BallReviews
Reviews => Columbia 300 => Topic started by: Ballreviews on December 14, 2012, 08:51:19 AM
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- Color: Royal/Yellow/Crimson All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Reaction: Big Hook
- Coverstock: Total Friction Technology
- Core Type: Encounter
- Factory Finish: 1500 Abranet® Soft
- Radius of Gyration (RG): 2.50**
- Differential (Diff): .052**
- ** RG and Diff are based off of 15 lb. balls
- Hook Potential: Heavy
- Length: Good Continuation
- Recommended Lane Condition: Medium/Heavy-Heavy Oil
Description: Again the famous Encounter Core (found in Encounter and Dark Encounter balls) is back with some great added features in the Columbia Enigma. This ball really excels on heavy oil lane conditions and the new Total Friction Technology Coverstock allows this ball to have aggressive mid-lane control!
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LANE CONDITION
Length:42
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS
COMMENTS
Likes:This ball hits better in the oil
Dislikes:No dislikes
I have been on the Columbia amateur staff now for 3 years, this by far is the strongest ball I have thrown when in the oil. It is drilled with pin above the fingers with no hole. I had to play in the puddle in the middle of the lane to really use this ball to its ability. If you need a ball for oil, this ball is the real deal. It comes out of the box at 1500 abralon, you would think with this ball being so dull it would roll out. Well it does just the opposite, it continues and hits like no other dull ball I have ever thrown.
With tournament time around the corner, you may want to consider this ball when you need it for the oil. Bugsy Kelly our brand manager and the Columbia 300 mad scientists did an absolute great job with this new cover stock!!!!
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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LANE CONDITION
Length:39
Volume:medium/medium heavy
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):THS but average backends
COMMENTS
Likes: good for oil
Dislikes: nothing
PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
I drilled the Enigma with a 55 x 30 x 4 in pin, no extra hole. I expected it to hook slightly more and/or slightly earlier than the Wicked Encounter (drilled 50 x 35 x 4 in pin, no extra hole) and it did. I used it in league on a fresh house shot that has an average backend and is not wet/dry. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it made it through the front without hooking too early considering it's 1500 out of the box finish. I shot 279 the middle game so I was happy with the carry as well but I should have put it away in game three as the heads began breaking down and something less aggressive such as a Violent Eruption would have worked better. It definitely needs oil and as a straight player this ball will work quite well on heavier or longer patterns such as the Shark or Scorpion PBA patterns and the Mexico City Sport Pattern. Bowlers with higher rev rates or slower ball speeds may need to sand it to 4000 or even put a light polish on it but my first impression of it as an oil ball is very favorable.
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I got my Enigma a few weeks ago and put a very aggressive pin down drilling on it. The pin is right below my ring finger wit the mass bias kicked out towards my VAL. I added a weight hole in the P3 location to really try and liven the ball up, since I am planning on this ball being for long/heavy oil patterns. I would not recommend this drilling for anything other than heavy oil simply because it makes this ball way too strong for THS unless a bowler is possibly rev-challenged. This ball is easily three to five boards stronger than the Wicked Encounter and reads the mids just a hair sooner. I am anxious to get a second Enigma and drill it pin-up so it will be a little more versatile. I am hoping that a pin-up drilling will provide less midlane roll and store a little more energy for the transition on medium-long oil patterns. Hopefully I will have more to report on this when a second Enigma is in my arsenal.
Jimmy Ogden
Columbia 300 Ambassador
Lafayette, IN
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BALL SPECS
Pin Length:3-4 in.
Starting Top Weight:3.25 oz.
Ball Weight:15 lbs 3 oz.
DRILL PATTERN
Pin 2 inches from pap (next to ring finger) and MB next to the thumb
X Hole (if there is one): P4 position
BOWLER STYLE
Rev Rate: About 350 rpm
Ball Speed: 17 mph off the hand
PAP/Track: 4 1/4" right, 0 up/down
SURFACE PREP
Grit: OOB
Type: (Matte, Polish, Sanded): OOB
LANE CONDITION
Length:39 ft. And 43 ft.
Volume: unknown
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS
Breakpoint Shape: strong arc
COMMENTS
Likes: This ball is hooks a lot. If you are having trouble on heavy oil, this ball is what you need. On the fresh the ball can recover from almost any miss.
Dislikes: THis ball needs oil and a lot of it. Loses energy way too early on the burn.