Ball NPS Score: Not Available
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After more than 8 years of research and testing, Columbia 300 is proud to announce Catalystâ„¢ coverstock, and the EPX T1 high performance ball using this breakthrough technology. The first major innovation in coverstock formulation since the advent of reactive resin. If you are on wet lane conditions and looking to play the inside track, ask your Pro about how you can get more friction, more boards and more strikes with Catalyst and the EPX T1.

Patent pending.
 
 Ball Specifications  
 Core Technology: Dense polymer core with top energy flip block in stabalizer core

Core Technology Benefits: A medium Rg of 2.53 and medium differential of .040 was chosen to complement the enhanced friction of the Catalyst coverstock.

Coverstock: Catalyst

Coverstock Benefit: Catalyst creates more friction in oil without sacrificing strong backend continuation.

Hardness: 75-78

ABC/WIBC Approved: Yes

Track Flare: 4-5

Color: Purple

Sanding Process: 500 girt cross hatch

Polish Name: 3M Rubbing Compound  
EPX T1 core

Hook Rating
Overall Hook: 70
Hook Oil: 40
Hook Dry: 30

 
 
 Dynamic Properties
Available Weights Radius of Gyration (Rg.) Rg. Differential
16 lb. 2.533  0.040
15 lb. 2.573  0.040
14 lb. 2.618  0.036

 

AFTER further use I have noticed that this ball does not like carrydown.The TRACK gp2 handles the carrydown much better.The gp2 is drilled exactly the same,and I was doing everything the same(feet and target.The Gp2 blew it away.The EPX is not rolling out.It never does.It is actually getting stopped by oil in the backends.The EpX is better than anything I have thrown on long oil with clean backends because it does not snap on backend but has powerful arc that does not quit and hooks in the early and midlane.But other than that conditon there are better choices. The lanes were  Brunswick avilanes.

This ball appears to be very release sensitive.  When I first tried it, the lanes were fresh and I used my normal delivery and the ball left a ton of 10 pins.  Loose it just a bit off your hand and you would leave weak 5 pins.  I was playing 20 to 10.  When I moved out on the lanes, 10 to 7, the ball acted a lot better.

The second time I used it, I was playing 20 to 10 again but gave it more hand.  The ball was a truck and carried everything.  The lanes were oiled the night before and no one used them.  Based on this, I would say that strokers should play up the boards and the bigger hand folks can just swing it and watch it come back.

Bottom line, a bit too sensitive for me, will probably end up on the for sale rack.  Will use it one more time tonight, this time in league, and that will determine where it ends up.

span: 2 thumb holes (one for axis tilt) and about 4 inches from the fings.
revs: about 17
ball speed: 69 (lol) 19
pap: it's as round as they come
cg: 5 mm's from core dynamics
core: double diamond

ok, do I was skeptical at first, but now I absolutely hate this ball. I was bowling on these dry lanes and busted out my smash/r but it hooked 2 much. Then I took out my epx and it is a roll out machione. I could not get that orb 2 move much so I pooped on it. it really increased midlane rxn and shiz. so i c.u.m.'d in the 2nd thumb hole and it made the coverstock more adaptable to the condition. I like it now.

Believe the hype, this ball is what it claims to be.  The ball won't roll itself down the lane and string 12 in a row like some people are apparently hoping it will do, but it does what Columbia claims, it has a very aggressive midlane along with a merciless backend.  There are balls that hook as much as this one does, (Goliath, Rule GP2, etc.), but those balls are fairly condition specific, if there isn't enough oil for them you may be able to move deep enough in, but they burn up and hit very flat.  When playing very deep with the EPX-T1 you may notice a slight loss of carry, but it maintains it's roll very well, and still drives through the pins with a lot of energy and force, and if there is a lot of oil, you can play straight, and get the entry angle you're looking for.  This is a very good release in my opinion, and I see a lot of epoxy releases with different cores in the future.  Hopefully the coverstock will be as durable as Columbia claims it should be, if it is, this is a real winner.

First of all, I have not drilled one of these for myself.  I have drilled two of these for customers.

1st customer:  Med-High tracker
2nd customer Full Rolller

Went with the most aggressive layoiuts possible for each bowler.  First of all, there are balls on the market that will hook more than the EPX on most conditions.  But, I found that the EPX will hook when other balls will not.  The EPX gives the same look on Med-Heavy to very Oily pattens for these bowlers.  

Bottom Line:
     If you are bowling on a house shot and want more hook, go with a high flaring high-load particle or solis reactive at about 500-grit.  If you want a ball that will give you consistent hook without over-reacting on the backend, I suggest that you take a look at the EPX.

Jason
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I've found that the RESET button is the easiest way to knock down ten pins.

I debated about even trying this ball for a couple of weeks, but my curiosity got the best of me.  The ball is set up along the lines Columbia recommended with a leverage pin and strong cg position requiring a balance hole below my PAP.  I have now tried the EPX in 3 different anvil lane houses of varying ages, and on both fresh and broken down conditions.

My first outing was on 7 year old anvil lane with a long oil 10 to 10.  The oil was prodigy.  I tried to line up a bit inside the oil line to see how strong it would be.  I got a lot of skate out and was unable to get the ball back to the hole until I moved well right into the dry area.  The ball rolled up strong and did not over react in the dry, but carry was spotty.  The reaction on this condition reminded me a lot of my old Blue Hammer.

I next bowled the same house after league where the shot had moved into about 17 at the arrows.  This time I got a much better reaction plyaing against the inside oil out to the track.  Carry was better, although both my Ultimate Inferno and Absolute Inferno were stronger and had more continutation.  

Next effort was on a very old anvil lane house with a defined track area at 3rd arrow.  I was able to move in to 15 on fresh oil and scored extremely well.  My AI still rolled stronger with a similar breakpoint, but more continuation.  

The last house I tried was a new pro anvil lane center on a fresh condition.  Again as in the first house I was not able to get much of a back end reaction and carry was spotty.  All of my resin equipment, including my Freak a Zoid, opened up the lane and carried better than the EPX.

Despite my less than earth shaking results, I would not call the EPX a bad ball.  In my hand it definitely needs either a booming back end or some dry boards to the right, but I think heavier handed young guys might be able to exploit the ball a lot more than I could.  In that respect it reminds me a lot of my old urethane balls of the late 90's.  This ball does not like carrydown.  

In summary, I have often said that the modern resin balls remind me of my old yellow dot on steroids.  If that is indeed a good analogy, then the EPX reminds me of my old Blue Hammer on multiple vitamims.

Drilled - 5x4, pin below bridge, low small Xhole
Coverstock - out of box

Biggest benefits: strong strong roll. much better hit than any strong particle I've ever thrown. But the best characteristic Ive seen is when it encounters friction... When most particles encounter early friction in Mids/heads, they tend to rev hard/roll out, burn up and hit badly.

the EPX-T1 is completely different. It reads the early friction, doesnt hook instantly, continues to roll harder thru the friction. Its continuation is its best attribute, then the hit. Doesnt rip racks like a strong reactive but definitely hits better than any other Strong Particle. arc arc arc.

Im not afraid of this ball burning up so I want to drill another one even stronger for really long difficult patterns. Its a definite breakthru and worth a try. Oh, and I leave mine in the car and have yet to see any type of crack.