Brian,

 It is definately more ball than the nautical blue and green messengers. The weight-block alone is stronger for sure, giving it a better midlane read. I threw the ball quite often the first 4 weeks I was on tour this season and was quite impressed.  I ended up having two drilled, one like a 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 with the pin under my ring finger to read earlier and set, the other like a 5x5 shiny, which I used like your buddy in the sport league to play a deeper angle.  The ball still reads the midlane nice with the 5x5 which keeps it looking like it makes more room for error on those sport patterns. Anywho, good luck with your bowling.