Author Topic: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner (Read 1573 times)

A_P_K · « **on:** December 27, 2003, 06:04:14 AM »

My Char Ex is 16lbs, comes in with a 3-4" pin out, and is drilled with the pin next to the ring finer, and the CG in grip center just enough to leave the MB close to the strong position. (practically label)

Some background about this ball, it is NOT as strong as some users tout it to be. I even scuffed it with a green scotchbrite prior to use to make sure it wasn't shiny or anything besides 600 grit. It pretty much hates oil and dry alike, making it hard to use on THS or other spotty conditions that may cause over under. At best for me this ball can handle fresh mediums with clean backends, maybe even heavier mediums as long as there is enough dry to make the ball turn over.

Now on the lanes, first attempt at testing was a second shift crown medium oiled pattern with some carrydown on wood lanes. I started my slide foot on 30 targeting 10 as the breakpoint figuring the ball would move early, but it just slid all the way through whatever oil it encountered and turned a mere two boards over in the back. Needless to say I didn't agree with the reaction so I put it away for the Purple Ice.

Back on the lanes again, second attempt this time better results. Same line, same pattern, and same surface just a little lighter oil on the lanes. This ball worked well here on this condition. Reaction shape is smooth, even, and controllabe sweeping arc. Compared to the Purple Ice it doesn't roll anywhere near as soon but it has some backend flare to it. On the matching condition the Char Ex is easy to use because of the control you can obtain from it. Which makes repeatedly hitting your target and stringing strikes easier to do when you know what to expect.

VS. Hercules:

Not as early or as strong as the Hercules, reaction shape is also similar but can be considered a step down ball when the Hercules starts too soon.

VS. Blue Gryphon:

Starts earlier and has less backend, but not as early as it should. The backend is decent considering the low RG core and could be considered a step up ball when the Blue Gryphon won't make the move.

VS. Purple Ice:

No real comparison here, all contrast, the Purple is WAY earlier, WAY stronger, and WAY more controllable throughout the entire lane.

Between these four balls the Charcoal hits the worst, but carry is relatively similar to them. I'm having a tough time trying to fit this ball in my bag, but am consistently working on a solution.

PM me with questions.

PK
--------------------
Would you give everything up, just to do it all over again?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

scotts33 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2003, 07:17:30 PM »

Here's my experience with these balls A_P_K vs. the Char Ex. I don't have my Char Ex. anyimore but had it drilled stonger with basically 60 deg with pin slightly above ring finger CG kicked out 1" MB right of thumb looking at label. I kept mine with about 1000 grit sheen

quote:
VS. Blue Gryphon:

Starts earlier and has less backend, but not as early as it should. The backend is decent considering the low RG core and could be considered a step up ball when the Blue Gryphon won't make the move

I used my Char Ex. when the Blue Gryphon wouldn't make the move or would carry well. Char Ex. for me carried better. I never left so many 8 pins than with the Char Ex. for some reason.

quote:
VS. Purple Ice:

No real comparison here, all contrast, the Purple is WAY earlier, WAY stronger, and WAY more controllable throughout the entire lane.

True totally different balls. I never found a lane condition I could use my Purple Ex. I tried two different layouts and did everything under the sun to the cover. To early rolling for my game and on a THS. Midnight Scorcher better for me on floods where Purple Ex. might be used. I gave my Purple Ex. to a stroker on my Thursday night 5 man team and the Purple matches up perfectly for him and his roll. Gives him a totally different look than his Trauma ER.

For me, I liked the Char. Ex. better than both the Blue and the Purple. Course, I don't have any of them now. So, what does that say. Probably that I didn't like the carry of the Blue but liked the ball OK. Purple would never work for me, my game and the lane conditions I see. Early roll is not for me.

Liked your review A_P_K. Good information.

Scott

A_P_K · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2003, 08:49:19 AM »

Fencer04

So far I've spoken to a few other people that say the same thing besides you and I. I know this ball isn't rolling out because there's a ton of oil rings all over the ball. I don't feel the need to change the cover because VBP wouldn't have made three Executioners to choose from.

Another thing I don't like about this compared to the Crimson is the ball doesn't even start to rev up until the backend. I thought with this low RG core alone the ball should at least want to move over.

The Crimson doesn't even get half way down the lane before you can see it begging to rev up, but continues to slide because of the pearl. When it does move though it moves in a heart beat. Compared to the backend of the Green Gargoyle, it's way bigger.(drilling)

Plus....this ball takes a shine on faster than the X-Factor Deuce did (does)...

--------------------
"How far must one go, before he throw his whole entire life right out the window"?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

livespive · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2003, 08:52:24 AM »

I think you went the wrong way myself

Mine wouldn't move either, and then I polished it.
What a difference.

I couldn't use it at home in out the box condition.
I put 800 on it and took it to nationals and it worked
better. I now have 1000 on it and it works great here
at home.

I am still looking to get the other two Excecutioners,
I do think they are going to be my ball of choice.
Very similar to my T2, and that is what I was looking for.
--------------------
Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member

livespive · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2003, 08:54:57 AM »

If the charcoal hits the worst, I can't wait to get the others

--------------------
Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member

A_P_K · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2003, 09:17:31 AM »

Well I got rid of it, my closet is full of other balls that react the same way and hit/carry 1000 times better.

If I ever decide to revisit this old road again I'll be sure to put a coat of Black Magic on it.

Eric, if you don't have one I'd suggest looking at the Blue Gryphon, which is similar in number of boards covered to the Charcoal. Even though the look is different, the amount of stored energy on the backend allows for better recovery in longer oils.

Although a quick question if you'd either answer here or PM me, why would polishing the Charcoal be effective on oil, especially longer patterns? Like I said roll out was not the case at all for the Charcoal.
--------------------
"How far must one go, before he throw his whole entire life right out the window"?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

livespive · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2003, 09:34:13 AM »

Fence,

Mine was rolling out. Once I polished it, it looked alot better.
The hit, to me was just as good as some of the other balls I was throwing
Lane1 propurple.

A_P_K

Before I had mine drilled I was doing a lot of rresearch on here. I had talked
to TheDude, he is a staff member on here. He had told me not to drill it with anything more than label drillings keeping the MB out of the strong position because the ball would use up it's energy. From your review, it looks like he was right. The ball likes to roll early so if there is not a lot of oil it rolls out. For me the polish alowed me to get farther down the lane before it rolled. It also gave me umph on the back end. Every once and a while I get over/under, but that is usually when everyone else is too.

I had a gryphon but got rid of it. I came out of the ball to fast (the coverstock was to slick for my thumb). Now that I have played with thumb slugs
I think I might try another one.

I am trying to thing a good ball to try a 315 deg drilling on. Seeing as I have one Charcoal I may do it on one of them so I have a benchmark.
--------------------
Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member

A_P_K · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2003, 09:58:04 AM »

Hmmm...ok I see what you mean, this seems to be my drilling mistake then.

I thought wrong that the MB in the Charcoal would allow it to make a more aggressive move. Could just be a case of bad ball/drilling combo, but my layout is "practically" label, maybe I need to try again down the road with a true label drilling.

I am however bowling on enough oil where it shouldn't "burn up" on the lanes. I am having difficulties getting my Hercules to move as well, but then again it could also be burning up in the track area, by seeing the scratches from the wood.

My Purple Ice is drilled solely with the MB in strong position and it does in fact roll out if it hits the dry too soon, but the reaction is still continuous enough where it's barely noticable, except for the ten pin left standing.

Also....the bad ball/drill combo could attribute to the "poor" hitting characteristics I get.
--------------------
"How far must one go, before he throw his whole entire life right out the window"?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

livespive · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2003, 10:05:05 AM »

Yeah, I have mine drilled label leverage
CG in the center of my palm (grip).
--------------------
Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member

A_P_K · « **Reply #9 on:** December 31, 2003, 10:10:16 AM »

Where's that place the MB, to the left of the thumb then?
--------------------
"How far must one go, before he throw his whole entire life right out the window"?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

livespive · « **Reply #10 on:** December 31, 2003, 10:13:49 AM »

Yeah that puts it left of the thumb.

I am thinkning about getting a crimson and drilling it stacked leverage
Like my rhino X to see if the reaction is the same.
--------------------
Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member

A_P_K · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2003, 10:20:51 AM »

Ok thanks for the advice on the Charcoal,

My Crimson is drilled (5x4) pin over the ring finger with the CG kicked to the right some. This put the MB on the VAL, but regardless it has a mean backend when it encounters dry. Since the RG is that low it leaves the ball "waiting" to meet the friction and will turn over pretty quick.

It's pretty versatile just like the Blue Gryphon is, I use them interchangably because I took the shine off the Grpyhon and down to 1000 grit. It has a nice backend but starts noticably earlier than the Crimosn does.

It HATES any long oils or backend messes so forget second shift synthetics or newer wood lanes. It also hates drier lanes and will react aggressively if played in the dirt.

My main success was on a fresh shot, clean backend, didn't matter how the pattern was, as long as it was clean. (Because of the pearl)

It hits/carries well, doesn't send many messengers ever but effectively gets the pins out of the way.
--------------------
"How far must one go, before he throw his whole entire life right out the window"?

Pin_Krusher IS a serious threat to modern day bowling wood as we know it today.

TheDude · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2003, 07:15:11 PM »

Geez, i wish i would have answered this post earlier so it wouldn't be so long to answer.

Ok, the Charcoal is a resin ball and it will over skid sometime, comparing it to a Hercules isn't really fair for the ball. Hercules being particle gives it a different read all together. The Charcoal for me is V2 sandedish(similar to V2) a dull resin ball to combat over under situations sometimes.

The purple Ice is a werid ball by most descriptions. It does roll very early, with a Lower RG core and a Particle Urethane mixed coverstock it will arc 90% of the time. An even more controlable ball then the Charcoal, this is why it's been marketed as a ball for sport conditions.

From personal experience i had two of them The first drilled 3x 4 1/2. it rolled as soon as it hit the lane, a reaction i actually liked alot. I drilled a second one that was layed out 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 which was a mistake, ball reacted like POS. Polished or dull it slided alot.

I noticed mentions of the Crimson, it was a big success for me as well on house shots, and Xmas tree shapes, on wood lanes it reacted very well. I had two one drilled label leverage and it was very good for me. I still have a second one that i drilled 5x4 and has good midlane roll but slides cause of the shiney pearl.

The gryphon does seem stronger to most than the Crimson but it's really the ball's Midlane roll that gives it the ability to handle more than most expect. Less skid snap than the Crimson and more Backend than the Charcoal.

these ball's aren't special there just simple and tweakable for most. Put a smart layout for your game on them and adjust your surface and they will serve you well.

The new Gryphons(Burgandy and G-3) are there best products yet.

The Blue gryphon for me was good and i had success with all them. The Burgandy though was the best for me. Compared by many to an X-Factor Duece with a particle cover, so less overskid. The ball never overskid for me once. Ball had heavy roll on the backend and i had only one drilled but i put 5x3 and had it shined to 1200, on a synthetic heavy oil wall shot it worked so well.

I haven't tried the G-3 yet, but it looks good. I have been using a lot of other columbia lately, so my bag is a mix mash presently.

I can be asked questions still about visionary balls and layouts. I'm still happy to answer questions even though not on staff.
--------------------
I am Canadian Dude! GOO BIG FIN!!! MIKA K ALL THE WAY!

Author Topic: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner (Read 1573 times)

A_P_K

First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

scotts33

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

A_P_K

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

livespive

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

livespive

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

A_P_K

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

livespive

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

A_P_K

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

livespive

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

A_P_K

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

livespive

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

A_P_K

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner

TheDude

Re: First Impression: Charcoal Executioner