Columbia's ICON 300 is a nice compliment to the first two ICONs.
The 300 breaks earlier and a few boards more and squares up on
the pocket better. With a good shine ball reacts stronger at the
back end. Mine was drilled 3 3/8 by 3 3/8. I tend to use it more when
I can go up the boards on heavier oil and have enough finish to
carry.

The New Icon 300 is by far the most aggressive in the Columbia Line. It plows through even the heaviest oil. This ball in the out of the box configuration rips through the pins as well as any I have rolled. Polishing the ball delays the hook, and results in a devastating back end reation with great carry potential.

Drilled this ball at the ABC Masters.  The lanes were too much for its box dull, so I had to shine it up a bit.  Shiny, the ball gets through the heads very well, rolls up nice in the midline, and explodes with a powerful but controllable backend.  It's not a skid/snap and it wasn't arc.  It was the perfect middle of the two.

When I got home I put a 600 scotch brite pad to the ball to get it back to dull, as the house conditions here tend to be very wet-dry with a bunch of oil in the middle.  The ball reacts much the same way, just earlier and more even.  It's a very powerful ball at the pin deck, throwing wood everywhere.

It is drilled with the pin above and to the right of the ring finger (4 3/4 X 4).  

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Jeff Mop

When life gives you lemons, don't complain because hey, they're free lemons.

UPDATE:

The review below was on a super fresh league pattern (I later found out) with waaay much more oil up front than usual.

This ball has been a real disappointment since I first threw it.  I've tried it dull and shiny on just about any amount of oil you could think of...I have yet to see anything that resembles hook.  It grabs as soon as it hits the lane and that's it...it's done.  

Like the WOW, I'm not a big fan of balls that die before they get halfway down the lane.  If you have any hand at all, avoid this ball like the plague.



Specs:
15 lb.
3" pin
3.75 oz. TW

Drill specs:
Label leverage (CG in positive thumb area, MB under thumb)
3/4 thumb, 1/2 positive side
Box finish

Looks like the third time is the charm for the Icon series.

I picked up this Icon 300 in a trade with BigKG (thanks, Kevin).  I was looking for a big hooker...and I got it.

I've really avoided Columbia particles ever since my Extreme Chaos went through some serious TEC death after 50 games or so.  With the Muscle covers looking better, I figured I would give the boys from San Antonio another shot.

It's early, but for now I'm glad I did.

The Icon 300 delivers a lot of hook, but much like several strong particles today, it's hook you can use on a wide variety of conditions.  As long as you have oil up front, the Icon 300 will turn the corner.  

I tested the Icon 300 along with a Storm LRG with a similar drill on a house shot and the Icon was about 2 feet earlier and 4-6 boards stronger.  Like the LRG, the Icon 300 was responsive to release and speed changes.  

Don't be mistaken, this is a big bowling ball and probably too much for most players on a regular house shot.  However, for tournament players, this ball would definitely find a place in many bags for the slick/long conditions you often come across.


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Watch Captain Donator and his sidekick Spare Change as they begin one of their most difficult assignments in the city of sin...Las Vegas

Waiting for our heroes are two of their most evil of foes...High Roller and his shorter strongman Mini Eliminator

It's been a while, but I'm back. I bougth my 15 lb. Icon 300 about 2 weeks ago. I have it drilled with a Stacked Leverage layout. This is with the pin
3-3/8 x 3-3/8 with the CG. I have a balance hole about an inch under my axis.

I bowl on brand new Brunswick AnviPro synthetics. The lanes are oiled heavily and the backends are pretty clean. The pattern is a typical house shot, but the wall is out around the 5 fifth board and the middle of the lane is flooded.

This ball definitely bites through the oil which is due to the Muscle Plus coverstock. The layout causes the ball to rev up HARD in the midlane which is a must due to my ball speed. The ball has a continuous roll on the backend and provides extreme HIT.

Great ball for medium to heavy oiled lanes!!

THIS BALL DESTROYS PINS.  I was practicing with my TI Messenger when my pro shop guy finished drilling my ICON.  I threw the first ball on the same line I was already using and took out the 4-7-8.  I made one adjustment and threw the next 16 in a row.  That was 5 months ago.  Last Wednesday I shot 1057 for four.
Like a car needs oil, your ball needs to be kept clean and it will continue to perform.  I can use this ball from medium to heavy oil.  Make a line and slight hand position change and rip racks all night long.  The ball almost isn't fair.

This ball has two faces. One side is the good side. nice flare, good backend. Any house is good for this ball in oob condition but when you get about 25 games on it, the ball finishs just a bit week just use polish. When i got about 75 games on it the ball stoped hooking. im now playing strait. My Groove more than it. So after you get about 60 games on the ball, SELL IT!!!!!!!!