Lucky me.  To go with my recently acquired Blue/Green Centaur, a friend just traded me a mint AMB Centaur Particle for an old Track Mean Machine I had laying around.  First off, what a gritty feeling ball.  Super strong for me, and very high flaring.  After fitting the thumb-hole and then cleaning it up on the spinner with a maroon scotch-brite to bring it close to OOB, I threw it on a fresh house shot yesterday, and my normal up 5 shot had me taking out the 4-7 while my Nano Pearl drilled the same (pin above ring, MB near the VAL) was crushing the pocket.  Made a couple of moves before I ended up crossing 15 at the arrows (which is deep for me) out to about 7-8 and slamming the pocket.  I'm sure I could have gone deeper with no problem, even though I don't have a lot of hand.  Definitely a keeper for me, especially when the shot is oilier and flatter.  Makes me think I might have to try out some newer Visionary pieces.

Visionary is a very underrated company.  Jason Wonders and staff are great people and extremely friendly.  I have had much success in the past using their equipment (even at USBCs).  One of the great things about them; is their balls dont suffer from ball death after 50 games.  I have had balls that lasted well over 1000 games (Gargoyles and Executioners just to name a couple).  Not sure if they still do it.  But you may want to jump on their website and see if they still do test staff memberships.  You wont be disappointed!

Second the thoughts on the Test Staff ops, the overall company and the good they produce.  Really, once you buy a couple of balls, there's no need to get another, which is bad....but good.  I still use my Gladiator Pearl that's I got the year it came out, and that was already on its 1st drill.  The ball has seen countless number of games in practice and seasons, and while I don't throw it as much anymore, when I do I see no change in reaction.

Anyone know where one could buy visionary balls? Been looking into one of the Ravens but can't find anywhere to place an order

Although you didn't ask, let me give some info on the Ravens:

Original (Particle Pearl)

I have the least # of games on this ball out of the 3. Very even rolling ball, I would put the oil handling capability between the Attack and the Invasion, and the smoothest backend of the 3.


Raven Invasion (Pearl Resin)

House shot and shorter pattern killer. Although a pearl, ball is NOT jumpy and controls the mids very well.

I do bowl in one house that has synthetics, and the combo of the pattern and the surface does not provide enough friction for this ball to be effective.


Raven Attack:

Handles the most oil out of the 3 (for me). Ball is strong, has more backend than the Raven but not as quick off the spot as the Invasion.

Still needs some friction on longer patterns or synthetic surfaces.

For the one house I bowl in that is synthetics, to start out, I have a New Breed Solid that I start with. With that said, the Ravens are great pieces for heavier mediums and lighter medium patterns. Short to medium length patterns are good to go as well.

Good luck. Report back after you get one and put some holes in it.

Stronger core....although the core #s are almost identical in 14# for the Invasion and the Samurai. The Samurai is asymmetrical - Ravens are all symmetrical.

Do I see a need for both? On a house shot, probably not. Tourney/Sport/Flat pattern, yeah, I can see where the extra kick from the asym core and the slightly overall stronger reaction would differentiate the Samurai from the Invasion.

Just my opinion.

If you are not a VBP Test Staff member:

http://www.bowlerscellar.com/

or....Join the VBP Test Staff and order direct, cheaper prices, etc.

https://www.visionarybowling.com/

Don't forget that anyone should be able to order direct now from the site.  Better prices will be had by joining the VBP Test Staff, and to me, it is a real good offer if you look at what you get.