I hate to say it...but it "might" just be that Columbia has weaker covers than other ball manufacturers. I don't like to believe that the balls really make much of a difference...but thus far both my Columbia balls have been huge disappointments.
You're right, the DE SHOULD be the most powerful ball. It's a pro level ball (2 years ago), it has an assymetric, stronger core, and has a fairly low RG...not to mention it has a solid cover. But...like it's sister the Encounter....it just doesn't seem to have that "bite" that you see with Storm, Rotogrip, or Brunswick. The Bullet Train and Hammer were "in between"...but both Columbia balls I tried...and even the newer LX15 and HX15 that I tried at the demo...they just didn't have that "bite" to them that I would expect from a newer technology ball.
I'm just really weary about EBI at this point. I've tried Hammers, Track, Columbia...never tried an Ebonite yet...and they just don't have that "sticky" cover that seems to grab the lanes. I could be wrong...the DE definitely moved when I was throwing it outside at lower speeds...but it was almost a reluctant move. It was as if the balls were alive and had personalities...the DE seemed to have a personality of, "Oh....okay <sigh>....I guess I'll hook...if I HAVE TO! : (" And that's not what I'm seeing from Brunswick, Storm, or Rotogrip.
Maybe it's just in my head. Maybe it's more due to how poorly my skill set is. I don't pretend to know for sure. I'm just saying...the EBI stuff I've thrown just doesn't seem to have "it" compared to the other brands I've thrown.
Bookmarks