- Impulse Solid

First Impressions
Released in March 2017, the Columbia 300 Impulse Solid was designed as the perfect complement to the popular original Impulse (Pearl). Visually, the ball stands out with its striking color combination of blue, black and orange solid, which looks especially rich thanks to the matte finish. Technically it is built around the symmetrical Impulse core, known for its versatility. At 15 pounds this core delivers a low RG of 2.49 and a high differential of 0.050. Those numbers produce an early revving motion and strong flare potential. The decisive feature, however, is the Reflex Solid Reactive coverstock, enriched with the patented HyperShock Technology. This viscoelastic material inside the shell is meant to retain energy better at impact and maximize "pin carry." Out of the box the ball comes with a 500/2000 Abralon finish, giving it a coarse texture that generates traction in oil right away.
Comparison Compared directly to the original Columbia 300 Impulse (Pearl), which was polished and showed a typical skid-flip reaction, the Impulse Solid behaves completely differently. It reads the lane considerably earlier (midlane read) and smooths the reaction at the breakpoint out dramatically. Where the Pearl can get touchy on over/under conditions, the Solid provides stability. Set against the C300 Tyrant (the brand's asymmetrical heavy hitter at the time), the Impulse Solid offers slightly less overall hook and is easier to control. The Tyrant digs in even earlier and turns more aggressively, while the Impulse Solid describes a rounder, more flowing motion. Bring in a competitor like the Storm Phaze II and the Impulse Solid plays in exactly the same "symmetrical solid benchmark" league. It offers comparable traction, with the HyperShock technology often giving it a somewhat heavier sound and less deflection in the pins.
On the Lanes The Columbia 300 Impulse Solid is the classic benchmark ball for medium to heavier oil conditions. It is the ideal choice as the first ball out of the bag on fresh house shots or sport patterns to read the lane. Thanks to the 2000 surface it does not skid over the oil but builds traction reliably. Its strength lies in ironing out harsh edges on the lane (wet/dry). It lets you control the pattern without having to worry about extreme overreaction. If you throw the ball fast, it is excellent, because it slows down early enough. As soon as the lane starts to dry up (transition), though, the ball will begin to burn up energy too early; that is the perfect moment to switch to the polished Impulse Pearl or a Juke.