- Amulet

First Impressions
The Visionary Amulet was released in October 1997 and occupies a very interesting niche in the manufacturer's lineup, both then and now, thanks to its unusual combination of materials. Visually, the ball usually appears in a clear, often transparent-red execution, accented with bold fluorescent orange logos and lettering. The technical heart of this model is the symmetrical Warlock core. It is a sophisticated dual-density design fitted with a heavy flip cap to generate stable, powerful rotation. At a standard weight of 15 pounds, this core shows an RG of 2.570 — solid by the standards of the day — along with a moderate differential of 0.038. In stark contrast to this fairly dynamic performance core, however, stands the outer material: the cover is a classic clear polyester, brought to a high gloss at the factory with a fine 1500-grit polish. This highly unusual combination of a full-fledged reactive core and an extremely low-friction polyester surface is deliberately designed to achieve maximum length through the heads. At the same time, the core is meant to keep the ball from deflecting too much at impact in the pin deck, as often happens with simpler constructions.
Comparison In a well-founded comparison, the Visionary Amulet sets itself clearly apart from the traditional, purely spare-oriented balls that dominate the market. Compared with the classic Columbia 300 White Dot or the Brunswick T-Zone, both of which typically use very simple pancake cores and a minimal differential of around 0.020, the Amulet's complex Warlock core offers significantly more dynamic potential and a bit more track flare. Placed next to its in-house sibling, the Visionary Orange Warlock, which uses exactly the same core but a reactive pearl cover, the Amulet shows virtually no aggressive direction change on the backend, since the smooth surface simply cannot build any traction. Drawing a comparison to more modern concepts, the underlying technological idea resembles models such as the Track Spare+ or the Radical Spy. These balls, too, deliberately combine a strong performance core with a very weak cover in order to deliver noticeably more carry than an ordinary plastic ball in specific situations. Conceptually, the Amulet sits right on the line between a precise spare ball and a highly specialized tool for extremely dry conditions.
On the Lanes The practical use of the Visionary Amulet accordingly splits into two very specific and clearly separate scenarios. First and foremost, it works as an extremely precise and reliable ball for spare shooting. Thanks to the highly polished polyester cover, the ball ignores nearly all friction on the outside boards and slides completely straight down the lane. That makes it an ideal and forgiving choice for picking off single pins accurately. In direct contrast to simple plastic balls, though, the strong Warlock core should provide noticeably better energy transfer in this scenario and thus have a positive effect on carry when your target is slightly off. The second major area of use opens up on extremely dry lanes or during a far-advanced transition, when the regular playing tracks have dried up completely and even the weakest urethane or reactive balls generate too much hook and turn uncontrollably toward the pocket. Especially if you are rev-dominant or bowl two-handed, you can use the Amulet very effectively as a first ball on such heavily played conditions. It glides completely unfazed through the dried-up heads and, thanks to the dynamic core, still develops exactly the amount of roll needed to mix the pins effectively. On fresh oil, on the other hand, the ball is entirely unsuitable because of its minimal traction.