I apologize for taking so long to get my review of the HALO VISION posted, but I had good reasons: My drilling was an experiment and the ball is so strong it’s not the kind of ball my slow speed and moderate revs can use on too many conditions, especially with the drilling I tried.

In other words, I do not get to use my HALO VISION too often.

However, I have found some good use for this ball that makes it worth keeping in my arsenal and taking along now and then.

The HALO VISION is the hybrid-cover addition to the Halo series, making it the third ball in the HP4 line to use the asymmetrical Centrum core.

The HALO VISION definitely isn’t as early as the original HALO with a solid cover, and obviously doesn’t get down the lane as easily as the HALO PEARL.

Beyond that, it’s hard for me to compare much to other balls as I chose to try a pin-in-the-palm drilling without a weight hole — something that was not possible before the new USBC no-weight-hole option that becomes the rule for all balls on Aug. 1, 2020.

With my PAP of 4 7/8 over and 5/8 up, the numbers for this ball are 4 3/4 pin-PAP, 4 1/4 MB-PAP, and 4 5/8 pin buffer. Without the weight hole, both my positive side and thumb weight are over 2 ounces.

The reaction I get with the ball is simple to describe: heavy roll. It starts up early and just keeps rolling.

The condition I have found my HALO VISION to be effective on is any kind of wet-dry with oil up front and enough volume so it doesn’t over-hook. In other words, give me a fresh house shot where controlling reaction is the key and this ball solves what usually is a huge issue for me.

Even after a pattern breaks down, I find that I often am able to stay to the right and pick up my speed (from slow to moderate) and sometimes find success.

The caveat is that I must have enough oil volume so the ball doesn’t hook too early or too much.

I have no experience throwing a pin-in-the-palm with such extreme weights and no hole, and it perhaps may be why I am able  to stay right and more square without excessive early roll and plaque 10-pin hits as I’d see with a big weight hole to get those statics under 1 ounce.

With such an extreme drilling, I am reluctant to make any definitive statements about who will like or not like the HALO VISION.

But I think I am safe to say that if you like the HALO, the HALO VISION may be a great choice for something not quite as early with a little more back-end motion.

If you are someone who does not like early rolling, strong balls then the HALO VISION probably is not for you, although smoothing and/or shining the cover may help.