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Author Topic: Centaur  (Read 16711 times)

admin

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Centaur
« on: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM »
Ball NPS Score: 100.00
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By combining a modified version of our DC core, a new fully adjustable reactive coverstock, and a price that's easy on the wallet, we have created a ball that is a must have for league bowlers. The Green/Blue CENTAUR was designed to easily get through the heads, start revving up in the midlane, and make a strong but controllable and predictable backend move.

Finish: 1000 Matte (Gray Pad)
Hardness: 75-77
RG: Med (2.61")
Flare: Low (.015" differential)
Length (1-100): 66
Back end (1-100): 81
Hook (1-100): 67 (oil) - 81 (dry)
Avail. Wts: 13-16# (Centaur core)
10-12# (on request - light wt. core)
Lane Conditions: Medium Conditions

 

D McLaughlin

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2004, 01:55:41 PM »
Drilled mine pin over bridge, cg down the midline and polished it up a bit to provide some much needed length in my game when the scorch arrives.  The best description I can offer is "BIG BANG for little bucks!!!"  Hardest hitting ball I have put in my hand in quite some time.  Arcs up nicely and makes a continuous, yet smooth transition at the breakpoint.  I have already ordered another one with the idea of leaving it box finish(semi-dull) to give me a more trustable look in the medium-light range.  Glad to see Visionary offer up this gem.  They most certainly hit the bullseye with this one.  Feel free to ask me any questions and I will do my best to answer them based on what I have seen from my own observations.
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Umm....Walter Ray....its customary to hand over your wallet AFTER I beat you. Its not like we haven't been through this a hundred times.
Darren McLaughlin

htotheizzo3561

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2004, 04:13:41 PM »
Drilled this ball with the pin below the bridge and for me, it was a great mistake.   The ball does nothing except roll over the holes due to my high track that is near the fingers.  Even with it rolling over the holes, it still should react a little bit.  But it did not, this is the first ball from visionary that I am unhappy with.

centaur

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2004, 08:07:39 PM »
I have drilled this ball and the pin is 1" above fingers and 5 1/2 from axis and i hit the ball a ton i have not yet had a problem on any condition with this ball hitting the thumb or fingers but yet is still smooth recovery not a jerky one so if you like a good even roll this is the ball

TWOHAND834

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2004, 06:44:43 AM »
D-McL,

I agree!!  WOW!  It was not what I had expected from a numbers standpoint.  

PROFILE:  18 mph, 540 rev rate, PAP is 5 1/2 over 3/4 up, very little axis tilt, 30 degree axis rotation

LANE CONDITION:  Not fun if you are a cranker type such as myself.  32 feet of oil, ProAnvilane surfaces, fresh backends, Oil used - Control

LAYOUT:  Pin above the bridge, cg under the bridge about an inch below the fingers, top weight of 3.1 ounces, pin was out 2.25 from cg, 2.6 RG, .018 Diff, surface out of the box with Track Clean and Sheen over the top of it.

GRANTED, on a 32 foot pattern, I can just about make anything hook.  With the numbers being what they are, I was figuring on something with good length and smooth, but weaker backend reaction.  I was wanting a ball that would be good for me on a fresh, but drier condition.  I still had a difficult time keeping this ball right of the headpin.  It was stronger than I had hoped.  Maybe with some tweaking of the coverstock, I can achieve what I am looking for. I have yet to try it on a "normal" 38-40 foot pattern.  Once I get onto a longer pattern, I will post my results from that.  However, on a shorter pattern, a cranker type will not have much success unless you throw it 21-22 mph.  This ball did make it through the heads pretty well.  But, when it hit the midlane, it did not hesitate to rev up and make a strong, but continuous backend reaction.  It was not flippy by any means.  But, it was definitely stronger than what I expected.  As someone who has rolled a Granite Gargoyle, the overall reaction at the breakpoint, or breakpoint shape, was extremely similar.  The difference was that the Centaur's breakpoint is a few feet farther down the lane.
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If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!
Steven Vance
Former Pro Shop Operator
Former Classic Products Assistant Manager

lefty299

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2004, 05:04:02 AM »
dude fun times with this ball.... had the pin drilled right over the bridge and when i throw the ball it cames back if i dont throw it so hard, i had the front 9 and the back 9 with the ball so far im pretty happy with it

manofvision

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2004, 06:18:06 PM »
I recently joined the Visionary test staff and this was one of the balls i chose.

righthander:  15-18 revs, 16 mph average ball speed

15#, pin placed next to the ring finger, CG slightly below center in my grip, no extra holes.  I have not changed the surface at all.

Reaction:
With the low differential/flare of this ball it really is not a monster hooker my any means. What I have seen in reaction is very controlled and mild, even when the backends are fresh and free.  It rolls in the midlane and just doesn't have a big direction change unless you lay into it slow and give it some dry boards.  Dont get me wrong, this ball WILL hook if you give it a chance though. IF you want it to be controlled, roll it;  if you want it to hook, hit it. Very adaptable.

Carry:
Even with the more mild reaction that this ball presents, i still do not see many issues with carrying the corners.  Line up correctly and roll it in the pocket all day.

I am debating polishing the surface to see what it does to it.  I have other stuff that flips, though, so I dont know that I wanna do that.

Consensus:
If you want a ball with some surface that wont hook out of your hand and force you to wheel it right then go with the Centaur.  It's a good ball with a reaction that will fit into anyone's arsenal.

laneoil

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2004, 10:58:34 PM »
Great dry lane ball.  Make sure you shine it because out-of-box condition starts to early.  As soon as you shine this up - wow!  Great for low or high revs.  Found it on www.bowlingballnfo.com.  They have all balls listed there.

Randy Crane

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2004, 09:54:10 PM »
This is one of the best dry lane balls I have used. I can actually roll it into the dry part of the lane and it still skids and then will roll up and whack the pocket. Great ball from Visionary!

Randy
Visionary test staff member

scotts33

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2004, 12:56:49 PM »

Ball Specs

  • 15.15 lbs., 2.95 ozs. TW, 3 1/2" Pin

  • Surface box condition 1000 matte  

  • Layout 5 1/2 x 4 1/2

  • Pin above fingers centered above bridge

  • CG kicked right 1 1/2"s from grip center on horiz. center line

  • X hole 5/8" diam. 3" deep on VAL 1" below horiz. center line


My Specs

  • Right handed male consider myself tweener

  • Axis angle 45 deg.  

  • Axis point 4 7/8" over 1/2" up

  • RPM 325

  • MPH at 10' 18 mph consider myself medium speed


Overall

I have had this ball since beginning of 04 season and now have enough games on it to give it a fair review. Tried this ball from Visionary for THS wet/dry more for control than anything.  Nice surprize.  Can play dry on THS and not have the over reaction you see on most equipment these days.  Have not had my feet this far right on lane in years.  Had to get used to playing lane squarer like back in 60s & 70s.  If you are looking for ball to cover a lot of boards this is not the one.  If looking for a ball that allows a player to go more down and in or with small head belly with great hit and carry this is your ball to try. One of the better kept secrets around.

Lane Conditions Used On

1.) House shot #1.  Brunswick house older wood with Guardian overlay in heads new summer of 04.  Lane conditioner Kegel Offense length has varied 38 ft. to 42 ft. over season. Good kickbacks, pin decks and pins.  Propreitor likes to put down a THS puddle in middle and very dry outside of 9-10 to gutter.  I can play 7-8 in the dry starting and not have to over reaction you usually see and move into lane as heads go.  I did take ball to 1200 Storm Step #2 to allow for a lil more backend and carry.  With the high Rg ball lopes thru heads easily and gets in a good midlane roll though not as noticeable as many lower Rg balls.  Carry relatively high for a lower flaring ball.  Solid reactive cover is reasonably strong but I believe the modified DC core is the main reason for good carry.  Have scored many good 200 games highest so far 279.  Main reason I'll put it away is for lane conditioner carry down.  Because of the large puddle and Offense we get a moderate amount of carry down into 3rd game.

2.) House shot #2.  12 year old Brunswick center w/Anivilane 1st generation.  Lane conditioner Kegel Offense.  THS lil more outsides here 41 ft..  Overall a lil more of a more rounded pattern than 1st house.  Still easy scoring condition probably easier for most because of the not so wet/dry condition.  Again, I can play the dry near same line and carry is probably even better than the wood house.  Here, I use a more lil more axis tilt when my game is on.

3.) PBA pattern A. Used this ball on A from 3 board to 8 board with very good results.  Did not get the under over you might get with higher flaring equipment.

I had asked for more balls from Visionary with solid covers and this is the first out that many THBs can use right out of the box.  Very well thought out ball.  Hope this review helps BR users.

Scott
Visionary Test Staff
Scott

AMMO01

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2004, 05:23:36 AM »
I GOT THIS BALL ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I WAS A LITTLE SCEPTICAL ABOUT THE BALL AT FIRST, ALL I KNEW ABOUT THE BALL WAS WHAT I READ ON THE NET AT VISIONARYBOWLING.COM Anyway,,

I am a left handed bowler with a 150 average when I got the balls and a 158 and rising right now.

I left the ball in factory surface had the pin put about 1/4 inch to the side of my ring finger and the cg about just a bit to the to the negitive side

I am a med rev med speed bowler and the first time I threw this ball i stood in the middle of the threw the ball over the second arrow and it took off like a rocket and hit the 10 pin

all in all this a great ball for med to heavy oil but as soon as it starts to dry out put this ball away

Bowler19

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2005, 11:16:18 AM »
I just join the Test staff got this ball about two weeks ago. We drilled the ball with a 30 degree mass bias, pin above the finger. Th pin Placement is 3-4. I was a little nervous about the drilling because i wanted a good ball for light/dry conditions and I have a lot of hand. I threw it on a typical house shot and the ball got down the lane and turned harder than i wanted so i polished it up and it got rid of the really hard turn. I recently bowled on a 37 ft house shot with really the backends really moving the got me down the lane and held the pocket well.

What impressed me about this ball is the fact that i cannot get it to flare. This worked out really well when i got into some oil. In the oil the ball went long and arced to the pocket and the dry went long and had a nice flip. I've never had a ball that hit so hard on dry conditions.

I was really impressed with this balls control and power. It is a close rival to my favorite ball. I would suggest this ball for anyone looking for a good ball for those light oil conditions that will still hit hard and won't tend to have a big over/under reaction.
I look forward to throwing more visionary stuff in the future.
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Bowler19
A winner is one who keeps on trying

L7H2N

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2005, 10:55:58 AM »
Medium to light blocked conditions are what I enjoy using this bowling ball on. I have a lot of hand and can make this ball look like a beast on lighter conditions. Rolled my highest tournament set with this ball.
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L. Nelson
Visionary Test Member
L. Nelson
Visionary Test Member
and
Nelson Invitational manager

Flyboy

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #13 on: June 05, 2005, 12:02:44 PM »
This is the hardest hitting straightest ball I have ever seen.  

It is setup controlled with the pin above the ring finger and the 1/4 inch pin just right of the thumb hole.  

This ball flares less than one inch for me, but will still make a move if it is dry enough on the back ends.  After we burned up our pair with an hour of practice, I couldn't keep anything else from going through the nose.  

I have a feeling I may leave some 9 pins with this ball due to the angle I have to throw it at the pocket.  If it makes a backend move, this ball will drive right through the 5 pin no problem.

Also makes a great spare ball with a flat wrist.


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Luke Krepsky

Visionary Test Staff

Blindstag

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Re: Centaur
« Reply #14 on: September 23, 2005, 07:26:23 PM »
Specs:
 Weight: 15lb 2.0 oz
 Pin: 2 - 3 Inches
 Top Wt: 2.56 oz
 Style: Stroker
 Speed: Slow to Medium
 Dilling: Standard 5 x 5 drilling with the pin over the fingers above the bridge (positions B on the Visionary Drill specs and the mass bias right below the thumb).
 Surface: Box condition (1000 matte) polished.
 
 At this point in time I've only had about 5 games with this ball so another review will be forthcoming when I've had a chance to throw it some more.
 
 I wanted something to play the dry track areas we get here in Queensland and I think I have found it. It lets me move into the dry track area when other players are moving deep in search of oil. Please note for my type of style the ball is not an out & back ball or even a ball I can belly a little otherwise it doesn't recover.
 
 However playing down & in or even pointing up this ball is great. The ball goes long and makes a nice move to the pocket, again like my review on the AMB Solid I don't get the huge boom when the ball hits the pocket but the pins just disappear off the deck.
 
 With its current drill specs the ball is not meant for oil, you might get away with a little oil in the heads but any more than that and it will simply skid through, however in box condition you would probably get away with some more oil.
 
 For me this ball isn't the ball I go to first out of the bag, but definitely my go to ball for drier conditions. All in all another winner from Visionary.
 
 Thanks to Visionary, Max & Lee from Bowling Balls Australia and Zane Que for another great ball layout.
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Dale Stewart
Visionary Test Staff
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