In a long history of around 60 years, Columbia 300 has released so many bowling balls that it is really very difficult to select the best among them. To simplify your selection process we have shortlisted the top 7 best bowling balls under this highly renowned brand.
Top 7 Best Columbia Bowling Balls Reviewed
- Nitrous Bowling Ball
- Savage Life
- White Dot Lava Bowling Ball
- Lit Pearl Bowling Ball
- White Dot Scarlet
- Beast Purple Sparkle
- Authority
#1. Nitrous Bowling Ball
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The Columbia 300 Nitrous is a superb blend of Nitrous Core and Boost R cover stock. The Symmetrical two-piece Nitrous core provides high-level consistency to the ball without compromising with the hitting power. Boost R CS, on the other hand, offers good traction making it an ideal ball for medium to light oil lanes. Additionally, the ball offers a great challenge to the bowlers to control the ball movements during the transition of oil conditions. Overpowering the challenge will take you to the next level while failure will teach you a few important lessons.
The combo makes the bowling ball highly suitable for a wide range of bowlers. The 500/2000 Abralon finish adds to the flexibility of the ball to be used in multiple lane conditions.
#2. Savage Life
[amazon fields=”B07MSNJZSJ” value=”thumb” image_size=“medium” image_align=”center” image_title =“columbia bowling balls” image_alt = “Savage Life” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]The Savage Life is a stunner. With the Exciter Pearl Reactive cover stock, the bowling ball dominates all types of bowling lanes. The 500/1000 Abralon Finish adds more gripping power to the ball thus adding further to the strong hook potential. The low RG, high differential core offers extreme flare potential, aggressive backend, and very impressive pin-carry.
The bowling ball is a performer, particularly in the medium and heavy oil lane conditions. The crankers love this bowling ball while tweeners too prefer to keep it in their bowling kit as their main strike ball. The bowling ball is not particularly ideal for beginners.
#3. White Dot Lava Bowling Ball
[amazon fields=”B07CNCRWQW” value=”thumb” image_size=“medium” image_align=”center” image_title =“columbia bowling balls” image_alt = “White Dot Lava Bowling Ball” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]The Columbia 300 White Dot Lava Bowling Ball is ideal for the beginners. With multiple color options, it offers very attractive rolling spheres that bowlers with all skill levels adore. The Plastic cover stock makes it move absolutely straight on the lane surface. Moreover, the pancake core does nothing but support the linear motion of the bowling ball until it reaches the far end to cause the desired damage.
The bowling ball is perfect as a spare bowling ball for the pros because of its disciplined nature in all types of lane surfaces. If you are a beginner, you can spend a lot of time perfecting your basic bowling skills. The ball will never distract your attention from learning the traits of the bowling game.
#4. Lit Pearl Bowling Ball
[amazon fields=”B079WP41NM” value=”thumb” image_size=“medium” image_align=”center” image_title =“columbia bowling balls” image_alt = “Lit Pearl Bowling Ball” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]The Columbia 300 Lit Pearl Bowling Ball is an ultimate high-performer. The bowling ball has Reflex XS Pearl cover stock and Lit Asymmetric core. The duo imparts extremely intensive hook potential and superfluous flare potential to the ball. Additionally, it allows having more length on the front lane and imparts excessive backend reaction. It is one of the most impressive bowling balls for oily lane conditions displaying excessive hitting power at the far end.
The core of the bowling ball uses Hypershock technology. It is a special technology that facilitates the ball to retain energy after impacting the first few pins. The locked energy is further employed in dislodging the remaining deck pins
The unique blend of the cover stock with a strong hook and the core built using hyper shock technology makes this bowling ball a killer in any lane conditions. Crankers love to have this ball in their bowling kitty.
#5. White Dot Scarlet
[amazon fields=”B07QQ3GZTS” value=”thumb” image_size=“medium” image_align=”center” image_title =“columbia bowling balls” image_alt = “White Dot Scarlet” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]The Columbia 300 White Dot Scarlet Bowling Ball is a USBC approved bowling ball. If you are a beginner, you will love to play with the ball. It allows you enough time to master your lifting, gripping, and releasing skills. Additionally, it is an ideal spare ball for the pros with its near-perfect straight-line travel on all types of lane surfaces. Due to the high quality of making material, the bowling ball has very high durability.
The bowling ball does not have pre-drilled finger holes. So, you can customize them after receiving the ball by visiting a pro shop that has expertise in preparing perfect drill layout as per your style of holding and releasing the ball and different measurements of your bowling palm. It comes at a highly reasonable price point thus making it one of the best choices for the beginners.
#6. Beast Purple Sparkle
[amazon fields=”B07QR7XF6M” value=”thumb” image_size=“medium” image_align=”center” image_title =“columbia bowling balls” image_alt = “Beast Purple Sparkle” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]The Beast Purple Sparkle builds this unique bowling ball with Light Bulb Symmetrical Core, wrapped with a special outer core. The duo gets the perfect covering of the high-quality Bend-It cover stock. If the combination of the trio was not enough, the 500/2000 Abralon finish adds further to the performance level.
The USBC approved bowling ball uses Hypershock technology in building the outer core. That uses a special material on the outer core that enhances the energy of the ball after hitting the first pins. The enhanced energy further drives the ball with even more intensity and creates havoc in the deck.
#7. Authority
[amazon fields=”B084YVRGPD” value=”thumb” image_size=“medium” image_align=”center” image_title =“columbia bowling balls” image_alt = “Authority” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]The unique combination of Black/Lime/Silver provides ‘the Authority’ the authority to rule the shelf and the lanes alike. The shiny pearl cover stock, however, not only displays highly impressive aesthetics but also provides a treat to eyes while dislodging all standing pins on the deck. The Authority core used under the most attractive wrapping is the asymmetrical type and offers extreme aggression on the lane. Overall, the bowling ball is an extremely high-performing sphere and loved by pros like no other bowling ball.
Buyer’s Guide to Columbia Bowling Balls
After going through the reviews, you just need to refer to the buyer’s guide section given below to understand which type of ball will be most suitable for your style and skill level.
Coverstock
Coverstock of the bowling ball contributes to 60-70% of its performance. And that is why it is the most crucial factor to consider when buying a bowling ball. So, if you select the right cover stock, you significantly improve your chances of scoring high in the alley.
There are three major types of coverstocks.
Plastic coverstocks are non-porous and smooth. That is why they do not offer any traction and hook to the bowling ball. They move straight on any type of lane surface. These balls are suitable for the beginners and as a spare ball for the pros.
Urethane balls were developed to provide some hook potential to the bowling ball and some gripping on the oily lanes. These coverstocks offer decent traction and hook on the lane and absorb oil due to high porosity. Urethane Coverstocks are suitable for all skill levels. Difference in the kind of performance depends on the sub-type of the cover stock and the type of core used in the ball. However, crankers will not find these balls as aggressive as they want.
Reactive Resin coverstocks are made of Polyurethane plus some resin additives to offer more gripping and porosity. So, they offer even more traction and hook compared to the Urethane balls. They are not suitable for beginners and ideal for advanced bowlers of different styles and are perfect for heavy oil lane conditions.
Core
The second most important factor of the bowling ball, the core is wrapped inside the cover stock. It offers weight to the ball and also the hitting power. There are broadly three types of cores.
Pancake cores have the lowest aggression of all types of cores. They move in a straight line on any lane type and therefore, are the most suitable cores for newbies.
The symmetrical cores provide moderate flare potential and have a smooth backend reaction. These balls are suitable for bowlers of varying skill levels depending on the cover stock they are wrapped inside.
The Asymmetrical cores have the highest flare potential and most aggressive backend reaction. They are not suitable for beginners and ideal for advanced bowlers and in particular the crankers.
Weight
Weight of the bowling ball is determined by your body weight and decided by your comfort level. Get a few balls in the alley with their weight around ten percent of your body weight. Throw a few shots and select the weight that offers you optimum comfort. If you cannot control the shot or get tired early, the ball is heavier for you. And if the rolling sphere does not have enough carry and hitting power, you need a heavier one.
Aesthetics
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Everyone has a different definition of beauty. You should select the bowling ball that gives you confidence in the bowling alley. Fortunately, the bowling balls reviewed above have a variety of designs, patterns, and colors to choose from.
Price
Columbia 300 is a popular brand that offers a wide range of affordable bowling balls for bowlers with varying skill levels. So, if you are a kid or playing the game for recreational purposes you can get a variety of low-cost balls with highly attractive designs. Beginners too can get the best of the bowling ball at very reasonable prices. Even the advanced bowlers have the alternative to select balls from low cost to the expensive price range.
History of Columbia 300
Columbia Industries has been in the bowling arena for over six decades. They had launched their first bowling ball in 1960 under the brand name of Columbia 300. Columbia has the credit of introducing plastic balls in the game of bowling. Prior to that, only hard-rubber balls were used in the alley.
Columbia 300 bowling balls are very popular among beginners as they move straight on the lane surface allowing the bowlers enough time to hone their basic bowling skills. That said, Columbia also offers some amazing high-performance bowling balls for the intermediate and advanced bowlers, as well.
In 2007, Ebonite Industries bought all brands of Columbia, and further in 2019, Ebonite sold all its patents including Columbia 300 to Brunswick Company.
Being active in the bowling circuit has given Columbia a distinct advantage of knowing the requirements of different styles of bowlers from close quarters. And they realize the importance of the cost of balls for the bowlers who wish to play the game but cannot afford to buy expensive balls. Columbia has provided a wonderful alternative to those bowlers by offering high-quality low priced bowling balls for all skill levels.
Conclusion
Columbia 300 is known for launching the first Plastic balls in the game of bowling. In a large span of over six-decade in the bowling circuit, Columbia 300 has offered many more high-performance pocket-friendly bowling balls for bowlers with different styles. We reviewed some of the best balls among them based on their unique features. We hope that these reviews and the buyer’s guide were helpful in identifying the best Columbia 300 bowling ball for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Columbia 300 brand best known for?
A: Columbia 300 has been there in the business of bowling products for around 60 years. They are best known for their introducing Plastic ball to the world of Bowling. Before Columbia 300, most of the bowling balls were made of hard rubber. Columbia is also a very popular brand among kids, beginners, and recreational bowlers. They offer a wide range of affordable bowling balls with highly attractive colors and fun-loving patterns and designs. Apart from that, they offer a good range of high-performance bowling balls for the advanced bowlers, as well.
Q: What are the other products offered by Columbia 300?
A: Apart from providing a wide range of highly affordable and high-end bowling balls, Columbia 300 also offers a wide variety of bowling bags, ball cups, wrist gloves, grip sack, microfiber towels, shammy pads, non-slip grip cream, and skin protection tapes.
Q How should I clean my Columbia 300 bowling balls surface?
A: Cleaning the ball regularly is important to preserve the looks and the performance features of the bowling ball. You can use a USBC approved cleaner to clean the bowling ball. They come either in the form of a liquid solution or gel. To clean the ball you should spray liquid cleaner all over the ball surface and wipe the ball through a clean cloth. For the gel cleaner, you have to take enough quantity of gel on a clean lint-free towel and wipe the towel over all the surfaces of the ball.
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