Equipment Boards => Columbia 300 => Topic started by: dougb on August 26, 2011, 10:55:58 AM
Title: Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!
Post by: dougb on August 26, 2011, 10:55:58 AM
I know there's been a lot of discussion about the amazing review this ball got in Bowling This Month and whether it could live up to the hype.
I'll let others be the judge, but I threw it today for the first time and I was sold!
About me: I am medium revs/speed stroker. I told my driller I wanted this ball to be able to really open up the lanes and asked for length and backend. He put a 5 x 2 1/2 drill on it with a weight hole. You can see from the pic this put the pin above the bridge and the cg kicked out.
Well length and backend is exactly what I got, with a strong arcing motion throughout. And a very heavy roll.
I played on a 40-foot freshly oiled league shot, and they laid it down heavy. First three shots out the gate were strikes. You know that's a good sign.
I took the ball back into the shop and had my guy measure the oil rings and I was getting 6" of flare, which is a lot for me!
I had no problem playing in my normal tracks around the second and third arrow, but I found the best line standing on thirty and watching the ball break at 5 board. The ball was not skid/flip but it made a serious change in direction. It never jumped off the friction and was absolutely predictable. It kept the pins very low and delivered strikes. This ball felt great!
I only played two quick games, but a few people came over and asked me what I was throwing because of the motion this ball made. Over the next week I'm going to try it on a medium shot and see if it merits the ratings BTM gave it.
The pic shows the dark maroon coloring throughout, kind've like the original Black Widow. I think the ball would look good polished too.
I expect we're going to see a lot of these around soon.
Title: Re: Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!
Post by: jaydee on September 14, 2011, 06:54:20 AM
I'd be interested in hearing how it did on the medium shot, to hear if it lives up to BTM's medium oil ratings.
Title: Re: Ransom Demand -- believe the hype!
Post by: dougb on September 21, 2011, 07:39:56 PM
Sorry for the late response, but I have only had a few chances to bowl this month and wanted to get some more time with this ball before I replied.
The short answer is it lives up to the medium oil ratings.
I used it again today on a lane that had been oiled this morning but when I arrived the bumpers were up. There was still oil on the lane and I started out standing on 12 and throwing it up the second arrow. Five games later I had moved to 19 and was still playing the second arrow. After three more games I was standing on 33 and playing the a little left of the third arrow.
This ball works extremely well on medium, it just needs a little bit of oil to keep it from burning out before it hits the breakpoint. I think on the C300 website video Chris Barnes says he really liked the ball once it took a shine from the lane oil, and I agree.
The only bad thing I have to say about this ball is that it is a mother to keep clean. Picks up everything. I also just don't find it to be a sexy looking ball, except when it hits the pocket! But I like a ball that looks good on the rack, too. Just my preference...