it's been so long since i posted a review that i almost forgot how to.
first of all, the very first Columbia that i owned was the old blue Ti Boss II, one of the best balls ever in my opinion. i bought that ball new and sold it about 1 year ago, dumb me! i drifted and went to Ebonite (the red/blue Apex, afterburner) and had pretty good success at first (my first 299 game and a 734 series [as a 266 being the high game of the series] within about a 2 week time span. then, all heck broke loose and i guess i thought i was the best and no matter what i did, i would do it good. yeah right! i went from a 198 average to a 168 average this fall, keep in mind i am only 17. i changed everything from the shoes to the bowling bag, but i finally concluded that a break and a new ball could do the trick.
i actually evied the days when i bowled with "old blue" (TI Boss) and wanted to go to something as similar as i could. i read reviews and watched for "newcomers" for about 3 months (my "slump" lasted for about 7 months). i finally broke my search down to 2 balls: the Spirit (because of the core design being similar to the TI BOSS [bullet shaped]) and the TI Messenger b/s/p. i studied, prayed, thought, fought, and everything else to finally choose the Messenger. by the way, i was wanting to go back to Columbia, but STORM was my 2nd choice. Ebonite and the "rest" was not even though about.
i got my messenger 4 days ago when i was in Harrogette (not sure about the spelling), Tennessee. 156.00 drilled and all (thumb and finger inserts). with the weight block bulbed out more the other TI Messenger Pearl, i figured this ball would go farther so i reluctantly had NO finger weight drilled into it. the pin ended up being about 1 inch up and about 1.5 inches over from the ring finger, giving it NO finger weight and 3/4 ounces of side weight.
i throw this ball standing 2-5 boards outside of the middle dot on the approach over the second arrow on the lane and out to about the 6-7 board area at about 17.5 mph with medium everything (spin, follow through, rotation). this ball runs just as smooth as the old boss i had just with alot more "umph". playing this line, the ball runs just as straight as can be until about 3/4 through the midlane when it straitens up and runs parallel with the gutter. the ball fools you by seeming like that is all it's got, but man am i surprised when this thing takes off. this is like Trauma ER backend! the only problem i have is hitting flush. when i do actually hit flush pocket, i tend to leave 1 or BOTH of the corner pins, but i think this is easily corrected by sliding forward or backward on the approach a little.
so far i have went from the 168 average that i told you about to a 205.25 in the last 3 days, bowling 10 games. highest game being a 232 and lowest being a 181. there is nothing spectacular about these scores at all, but for a decent bowler for myself who has been in a huge slump, Columbia has been and will be the best ball manufactuer ever. this ball is one of the most controllable balls i have thrown. and versatility is uncontended, but that's the case for all Columbia balls in my opinion.
a very good ball from Columbia...good job and thank you very much
also, last time i posted a message i got several "complaints" that i dont capitalize nothing and that i should go back to school. well, for the people who complain, i'm not making you read my review...for the one's that appreciate hearing what people think of new equipment-THANKS
