- Burgundy Particle Gryphon

First Impressions
The Visionary Burgundy Particle Gryphon, released in April 2003, is a bowling ball designed specifically for very demanding, oily lane conditions, and it stands out with its plain, deep red look. The cover of this model is made from an aggressive particle material. Unlike purely reactive shells, which generate their friction primarily through chemical pores, this particular coverstock has microscopically small solid particles worked into it that act like the tread of a winter tire. Out of the box the surface carries a rough, matte finish, deliberately designed to give the ball enormous traction in oil and to make it grab extremely early in the heads. Inside works the same highly dynamic, symmetrical Gryphon II core that is also used in the reactive sister models of this series. A key feature of this design is the integrated, particularly dense flip cap on the top of the otherwise symmetrical block. The hard technical data for a 15-pound ball underline its performance-oriented character on the lane: the RG value sits at a comparatively low 2.497, paired with an enormously high differential of 0.056. This combination signals a massive flare potential of up to six inches, which makes the ball work hard on every revolution and continuously brings fresh, grabby surface to the lane.
Comparison If you bring in a modern, widely known benchmark like the Storm Phaze II for a detailed comparison, massive differences in the way traction is developed become apparent. The Storm Phaze II uses a heavily sanded reactive solid cover in combination with a very strong symmetrical core, which consistently aims at early traction in oil and a very smooth, rounded arc across the entire length of the lane. The Visionary Burgundy Particle Gryphon, however, behaves one step more extreme thanks to its special particle cover. While the reactive material of the Storm Phaze II builds traction at a microscopic level, the physical particles of the Gryphon literally dig through the heaviest layers of oil. As a result, the Visionary Burgundy Particle Gryphon reads the lane noticeably earlier than the Storm Phaze II and begins a very heavy, steady roll phase long before the backend is reached. When the ball finally hits friction in the last third, the heavy flip cap of the core does attempt an aggressive change of direction, but this is strongly dampened by the extremely early friction of the cover. The result is a hook that turns out far more arcing, smoother and less angular than with models featuring polished surfaces.
On the Lanes In practical use, the Visionary Burgundy Particle Gryphon finds its absolutely ideal application on heavily oiled lane conditions, long oil patterns or in games with very high oil volume. When the lanes are still fresh and show a dense layer of oil in the heads, this model plays out all of its conceptual strengths. The rough particle cover actively helps you not to lose traction and ensures that the ball does not slide uncontrolled past the breakpoint. The enormous core dynamics also make sure that the ball transitions very early into a stable, forward-rolling rotation, which should clearly maximize carry on a solid hit in the pocket. This ball should massively support in particular those player types who work with very high ball speed or who naturally have a rather low rev rate. For these players, the strongly biting material provides the mechanical support that is absolutely necessary to get the ball working on the lane in time. Great caution is called for, however, once the transition sets in during the course of a game and the front boards noticeably lose oil. Under these dried-up conditions, the aggressive particle cover in combination with the low RG value has an extreme tendency to use up all of its rotational energy far too early. The ball then threatens to literally burn up on its way to the pins, which inevitably leads to a weak and ineffective hit. In such moments a switch to weaker balls is mandatory.