Last week I threw my first set with VBP.   I was looking for something in 14# to trade since I wasnt buying new...Ended up with a single drill Immortal Solid.  It was in great shape.  682 with it. I had it too shinny to start but liked it, liked it so much I have decided to make a company change.  For the last couple years I have been with AMF...well I now have my Immortal Sld and added a New Breed Particle/Pearl, Gladiator Pearl and Ogre SS.  Pins are all up so Im still looking for a strong solid with pin down but wouldnt mind some help making a choice on that. I look forward to talking with Jason @ VBP about the idea of a staff position.  If anyone has time, tell me about your experience with Visionary.
From what I have seen so far it looks like the beginning of a bright future.

i was thinking of trying that test staff thing also

Visionary has a very good quality control program.  If you ever run across any of their blems, you will probably wonder why it is labeled a blem.

Jason is always willing to answer any questions and Betsy is always helpful by email or phone and the rest of the staff is great too.

If you pick up a Mixed Breed, just be aware that it is a Z-spin cored ball so research the layout before drilling.  There were a couple of topics in the Visionary forum here about that.

Don't overlook any of the older Visionary lines.  Some of my favorites are there.

Wow, that's pretty brutal stuff.  I really like the approach that they have taken.  I respect the fact that they haven't saturated the market with ball after ball of the same thing.

As an Average Joe Bowler, I have found their stuff to mach up VERY well on a wide range of THS.  I personally have had real good luck with an Immortal Solid, New Breed Particle/Pearl, and Ogre SS.  I'm not the biggest fan of the ball reaction from the New Breed P/P, I guess I just expected more but I will make some cover changes and see what happens.  Even with the slight dissapointment in ball reaction it still helped me save face just last Monday.  I tried starting out with my kinda new Gladiator Pearl and that ball just hooked off the map.  I couldn't control the backend if my life depended on it.  After 5 splits in 9 frames I decided to put it away and went to the New Breed P/P...oh, 139 game one, and all by myself.  Anyway got out the New Breed and was in line for 250+ but stone nine put me at 237.  Game 3 was even better on my way to 270ish but settle for 259.

Point being, the New Breed Particle Pearl is a fantastic ball for THS.  A good friend of mine has used an Ogre Solid for about 6 years now.  I know he doesn't do ANYTHING for ball care and it still works as good as it did when he got it.

I'm still looking forward to getting in with VBP.  Jason (Wonders) has been out sick since last week or earlier.  I talked with Betsy a bit and she forwarded some info to him and I look forward to hearing from them when Jason gets back to better health.

For a company as a whole, they seem great.  So far good products and good service...Sounds like a winning combo to me.  All bowlers can take advantage of what they have to offer.  Right down to average Joe bowler.

It was another one of those nights...Out of the gates with 180.  Throwing the ball well but fighting reaction.  After last weeks issue not seeing the backend that I expected out of the New Breed Part/Prl I took the surface up quite a bit to eliminate burn up. 

Mission accomplished...but the ball was way too strong for our THS.  It's 35' buffed to 37'.  Yeah, short is right.  Anthing below 17 mph off the hand and you better plan on moving left.  Needless to say the New Breed was way too much.

I went down to the only other ball that I had, Orge SS.  I did have the cover sanded.  Actually I finished it with the T pad from 900 Global.  Amazing finish for that ball.  Considering the backend where really clean the semi polished surface glided through the heads and read the backend well.  Not a S/S as advertised but a real good alternative to short and dry.

Anyway, as I was too dumb to keep moving left game one I ended with 180.  Splittng in the 10th didn't help.  Even if I went sheet from the 8th I would hve ended 04.  I made the ball change and a friend said quit fighting it and get in there.  Not believing that the Orge SS had the abilitly I was reluctant the first three frames and paid for it.  Designer spares from what was some real nasty nosey shots.  I subdued to the pressure and moved in.  It was there after all.  If not for a couple real horrible shots...(not trusting the ball)  It had the making of 240ish.  Instead it ended up 214.  Another open in the 10th.  Game 3 was much of the same looking for some carry and it was close.  Had a chance for 259 to finish the night but let my head get in the way a couple of times ended with 212.

It has been a great experience so far with Visionary Bowling Products.  I look forward to rounding out my arsenal.  I guess I'm looking for that all purpose ball or bench mark ball.  I'm leaning toward a semi sanded pearl like a G-3 or a FM Gryphon sanded to 4000...Please if anybody reads this and has some insight I'm listening.

Recap for tonight:
180, 212, 214=606

Besides fighting the shot and getting in my own way, these new pieces have given me way more than enough chance to put some big numbers.  Here's to a great future!

I just purchased an Ogre Urethane from a guy in Wisconsin and he has a few more pieces he is willing to part with.  I already have an Ogre SS so I don't think I will be getting that from him, but he does have pin down Orange Warlock and pin down Scorcher NPT.  The G-3 Gryphon that he has is pin up but I love the core numbers,  I have good luck with higher RG med hi diff balls and I think if I do like 2000 Abralon I can get it to read the mids good and still have enough pop on the back end.

I really like the looks of that Scorcher too.  I have commited to buying the G-3, now it's just a matter of which ball is going to give me the best overall playability?  Scorcher or Warlock.  Maybe I should just buy them all!

Yeah, it helps.  I have been using an AMF Hype Urethane.  The core isn't as strong as the NPT but if that is any judge of how it would work, it might fit the bill.

At the same time I have always seemed to have great luck giving pearl balls a light matte finish.  I track really high and roll the ball more than spin it so the pearl helps me get the push I need.  I think the Orange Warlock sanded and the G-3 at like 4000 Abralon or a 900 Global T pad should be a good 1-2.

That leaves me needing a solid, solid.  One that I can count on no matter what the situation.  Betsy at VPB sent me a discount list and I wondered about the Orange/Black Orgre.  Drilled med strong, what is the word on that.  It has a lower Diff than I like, (being a roller) but it seems like there is plenty of backend in this VPB equipment despite the stated core dynamics...

OK here's what I think though I have moved on from VBP I probably know more about their equipment than anyone on here cuz I have just about had very ball except the newer z-spinners.

First of all not everyone is going to see a benchmark ball the same but I see it as a middle of the road in strength solid symmetrical with 2.53 to 2.57 .040 to .045.  Enough strength but not uber strong.  For a drilling angle, I have always liked PAP to pin to PSA of 60* which would mean you'd need an x hole on the gradient line for most bowlers.  Of course this factors in bowlers stats, etc.  For me these layouts tend to be rolly and arc not flippy for the most part.

Here's the catch other than the Blue Warlock, Blue Sparkle Gryphon and depending on cover change the Ogre Pearl....VBP does not have a good solid benchmark ball.  All 3 I mention prior are rolly arcing balls.  The Ogre Solid "pumpkin" could be with cover change but still specs are lower in total diff. IMO.  It is marketed as a oil ball with it's matte cover.  So, for me I would say a Versa-Max with correct layout and balls like a Motiv QZ Backdraft.  My best all-time benchmark was a DT Solid Black Vendetta. 

On the others the Orange Warlock is the length cousin of the Blue Warlock.  Still doesn't get flippy.  Guys with hand can hit this ball and not get over reaction.  The SS Ogre I don't care who says it's a skid snap ball is NOT a skid snap ball for most.....it is NOT a Greenie.  Maybe TwoHands834 can get a SS Ogre to flip but for most it's a control length and slight flip ball. 

The NPT Scorcher is a non-reactive cover.  Cover mirrors the old Blue Hammer and is very hard to change just like the BH.  The NPT that I have, I have had a 300 with and can be used on a heavier volume wet/dry of some length and play a line to get it to roll off the wet/dry oil line.  Not a ball the way mine is drilled for very short wet/dry. 

The G-3 is a good ball and is very much like the Classic same type of cover and The Classic is a small inter. diff. y-spinner so it can be classified as a symmetrical.  I'd say the ball motion is much the same as a Classic from talking to Matt C.  It's again not a flippy ball for most length and arc.  VBP makes a lot of length/arc balls.

Some how I don't know how you can't get the Gladiator Pearl to work on a house condition.  To me it would be the closest to a benchmark with a slight cover change.  You may have to move in but it will show you what's out there and carry well for most.

Another factor you have to watch on all these older balls is that they are weaker covers compared to what other manufacturers are putting out now.  Some of them Orange Warlock, SS Ogre, NPT I can hit harder than some of the newer other manufacturers balls and for the heavy handed this appeals to them.  I've stopped grabbing the ball at the bottom to get a better read.

That's my opinion.