BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Hammer => Topic started by: djgook on June 08, 2017, 11:40:06 AM
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So I see the new ball on their website is the Disel- mid performance and the re release of the Vibe(blue and cherry)lower performance.
Is bowling ball companies running out of ideas or is this what the masses want?
For the Vibe I guess the remix didn't work.
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Just looked at the Diesel because I LOVED the original Diesel Particle Solid....and I thought that this cannot be the same because the original core would be illegal today because of the diff. Sure enough, the diff on the new Diesel is in the .040s and the original Diesel was above .060....
Too bad...
Now...if Hammer would bring back the original Vicious Particle....with a Particle Solid cover....hmmmmm
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Not the same balls just a familiar name...just like Ford did with the Taurus...consumers buy familiar products
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And Columbia put up the Juke, looks like I was right about it being with the Side Swipes.
Well there goes my plan of only drilling 1 new ball for fall leagues
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Eh, not impressed. Don't like the cover on the Diesel, hopefully its better than the Rebel Solid did not like that ball.
Not much wow factor that's for sure..
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I was really expecting to see a solid Phobia... I definitely agree with familiarity selling though.
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I was really expecting to see a solid Phobia... I definitely agree with familiarity selling though.
Phobia Solid is on the approved list, it was mentioned there will be more announcements at the end of the month.
I agree on not being wowed because of the cover on the Diesel. I havent been a huge fan of the NBT mixes
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So... the Vibes are their light oil releases? Bleh. You can't just say something should be used for lighter oil and expect it to work out that way. It actually needs to be manufactured to do so. There probably won't be any "true" weak resin balls made anymore and I don't try and pound the same line when it's too dry though so whatever.
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So... the Vibes are their light oil releases? Bleh. You can't just say something should be used for lighter oil and expect it to work out that way. It actually needs to be manufactured to do so. There probably won't be any "true" weak resin balls made anymore and I don't try and pound the same line when it's too dry though so whatever.
both Vibes have the CT covers, those were weaker than the recent Viral releases with the Violent Flip covers
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No matter what the core name is or looks like if "new" or "old" the numbers always fit the usbc guidelines for specs. There is no new ball shape or reaction on the lanes we haven't seen before. It's just marketing. You have been buying the same stuff for years.
It's just nice when they can actually make the colors and logos look good… ..that seems to be harder for them to do these days. Liked both Rebels and Sideswipes. In terms of looks and names the replacements are a bit of a let down.
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No matter what the core name is or looks like if "new" or "old" the numbers always fit the usbc guidelines for specs. There is no new ball shape or reaction on the lanes we haven't seen before. It's just marketing. You have been buying the same stuff for years.
It's just nice when they can actually make the colors and logos look good… ..that seems to be harder for them to do these days. Liked both Rebels and Sideswipes. In terms of looks and names the replacements are a bit of a let down.
Yeah thats how I feel, Juke looks atrocious and EBI has went with a thinner scribing for labels which also doesn't help the look either.
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Just looked at the Diesel because I LOVED the original Diesel Particle Solid....and I thought that this cannot be the same because the original core would be illegal today because of the diff. Sure enough, the diff on the new Diesel is in the .040s and the original Diesel was above .060....
Too bad...
Now...if Hammer would bring back the original Vicious Particle....with a Particle Solid cover....hmmmmm
Lol, I'm STILL using a Diesel Particle as one of my go to balls. In fact, I had my best look with it down at Nats in Vegas with a maroon>green scotch-brite finish. Love that ball!!!
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I have the new Blue Vibe, its super clean up front and definitely needs to see friction downlane. Very controllable downlane.
I have a fairly strong pin-pap layout on it as well.
I sure wish I had been able to use this piece last weekend during the last few games of the tournament I was at, the heads were totally fried.....
its much weaker than the OG blue Vibe I feel in love with back in the day
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A new Diesel awesome! I loved my original so a big Hell Yeah there.
The core numbers look perfect for a step down to my BI. getting even more excited on this release!
NBT cover... Yeah... Nooo... I'll pass.
Shoulda wrapped it in a Juice cover...
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> There probably won't be any "true" weak resin balls made anymore and I don't try and pound the same line when it's too dry though so whatever.
Well there is the Blue Hammer (at least for now) and its more a weak resin than the true urethane it claims to be. I wonder how it compares to both the new vibes. I am guessing it goes longer than either and is a beat weaker than both which is exactly what I was looking for when I bought it. It shares a similar core it looks to both of them (new vibes look even closer to Burgundy core). The new vibes doesn't scratch any itch I need but with surface changes the entire current Hammer 4 ball Lower mid performance could complete a fairly decent league arsenal for a very affordable price imho. Would definitely own most house shots.
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It shares a similar core it looks to both of them (new vibes look even closer to Burgundy core).
Both the Blue and Burgundy use a modified Vibe core. Same shape just altered to raise the rg and lower the diff
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Not a bad core but will admit nothing too special. Hits fairly decent but mostly got the Burgundy and Blue for the cover stocks. Only ball I have I got more for the core than the cover stock is my Stealth Bomber.
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I don't think Hammer made any claims that the Blue Hammer's cover is true urethane. Mostly see comments that the cover reminds you of older school ball reaction. Personally, I'm very excited to try a Blue Hammer (modern) and Burgundy for walled up shots and high friction environments. Hope it allows me to play straighter than balls that are strong off the friction.
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>Hope it allows me to play straighter than balls that are strong off the friction.
Oh they will for sure. They really are a down and in strokers dream. They do place a premium on accuracy though. You aren't going to get a whole lot of recovery from either (especially the blue) and with the flat entry angle of both you go through the nose and you may be looking at a nasty split. Still with surface changes an incredibly versatile 2 ball combo especially for the price imho.
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>Hope it allows me to play straighter than balls that are strong off the friction.
Oh they will for sure. They really are a down and in strokers dream. They do place a premium on accuracy though. You aren't going to get a whole lot of recovery from either (especially the blue) and with the flat entry angle of both you go through the nose and you may be looking at a nasty split. Still with surface changes an incredibly versatile 2 ball combo especially for the price imho.
I figure they have to be better than a 6 inch pin to PAP Pitch Black. For this one type of house condition, my best look this year was throwing that. I can make shots and have no problem playing right. Might have to stockpile because I worry how much longer they plan to keep them.
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No matter what the core name is or looks like if "new" or "old" the numbers always fit the usbc guidelines for specs. There is no new ball shape or reaction on the lanes we haven't seen before. It's just marketing. You have been buying the same stuff for years.
It's just nice when they can actually make the colors and logos look good… ..that seems to be harder for them to do these days. Liked both Rebels and Sideswipes. In terms of looks and names the replacements are a bit of a let down.
Yeah thats how I feel, Juke looks atrocious and EBI has went with a thinner scribing for labels which also doesn't help the look either.
Columbia300 has started using a different "engraving" process for the labels on their newer stuff. It is very similar to Motiv Neomark graphics. My Swerve has the new style labels, and the Juke (which looks like the Urge's long lost twin) looks to also have the new style label as well. Ebonite branded balls seem to still be using the traditional engraving style...the labels on my Adrenaline Shot are very shallow but still traditional engraving. My Warrior's engravings are very pronounced [with glitter embedded in the engraving paint]. My GB2 MVP also has the traditional engraving. Ultimately, shelf appeal doesn't translate to performance on the lane. If one of the ball companies came out with a ball that absolutely guaranteed 30 more pins on your average, but was baby poo brown with neon pink labels, would you not buy it because of the look?
I had a Hammer Diesel Particle Pearl "back in the day" and absolutely loved it. However, I am not going to spend $127 for this new one when I can buy a closeout High Performance line EBI ball for $99-$109 (Warrior Supreme/Elite, Swerve FX/GT, Paradox, etc.) Closeouts are the best way to update an arsenal, because as ignitebowling said you are getting the same technology as the "new" stuff just with last year's name/label. These ball companies need to bring their new releases into balance. There is simply no need to constantly refresh their products like they do. I get they are trying to create demand [an artificial demand at that] and give their marketing and sales departments something to do, but it is really out of control. The newest ball in my arsenal was released 18 months ago and is working just fine, despite what the ball companies want you to believe.
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This thread shows some people wait with bated breath for new releases but I am with you on older balls often being better. All one has to do is look at Hy-Road sales to see sometimes you get a core and cover stock combo right and its hard to top it. Lets put it this way I have more confidence and tend to throw higher scores currently with my old entry level BVP Rampage than I do my brand new Scandal Pearl at least on the THS I mostly see.
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it really is out of control and with the seemingly endless supply of discontinued and slightly used not sure why I would consider a newer ball. and even the remakes are not what the first gens are so why would that be a selling point is beyond me.
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The Blue Hammer modified remake has been nothing but sensational for me to help blend out the overall reaction on these shorter oil/higher friction surfaces I see. I can say honestly that from time to time, it does benefit to go back in time with certain core/covers, BUT ONLY CERTAIN PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO WORK!!
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The Burgundy and Blue Hammer are different beasts than their predecessors because its pretty obvious both contain at least some resin. I like them both especially for the price as finding balls that carry like reactive and act like urethane (on steroids with Burgundy) isn't easy. My only complaint is I would be willing even to pay $50 more for a CFI cover stock version of the Burgundy as its amazing how ding free my Scandal Pearl is with it.
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The Burgundy and Blue Hammer are different beasts than their predecessors because its pretty obvious both contain at least some resin. I like them both especially for the price as finding balls that carry like reactive and act like urethane (on steroids with Burgundy) isn't easy. My only complaint is I would be willing even to pay $50 more for a CFI cover stock version of the Burgundy as its amazing how ding free my Scandal Pearl is with it.
Scandal Pearl and most "pearlized" bowling balls are harder. The burgundy is softer. CFI wouldn't change that
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Hammer puts carbon fiber in the solid Scandal cover stock too and though I don't own one I always assumed it is nearly as resistant to dings (though will admit the pearl probably does help some too). Now whether the Burgundy could still have its smooth roll with CFI is another matter. Needless to say Hammer isn't going to be putting CFI in sub $100 ball coverstocks any time soon.
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How much of a difference is there between the Black Hammer and Blue Hammer? I have a center where the lanes are toast. Can't even resurface the wood anymore without nails coming through. I tried my black hammer up 8 board and it crossed over.
I can use a Hy-Road Pearl and get hella deep but want the option to play up too.
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The Blue Hammer is noticeably weaker than the Black. The Blue is a small step above plastic, definitely not the same as other urethane balls. Black Hammer, BooYah, Pitch Black are all much earlier than the Blue Hammer
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That's what makes the blue so great; So glad I purchased the blues for that CONTROL that I wouldn't have with the rest of those.
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Best to think about the Blue Hammer as the weakest pearl ball on the market. Definitely takes care of both spare ball and completely burned up lane duty better than just about anything out there. Just wish it was as tough as my other plastic spare ball as tracks and dings appear on it at a mildly alarming rate.