win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: Black Widow  (Read 42670 times)

admin

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1241
Black Widow
« on: December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM »
Ball NPS Score: 100.00
Featuring the High Mass Bias Gas Mask core with flip block and Violent Reactive coverstock, the Black Widow goes long and attacks violently on the backend. There''s no lane condition out there that''s safe.




16# 15# 14# 13# 12#
RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF
2.51 .049 2.50 .060 2.49 .057 2.53 .055 2.60 .039


 

CDubb

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2006, 01:56:06 AM »
Ball layout: 4.5 inch (PAP) 75 degree pin 3-4
Lightly polished out of the box.

I am a right handed tweener, with medium speed and revs, a high tracker with medium axis tilt (PAP 5 3/4 over, .5 up)

I wanted a ball that I could play inside with recovery and hit on medium to oily league patterns. Man did I ever get what I asked for. I had had success in the past with the gas mask core in the Big Deal, but nothing like this!
This ball flat out burns on the back end, which is saying a lot for me! This was on a freshly oiled league christmas tree pattern, on this shot, the ball should illegal! I played 20 to 10, with unreal recovery and carry.

Caveat: I took this ball to my summer sport league (44 ft, flat pattern), which magnifies any errors that I make, and while it was playable, would have probably worked better with the box surface. Recovery was spotty off the oil and into the dry and none existent up the boards.

While I have long been a fan of Ebonite (and Hammonite!) balls, their solid reactive covers have not proved to have any real longevity, let's see how this one does.

Overall, a fantastic league ball to open up the lanes.
--------------------
CDubb

CHILLX

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 432
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2006, 04:46:42 PM »
Ball Layout:  pin on grip line just above fingers. Cg kicked out no weight hole needed.

Threw this ball on a carry down pair from the night before (league shot, which is oily on the outsides, hook pretty early in the middle), anyway when I was drilling this ball I out the slug in and went to cut it down and my guide slipped on the ball and gauged it a little around the thumb hole, but I was able to sand the area down a little and its not that noticeable since the slug is also black.

Anyway the ball reads the midlane really good and stores its energy till the back end of the lane. I was standing left foot of center throwing over 12  and  hitting out around 8 to 7 and the bowl this arcs back to the pocket. Its weird though its doesn't really role out like an arcy ball would. And hits like a steal truck, and that was on a carrydown shot. I throw my SR300 right after that and that ball just went straight as my plastic ball. I think Hammer may have there version of the ONE, I just hope it will last longer than the One as far as games go. Anyway see you Hammer reps at the Ace Mitchell trade show and thanks Brian Graham for the advise on the drill pattern.
--------------------
Clarke Hill
King Pin Pro Shop
****2nd Annual King Pin Scratch tournament in January***
1st place $5,000.00 guaranteed

thegame

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 721
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2006, 02:37:18 AM »
Only taken this ball out once so far, but here's what I have to report so far:  Had it drilled with pin above the bridge, MB kicked out to the right of the thumb.  Ball had very nice length, and reacted strong, but smoothly to the dry.  Used it on a THS on synthetics, a very high scoring, and fairly easy shot, but the ball really shined, when my Big Blue was struggling a bit to finish hard, and making it to the pocket, but barely carrying, or leaving 10's, the Black Widow drove through the rack with enormous power.  The Black Widow gave me a lot of area, and carried very well, when either going wide, and circling the pattern, or staying in the oil, and playing a tighter line.  Will be interesting to see on the PBA patterns, but thus far, looks like a very good piece of equipment, thank you Hammer!

View my league scores at:
http://www.allbowling.com/journal/myleague.php?leagueid=1008

Jorge300

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6407
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2006, 10:25:10 AM »
I purchased this ball about 3 weeks ago. Drill using a modifed version of the Strong layout, about a 65 degree pin, just above and right of the ring finger, CG kicked out a little, MB right next to my thumb on the right. Cover is OOB. I throw 19 mph with med/high to high revs (sorry don't know exact rpm).

Currently bowling on PBA Regional pattern #2 in my summer league, only 36 feet of oil. The track area and inside have a lot grip and hard to get a ball down the lane, the outsides (where you are supposed to play) have some oil and most of the league is having trouble getting the ball back from there.

I have rolled this ball 2 weeks now on this pattern and I am very impressed. For me it doesn't snap at the backend, but has a very pronounced arcing motion, similar to a particle ball only stronger. I have been playing up the outside trying a 8-5 line and it gets through the head oil very well, picks up a read in the midlane and continues strong through the pins. While others are struggling to bring it back from out here, the Widow makes a strong turn everytime.

I think this ball is real winner from Hammer/Ebonite. I harken back to the days of the old Black Hammer. I find this ball to be a very good medium oil ball for me at the moment. Others have said with some surface adjustments it could be good heavy oil ball. I think that might be true for someone with a little lower ball speed then myself. This ball reads the midlanes very well and just trucks to the pins. Even playing out in the heavier oil, have left a few stone 9's and 4-9's the last two weeks. We have one more week on this pattern then are switching to the USBC tournament shot. I will try to post a review after a couple of weeks on that pattern to see how the Widow handles it.

Overall I give it a 9 out of 10, only reason not a 10 is after having some issues with other Ebonite equipment(Big One), I want to see how the coverstock holds up over time.
--------------------
Jorge300

"Ray, next time someone asks you if you're a god, you say YES!!"
Jorge300

RAWfoRENOSIRP

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2006, 03:08:06 AM »
I used this ball only twice, the first time I was trying to find my line with various speeds and did bad, but the second time I used this ball during league I kicked butt... I bowled a 768, significantly higher than my normal 543. I used the 15 board let it track out to about the 6 or 7 board and watch it hit the pins as if it were a sweeper. I was impressed as well others around me. This is a ball that I am going to buy another just to have..

jimwoosh

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 41
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2006, 01:50:40 AM »
bowler info...rev rate 450 speed 18.4 pap 5 and 1/8th
Drilled my widow all purpose layout 2
pin below ring finger..cg cicked out 3/8th no weight hole mass bias 75 degrees.

this ball is way too strong and violent on the back.need a ton of head oil and carrydown..stripped back ends with no carrydown  ball hooks way too much.sport shot 45 feet heavy oil...ball goes too long and recovers but if you miss a couple boards either way...you pay the price...normally a fan of hammer ...this one though not for me..as advertised long and strong.....but way too strong...maybe some surface would even it out but i threw out of box and 4000 abralon and this ball motors....

Wallshot

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 405
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2006, 03:35:36 AM »
My BW had the mb offset from the pin and cg by about 2 inches to the right (see post under Hammer Forum----  http://www.ballreviews.com/Forum/Replies.asp?TopicID=133126&ForumID=73&CategoryID=2). We drilled it with the pin above fingers, cg kicked to the LEFT just a bit so that the mb would end up to the immediate right of the thumb.

The lanes were kind of weird tonight causing a friend trying out a newly drilled Radical Inferno to give up after 2 games. The heads were o.k. but midlane was a bit crispy and the backends were spotty. This resulted in a lot of over/under. The BW performed well given the circumstances.

I'd describe it's movement as arcular. It clears the heads smoothly, begins it's strong arcing motion at midlane and continues until the last few feet where all of a sudden it becomes angular and smashes the pocket. This reaction really surprised me! It was like it turned on it's afterburners just when you thought it might die out! I left a lot of ringing 10's and a couple fast 7's, but consistently scored in the 220's to 240's.

All in all considering this was not an ideal condition I'm very excited about what the BW might do on a fresh house shot and flatter tournament conditions. Needless to say, it's behavior was different, unexpected, and all good!

Because of the offset mb this drilling resulted in a half ounce of negative weight. I'm really tempted to buy a second one and drill it with the pin above and slightly to the right of the ring with the mb at about 60 degrees for a really strong reaction.

This is a serious piece of equipment that lives up to the hype.

theoshkid

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2006, 11:09:22 PM »
I have two of these. They are awesome! The first has a 5 1/2 pin and 45 degree MB. Skid and flip! Hits hard. The second has a 4 1/2 pin and 65 degree mb. Goes a little early but keeps going! I would highly recomend this ball to any bowler.

musicman11

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2006, 02:51:39 AM »
when hammer said that this ball has length and attacks violently on the backend - THEY WEREN'T LYING. this ball probably has more backend movement than any other ball i've ever seen. i'm a lefty and just tried it out for the first time today and i was amazed at the amount of backend it has. I didn't even drill it to maximum potential and this ball still almost has too much reaction for me. I recommend this ball to anyone who is looking for one that they can throw out and have come back in a snap. this ball truly is amazing.

scoobnz

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 10
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2006, 06:06:58 PM »
Well after my first drill with this ball i was less than impressed! It had 4"pin-pap with a 75*mb pin beside the ring layout and all i can say is DONT DO IT!! it burned up half way down the lane, yes it hooked but way to early and had nothing left for the backend. I thought oh man what have i got here... plugged it and re-drill with a 5-3/4 pin-pap 45*mb pin below fingers and wow what a change! it now revs up nice and hard in the midlane and has plenty left to get back to the pocket. Now i do have about 375+rpm rev rate so the shorter pin probably wasn't the greatest of choices for this ball, but the change has made it into a monster.iI have played with the cover quite a bit as well going from 4000 polished down to 1000 sanded and man be careful with that, 2000 is about as low as you should go unless your bowling on motor oil lol. All in all a fantastic ball, love the hook shape this layout has given me, it's still very sharp but smooth all at once. Pin distance and surface prep are the key to this ball i feel, don't lay it out to strong or i think you'll be a bit disapointed go for the skid/flip or all purpose drills and be amazed. great ball hammer.

rmm300

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 19
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #11 on: September 14, 2006, 01:41:49 PM »
I drilled this ball with the pin above the fingers and the cg and mass bias to the right of the thumb with no weight hole, and i polished this ball in a lustre king machine, and this ball has great leangth and the ball doesnt quit in the backend, when this ball hits the backend the ball keeps going through the pins and the carry is pretty good. I bowled with this ball last night on a house shot on wood lanes and there is a puddle in the middle with 10 out being dry, this ball came off the dry and made a perdictable move and hit hard, this is a nother great ball by Hammer.

trav2

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2006, 08:14:04 PM »
i am only 16 but i have been bowling for ten years. i just recently got a black widow and all i have to say is wow. i have a high track and usaully dont get a lot of backend out of anything. this ball just tilts no matter what. i have a basic drill patern with the pin above the bridge and a 75 degree cg. this ball has the most backend of anything i've ever thrown. what makes this ball different from other backend monsters is that the motion is not skid/snappy. the move is just a really strong bannana shaped arc that is predictable. this ball is also really clean through the heads. this ball is very versatile. i have thrown it on sport shots with moderate success(success would have been better if i was), i have thrown it on a wall shot, and i have thrown it on really short oil and really long oil... the hitting power with this ball is very consistent and great. mesengers gallor. if you have a high track and are looking for extra hitting power and backend this is my #1 recomendation. i can put my hand up the back of it and go up the boards, and i can also stand 35 and wheel it and play anywere in between. no matter were i am all i have to do is get to the pocket and the ball will do the rest. the only people i wouldn't recomend this ball for is those who arent very consistent with the amount of lift they put on the ball. because if i cut this ball short or turn it early i will definately leave something ugly. but if the average house bowler looking for some backend this is it. so far im averageing 219 with this one. it would be better if i could pick up a 10 pin. great ball.

midnightride42

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 8
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2006, 08:55:31 AM »
I bought this ball yesterday, It is deff. reactive in the back.  I have the pin placed above the ring finger.  If I keep the speed at about 16mph the ball still snaps a bit in the back end, but if you go below 15,especially after the lanes start to dry you better watch out.  The widown grabs the lane well and reacts justl ike it was stated by Hammer.  I left a lot 8 pins standing, but this was also the first night of play without practice on the new ball.  I think ones I figure out what spot to use this ball with it will be a deadly ball.  Hits the pocket hard, especially if you roll is just right.  Overall I give this ball 9/10.  I ended up bowling 185/185/195, thats right out of the box.  I prob should have switched balls in in teh 3rd game to my polished one, but decided to stay with the widow. Either way, I think this is a good ball.  If you throw a slow ball,say under 15mph,then you better throw it way out or else youll see it break a bit past half down the lane.

jpage

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: Black Widow
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2006, 04:06:11 PM »
Drilled 5 1/4 Pin->PAP ~60 degree layout.

Absolutely a phenomenal ball. Has a ball motion which I have never had in my arsenal before; much like a hockey stick rather than a banana or smooth arc. Goes long with a nice read in the midlanes and non-stop backend continuation. I have played this ball on a variety of conditions and only if it's a total flood can I not get this ball to recover back to the hole. On longer, heavier patterns, the ball does slip past the breakpoint, but I believe this is more due to the drilling than the ball itself. Can't say enough about how hard this ball hits. I have yet to have a bad outing in a tournament with this ball and even shot 300 this week in league with it. Great ball Hammer, keep it up!!