not like are gone now. Purple Ice for sport conditions I never could match up with...probably had it laid out wrong for what I was trying to do. Orange Warlock was very oil sensitive for me. FWIW....I gave the Purple Ice to a fellow team mate who is rev challenged and he kills with it. I knew he would. Different strokes for different folks.
Coverstock lonegvity is well documented. Easy company to deal with and around for the long haul.
Wanna know more I've got more thoughts.
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Scott
