Drilled one of this guys up last week as as soon as they showed up. I am by far more impressed with this one then either of the 2 previous balls in the encounter line. For me the Encounter was to long for my ball speed and needed a lot of friction and the Dark Encounter needed a lot of oil in the fronts and never got a good judge of its motion. This wicked is clean through the fronts of the Encounter but picks up in the mid-lane and it very continuous through the pins. It is too strong for me for most house patterns fresh out of the box but I will tweak the cover and try to be able to throw this ball more. This ball is a great color mix to for shelf appeal in Pro Shops and I think we could have a big hit in the High Performance price range.

The Wicked Encounter is a great addition to the Encounter line, it is a strong but clean asymetrical ball. I drilled this ball on the weak side with the pin under my middle finger (I'm right handed), it gets through the front part of the lane and when it hits any dry boards it just wants to take off and go. It does need oil to perform to it's potential, if you have an Omen, this ball to me goes a little longer down lane then makes the continuos turn. I have just been able to throw this on a heavy volume house condition, but I am very impressed the way this ball reacts and hits. It covers a lot of boards, but whats impressive is that it continues and never quits on the backend and never loses hitting power.
 Bugsy Kelly the brand manager and Columbia 300 put out another winner as always for the bowlers.
 Eddie Grace
Columbia 300 Ambassador.

This latest addition to the Encounter line is definitely the best I have seen to date. IT gives a better mid-lane read than the Dark Encounter, flips as hard as the original Encounter, but hits better than either of them. I was very impressed with this being a new hybrid version of the Elastin coverstock and still being able to pick up so well in the oil.

I have one drilled pin-up, which just burned up a little much for the THS in my area at the factory 1500 abranet finish. I took this ball to 1000 abralon, not a huge change, but it was enough to get the ball down lane and still make the corner with enough power to drive through the pins. On lighter, long oil patterns and on most medium oil patterns, this ball is great to start with, even being pin up. I think I could even coax a little more out of this ball if i took the surface up to 1500 or 2000 abralon.

My other Wicked Encounter is basically a shifted pin-down layout of my pin-up. Now you would think with the pin up version being so strong, a pin down version would be even stronger and quite possibly roll out a lot. that it a total MYTH with this ball. NEVER have I owned a ball that will let me stand left, throw right, and pray that it won't overhook the pocket...on a burned up house shot! This ball simply refuses to quit on the backend, even at the factory 1500 abranet finish. Having said that, I believe this ball is great for heavy oil sport patterns where getting a good read in the midlanes is crucial, and I also believe this ball will be a great addition for the typical league bowler who loves to stand left and throw right.


Jimmy Ogden
Cliff Barnes Pro Shop Lafayette, IN
Columbia 300 Ambassador