Both my Spartan and Crossover are gone.  I run into a lot of transition and carry down and neither can handle that type of lane condition for me and my technique.  To combat that I tried a Gladiator Pearl but it also was iffy so I went to a Motiv QZ-1 Red  2000 abralon and slight polish then a slight scuff with a 4000 abralon pad with a tighter VAL angle so it would transition harder off the backend. I also believe the coverstock on the QZ-1 is stronger than any of the pearl covers that Visionary has. That ball is the ticket.  I haven't had any issues since the change.   From the inside, I feed it into the dry track gets enough length and transitions hard enough to carry well.   I was battling this all year now no issues what so ever.  Wish I would have found it earlier made it a struggle for most of the year until a few weeks back.  

Thanks guys.  The balls are definitely not dying.  The league is a first shift, fresh shot league.  They have ALOT of volume in the middle of the lane and go down 40 feet with the machine (not sure how much of it is buff).  For the first two games, I tried everything.  If I played 12 at arrows out to 5, it hooked too much.  If I moved in and played 17 out to 5, it wiggled too much.  So I tried direct up 10-12 and left some combination of the 2-8-10 or 2-4-8-10 3 or 4 times.  My Ogre Solid is at 1000 abralon right now.  The issue, is that for me, that surface works the best when they are fresh.  500 abralon was too dull for my rev rate I believe.  Once the track FINALLY started to wear down, I finished strong the second game and shot 258 the last game to shoot 670.  Granted 670 is a decent set but it was a tale of two halves.  First half the night, I start 185 (3 splits, 1 conversion) and then on pace for 180 again through the first five frames of the second game, to throwing 5 of the last 6 and shooting 229 and then only missing twice the last game for 250.  I had a 200 average bowler using a OOB Marvel and lit me up for 698 not including the 18 sticks I am spotting him. 

 

I am not usually one to hit the spinner and alter surfaces every night.  When I find a surface and reaction I really like out of a particular ball, I leave it there.  The layout on my Spartan is a 5 inch to PAP, 45 degrees.  Once again, on the fresh, it rolls good but then slightest hint of carry down and it wont move.  From a shot to shot basis, I get a more consistent roll from both the Crossover and Ogre. 

 

SO......my thought was to get an Immortal or AMB, something with a much stronger core, with the cover at 1000 where I can still play in a little when the Crossover and Ogre are not enough. 

I have tried to go up the back on that ball and when I do, it lacks continuation.  It almost hook stops.  Anything will hook on dry.  It is when the lanes are oiled where you get a true sense of a ball's strength.  I think VBP is falling behind a little on the higher end stuff.  The Crossover is a higher end piece but that serpentine core is not very strong.  Does it flare?  Yes.  BUT, it is a 2.56 rg which by todays standards is weak for a high end piece, especially giving that the coverstock strength may not be up to other balls on the market such as a Marvel, World Beater, Pure Physics.  Other companies have cores where the RGs are higher but they are using "supercovers".  My question is.....Can VBP come up with a cover that has good oil handling capabilities where particle isnt used in the cover, and doesnt have to be taken down to 400-500 grit?  Unfortunately, USBC has taken the monster cores that VBP was using and saying you cant use them anymore.  So, now they are trying to go in a different direction to try and keep up with other companies high end equipment but they just are not quite there.  I am thinking that since they are still "legal" in the sense they were grandfathered in, I may try to get one of the mamma jammas left in the discontinued list as my oiler.  I had a Frankie May once before and it was an absolute beast.  I really liked that React-a-Tack cover.  Kind of would like to see it make a comeback.  Wonder as to its strength compared to a Gladiator Soild and Ogre Solid.

I think with the newer stuff, is that you have to drill them STRONG!!!  Unless you are a big spinner, You have to put the pin at 4 inches and kick everything outside the grip quite a bit to get desired results.  In other words, the MB needs to be close to the VAL and a weight hole in the P3 or P4 position in order to have continuation.  If and when I decide to get anything else "newer", I am going to keep putting the MB at 45 degrees, which for me, puts the MB very close to my VAL so I can put a weight hole in P3 or P4 to help "make" the ball rev up and motor on the back.  With my Crossover, if I dont increase my axis rotation to about 45-60 degrees, the ball wont continue.  My typical axis rotation is closer to 30 degrees which with the newer releases and assymetric cores, makes me stuff want to hook/stop.  I am considering either a FMG or AMB Solid.

Anybody want this 14 lb'er let me know. 2x strong drill.  My PAP is 5" over and 0.