- Spartan

First Impressions
The Visionary Spartan, released in October 2010, is an asymmetrical bowling ball that makes a visual statement with its striking color blend of gray with white and plum swirls. At the heart of this model sits Visionary's own Mohawk Asymmetrical core. This core is characterized by a dense center and a lighter outer shell. With a radius of gyration of 2.52, it belongs to the group of balls that rotate relatively early and move quickly into a roll phase. A particular feature of the Mohawk core is its moderate asymmetrical influence, often described as a mild mass bias. This should make fine-tuning through the drilling easier and deliver a controllable yet still very powerful motion. The cover is the Xiphos Solid material. According to the manufacturer, this surface was developed specifically over a period of nine months as a direct answer to the heavily absorbent shells of other high-end balls. The Xiphos Solid cover is meant to provide the traction and strength of an aggressive ball without soaking up so much oil that performance drops off drastically after a few dozen games. Out of the box the surface is matte, which allows the ball to dig into the oil early and build strong traction before it reaches the end of the oil pattern.
Comparison Comparing the Visionary Spartan with an established solid ball like the Storm Phaze II reveals clear structural differences in design concept. The Storm Phaze II relies on a very strong but strictly symmetrical core. In the Phaze II this produces an extremely round, continuous and smooth motion that spreads evenly across the entire lane. The Visionary Spartan, on the other hand, uses the slight asymmetrical properties of its Mohawk core to generate a somewhat more angular and more defined move in the midlane after it clears the heads. Where the symmetrical Storm Phaze II sometimes tends to give up its rotational energy early on drying lanes and hit the pins flatter, the Spartan's asymmetrical core retains a bit more torque for the breakpoint thanks to its specific flare potential. Still, the Spartan is not a radical asymmetric monster like modern heavy-oil balls. Its mild mass bias makes it react considerably more predictably than strongly asymmetrical models and less prone to sudden overreaction on contact with early friction. The Xiphos Solid cover also proves more consistent in its surface structure by comparison, while many conventional solid shells often have to be cleaned and resurfaced more frequently to maintain exactly the same hook.
On the Lanes The primary application for the Visionary Spartan is on medium to heavy oil volume. The matte surface combined with the rev-friendly core makes it an ideal choice on fresh house shots or on more demanding sport patterns where control and a strong midlane read are the top priority. If you have a lower rev rate you benefit enormously from the Xiphos Solid cover, since the ball grabs early enough to develop a reliable hook toward the pocket without you having to force rotation on it. If you throw the ball fast, the dense center of the core offers enough stability to keep the ball from sliding uncontrolled through the oil. Once the transition sets in and oil is carried into the front sections of the lane or spread out in the back end, the ball shows its true strengths. The asymmetrical core effectively helps bring the ball back over more boards even from deeper angles, while the solid cover maintains a continuous and powerful arc. Another key performance trait is the excellent carry. The early roll ensures the ball carries high forward energy into the pin deck, which noticeably minimizes the risk of leaving corner pins. Ultimately this is a versatile tool that suits tournament players in particular who are looking for durability and a strong, consistent reaction in oil.