- Sideswipe Solid

First Impressions
The Columbia 300 Sideswipe Solid was released in January 2017 as an extension of the "Yellow Line," which stands for strong value in the mid performance segment. Visually, the ball comes in a matte color combination of orange, red and grey. At its center works the symmetrical Sideswipe Core, which in the 15-pound version delivers a 2.50 RG and a 0.041 differential. These numbers point to a centered center of gravity that favors controlled rotation. This core is wrapped in the Bend-It Solid coverstock. Unlike the original pearl model, this version comes with an out of the box finish of 500/1000/3000 Abralon. This matte surface provides noticeably earlier traction on the lane and reduces sensitivity to oil in the heads.
Comparison To place the Sideswipe Solid's performance, the comparison to its direct predecessor, the original Sideswipe (Pearl), is the most telling. While the pearl version is known for length and a late reaction, the solid reads the lane considerably earlier and offers a rounder, smoother arc in the backend. It eliminates the "over-skidding" at the breakpoint that can show up with the pearl version on fresh oil. Compared to the Columbia 300 Delirium Shock, which was also a strong symmetrical solid ball, the Sideswipe Solid is a bit weaker and more controlled, which makes it a better option when the Delirium Shock revs up too early. Against a benchmark classic like the Storm IQ Tour, the Sideswipe Solid offers more flare potential thanks to its slightly higher differential (0.041 vs 0.029), which results in a somewhat more dynamic motion without giving up controllability entirely.
On the Lanes The Columbia 300 Sideswipe Solid is designed as a classic benchmark ball for medium oil conditions. Its matte surface helps "read" the oil and smooths out the reaction on lanes with a harsh wet-dry contrast (lots of oil in the middle, dry outside). It's the ideal choice as the first ball out of the bag on a fresh house shot, since it neither reacts too jumpy to friction nor simply skids straight through the oil. For tournament players it works excellently for controlling the lane: it shows how the oil is behaving without provoking extreme reactions. If the lane dries up over the course of the game and the ball loses energy too early, moving to the polished Sideswipe Pearl or a weaker ball like the Nitrous would be the logical next step.