- G-3 Gryphon

First Impressions
The Visionary G-3 Gryphon, which hit the market in November 2003, is a technically sophisticated bowling ball that stands out with its striking two-tone red and blue look. The cover of this model is made from the reactive Pearlized G-3 material, a high-performance pearl cover that comes with a 1500 polish out of the box. This very smooth surface is deliberately designed to let the ball glide through the heads with complete ease. Inside works the symmetrical Gryphon II core, often also referred to as the G-3 core. An essential feature of this design is the integrated, especially heavy flip cap on top of the otherwise symmetrical block. The hard numbers for a 15-pound ball underline its aggressive intent on the lane: the RG sits at a comparatively low 2.497, paired with an enormously high differential of 0.056. This combination signals a massive flare potential of four to six inches, which makes the ball work extremely hard on every revolution and expose plenty of fresh surface.
Comparison If you bring in a modern, widely known benchmark such as the Storm Phaze II for comparison, the differences in reaction become very clear. The Storm Phaze II uses a symmetrical core design combined with a heavily sanded, dull solid cover, which consistently aims at very early traction in the oil and a smooth, rounded arc. The Visionary G-3 Gryphon behaves fundamentally differently here. Thanks to the polished pearl shell, it travels through the first boards with far less resistance and conserves its rotational energy noticeably longer for the end of the lane. While normal pearl balls often run the risk of sliding too far on slight carrydown and missing the breakpoint, the low RG of the G-3 Gryphon makes sure the core already starts to read strongly in the midlane. When the ball then hits friction in the last third, the heavy flip cap creates an extremely sharp and aggressive change of direction. This classic skid-snap reaction is far more angular and direct at the breakpoint than the very forgiving, gentle curve of the Storm Phaze II.
On the Lanes In practice, the Visionary G-3 Gryphon finds its ideal area of use on medium lane conditions. It is especially effective when the lanes are fresh and still offer plenty of friction in the backend. But even once the transition sets in during the block, the front boards dry up noticeably and the oil pushes into the back part of the lane, this model plays to its strengths. The smooth surface helps you keep getting to the pocket cleanly without the ball losing energy or burning up too early. At the same time, the enormous core dynamics make sure that despite possible carrydown the ball does not slide past the breakpoint, but reliably transitions into a strong hook. This ball is meant to support a wide range of player types. If you have a lower rev rate, you benefit from the strong mechanical help of the angular core, which should maximize your carry on a solid hit. If your revs are very dominant, the built-in length characteristics of the pearl cover give you the control you need in the heads to use the aggressive backend move optimally and predictably. On extremely heavy oil patterns, however, the polished finish can mean the ball does not build enough traction, so sanding the surface could become necessary here.