BALL SPECS
Ball Weight - 14 lbs
DRILL PATTERN
pin over ring finger with cg slightly kicked out
BOWLER STYLE
Medium revs/speed stroker
SURFACE PREPARATION
4000 abralon (OOB)
LANE CONDITION
THS (fresh, mediums, and light)
BALL REACTION
Length - excellent
Back End - strong
Overall Hook - surprisingly strong if you need it to be
Midlane Read - excellent
Breakpoint Shape - smooth arc
COMMENTS
Carry - excellent
Likes - predictability, smoothness, and great forgiveness
Dislikes - color
Other -I think this is the ball that introduced the "new" Columbia 300 after being acquired by Ebonite. When I was researching the ball, I found a quote from Chris Barnes saying this ball could handle about 80% of the lane conditions he saw, and I found that to be true. This ball at 4000 abralon required me playing a deep inside line on light oil, but otherwise worked fine on any conditions.
What really amazed me about the Rival was how forgiving it is. With this drill I got good length and a strong midlane roll. But most important, if I threw it wide it would make it back from far out there, and held the line very good on shots I pulled inside.
This would make a great benchmark ball for anybody. Although they discontinued it, they kept the line going with the Arch and Perfect Rivals. And C300 continues to crank out excellent balls.