- Lit

First Impressions
The Columbia 300 Lit, released in September 2017, lives up to its name and was positioned in the market as an absolute "oil monster." Visually the ball shows up in a dark but classy combination of Silver, Purple and Black. In the engine room works the brand-new Lit Asymmetric Core, specified with a very low RG of 2.47, a high differential of 0.052 and an intermediate differential of 0.020 (at 15 lbs). These numbers guarantee extremely early revving up and massive flare potential. This core is wrapped in the Reflex XS coverstock, chemically developed for maximum friction values. The rough 500/2000 Abralon factory finish underlines the intended purpose: the ball is meant to dig through the oil film immediately and build traction instead of skidding.
Comparison
In a direct comparison to the Columbia 300 Saber, which until then was the benchmark for heavy oil in the C300 lineup, the Lit adds another notch. While the Saber reads a rather round, controlled path, the Lit generates more overall hook through its more aggressive core and the Reflex XS surface, and above all a more pronounced reaction in the backend, without losing control in the midlane. Compared with a market leader in this category such as the Storm Sure Lock, both play in the same heavyweight class. The Lit, however, often shows a touch more "pop" at the breakpoint, while the Sure Lock tends to roll a bit earlier and smoother. Against the Columbia 300 Tyrant, the Lit offers improved energy transfer through the pins (HyperShock Technology) and recovers better from wide angles, where the Tyrant could occasionally "gas out."
On the Lanes
The Columbia 300 Lit is the definitive choice for heavy oil conditions and long, flat sport patterns ("the swamp"). It's the first ball you pull out of the bag when you're standing on a "flood" of oil and need traction. It works excellently if you throw the ball fast (speed dominant) and often struggle to get the ball to slow down, as well as if you like to keep the ball in the oil instead of throwing it way out to the dry edge. Because of its extreme aggressiveness and early roll phase, however, it is completely unsuited to dry lanes or short oil patterns; there it would burn up immediately and trundle into the pocket without any power. Its job is to open up the pattern and establish a line in the oil.