Columbia 300 Icon Bowling Ball

The Icon is probably one of the best ball out there. The price is reasonable and it raised my league average by 10. I would suggest having a second ball in your bag to combat dry lanes. The Icon looks good and does not need a scent to be a great ball (sorry Storm). I previously played an ebonite apex which was a good ball but did not have the backend I was looking for. After fingertipping the Icon, I noticed it was much more predictable. Bottom line being: buy this ball, you will not be sorry, the pins might be though.

Like I said, "Don't throw it unless you can handle it!" Everybody says, it leaves alot of splits, that is because you are missing the pocket, also no kidding its not the best on dry lanes, what is that ball made to do?????? Use a less agressive ball. Overall I love it, it has done nothing but treat me good. I love the pin action and the consistent scores that it feeds me!! I shot two 300 games last week. My average has gone up about 15 pins and I have only had it for about a month and a half!!

This was my first bowling ball after coming out of semi-retirement. last ball was a cuda/c and then i quit bowling for a few years...and before i was a 190 avg bowler and now with this new icon my average in leagues and tournaments is between 205-240. you won't find a better ball for a typical fresh house shot with backends...and in the last few weeks i have been averageing over 230...and now that i have learned what this ball does i have the icon 300 on the way for conditions when the backends aint hookin...

I bought this ball for freshly oiled house shots and it has worked great. It hits very hard and is very forgiving. I have not tried the ball sanded, but with the factory finish, it has trouble with wet backends. I am not sure that I agree with Columbia's choice of colors for the Icon. It shows dirty very bad and the lettering is impossible to get clean. The surface also seems to get scratch rather easily. Overall, I would definitely recommend this ball for someone looking for versatility and predictability. I would classify the Icon as a moderately aggressive with above average length.

Over all the icon is a nice house ball. I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner bowler due to its inconsistency. When left in the out of the box, not much midlane read but the backend on a decent shot was enough to make up for it and then some. If dulled I think it would roll better but in my house the backends are huge so no need to mess with that. As with the entire icon series, the ball is a bit expensive. If given the chance, i dont think i would have bought this ball. The color scheme is horrible but ive thrown worse balls.

GREAT BALL. VERY HAPPY WITH PERFORMANCE SO FAR. AVERAGE HAS INCREASED 11 PINS SINCE I STARTED USING IT. HAVE BEEN THROW ING RED WOLF AND Z ZONE. COULD'T GET THEM TO FINISH STRONG IN OIL LIKE THE ICON. THIS BALL IS VERY AGGRESSIVE ON THE BACK END.WOULD RECCOMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS STRIKING POWER IN THE PIT. YOU CAN'T THROW IT SOFT, YOU MUST BE AGGRESSIVE WITH IT, TO GET GOOD RESULTS. AS SOON AS I LET IT GO, AND SEE MY BREAK POINT, I KNOW ITS GOING TO BE FLUSH IN THE POCKET.SINCE I PURCHASED IT, I CAN'T WAIT TO BOWL IN LEAGUES.

when i got the ball , drilled it at 65 degree axis for a strong back end , and it sure has one , the problem is with my ball speed if i get too soft it goes right through the nose leaving nice splits, but that is me not the ball, The house i bowl in is 18 ft gaurdian and the rest is wood,shot seems to change so you need to know when to move ,or the other team stomps on your neck.The house shot is a medium to light shot, usually polished balls react the best. My Icon ,and Icon 2 are polished and react great as long as i throw them correctly they work awsome , pick them up for yourself you will be very satisfied

I thought i'd give Columbia another try, I had a Reaction Ricochet previously and was not happy with it's performance and reaction. Well needless to say the Icon is another bust in my book as far as Columbia goes. I'm a 220 ave. bowler who had to struggle to make 200 with this ball and it didn't matter if the shot was fresh or carry-down. This ball just didn't react the same way twice which made reading the lanes near impossible. I would have given this ball a worse rating but my son loves it and is bowling well too boot. Maybe it's just me and a Columbia thing, anyway i'll stick to my Storm X-Factor.

ball is very controllable and performs well with on oily lanes. A good ball for your arsenal! The ball is a bit pricey, but it is a ball you should own. The cover tunes easily and appears to be a great ball both polished and sanded. Sanding created a much earlier roll and polished gave the ball length and skid / flip reaction in the back ends. Good speed and a big hand makes this ball hit hard. I have a lot of Coumbia balls that have been great when I first used them and eventually they lost thier hitting power. Its too early to tell what this ball will do for the long run.

Overall, this has got to be one of the best balls I have ever bowled with.My average has gone from a 183 to a 199 since I have gotten the ball. If you miss your target by a large amount, this ball will almost always come back on you and hit the pocket. Every person I know that has this ball has not yet made any complaints about the ball.I have heard nothing but good things about this ball. If you only want to buy oone high priced ball ( not so high anymore) make sure its the Icon. My only complaint about this ball is that isnt a good ball for me to use in the heavy oil. It maybe for you but not for me. Go buy this ball. You wont be dissappointed.

Dont get me wrong here, this is a great ball. But if you know he shot is going to be flooded, i would go with a ball that revs up even sooner than this ball. when u get to medium oil, medium-heavy oil, give it a shot. its performed pretty well for me, just dont expect to shoot 700 or 750 right out of the box, this ball takes some getting used to. i made the mistake that i knew what this ball would always do, just because i bowled good with it the first few times, but after that the reaction changed on me.

<p>Dont get me wrong here, this is a great ball. But if you know he shot is going to be flooded, i would go with a ball that revs up even sooner than this ball. when u get to medium oil, medium-heavy oil, give it a shot. its performed pretty well for me, just dont expect to shoot 700 or 750 right out of the box, this ball takes some getting used to. i made the mistake that i knew what this ball would always do, just because i bowled good with it the first few times, but after that the reaction changed on me.</p>

Overall, this a great ball. It has plenty of hook, and it hits the pins like a ton of bricks. This ball is great on long oil ,and heavier oil. When I can make good shots, this ball breaks at just the right time, and smashes the pocket. When the ball is hitting the pocket consistantly, it's great, but that's very hard. Right now I'm using it as a second ball. Right now, I still prefer my Reacton Rev to the Icon, but it's still a good ball. This ball shot me my highest sanctioned game with a 266. Love it.

<p>Overall, this a great ball. It has plenty of hook, and it hits the pins like a ton of bricks. This ball is great on long oil ,and heavier oil. When I can make good shots, this ball breaks at just the right time, and smashes the pocket. When the ball is hitting the pocket consistantly, it&#039;s great, but that&#039;s very hard. Right now I&#039;m using it as a second ball. Right now, I still prefer my Reacton Rev to the Icon, but it&#039;s still a good ball. This ball shot me my highest sanctioned game with a 266. Love it.</p>

This ball is great. i saw strikes that i never saw before. this ball is hooking more than i want. once it finds a dry spot on the lane it just makes circles. great for tournaments. play every line that you can play for this ball because you will find hope believe me. i had a tournament where it was oiled everyone BUT left of the first arrow im talking playing the gutter.(im a lefty) this ball tends to hook to early if heads are dry. it needs oil just to get the ball down the lane.th x<sc

<p>This ball is great. i saw strikes that i never saw before. this ball is hooking more than i want. once it finds a dry spot on the lane it just makes circles. great for tournaments. play every line that you can play for this ball because you will find hope believe me. i had a tournament where it was oiled everyone BUT left of the first arrow im talking playing the gutter.(im a lefty) this ball tends to hook to early if heads are dry. it needs oil just to get the ball down the lane.th x&lt;sc</p>

Overall i think it is a really good ball and that if you like a ball that moves this is the one for you. i think it was a good use of my money. IF you have a chance to buy the ball you should buy it. it is really good and i think anyone would like it. It is my favorite ball and i am planning on using it a long time. BUt overall it is a really good ball and you should buy it. the nine counts can be picked up so don't be scared of that. a good bowled picks up the spares and strikes are just extra.

<p>Overall i think it is a really good ball and that if you like a ball that moves this is the one for you. i think it was a good use of my money. IF you have a chance to buy the ball you should buy it. it is really good and i think anyone would like it. It is my favorite ball and i am planning on using it a long time. BUt overall it is a really good ball and you should buy it. the nine counts can be picked up so don&#039;t be scared of that. a good bowled picks up the spares and strikes are just extra.</p>

With over 50 games on this I would recomend this ball to anyone. The carry is great. I like the way I can dull it for min. backend reaction or shine it up for BIG backend. I had to try different shine or dull for my game. I polished it for 15 minutes it was to much backend for the dry backends I bowl on. I dulled it out it would not finish hard enough. What I do now is dull it then a quick polish just to have a little backend. So far this has worked out great. I'm sure this will be different for everyone. Once you find out what works look out for those BIG numbers.

<p>With over 50 games on this I would recomend this ball to anyone. The carry is great. I like the way I can dull it for min. backend reaction or shine it up for BIG backend. I had to try different shine or dull for my game. I polished it for 15 minutes it was to much backend for the dry backends I bowl on. I dulled it out it would not finish hard enough. What I do now is dull it then a quick polish just to have a little backend. So far this has worked out great. I&#039;m sure this will be different for everyone. Once you find out what works look out for those BIG numbers.</p>

Ball works great in medium oil. Has a great backend, and sits until its breakpoint. I usually shoot between the second and third arrows, and usually put the ball out to about the fourth or fifth board, and it usually snaps back nicely. This ball hits like a truck. Ball is very unforgiving if you miss your mark to the inside of the lane. Will SPLIT your chances of a good game, if your mistake occurs late in the game. None other than that. I struggled the first three to four weeks with this ball, the key is too let the ball do the work. The ball works exceptionally well when it can work. Patience is important with this ball. Have a back up for medium-dry lanes, and don't even bother taking this ball out on dry lanes. Overall a very well ball and I recomend it for the EXPERIENCED bowler.

<p>Ball works great in medium oil. Has a great backend, and sits until its breakpoint. I usually shoot between the second and third arrows, and usually put the ball out to about the fourth or fifth board, and it usually snaps back nicely. This ball hits like a truck. Ball is very unforgiving if you miss your mark to the inside of the lane. Will SPLIT your chances of a good game, if your mistake occurs late in the game. None other than that. I struggled the first three to four weeks with this ball, the key is too let the ball do the work. The ball works exceptionally well when it can work. Patience is important with this ball. Have a back up for medium-dry lanes, and don&#039;t even bother taking this ball out on dry lanes. Overall a very well ball and I recomend it for the EXPERIENCED bowler.</p>

dude, i got this ball with 20 games on it for 60 dollars, since ive had it ive loved it, I got drilled to go long id so it goes almost 52 ft. down the lane, i throw it from third arrow out to 1st and it snaps back at 52 ft and smashes the pocket and thats on dry lanes, Light oil id probably play 2 boards to the left(im a left) and the same thing will happen except maybe 50 ft. down the lane on Medium oil, id probably play about second arrow swing it out to 1st. and throw it a lttile bit slower, the things goes about 45 ft down the lane arcs right into the pocket Heavy oil, straight up 1st, and alittle bit slower, put hand in the ball on very heavy oil, otherwise your fine if its just heavy thorw it 1st arrow straight up, if its very heavy oil and soaking wet when you get your ball back, throw it super slow it wont track out on super oily lanes(dont normally bowl drenched lanes but starting to travel to different lanes so getting better) Update: Now, after i have much furthered

<p>dude, i got this ball with 20 games on it for 60 dollars, since ive had it ive loved it, I got drilled to go long id so it goes almost 52 ft. down the lane, i throw it from third arrow out to 1st and it snaps back at 52 ft and smashes the pocket and thats on dry lanes,</p><p>Light oil id probably play 2 boards to the left(im a left) and the same thing will happen except maybe 50 ft. down the lane</p><p>on Medium oil, id probably play about second arrow swing it out to 1st. and throw it a lttile bit slower, the things goes about 45 ft down the lane arcs right into the pocket</p><p>Heavy oil, straight up 1st, and alittle bit slower, put hand in the ball on very heavy oil, otherwise your fine if its just heavy thorw it 1st arrow straight up, if its very heavy oil and soaking wet when you get your ball back, throw it super slow it wont track out on super oily lanes(dont normally bowl drenched lanes but starting to travel to different lanes so getting better)</p><p></p><p>Update: Now, after i have much furthered</p>

I bought this ball specifically for the transition period when the oil has carried down the lanes. I found that by playing inside (between the third and fourth arrows) to keep it in plenty of oil, the ball will still get into a good roll and not over-react to bone dry back ends. While I have not tried the ball on heavy oil conditions, my gut instinct is that it would work well as long as there is plenty of back end. I have had good luck with the ball when I start out the set with a reactive ball, playing the track area, change to the Icon when the oil carries down, and either change back to the reactive ball or move inside with the Icon when the oil settles down (around the end of the second game).