- Mixed Breed Pearl

First Impressions
The Visionary Mixed Breed is a real eye-catcher, with a striking color mix of bright orange and red swirls. Beneath the shell sits an extremely complex and innovative core design. The manufacturer combines the best characteristics of the Mohawk core and the Serpentine core to create what it calls the Mixed Breed Asymmetric core. It's a special Z-Spin design that opens up unique layout possibilities. The hard technical specs on a 15-pound ball confirm the aggressive nature of this model: a medium 2.520 RG meets a high 0.052 differential and a significant 0.015 intermediate differential. This dynamic engine is wrapped in the Xiphos II solid coverstock, known for minimal oil absorption. Out of the box, the surface carries a coarse 1000-grit Abralon finish. This combination of the matte, extremely tacky cover and the high-performance asymmetric core should produce a lot of traction and an early move into a powerful roll phase, without losing energy at the end of the oil pattern.
Comparison In comparison, the Visionary Mixed Breed shows a very distinctive ball motion that is rooted deeply in its genetic lineage. Drawing on in-house references, this ball unites the extremely strong midlane roll of the Visionary Spartan with the explosive direction change of the Visionary New Breed series. Compared directly to a modern, established solid such as the Storm Phaze II, known for its even and very steady arc, the Visionary Mixed Breed is noticeably more asymmetric and more angular. Where the Storm Phaze II reads the entire lane smoothly, the Mixed Breed digs aggressively through the oil in the heads thanks to its extremely coarse surface, and the special Z-Spin core creates a considerably harder and more pronounced breakpoint. It generates noticeably more continuation than many purely symmetric models in this category. Once the oil pattern moves into transition and the front boards open up, however, the 1000-grit Xiphos II cover often reacts too sensitively to the friction that develops, which makes the ball burn up much earlier than weaker benchmark balls.
On the Lanes Because of its heavily traction-oriented construction, the Visionary Mixed Breed is the ideal tool for heavy to medium oil volumes and fresh house or sport patterns. The coarse 1000 Abralon cover keeps the ball hooked up securely in the oil and prevents it from sliding. That makes it especially valuable if you throw the ball fast or with less side rotation and naturally need help getting the ball into a roll early. Once the ball reaches the end of the oil pattern, the asymmetric core delivers an extremely strong hook and a steep entry angle into the pocket, which results in excellent carry. If you like to send the ball well out over the boards, you'll benefit from the strong recovery and the enormous energy the ball releases in the backend. As the lanes dry up, or on lanes with a lot of friction from the start, the aggressive setup quickly reaches its limits. In those cases the ball builds friction too early and lacks the necessary punch at the end. It's therefore often advisable to adjust the surface slightly on drying conditions, or to switch to a polished alternative early.