Author Topic: Why so few posts on Columbia? (Read 5875 times)

LuckyLefty · « **on:** June 14, 2004, 12:26:13 AM »

I really like their stuff.

Yet all of sudden people don't seem to have the interest.

Balls I've seen having big games, WIRED, Ego, Reaction Rip, Detour, Formula, Icon 2, Icon, Reaction Rev, Throttle, Full Throttle, Throttle/R, Alter Ego.

How come more people aren't into this stuff!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS love my EGO (especially now that out of box sheen off) and have traded for a Detour and amassed enough money for a Formula!

seadrive · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2004, 09:54:50 AM »

I don't know how anyone could say that the Ti Messenger was a bad ball. Every no-hand old-timer in the world (like me!

) had that ball, made them feel like Mark Roth.

Columbia just seems to have lost the marketing edge right now, I really think that's all it is. Same for Ebonite. The "cool" companies right now seem to be Storm, Dyno-Thane, and Roto-Grip. Brunswick would be in the same boat as E and C, if not for the obvious appeal of the Inferno line.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

C-G ProShop-Carl · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2004, 10:42:03 AM »

I used to throw exclusively C300. I had several of their older stuff.....Pirahna/C, Pirahna/C Jade, Cuda/C, Cuda/C pearl, Pearl Quake, After Shock, Pearl After Shock, Beast, Chaos, Extreme Chaos, Complete Chaos, Total Chaos, Rock, Rock Pearl, Rock On, Reaction Roll, Reaction Arc, Icon, and there were more in there somewhere.

My biggest problem with C300: It used to be that I could buy most of the stuff they had one the market and there was hardly any overlap. That was not the case after the Reaction Arc. Too many balls at similiar price points covered the same lane conditions. On top of that---They could really re use the same core in ball after ball really well.

Another problem I have C300----they seem to be losing their creative edge. I heard of the Throttle line coming out and I was very interested, then I found out that the cores in the Throttles closely resemble Brunswick's Zone X and/or Fuze line cores.

I have never had a problem with a ball losing reaction though. This infamous tech death thing just never hit me. SO that is not a reason for me leaving C300.

Even with all of the mention of displeasure with C300, I am looking very closely at the Wired. The core seems interesting.

If ya got one and want to get rid of it, let me know

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Owner/Operator
C-G Pro Shop

channel surfer · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2004, 04:32:17 PM »

quote:
Throw what you like, I'm throwing Columbia.

Amen.
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www.csbowling.vze.com

www.bowlersdream.com - save an additional $3 off any $100 order by simply typing in CSB into the coupon code area at checkout.

Ric Clint · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2004, 06:27:31 PM »

I like SOME of Columbia's balls... not all of them.

In the last 8 months, I've shot a 297, 290, (2) 299's, and (2) 800's with Columbia balls... the Mass Chaos, Extreme Chaos, and Reaction REV.

These balls die eventually but they are easily brought back to life with Ebonite's HOOK AGAIN! I'm a believer in the HOOK AGAIN... read all my posts about this stuff in the "Coverstock Forum".

The Mass Chaos, Extreme Chaos, and Reaction REV are balls that you just don't see anymore!!! Or not much anymore.

Yeah some will say, "oh it's the bowler not the ball." But I think a good ball reaction can turn a 185 averager into a 205 averager!!!!!!!!!!

These 3 balls above have the kind of reaction (long and strong particle's, not reactive's) that enables weaker handed strokers like me to shoot high 700's and an 800 everynow and then... as opposed to just "average" scores!

They're particle's, and that's eliminates the over/under when there's any kind of oil out there.

DP3 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2004, 07:07:53 PM »

Columbia will never make anything as good or loved as their past successes. Original Piranhas, Pulses, the Rage series and the Cudas all still have a cult following. As a matter of fact I have a Cuda/C with like 10 games on it that I'm going to start using again.
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-DJ Marshall
Teal Rhino Pro for life

BowlersAidProShop-Wells · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2004, 03:42:14 AM »

Just like Brunswick would never make anything that matched the success it had with the Zones before they fell off for 4 years. Oh wait, there is that little Inferno line...........

Walking E · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2004, 06:51:51 PM »

quote:
Columbia just seems to have lost the marketing edge right now, I really think that's all it is. Same for Ebonite. The "cool" companies right now seem to be Storm, Dyno-Thane, and Roto-Grip. Brunswick would be in the same boat as E and C, if not for the obvious appeal of the Inferno line.
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seadrive
Cogito ergo bowl

I'm not sure about bad marketing with Columbia, but I would say that this is much more the case with AMF. It's pretty rare in my area to see newer AMFs thrown, and even more rare to see someone throwing one on TV.

Personally, Columbia definitely lacks a "cool factor" for me. The new releases didn't do anything for me, in terms of either looks or presumed performance. I don't think it had to do with marketing for me because my pro shop guy had a great relationship with Columbia and stocked more of their products than anybody else. In other words, I saw Columbia stuff all the time yet I still had no desire to throw it. I have a Flipside Wow but would never have paid for it -- I won it in a raffle.

When I go and watch local pros or scratch league bowlers it seems like almost all of them are throwing Storm, Ebonite, Hammer or Track. I would see newer Columbia equipment here and there, but not nearly as much as the companies I listed above (and AMF is non-existant). I distinctly remember seeing Wendy Mac and Carol Gianotti throwing Columbia, but they were on Columbia's staff at the time. I'm sure in the coming months I'll see more and more Brunswick Infernos to help Brunswick join the list above, but doubtful that I'll see many Columbias. (Maybe, as someone suggested on another thread, I DON'T get out often enough, because I NEVER see Morich or Visionary balls thrown either. Either that or just nobody buys them out here in SoCal.)

As far as the Wow is concerned (I see some postings on its hooking ability), I could never get this ball to hook like I expected. It was initially drilled to rev early and it would do that, but it would never make a turn on the back end unless I had dead dry back ends, which I never had. I recently plugged and redrilled to have it finish stronger for me (pin is now above ring ringer, CG between ring and thumb) and it finishes much stronger for me, but it still doesn't hook a ton for me on oil. Then again, the surface has shined up recently so I should probably sand it a bit and see if I get a stronger reaction now.
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You weren't unlucky when you left that corner pin, so shut up about it already!!

Edited on 6/21/2004 6:50 PM

janderson · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2004, 07:21:13 PM »

LL - after pondering your question, I'd have to say there are several small factors that add up to why I personally haven't tried Columbia lately:

"Out of sight" - just don't see many people throwing this stuff, so haven't seen anything to grab my interest

Lack of recommendations - haven't heard anyone excited about the latest offerings.

Poor reports - My pro shop operator has seen a largely disproportionate number of Jekylls and Hydes with cracked-beyond-repair shells. Several bowling "buddies" have Icon/2/quads that are dead.

Advertising quirks - they label much of their stuff as "skid/flip" which is generally a no-no for me.

It all adds up to me tending to stay away from Columbia in general (and I threw Columbia 300 almost exclusively until the last 1980s). The Super Trooper is the first ball in the last two years from the company to catch my interest. However, it has been difficult to find someone who has thrown it and can give me a good review (over the write-up in BTM magazine) and comparison so ...

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Kill the back row (or maybe this should read "make your spares, dummy")

Edited on 6/23/2004 1:16 PM

TheDude · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2004, 09:11:44 AM »

I have been throwing a lot of columbia this season and i will admitt i like there equipment. I like the throttle alot and was in absolute love with the Throttle-R, I liked the wicked BRT, and the pirhana remake.

I threw the full throttle and even shot an honor score with it but never liked it for some reason, probably short pin. The formula for me was good but after changing the coverstock frequently it has just been cycled out of my arsenal.

I am throwing an ego right now and loving it.
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I am Canadian Dude! GOO BIG FIN!!! MIKA K ALL THE WAY!

Borincano · « **Reply #25 on:** June 23, 2004, 11:22:24 PM »

I have change my equipment of many to just two Alter Egos with different layouts and a Full Throttle that I polished. Having great results with these balls which all have CLT drillings. All because of the sound advice from LuckyLefty and his writings of how to state to the driller in how I want a particular ball drilled. Since joining this site I have been able to up my average from 159 to 191 in my first 13 months of bowling. Thanks to all.

Back to the subject. I am now very interested in the new Columbia line and encourage others to try them out.

I will try to provide my own personal mini reviews later. Up to now I have had a lot of gooood games.

Author Topic: Why so few posts on Columbia? (Read 5875 times)

LuckyLefty

Why so few posts on Columbia?

seadrive

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

C-G ProShop-Carl

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

channel surfer

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

Ric Clint

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

DP3

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

BowlersAidProShop-Wells

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

Walking E

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

janderson

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

TheDude

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?

Borincano

Re: Why so few posts on Columbia?