Does anyone know what current ball out today would be most similar to the old Columbia 300 rival (the original blue)? I absolutely loved that ball.  It was drilled with pin beside the ring finger and MB slightly kicked out. I haven't found any ball similar since.  Any thoughts?  Or, additionally, any other balls the would be similar with a different drilling?  Thanks in advance!

I think the Smack Down is probably stronger than the Rival was. I would probably look at the Blur Hybrid maybe the Solid

I will tell you from experience with the arson hybrid, it's not even close to what the rival was.  I drilled it thinking the same thing u did and it did not impress me

The Smack down today is equivalent to the strength of Rival when it came out 8 years ago.

I'd go with the Disorder! The core numbers are almost identical with a low rg, mid diff core. They are both symmetrical cored balls and the covers will be the major difference and both were for medium to medium/heavy lanes. Just my $.02, Bruce

OK,  I think the key thing in the Rival was the wide core in the middle with the tapered top and bottom, very similar to the diamond cores from Lane #1.  Great balls on the league conditions of the times.

Another core shape that reminds me of the Rival Core is the balls in the Revolver series from Brunswick.  I have the Loaded Revolver sort of pearl, though I love the shape of the core, it is really a slow response coverstock that responds too slow in my house.  On a highly reactive properly stripped or super stripped back end house I used it and if I had used it earlier I would have been going to Vegas to bowl for $50K a year or two ago!  I have seen others with better reaction on this ball either sanded or pin down.  I have done neither!

The Lethal Revolver solid might be better but I have not seen it live.

If your house has the typical wetter oils of today with a typical amount of carrydown  I think a faster response coverstock as recommended for the Disorder or the Smack Down might be a great answer!  The Disorder has the closer numbers.  Lower RG and less Diff than the Smackdown.

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS I have two Blurs arriving at my house today!  WooWoo!

I'd go with the Disorder! The core numbers are almost identical with a low rg, mid diff core. They are both symmetrical cored balls and the covers will be the major difference and both were for medium to medium/heavy lanes. Just my $.02, Bruce

I didn't even think about the Disorder, that could actually be very close with maybe a cover tweak

the disorder is a very underrated piece
1 of the best balls in the EBI lline-up IMO
at OBB its 200 dull, currently have some polish over that and the pin in the middle finger which gives me a 5"pin-pap
awesome predictable piece, carry's the light hits quite well
i prefer the black eruption pro to the orange one, its a bit longer and 2-3 stronger off the spot