Columbia 300 EPX T1 Bowling Ball

The ball that basically bankrupt C300 and got them sold off to Ebonite. Maybe the most disastrous launch in bowling history. Ball takes more maintenance than just about any other ball ever made, smells like hot solder flux and most of all it was famous for literally falling apart on the lanes. All that said it really was kind of unicorn ball reaction wise. I own one got several years ago and man is it a heavy rolling ball that rolls like urethane on steroids. Only ball really anything like it ever owned is my Motiv Tank Blitz which makes sense since neither is reactive resin. Very condition specific but if matches up watch out as ball is money.

This is my second EPX T1; my first ball had a serious problem with core separation but I was able to get it replaced under warranty. I am not sold on the longevity of this ball. I can see evidence of cracking so, it may not be a dependable ball in my arsenal. I will not use it on anything less than medium to heavy oil. I also agree on the excessive maintenance as it bleeds oil & plasticizer; it's a pain in the *ss to have to soak the ball in hot water after using the ball. The smell is also sort of noxious.

If there's another ball out there in the market that is comparable to the EPX-T1, then they'll have a run for their money for this ball. I love the way this ball moves down the lane and simply smash the pins without any mercy. Got one drilled 3 1/2 x 5 with pin right of ring finger to control the backend on it. And even with a controlled drilling like that, the EPX will find a way to hook back into the pocket. On flooded lanes, it'll still do the job even though I have to play a more direct line. Heavy oil, it's all about letting the ball do the work. Med/heavy, after a few games it becomes a little strong down the midlane and it does soak up alot of oil. Can play about the 15 board to 7 to give it an extra push down the lanes but if I have to move anywhere left of the 15 board, then it's time to put it away. But it does open the lanes up very well for the next ball to bring out of the bag. Though maintenance is a big importance for this ball, the hot water bath makes th

I bought this ball because the house I bowl in uses an awful lot of oil, too much for pretty much any but the absolute best oil balls. According to another rating website, the EPX had the highest true hooking ability on the market but that test had to have been done when the ball had zero games on it. If you read my previous reviews on the EPX you'll see the maintenance factor mentioned and was done according to Columbia's instructions but by the time the ball was 2 months old even that didn't work any more, rendering the ball totally useless on oil. I mentioned this to one of the techs in the pro shop and he had the same experience with the ball now good for no more than medium to medium dry lanes. Went back to my Formula and immediately saw big increase in scores over the bad experiment called EPX!

Getting much more comfortable with this ball now. Pro shop did an awesome job fitting, so easy to throw consistently. Not a ball for someone who just wants to bowl and stick it back in the locker. Even with normal oil you'll be cleaning about every 12 games, heavy oil will make that about 6. I've learned more about proper stroking thanks to this ball and am not leaving nearly as many 10's as before and carrying many more light hits. Columbia has a special instruction on their site about cleaning this ball on hot water which really gets the junk out, soak in a large bucket of hot water for a few minutes, sweats out the oil and plasticizer (or whatever that yellow junk is) and repeat several times, refreshing water each time, wiping with paper towels or clean absorbent cloth. Ball is still not what I'd expected but has turned into a dependable ball on the slick condition, averaging over 200 steadily since finding the key to it. My old Formula was my ball of choice but there's so much oil

If you can still find this un drilled get it for sure. If it has been plugged, it is up to you. But I would grab one if you can find it. The Big One is replacing this, but this has a different shell, and more hook. Keep your eye out at your local store, or on ebay for these. I have not bought The Big One yet, if anyone has both, please let me know your thoughts of the Big One compared to this one. I just bought a black widow, and look forward to reviewing it. I am not a great bowler but have had my best games with the EPX, or the CUDA/C from Columbia.

This was the first ball I learned how to hook on. Unfortunately, I didn't like the set up of the one I had (bought from a friend) so I got a new one drilled to my hand. This ball is fairly good, has a good backend reaction, and really drives through the pocket to the 5 pin if thrown well. But there are a couple issues that put this ball low in my fave arsenal. Mostly that I haven't had it long and it's already cracking around the finger holes, as is inside the thumb hole. Second is the fact that this thing soaks up oil like no ball I've ever seen. Other than those issues, I'm quite impressed with the way this weight block works with a truly revolutionary coverstock. If only Columbia could fix the cracking situation, this would be a GREAT ball.

Fortunately I got a good deal off Ebay, otherwise I'd be on Columbia's doorstep with this piece of crap! I don't know how a company as big as they are EVER put this on the market without discovering the problem in the shell compound (bleeding). I have another Columbia ball (Formula) that I still love, requires almost no maintenance other than wiping, so how did this piece of junk ever hit the market? The ball is fun when fresh, carries many light hits but you'd better have another ball ready by the 3rd game. Columbia.......what were you thinking?

-First let me tell you this, I own 3 of the epx T1 and 2 of the epx A1. They are the best balls I have ever thrown. Its not the fanciest thing youll ever see go down the lane, but it plain and simply gets the job done. You will definatley see an increase in your strike%. -I am a high speed-high rev bowler and like to play very deep and aggressive angles. This became a problem very fast. All of my equipment stopped carring. I was leaving 9 and 10 pins constantly, to the point of me going insane and quitting bowling for a few months. Anyway, to the point of this, the dry finish of this epoxy coverstock never overeacts for me. It has the best mid lane read I have seen. It sets up and rolls over the pins. The sound is really different on a square hit, and the pins hit the deck instead of flying. People always say this about their new ball, but I seriously mean it. No ball has ever accomplished this for me, until the epx. I still will leave tens when I deserve them, but

This was one ball that really concerned me because i wanteed one but i heard some pretty bad things about them well i went ahead and bought one this ball is really great it hooks more then annything i have ever thrown and it hits and carries great to does not leave many single pins this ball is not for dry lanes ihis ball also was a funny smell if you have one and it cracks columbia does stand behind them so dont be afraid to buy one this is really a great ball dispite some of the bad things that have been said about it

A little over one month after i got this ball it is still going strong. The specs are the same as the last review I posted on this ball. This thing hooks just as well as the day I bought it I have been using it twice a week, Monday nights on a Sport pattern about 38- 42 feet long varying by week this house is putting as much if not more oil than the heaviest PBA Condition! I stand left of the dots and throw at about 18 the ball goes down to about 5 and screams back the last 18 feet of the lane and KILLS the pins the pins are smoking the next time they get set down on the pin deck. Then Tuesday on the 5 National PBA Patterns I can only use this on the 2 heaviest patterns and even then only for a couple of games before the ball just starts over powering the lane. If you need a oil ball invest in one of these just make sure you clean it in hot water every 9-12 games for about 45 minutes a pop and the ball will be fine, I actually think mine is getting stronger the more I clean it I used

This was my first 15 pound ball I recently went down because I started forcing 16 pound equipment. Any way I bought the ball out of desperation and it does incerdible. Fingers are just above and to the right of the pin. Mass Bias out about 2 inches. At first it was lazy but I had balencing hole put in it and it started dominating. Best hook I have ever seen in oil it just can not be stopped and it does well on meduim oil also, but I must watch the break point because it has tendency to want break early. Ball turns nice and smooth no sudden turns does not over hook when it gets into the dry. the ball is forgiving if it thrown out to far always gets back to the pocket, if pulled how ever I am in trouble. I clean it every 9-12 games in hot water that is all it takes. The ball hits very well not as hard as Morich or lane #1 but keeps pins low and absolutly destroys them if this hits the pocket there is no doubt it will strike a very high percentage of the time. Over all a great ball if gi

OK, I've put off writing this a long time, waiting to see what was gonna happen with this ball. It finally made it's move and cracked the coverstock after about 60 games and three soakings. The weight block in this ball actually shifted after about 20 games, I noticed it after the first cleaning. If this ball hadn't cracked, it could have been the best ball I've ever owned. I had it drilled for max RPM, max flare and it didn't disappoint. I've never seen a ball you could miss way outside with and still have it come back and crush the pocket. It could be a little marshmellow-y sometimes but that was a fault of the operator, not the ball. My only regret with this ball is that it never got to see synthetic lanes while I had it. I may update when I find out what Columbia is going to do with the broken ball...

effective for about 20-25 games. starts to lose hook. easily fixed by soaking track in hot water for a half hour. revives the ball back to out of box performance. everyone complaining about this ball is mostly misusing it. and it's not as high maintainence as all say. soaking the ball in hot water is hardly hard work. also, coverstock cracking has gone down. it was mostly apparent in the first batch. so it's not a big factor. i've got over 60 games on it, i've soaked it about 3 times. still hooks beautifully and much more than any of my other equipment. ***update, my ball did crack and i no longer own it.

This ball is not worth the money you pay for it! It is too high maintenance and stinks like hell. I do not buy and Columbia 300 balls after this...was my first new ball in a longtime and this crap happened! Needless to say I was not happy. Make sure you get warranty plus! Although this ball was good when it was first used, it hit good for only 3 games and after that it decided to crap out! What more can I say but DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!! DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!! DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!! DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!! DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!! DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!! DO NOT BUY THIS BALL!!!<scri

This ball does nothing what it says it will doe it goes dead after there games it hits soft. everything about this ball is just plain bad. i like most off columbias balls but this one is the worst ball i have ever thrown by far. my advice to anyone geting this ball is dont get an action insted. Also the coverstock on this ball cracks and fractures really really easy. I honestly have nothing good to say about this ball it is just awful. I sanded this ball did everything to try get it to work but nothing worked at all on it.

First off let me say that the ball worked as advertised when I got it. Rolled smooth and hit like a mack truck. Now for the fun (sarcasim) part. During practice I got lined up and settled in. First shot in league and I burried the ball. The sound was horrifing! Not a sound a ball normally makes when it hits the pins. After a couple mins my ball still hadnt returned so I called the desk and told them we had a ball return issue. Well low and behold we figured it out about one minute later when the Mechanic comes walking down the side with about 15-20 pieces of my EPX in his hands. The ball had detonated on impact with the pins and fell apart. This ball is dangerous if you have a wife like me that isnt keen on spending $200+ and watching the lane guy carry it away to the pro shop to have it sent off for a look by Columbia. They offered a new ball but I couldnt stomach watching another one do the same thing. I have heard similar stories to mine and Columbia still stands behind the fact tha

This ball *requires* special treatment in order for it to work. If you are expecting to buy this ball and have it be exactly like your other equipment, you will be wasting your money. DO NOT buy this ball and treat it as if it were a urethane or reactive ball! It won't work! Columbia has it written out in the paperwork that comes with the ball. Every 9-12 games, it must be soaked in hot tap water with Dawn to remove the oil that has built up in the epoxy. It only takes 10-20 minutes and restores the coverstock to like new and it will hit like a tank again. I drilled this ball January 9th and have thrown it on fresh oil, after league play and on day old oil, for comparison purposes. I'm putting about 12 games per week on it. The track area is certainly sucking up the oil. Last night I noticed that the heat from my hand was drawing it out while in my approach. I saw that, tried to wipe it off and really made no difference. It should be noted that the ball still drove hard a

The EPX-T1 is the beginning of a revolution in heavy oil action and new shell technology. This jump is as important as the leap from urethane to reactive resin. I recently rolled the EPX-T1 - The Super Carbide Bomb - and the Ultimate Inferno in a test simulation. I am a power Tweener, with above average speed. Lane condition: Heavily flooded oil, 38ft pattern, out of bounds outside 5. This lane condition is considered one of the hardest to get a ball to trully finish, when playing a 12 to 6 shot. Results: EPX-T1 - Set up well, finished hard, carried perfectly. Super Carbide Bomb - Never set up, sailed through the 3 pin continualy Ultimate Inferno - Never set up, sailed through the 3 pin continualy Click this link top find out why: http://www.columbia300.com/innovation/techdocs.cfm?id=21 The reason is that reactive resin and reactive resin particle both have a series of small holes that they use to create surface friction to grab the lane. Since the EPX-T1 is not

I was bowling with Brian Alpert the other day.. he is a former PBA pro and is now the western regional rep for Columbia300 in the western united states.... Anyways.. I told him it was not reacting the same as it was when i first bought my EPX T1... he said its because it soaks up oil....(Here is the secret) . He told me do go home and fill a deep pot with scolding hot water and set my ball in there, with the ball tilted on my track , but not so the fingers and thumb holes were submerged... wait 20 minutes and then take it out.... when i took it out I was wiping thick heavy clumps of pure lane oil off the ball.... It forced all the oil out, rejuvinating the cover.... It now rolls like a champ again..... Because the ball is a poxy u can do this to it in water... which in the future may become a very fortunate and helpful, technological alternative to the basic reactive resins out there... the other resins cannot be rejuvinated like this... only this rare poxy. He said do this every 30

ball revs up nicely, makes a nice turn into pocket, if u turn ball, I had to play deep and keep ball speed up, ball seemed to quit if speed wasnt there, i drilled with pin above ring finger with with 7/8 finger and side weight to get down the lane farther, it still needs oil for this ball to be consistant, i really dont believe this ball does what columbia claims it does, this ball for me rolled out on med cond. this ball will need heavy oil in order to get down lane, i cant see this thing working consistantly on any other cond but a flood. will try at other houses before i make a final decision, untill then, keep up speed.

I am a tweener with slow ballspeed. The hitting power of my 14 lb. EPX ball is simply amazing. It seems to carry just as well as 15 lb. balls that I've used in the past. I've been getting some very odd looking pin action that resulted in unlikely strikes. Some folks might call them "ugly" strikes. The EPX seems to carry light hits just good as high hits and there is very little deflection for a 14 lb. ball. The more I use the EPX the more astonished I am. It's just hard to believe a 14 lb. ball can carry the corner pins this well. You know you have a great ball when you get strikes when you don't expect a strike. I drilled it up "strong" with pin about 1" to the right of the ring finger and CG kicked out, so the pin ended up in the 11 o'Clock position. Ball has 3/4 oz. positive side weight and about 1/4 oz. finger weight and a 3" pin. When the backends are fresh, my current set-up is actually too much ball, which forces me to play deep around the 3rd arrow. The EPX ba

This is a review really to tell you how the ball rolled after i soaked it (gave it a hot bath) Holy cow did it ever look great rolling into the pocket, infact i think it looked better and rolled nicer than when i first got it. Bowled with this ugly thing saturday (2 days after i soaked it) and did it ever do its job, ball rolled very smooth and reacted like when i first got it. I didnt shoot any honor scores this weekend but that was probably cause i was busy goofing off and experimenting with different things...but i look to do much better things this weekend... Ok now not for the such good new, i am probably going to have to soak it again after my Thanksgiving tournament (since i be bowling on heavy oil and after only three games on my house shot i could see the old dark purple coming back ) but was told that i would probably have to do this a few times before all the excess plasticiser is out of it and i get the oil out of it.

Im really wrting a response to the previous review someone left..... When i got my ball i was like wow, this ball hooks and keeps moving, but noticed when i left my hand on the ball, it started to get dark and a tacky feeling liquid would come out, i thought it was the special formula in the ball that i was drawing out, which i was told, "Impossible" by my pro-shop guys....I emailed columbia and the guy told me that it wasnt the special gripping formula, it was the plastizizer coming out, that it had to much in the ball, and since this type of coverstock is extremly temperature sensative, that the heat coming off my hand was bring the excess out to the surface. Told me it wasnt a big proble, infact i could fix the problem myself, told me to get a 5 gallon bucket, fill it about half way with hot water, not boiling water, but hot water (see the steam off the water). Drop the ball in and let it sit in there for 45 min, to my suprise when i came back to it, it was covered in a goop a

Ball is amazing, Hooks where nothing else but a high load sanded particle will hook along with this ball. Best ball made for heavy oil/floodes in my opinion. My brother, friend and me are eaching getting another one because they are the best possible ball out there for oil. Hooks super early and extremly smooth. It just is high matience, but its worth it when your the only one scoring. Hot water bath after every time you use it and you will be fine. Wish columbia would make more of the Epoxy coverstocks or more available to the people who really want it. Some people dont like this ball because they dont know how to take care of it properly or how to use it.