I thought I'd update my experiences with my NBPP for those that have interest in the ball. Note that these are my experiences with my bowling technique, ball speed and lane conditions I've use it on. See profile for stats.
I have tried an umpteen amount of surfaces from OOB P2000 abralon to polish over various grits. I've found overall that the OOB P2000 surface is really the best for me and fits in a line-up of Visionary equipment.
First, after doing various surface changes one of the best factors that this ball has is it's ability to retain it's particle surface...the "beard" as it's know to most. I have had a Granite, Midnight Scorcher, Burgundy, AMB Particle, Purple Ice Ex...all of these balls after a number of surface changes over time seemed to me to lose their particle surface. Just wore faster when resurfacing or just weren't the same as when new OOB.
Not the NBPP in fact it seems better or as good as new OOB. I have about 40+ games and it now and a half a dozen surface changes before I went back to OOB and left it that way.
Where the NBPP fits for me? At OOB P2000 I use it on blended lanes of various lengths and volumes and it works well. Decent length and a rolling arc. The Serpentine core I believe because it is a tall core seems to get length and then when it hits friction gets a straighter roll if this makes sense. I saw this on a New Breed Pearl also. On blended patterns it reads the lane well and the particle surface evens out the hook and roll in back end. I find this a very nice attribute on most lane conditions. The NBPP is normally a first ball out of the bag on blended conditions. I suffer with it on wet/dry....it checks up to early and over reads the dry. Uses up energy can leave anything from blowing thru the nose to washouts as there isn't enough oil in that part of the lane. It would what I call a medium-heavy condition. Fit slightly above the Gladiator Solid both OOB and similar layouts. See pics.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q29/scotts33/VisNBPP.jpg there is an X hole at P3 on the NBPP now.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q29/scotts33/VisGladSolid.jpgFor most wet/dry house conditions in leagues I don't bring it out. Just isn't the right ball for me on that type of condition because of particle OOB surface....the Glad. Solid would do a better job or best is a G/B Centaur for me...evens out the over reaction off the dry outside.
I bought the NBPP with a specific use in mind using it on second shift leagues with quite a bit of carry down. For that use with slight amount of polish it never worked out. Never could find the right surface nor technique to get it to read lane correctly and carry well. I am still looking for that ball and if Visionary brings out a Crimson Ex or G-3 remake that would be what I would try next for length and more flip. That ball right now is a pin over Track Heat OOB remake. I tried a AMB Bronze and it works decently but is a rolling arc not flippish enough to carry well on slight carry down. The other modern Vis. pearls don't handle carry down well at all for me.
Hope this might help others that are looking for an honest opinion by a hack bowler.
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Scott
