Ball NPS Score: Not Available
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Power and Control. Everyone talks about it. But only Columbia delivers. Introducing the all-new U-Turn Particle Pearl. Made for medium oil, it features the same core design as other U-Turns, but with more flare potential for a stronger transition. It''s the perfect ball for the bowler who wants some of the midlane traction offered by particle balls without sacrificing a strong backend reaction.

At Columbia 300, we know how important it is to build the perfect arsenal. And we''ve been building the balls that have put bowlers in the winner''s circle for over six generations. With the all-new U-Turn Particle Pearl, Columbia delivers yet another weapon that will help lead you - and your team - to victory.

Because it''s League Night. Everybody''s watching and it''s time to take control. And when the team turns to you, you can turn to U-Turn.
 
 Ball Specifications  
 Core Technology: Stair step core with bottom flip block.

Core Technology Benefits: Same core shape of other U-Turns, but with a higher flare potential.

Coverstock: UFD

Coverstock Benefit: A light loaded particle with pearl allows the Particle Pearl to generate mid-lane reaction of particle without sacrificing the strong backend reaction that pearl balls provide.

Hardness: 75-78

ABC/WIBC Approved: Yes

Track Flare: 5

Color: Blue Pearl/Red Pearl

Sanding Process: Compound Polish

Polish Name: None  
UTurn Particle Pearl core

Hook Rating
Overall Hook: 49
Hook Oil: 22
Hook Dry: 27

 Dynamic Properties
Available Weights Radius of Gyration (Rg.) Rg. Differential
16 lb. 2.482  0.050
15 lb. 2.506  0.050
14 lb. 2.527  0.050

Drill Specs
6" Pin to axis - pin above the bridge
Small shift with small hole on the VAL

Drilled this ball to combat conditions with early hook and medium/heavy carrydown from inside angles.  This ball is very clean through the front, smooth off the break point, and bites though the carry down to give me good hitting power.  This ball probably won't get a lot of attention because the Action Packed was released at roughly the same time, but it fits nicely in my arsenal giving me the length of a pearl coverstock with a smooth and more predictable move down the lane than my pearl reactives.  Players with higher rev rates and softer speed will get more use out of this ball.  Overall this is a good match of core and cover that fits nicely in the Columbia line.

Drilled the UTPP up with a 5" pin under the middle finger (semi-spinner)... This ball is exactly what it was supposed to be, and no gimmicks.  This ball reads a little later than the Particle with a strong recovery on the backend.  
If the particle starts to dive a little too much, the particle pearl is what ya need.  It is also great for those down-and-in players who want good length, without sacrificing the backend reaction.
--------------------
Wes McKleroy
Columbia 300 Amateur Staff
________________________
http://www.mccorveysproshop.com
The Complete Bowlers Pro Shop[/i}

PAP: 5 X 3/8 up (right hand)
Layout: 4 1/4 X 3 3/4
Pin distance: 3 inches
Style: High rev rate
Ball Speed: 16.5 mph
 
 I drilled one of these for medium to dry conditions.  I drilled Pin above ring finger and slightly right with the CG a little right of that.  I must say I was pleasantly surprised.  Nice and long with smooth reaction.  Basically, a long, strong arc.  The UTPP carries surprisingly well when you get deep in 4th arrow too.  I recommend this for fellow crankers as a transition ball (2-3 third game).

  Thanks, Matt at CCT Pro Shop
--------------------
EXXXpress Your Game

"Good Luck and Good Bowling"

My Email: MiddleMattChaos@aol.com

Specs before drilling:
15.03lbs
3 inch pin
2 oz top

Layout:
Pin below ring
CG below and kicked out a pinch
No X-hole

---0---0---
-------p---
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-----------
-----------
--------cg-
-----0-----
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Bowler Stats:
Right Handed
High Tracker
High-End Tweener
Span - 4 3/8 & 4 1/2
PAP - 5 1/2 > 5/8 ^
Speed - 15-15.75 mph @ Pindeck (Quibica Scorers)
Rev-Rate - 325-400 approximate guess
Axis Rotation - 75*-90* degrees
Axis Tilt - 7*-11* degrees axis tilt (11.5-12.5 inch track diameter)

Video: Columbia U-Turn Particle Pearl on 3/05/06:
http://media.putfile.com/U-Turn-Particle-Pearl-By-Ramtart

Hello to everyone in BR land! Time for another review and this time I will be reviewing one of Columbia 300's mid-priced pieces, the U-Turn Particle Pearl.

I decided to pick this ball up, because I was looking for a ball that would blend out an extreme wet/dry type of pattern or when the lanes got flat out "ugly!" There were several particle pearl balls out there and after doing some research, I ultimately decided on picking up the UTPP in March 2006 (relatively new release at that time).

Layout Decision: I am a high-tracker and since pin under layouts with shorter pins can cause clipping over the finger holes, I went with a longer pin (3 inches). The layout ended up pin sitting below the ring finger and the CG stacked below it and kicked out a pinch. Pin below layouts seem to give me a bit more midlane read and smooth out the backend reaction. This is just what I was looking for in regards to battling beat up and/or broken down over-under nightmare shots.

Performance on Heavy-Oil & Med-Heavy Oil: In its' OOB polished state, the UTPP was a bit squirty on Heavier patterns. I don't blame the ball since it was advertised as a ball for most mediums. I found myself squaring up, closing up my angles and pointing the ball towards the pocket.

When I experimented and scuffed the ball on the spinner with a new and unused Gray pad (800 grit), the ball seemed to handle a bit more oil, read the mids better and evened the backends out even more. I was able to move my feet left a few boards more with the scuffed version of the UTPP on heavier oil.

On PBA Regional Pattern #5: A few months ago, I was able to try this ball on a broken down PBA Regional Pattern (#5) on synthetic surface. With 800 grit surface, the best line I could play with this ball was around 7 with an up the back release and hoping the backends would take this ball to the pocket. This pattern was a wake up call for me, but a great experience. The U-Turn gave me the best look out of the other balls I had in my bag (Vertigo, The One, & Paradigm).

Performance on Most Mediums: Ok, C300's got this one correct. This ball is great on mediums. In its' OOB polished state, the ball is surprisingly has a strong arc backends. I guess this is due to pearl additive of the ball. A clean ball through the fronts, but still reads the mids well and has enough energy for the back. For me, it is an awesome ball to use on fresher conditions.

With an 800 grit surface surface change on most medium patterns, the ball gave me more read up front and tamed the backend reaction a bit. I am able to jump left several boards and open it up a bit if the track area starts to go away.

Performance on Lighter Oil-Burnt: Although, not its' strength, the UTPP in OOB polish still clears the heads nicely on a lighter pattern, but the ball has too much mid-lane read and is too strong off the back. I find myself opening up my angles, jumping left and chasing the oil (or whatever is left). It would be wiser to take a weaker ball to tackle a lighter/burnt shot than to force yourself to make this piece work. I didn't find myself getting enough "push" as the ball was too strong off the break.

Comparison to other balls...

Compared to the Storm Paradigm (Pin up & MB Strong): I would categorize my Paradigm as one of my Skid/Flip balls in my arsenal. The UTPP in comparison is probably the exact opposite. In OOB polish and also with a 800 grit surface change, I would have to move at least 5 boards right with the UTPP on a Medium-Heavy pattern. The reaction of the UTPP is much smoother off the back, while the Paradigm is much more angular.

Compared to the Storm X-Factor Vertigo (Pin up & MB Strong): The Vertigo to me, is kind of like a solid version of the Paradigm (Cores in Vertigo and Paradgim are similar if not the same). The Vertigo is at 600 grit, but my UTPP at 800 gives about the same amount of midlane read. The Vertigo is still stronger off the back. Compared to the Vertigo, I find myself moving about 3-5 right with my feet on a Medium-Heavy pattern.

Compared to the Brunswick Rampage (Pin over ring and CG stacked below): The Rampage probably clears the heads a bit more cleaner than the UTPP in OOB surface. When compared to the UTPP at 800 grit, the Rampage is obviously cleaner through the fronts. Currently I'm using the UTPP scuffed and the Rampage in OOB Polish fits under the UTPP. Rampage gives me a long and strong arc look with the stacked layout. When the lanes become too much for the scuffed UTPP, I like to go a step-down with the Rampage.

Overall: I didn't know what to expect out of this Columbia Piece, but I gave it a chance. It was my first Columbia ball since the Reaction Rev. For the affordable price, I like the value of this ball. I felt like I got my money's worth off of it. In today's market for bowling balls, that is saying a lot. I was surprised at the performance and I am surprised that I liked it this much. This is probably the most cover-adjustment friendly ball that I've ever owned. Great first ball out of the bag for league and even tournaments. It has opened my eyes in regards to Columbia 300 and I am looking into C300 pieces in the future (Apogee & Action Series).

Thanks again everyone for taking the time out to read my review and I hope you find them helpful in every way. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

Best Regards,
Ram

I've got 2 of these and use them in my experience league and sport shots.  One is drilled with pin 4.5 from PAP @ 90 degrees, pin next to ring finger.  The other is drilled pin 5.5 from PAP @ 70 degrees, pin above fingers.  These two balls give me 2 WAY different looks thru the pins.  The 1st ball requires good backends to work well.  The other one requires more dry up front and is better thru carrydown.  They are used in different parts of the lane for me as well.  The 90 degree ball toward the outside of the lane and the 75 degree from the inside part of the lane.

There are better balls out there, but this is a very cheap 1-2 punch for me.  You can pick these up cheap on ebay, I have heard as low as $30.  At that price they are a steal!