BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Visionary => Topic started by: louie on December 28, 2004, 04:01:28 AM
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Man does this puppy come dull! The ball feels like a 3 day growth of beard. I didn't even try it in out of box finish. I smoothed it with scotch brite pads to about 1000 grit. I tried it out, and the ball started hooking while it was still in the oil! I put it in a luster king for 2 minutes. Now it at least waits until the midlane to hook. It still is super strong. I can still feel the bumps of the cover stock through the polish. I can't wait to throw this tonight. The lanes usually play fairly wet with a flatter house pattern on Tuesday night. I'll report later.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?
louie
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Original surface is 320 grit!
Unless you're on REAL and TRUE heavy oil, it's advisable to sand finer and re-polish as you have done.
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Yeppers. Great heavy oil ball. I keep mine at 600 for that reason.
Scott
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mee too i cant even throw a regular inferno around here with out putting it away after middle of first game i want to bowl where you do!!!!!
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Welcome to the land of the lefties, where there is a wall and I know how to use it!
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Even the light polish was not enough. The ball was burning up in a major way. I have now polished it in the luster king for another 10 minutes. It now is playable on this wetter medium shot. I have a good shine on the ball now but can still feel the textured surface. I really only use polished equipment, so I don't know why I even tried this beast dull. The ball doesn't like dry boards early. It much prefers to be played in the oil rather than sent wide. I had success with the ball playing about 14 at the arrows out to about the 8 at the breakpoint. I usually play more of a 13 to 5 line. If I sent the Granite wide it would either roll out or over react. When I played just a tad deeper and straighter, the ball rolled and hit great! The ball wants a relaxed easy release. If you hit up on the ball to much it carries poorly and becomes erratic. Less is more. Very favorable first impressions now that I have the surface right. This ball is really strong. I can't imagine anyone needing more hook than this. In box finish it starts hooking in the oil.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?
louie
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quote:
Still mad at why this ball and not the Burgandy Gryphon was kept around.
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Audric S. Bent
Visionary Test Member
San Antonio, Texas
Sales?
Plus, I believe it was Jason Wonders, who said, here at ballreviews, that they were going to concentrate on the lower priced market segments. The Granite sells at Buddies for $85, while the Burgundy Gryphon sold for $125 or so. But I agree with you; I think the Burgundy was more useful over a wider range of oil patterns, was more adaptable to cover changes and easier to care for.
Edited on 12/29/2004 6:37 AM
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I don't think the Burgundy sold well. As Charlest said, look at the price point. The Granite will hook on anything dull or handle wetter mediums polished for $150 retail. The Burgundy covered similar conditions at $200+ retail. If you are looking for an oil ball from Visionary, most people will try the cheaper ball. Also, the Gryphon line seems to have sold poorly while the Gargoyle line is the most successful line Visionary has had. I carry a Blue Gryphon, which I like a lot for most mediums. I briefly had a G3 which tended to roll a little early for me due to the low rg high differential core. The Gryphons are all great balls, but they are no better then the Gargoyles and cost a lot more.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?
louie
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Sounds like you had some personal success with the Burgundy. That always helps sell a ball. Visionary is a great company. I've had the Scorcher, Glowing Amulet, Slate Gargoyle, G3, Blue Gryphon, and now the Granite. I like this company because they carry well and the balls do what the company promises. If they say a ball is for dry it works on dry. When they tell you it is for oil it works on oil. Many companies don't do that. Track for example drives me nuts because all their balls hook so much. Even the Dry Heat was a fairly aggresive ball.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?
louie
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quote:
I haven't been a fan of my charcoal. In the box it was too strong even when I found some oil, and then after polish it just doesn't really recover. I love my other visionary balls, but also think that the burgundy was a much better ball than the charcoal.
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J.Hansen
Visionary Test Staff Member
BLASPHEEEMM lol
Talk like that can get you hurt 
j/k lmao
I will agree, out of the box the ball was WWWWAAAYYY to strong,
but with a little work, they are the best balls (yes balls)
IN my arsenal.
How is yours drilled, and what do you have it polished to?
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Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member
http://www.visionarybowling.com
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To go back to louie's original post. louie although the Granite's surface can be adjusted to turn it into a lower backend hooking ball. My question is why use it for what it was not intended for? It's a heavy oil ball even at 600 and that's the way I keep mine. If, you are on a budget and can only have the Granite with a spare ball I can understand but why not go with a medium ball like the Violet or some other medium to light ball?
For those that sing the praises of the Burgundy well said the Granite is also a great ball don't sell it short.
Scott
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I agree with scott.
I stopped in at my drillers, and he had one polished
I asked him why and he said the guy bought it because it
was for heavy oil, but it was still too strong for him,
so he polished it.
We had one guy shoot a 300 with a Granite, and now they
are selling like hotcakes
I think if you can afford them to get all 4
The granite is a true flood ball (at least I think so).
That's what I would use it for
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Eric T. Spivey, P.E.
Visionary Test Staff Member
http://www.visionarybowling.com
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The ball was a Christmas present. I never see true heavy oil. I needed something for this flatter pattern and the Granite fits the bill now that it is polished. It is the rare bowler who ever sees anything wetter that medium heavy oil. Out of box this ball is all but useless, but with 10 minutes of surface work it becomes a really nice ball for lanes that don't have a lot of free hook.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?
louie
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Audric--I've rolled my Granite on heavier lane conditions with great results. If you aren't then oh well you just don't see that kind of condition. Shot a 299 two years ago on a used Granite that I purchased from michelle. She could not use it either to dry in TX.
Most just aren't seeing the heavy lane condition that this ball is great for but that's not Visionary's nor the balls fault. Use a Violet or another medium ball. Use the ball on the right pattern and quit whining. 
Scott
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I was looking in to a granite at one point, never ended up getting it. Looks like it would be a real nice ball for heavy/flooded lanes. I have a charcoal executioner and a green gargoyle right now. I love both of them. I throw the charcoal the most though, since its lighter then the green gargoyle. Good luck with the ball. Oh, and I am really sorry for taking so long to ship the AZO back, just been caught up in crap, got the flu, etc etc. I will ship it ASAP.
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16 years old, and proud of it! Still not mature either! 
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I had the same problem until I got a good polish on the ball. If you have any dry to work with, the box surface is way too much. I guess if you had 45 foot oil and carrydown, the box surface would be great. Who sees that? Great ball, just add polish.
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Why does everyone laugh when I bowl?
louie
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With all the talk about the Granite I pulled mine out this week. Forgot what a good ball it can be. In Reno had Frankie dull it back down for nationals, which worked well for me. Got home and started with 800 grit polish, then 1500, and finished with Storms diamond gloss. Took it out last night and didn't lose the pocket all night. I had forgot what an even rolling ball it is. Going to have to keep it in the bag. With the granite, charcoal and DC tour, I get 3 different looks on the lanes.
Outrage
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Visionary balls give a ton of bang for a little buck, and the Granite is as good as anything that they've made. I've owned two of them, and I would not hesitate to pick up a third. In box finish, this ball will handle as much oil as you can possibly throw at it. Polished, the ball goes longer, snaps harder and acts more like a strong reactive. I've owned nearly 100 balls, Lane 1 included, and I've still never had a ball hit harder than the Granite. People who are finding poor hit must be using it on the wrong conditions, because this ball hits like an angry wife. I know that different balls work better for different people/styles, but, with the right prep and a little intelligence as to what conditions you're using it on, this ball will kick butt and take names for anyone. Give it a chance to be successful and you'll love it.
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I can't bowl 300, but I can bench 315 : )