BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Hammer => Topic started by: earlyrolling on September 23, 2016, 12:05:48 AM
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Hammer's new Purple Pearl Urethane sure looks pretty!
http://www.hammerbowling.com/products/balls/mid-performance/purple-pearl-urethane
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Drooling! When do this come out
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I'm stoked to be switching to Hammer products this year.
I will for sure get one of these things. I love the light-bulb shape cores.
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Drooling! When do this come out
Same date as the Scandal Pearl: 10/18/16.
BL.
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So what's the general consensus on this ball thus far? I haven't seen one in my area yet and I'm pretty interested to hear from those that have. My initial assumption when Hammer announced the Purple Pearl Urethane was that is was their version of the Pitch Blue, but actual feedback would be better. Hasn't been a whole lot out there about it yet.
If my assumption was correct then this might be a better option than the Black Urethane or The Crow to keep my angles in front of me when needed. Although I am a bit concerned about it not doing much of anything if it gets down the lane too far for a urethane. Any addition information would be much appreciated.
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So what's the general consensus on this ball thus far? I haven't seen one in my area yet and I'm pretty interested to hear from those that have. My initial assumption when Hammer announced the Purple Pearl Urethane was that is was their version of the Pitch Blue, but actual feedback would be better. Hasn't been a whole lot out there about it yet.
If my assumption was correct then this might be a better option than the Black Urethane or The Crow to keep my angles in front of me when needed. Although I am a bit concerned about it not doing much of anything if it gets down the lane too far for a urethane. Any addition information would be much appreciated.
I like the Crow but it is strong,lower RG and the diff is higher on it than the Black hammer and the pearl. The Crow can be used on a little more oil than the BH. The couple of comparasions s from staffers I know of the BH to the Pearl is that the Pearl was a little stronger downlane, dont know the drillings as to how comparable they are...
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I like that there are a lot of different strength options for urethane. I cannot get too deep with my urethane so having different options to stay straighter is great. Heavy oil can use the stronger ones and higher revs/lighter oil can use the pearls.
I think bowlers need to make sure they are getting the best option for them and their stats/conditions. If you are on a lot of shorter or drier shots, or have higher revs, then the stronger ones are not going to let you get too deep. That is when balls like the Purple Pearl and Pitch Blue are better suited.
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I like the Crow but it is strong,lower RG and the diff is higher on it than the Black hammer and the pearl. The Crow can be used on a little more oil than the BH. The couple of comparasions s from staffers I know of the BH to the Pearl is that the Pearl was a little stronger downlane, dont know the drillings as to how comparable they are...
Stronger down the lane is something I like to hear since the Purple Pearl shouldn't be as early as the Black. Just as long as it isn't a glorified spare ball like the Mix or Arctic Sniper it should be what I'm looking for.
I like that there are a lot of different strength options for urethane. I cannot get too deep with my urethane so having different options to stay straighter is great. Heavy oil can use the stronger ones and higher revs/lighter oil can use the pearls.
I think bowlers need to make sure they are getting the best option for them and their stats/conditions. If you are on a lot of shorter or drier shots, or have higher revs, then the stronger ones are not going to let you get too deep. That is when balls like the Purple Pearl and Pitch Blue are better suited.
I like having a lot of options too but it sure makes me think twice about making a decision. ;D
Yeah, that's what I'm taking my time with. I don't really want something that will be too early for the area of the lane I intend to use it on. Not intending to ever play deeper with one either, although that could be fun if lanes dictate it's viable. There aren't many heavy or medium-heavy oil patterns where I need or would want a urethane, those conditions are usually pretty favorable for me with more typical equipment.
Just looking for something when the transition gets sketchy and maybe when it's drier. Without any experience with urethanes myself it's going to be a bit of a gamble.
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I guess I should have been clearer. For me, urethane is really only an option on shorter patterns. Our house shot is maybe 38-39 feet so I have the option of using urethane on it. But as the oil in the friction areas depletes, I am forced too far inside to consistently use urethane past the middle of game 2.
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I guess I should have been clearer. For me, urethane is really only an option on shorter patterns. Our house shot is maybe 38-39 feet so I have the option of using urethane on it. But as the oil in the friction areas depletes, I am forced too far inside to consistently use urethane past the middle of game 2.
I kind of thought that's what you meant, but I don't like to make assumptions either.
Which urethane ball do you have? I'm considering any and all options here. Although if I can get the Purple Pearl at a good price during an upcoming demo day it might be hard to beat that.
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Unfortunately, my current urethane balls are not available. I have an original Brunswick Phantom, Columbia Slate U-Dot and a Brunswick Avalanche Urethane.
Phantom - Strongest
Avalanche - Middle
Slate - Weakest
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Because I've been employing a Tom Daugherty-esque no-thumb game as a B-game, I have two urethane (Black Hammer and Natural Pearl) and a cored plastic (Black Widow Spare) in the bag at the moment. I was intrigued by the Purple Pearl, but a teammate had a Natural Pearl collecting dust, and I figured the differences there would be minimal.
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I thought about getting the purple pearl but I already have a rebel tank. Doubt there is any difference.
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Because I've been employing a Tom Daugherty-esque no-thumb game as a B-game, I have two urethane (Black Hammer and Natural Pearl) and a cored plastic (Black Widow Spare) in the bag at the moment. I was intrigued by the Purple Pearl, but a teammate had a Natural Pearl collecting dust, and I figured the differences there would be minimal.
How big of a difference do you see between your Black Hammer and Natural Pearl?
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Black Hammer handles a little more oil and has more of an arc motion. Purple Hammer gets down the lane a little more and is smooth towards the pocket. Has a nice "lane change" motion.
When I was throwing 15 lbs, I had a black hammer and rebel tank. Now throwing 14, I decided to go purple hammer instead and it basically fills the spot of the rebel tank. Might be a tad stronger, but I have not thrown both to see.
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Black Hammer handles a little more oil and has more of an arc motion. Purple Hammer gets down the lane a little more and is smooth towards the pocket. Has a nice "lane change" motion.
When I was throwing 15 lbs, I had a black hammer and rebel tank. Now throwing 14, I decided to go purple hammer instead and it basically fills the spot of the rebel tank. Might be a tad stronger, but I have not thrown both to see.
Thanks! I thought that the pearl urethanes were probably all fairly similar, although without seeing many (any?) of them in action I didn't have much to base that on. Seems like my choice should basically boil down to whatever I can get at the best price.
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Because I've been employing a Tom Daugherty-esque no-thumb game as a B-game, I have two urethane (Black Hammer and Natural Pearl) and a cored plastic (Black Widow Spare) in the bag at the moment. I was intrigued by the Purple Pearl, but a teammate had a Natural Pearl collecting dust, and I figured the differences there would be minimal.
How big of a difference do you see between your Black Hammer and Natural Pearl?
Due to surface prep, I see quite a bit of difference between the two. The Black Hammer is at box (500 grit), so it really reads quickly. The Natural Pearl is at 4000 plus polish, so it is much cleaner up front, and I feel like it has more left at the pins. They're both excellent options in the appropriate situation though.
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Due to surface prep, I see quite a bit of difference between the two. The Black Hammer is at box (500 grit), so it really reads quickly. The Natural Pearl is at 4000 plus polish, so it is much cleaner up front, and I feel like it has more left at the pins. They're both excellent options in the appropriate situation though.
That is a pretty vast difference. Good to hear that the Natural Pearl works well for you even with polish though.
I really appreciate all the replies. I tend to over-analyze everything about certain purchases and bowling balls might be at the top of that list so any additional information is nice.
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Anyone see much difference between the purple hammer urethane versus storms pitch blue pearl urethane?
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I have been in the process of creating a urethane arsenal for my doubles league.
It is a house shot, about 42 feet with good volume.
My three ball arsenal is:
Strong: Visionary Midnight Scorcher 320 grit. (Rarely needed!)
Medium: Hammer Black Widow Urethane 500 grit. (The ball for the Fresh)
Weak: Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane at 2000 grit. (Transition ball)
Comparing the Purple to the Widow, the Widow is several boards stronger and is much earlier. With Purple, if I want to use it on the fresh I need to target 7 at the arrows and tip it out to no further than 5, preferably 6 with soft speed and the ball will get up the lane and then hook and come across strongly into the pocket.
The same shot with the Widow can hook early or die out.
So Purple is a ball down option when the Widow and other reactive balls have broken down my down and in shot and I am forced inside with my Widow. Going to Purple at this point I can stay outside rather than move in.
Purple hooks later than Widow and with the very high RG and low Diff and two piece construction, it hits very hard!
Make no mistake, Purple is still a very strong and early ball, but it is much later than Widow.
Below is a video showing my practice session with Purple. You will see that it has trouble with misses inside or shots too much in the oil though sometimes it can hit real hard on or inside of second arrow. But if it skids too long then it will not roll up.
So it needs friction as compared to the Widow which can be in the oil from the start and roll strongly through the oil.
So in this house I can set up for a down and in shot with my Widow playing around 9 board and once the Widow starts going high, pick up the Purple and pretty much use the same down and in line with only slight adjustments of feet and maybe target a tad more right if the volume is still a touch high for it.
Purple Pearl Video:
https://youtu.be/2D2F-3z4Cj4
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IMO, the Slate Blue Gargoyle is one of the very best urethane balls ever made, I'd buy it if I were you (I already have one). -- JohnP
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IMO, the Slate Blue Gargoyle is one of the very best urethane balls ever made, I'd buy it if I were you (I already have one). -- JohnP
Thought hard about it but have lots of urethane I hardly use as it is (love my Ogre but hardly throw it). With my style don't match up with them at all at least for big scores especially on conditions I mostly see (heavier oil). Plus now up to 25 balls. Is a great ball though I have heard but have to be honest and say if had to choose glad to have the Ogre. The colors and how hard that ball is just plain cool as hell even if Gargoyle is a better first ball.
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A final note on the Purple Hammer.
The Purple actually has a stronger coverstock than the Black Widow Urethane, but due to the low Diff, high RG core, it has less overall hook.
When developing the Widow, Hammer tried to use the Purple coverstock, but with the huge Gasmask core, the ball hooked far too early and had the wrong shape.
So they used a slightly weaker coverstock for the Black Widow Urethane and the stronger coverstock for the Purple.
I recently did a new video of the Purple Hammer at 1000 grit.
It allowed me to play a little further left:
https://youtu.be/3Grv8dnCGPw
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A final note on the Purple Hammer.
The Purple actually has a stronger coverstock than the Black Widow Urethane, but due to the low Diff, high RG core, it has less overall hook.
When developing the Widow, Hammer tried to use the Purple coverstock, but with the huge Gasmask core, the ball hooked far too early and had the wrong shape.
So they used a slightly weaker coverstock for the Black Widow Urethane and the stronger coverstock for the Purple.
I recently did a new video of the Purple Hammer at 1000 grit.
It allowed me to play a little further left:
https://youtu.be/3Grv8dnCGPw
So no chance of a Purple covered Widow? That would be disappointing if so. The way that cover handles newer oils is absolutely amazing.
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A final note on the Purple Hammer.
The Purple actually has a stronger coverstock than the Black Widow Urethane, but due to the low Diff, high RG core, it has less overall hook.
When developing the Widow, Hammer tried to use the Purple coverstock, but with the huge Gasmask core, the ball hooked far too early and had the wrong shape.
So they used a slightly weaker coverstock for the Black Widow Urethane and the stronger coverstock for the Purple.
I recently did a new video of the Purple Hammer at 1000 grit.
It allowed me to play a little further left:
https://youtu.be/3Grv8dnCGPw
Where did you get this information? I thought the Black Widow urethane used the same cover as the Black Hammer. The Black Hammer is definitely earlier and smoother than the Purple Hammer. I have them both drilled the same way. The Purple is not really stronger. I also think it covers more boards because it is cleaner due to the pearl urethane cover. Still early like urethane, but further down lane. I can't see the purple cover being earlier than the black cover. More overall hook, probably.
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A final note on the Purple Hammer.
The Purple actually has a stronger coverstock than the Black Widow Urethane, but due to the low Diff, high RG core, it has less overall hook.
When developing the Widow, Hammer tried to use the Purple coverstock, but with the huge Gasmask core, the ball hooked far too early and had the wrong shape.
So they used a slightly weaker coverstock for the Black Widow Urethane and the stronger coverstock for the Purple.
I recently did a new video of the Purple Hammer at 1000 grit.
It allowed me to play a little further left:
https://youtu.be/3Grv8dnCGPw
Where did you get this information? I thought the Black Widow urethane used the same cover as the Black Hammer. The Black Hammer is definitely earlier and smoother than the Purple Hammer. I have them both drilled the same way. The Purple is not really stronger. I also think it covers more boards because it is cleaner due to the pearl urethane cover. Still early like urethane, but further down lane. I can't see the purple cover being earlier than the black cover. More overall hook, probably.
Does it have to be weaker just because it isn't as early? Historically, most pearl urethanes were much less overall than their solid counterpart. I don't find that to be the case wirh the Purple. It's cleaner, but more overall.
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Think about it for second,
The Black comes out of the box at 500 grit.
The Widow comes out of the box at 500 grit.
The Purple comes out of the box at 2000 grit.
I took my Purple down to 500 grit once and tried it and it hooked instantly and died out before it got 2/3's up the lane.
But the Widow, with its huge flaring low RG core at 500 grit I could get up the same lane fine.
Based on that effect I contacted Hammer directly and they confirmed the information I already shared, the Purple has the strongest coverstock of all the urethane balls they make.
The coverstock on the Widow is next in strength and the Black is last.
They told me they tried to use the Purple cover on the Widow and it was far, far too strong with the big Gasmask core and would not shape.
So they took that strong Purple coverstock and turned it into a higher grit pearl.
The Purple is a wonderful ball.
My other urethane balls will score up after three games but the Purple after tons of games still looks like it is brand new, not a score mark on it.
Plus it handles oil like very few urethane balls ever could.
Check out Jakob Butturff using it on the Dick Weber pattern and just killing it:
https://youtu.be/hGK9e8JMJC8?t=4698
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Think about it for second,
The Black comes out of the box at 500 grit.
The Widow comes out of the box at 500 grit.
The Purple comes out of the box at 2000 grit.
I took my Purple down to 500 grit once and tried it and it hooked instantly and died out before it got 2/3's up the lane.
But the Widow, with its huge flaring low RG core at 500 grit I could get up the same lane fine.
Based on that effect I contacted Hammer directly and they confirmed the information I already shared, the Purple has the strongest coverstock of all the urethane balls they make.
The coverstock on the Widow is next in strength and the Black is last.
They told me they tried to use the Purple cover on the Widow and it was far, far too strong with the big Gasmask core and would not shape.
So they took that strong Purple coverstock and turned it into a higher grit pearl.
The Purple is a wonderful ball.
My other urethane balls will score up after three games but the Purple after tons of games still looks like it is brand new, not a score mark on it.
Plus it handles oil like very few urethane balls ever could.
Check out Jakob Butturff using it on the Dick Weber pattern and just killing it:
https://youtu.be/hGK9e8JMJC8?t=4698
Seems fair to me. It holds its surface way better.
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The purple hammer came out long before the black widow urethane, so the latter has been in the works for that long? Find that hard to believe. It seemed like more of a response to the hot cell.
In terms of strength, strength is measured front to back - not by overall hook. It's also a measure of the volume of oil it can handle. If the cover is stronger on the purple pearl, why is it rated 3.5 on Hammer's site, while the black is 4? On any PBA telecast I've seen, they've also had the black rated higher. The widow is also rated 4, which suggests it is using the black hammer cover - which I'm pretty sure I saw noted prior to its release.
The fact that Butturf used the purple hammer does not prove its strength. It may just be that he prefers that ball for his game and/or it matched up better on that oil pattern.
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The purple hammer came out long before the black widow urethane, so the latter has been in the works for that long? Find that hard to believe. It seemed like more of a response to the hot cell.
In terms of strength, strength is measured front to back - not by overall hook. It's also a measure of the volume of oil it can handle. If the cover is stronger on the purple pearl, why is it rated 3.5 on Hammer's site, while the black is 4? On any PBA telecast I've seen, they've also had the black rated higher. The widow is also rated 4, which suggests it is using the black hammer cover - which I'm pretty sure I saw noted prior to its release.
The fact that Butturf used the purple hammer does not prove its strength. It may just be that he prefers that ball for his game and/or it matched up better on that oil pattern.
I have to keep the Purple at 2000 grit to use it on house shots.
The Widow I can keep at stock 500.
If I take the Widow up to 2000, it is just a spare ball.
That is how strong the Purple is.
But, the Widow, with that Gasmask core at stock 500 grit has much more shape and hook than the Purple.
You can open your angles up with the Widow because of the huge flare of the core and low grit.
But the Purple is a control ball that will let you go down and in.
The Widow and Purple are a nice combo to have.
You can go down and in with the Widow on the fresh and the Widow will take oil off the lane and dry it up and then when it starts checking early go to the Purple and you can keep the shot going.
I don't see any pros using the Widow though, but I do see them using the Purple.
Here is a direct quote from Mitch Beasley Technical Services Director of Ebonite International Inc.:
"The Black urethane has the weakest Urethane cover, with the Purple being the strongest and the Widow being a close second in strength."
Also there is a facebook urethane tech talk video from David O'Sullivan who explains how the three Hammer urethane balls compare to each other.
You can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/david.osullivan.585/videos/10101574004071661/
Basically he says the Purple is a full arrow stronger than the Black, hooks more and has more continuation through the pins.
He says the Purple, for short patterns for him has too much backend, so he starts on the fresh with the Black and once it creates carrydown and gets lazy in the back, then he switches to the Purple.
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The purple hammer came out long before the black widow urethane, so the latter has been in the works for that long? Find that hard to believe. It seemed like more of a response to the hot cell.
In terms of strength, strength is measured front to back - not by overall hook. It's also a measure of the volume of oil it can handle. If the cover is stronger on the purple pearl, why is it rated 3.5 on Hammer's site, while the black is 4? On any PBA telecast I've seen, they've also had the black rated higher. The widow is also rated 4, which suggests it is using the black hammer cover - which I'm pretty sure I saw noted prior to its release.
The fact that Butturf used the purple hammer does not prove its strength. It may just be that he prefers that ball for his game and/or it matched up better on that oil pattern.
I have to keep the Purple at 2000 grit to use it on house shots.
The Widow I can keep at stock 500.
If I take the Widow up to 2000, it is just a spare ball.
That is how strong the Purple is.
But, the Widow, with that Gasmask core at stock 500 grit has much more shape and hook than the Purple.
You can open your angles up with the Widow because of the huge flare of the core and low grit.
But the Purple is a control ball that will let you go down and in.
The Widow and Purple are a nice combo to have.
You can go down and in with the Widow on the fresh and the Widow will take oil off the lane and dry it up and then when it starts checking early go to the Purple and you can keep the shot going.
I don't see any pros using the Widow though, but I do see them using the Purple.
Here is a direct quote from Mitch Beasley Technical Services Director of Ebonite International Inc.:
"The Black urethane has the weakest Urethane cover, with the Purple being the strongest and the Widow being a close second in strength."
Also there is a facebook urethane tech talk video from David O'Sullivan who explains how the three Hammer urethane balls compare to each other.
You can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/david.osullivan.585/videos/10101574004071661/
Basically he says the Purple is a full arrow stronger than the Black, hooks more and has more continuation through the pins.
He says the Purple, for short patterns for him has too much backend, so he starts on the fresh with the Black and once it creates carrydown and gets lazy in the back, then he switches to the Purple.
This is pretty much spot on from what I see. The black hammer is really good going straight up the lane on short patterns. Its really early and urethane smooth on the backend. The purple hammer hooks 4-5 more, is more downlane, and better after they transition and you have to go around the lane a little more. And when I mean around the lane, still playing right of 13-14. Its not resin by any means, however I have seen some guys with soft hands and alot of axis rotation make it really flip downlane. I can't do that with my ball speed.
The BW urethane for what its worth hooks 4-5 more than the purple hammer but is alot earlier and not good playing farther left. I prefer the BWU playing straight up the lane just like the black hamme when and I can't get my black hammer to hook enough. If I have to move in, I'm going to resin.
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I still see the Black Hammer as being more up front hook and the Purple Hammer as being more down lane. Purple is better for swinging since it retains more energy. The black is better for playing straighter. I don't have the Widow to compare. That said, I still define strength in terms of front to back - not side to side. Still don't know why Hammer would rate the cover stronger on its website for the black and widow if the pearl is actually stronger. Based on what I see, they have it correct. Overall hook does not equal strength.
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This is pretty much spot on from what I see. The black hammer is really good going straight up the lane on short patterns. Its really early and urethane smooth on the backend. The purple hammer hooks 4-5 more, is more downlane, and better after they transition and you have to go around the lane a little more. And when I mean around the lane, still playing right of 13-14. Its not resin by any means, however I have seen some guys with soft hands and alot of axis rotation make it really flip downlane. I can't do that with my ball speed.
The BW urethane for what its worth hooks 4-5 more than the purple hammer but is alot earlier and not good playing farther left. I prefer the BWU playing straight up the lane just like the black hamme when and I can't get my black hammer to hook enough. If I have to move in, I'm going to resin.
I would agree totally with this assessment.
I use the Black Widow on the fresh and go very straight at the pocket with it.
The ball is so early that it has little backend and just hooks, hooks and hooks!
The Widow is so smooth throughout the lane that I can easily use it to pick up a ten pin without altering my release.
The Widow will just roll towards the ten pin and roll out fast and then just go straight at it.
When my line breaks down and the Widow starts hitting weakly, then I pull out the Purple and have to be careful, on the same line it can jump high in the back due to it having much more backend.
So when balling down be careful to understand the Purple will need to be given a bit more room so it does not go high.
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A final report from me on the Purple Hammer.
I love the ball!
This is one of the best balls I have ever thrown.
It is condition specific for me.
I am a low rev full roller who goes right at the pins up second arrow or slightly right of second arrow.
I do not swing it.
On house shots without a ton of volume I can lay the ball right in the pocket all night and not even have to move my target or feet for the whole set.
I tied my all time high game score with the Purple a topped my all time high series with it.
But when I tried to use it at my other league on Brunswick Pro Anvilane with the Big Ben pattern, it was far too much oil and the ball would never grip the lane.
If you use the Purple for how it was intended, short patterns or lower volumes or patterns with well defined dry portions, then there is no better urethane ball made today imo.
And if you watch, the pros are all using the Purple.
Jacob Buturff uses it exclusively on virtually all pro patterns.
Nothing hits like a Hammer, a Purple Hammer!
Here is my third video using the Purple Hammer.
I am just rolling it right up second arrow on a house shot.
Nothing fancy needed, just throw right at the pins and the Purple does the rest:
https://youtu.be/DQFSatjwOfY
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I am so close to getting this ball, LOL. I figure if its a little bit to soft I can always take the grit down some and go from there.
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Well, I just ordered one 8-)
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Well, I just ordered one 8-)
Gratz man. That is the kind of ball that becomes your go to urethane. Can't beat that two piece hit and pretty close to as clean as true urethane gets up front.