- Vow

First Impressions
Released in February 2013, the Columbia 300 Vow adds a dynamic pearl option to the brand's high-performance line. Visually the ball comes in a combination of "Purple/Black/Silver" that really pops thanks to the high-gloss polish. Technically, the Vow is built around the symmetrical Capsule Core, which was already used in its predecessor, the Oath. This core is characterized by a low RG of 2.47 and a relatively high differential of 0.054 (at 15 lbs). These numbers mean the core revs up quickly on the inside and builds rev rate. This engine is paired with the Bend-It Pearl Reactive coverstock. The surface receives an elaborate factory treatment (500/1000/2000 Abralon) and is then brought to a high gloss with Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish. The result is a ball that glides through the heads extremely easily and saves its energy for the end of the oil pattern.
Comparison
The most logical comparison is the Columbia 300 Oath, which is the direct counterpart in the series. While the Oath reads the lane early with its dull Bend-It Solid surface and produces an even, rounded arc through the midlane, the Vow is noticeably longer. It skids further through the heads and reacts far more aggressively and more angularly to friction in the backend. Compared to a Storm IQ Tour Pearl (the famous "gold ball" of that era), the Vow often looks a bit sharper at the breakpoint. Where the IQ Tour Pearl is known for its extremely controllable, rounded reaction, the Vow delivers more snap and a quicker change of direction when it hits dry. It is less of a "blender" than the IQ and more of a ball for generating angle.
On the Lanes
The Columbia 300 Vow is ideal for medium oil and for conditions where the lane has already gone through some transition. Its strength is length: when stronger balls like the Oath or other dull solids lose energy too early ("burn up") and arrive flat in the pocket, the Vow has the energy retention needed to carry that energy to the pins. It works very well for opening up the pocket and playing from deeper inside out to the outside. Thanks to the low RG, though, it stays controllable enough not to shoot unpredictably through the breakpoint, as long as there is some friction present. On very long or heavy oil, however, it can skid too far (over/under), since the polished pearl cover finds almost no traction there.