FEATURES:
- Color: Blue All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Core: Modified Vibe Core
- Veneer: Performance Urethane
- Surface: 800 Abranet, 1000 Abralon, 2000 Abralon, 4000 Abralon
- A few tiny pit holes in the cover stock of the ball are normal
- RG: 2.57
- Diff: .028
- Hook Rating: 6 (Finish-2, Cover-2, Core-2)
- Recommended Lane Condition: Dry Oil
- Description: The Blue Hammer is an iconic throwback in performance ball technology. By combining a re-engineered Vibe core shape with our new Performance Urethane coverstock, we’re introducing a ball that rolls like the old-school balls without actually being the old-school stuff. This new spin on older ball motion brings the control of yesterday’s balls and the performance of today’s stuff to the lane for Hammer!
I used to have the original back in the 80s and early 90s and yearned to get a new one. I finally got one. It looks like the original, but it does roll differently due to the (very reliable) Vibe core. But one thing for sure, this ball WILL skid on oil, hence its purpose for drier lanes (short oil, low-volume oil, breakdown oil, or just plain dry).
I took it to a house (Brunswick synthetic) on a Sunday morning where I knew the lanes were not oiled; but rather they had leftover oil from the day before (it's the summer season, you understand; in the winter they normally re-oil every Sunday morning). I brought my Slingshot with me to help me compare.
Both balls were drilled 4.5 x 4 with pin above the ring finger. I threw the Slingshot first, it pushed down long before moving to the pocket at an angular hook-and-set from the 10-board breakpoint (I stood on 21). I then followed with the Blue on the same line. It pushed down long the same, but it finished smoother and straighter; I left the bucket or weak 7/10s !
So I moved further right, stood on 18, and played the old-fashioned 10-10 shot. (Remember the early TV shows of the Pro Bowlers Tour ?) The ball dominated on this shot ! Strike every time. The old-style Dick Weber way.
The synthetic lanes in this house are normally tacky due to the humidity and I always struggled with reactive balls snapping off early to miss the pocket left and/or hit the nose no matter where I shoot. (Only the Slingshot would match up correctly in this case, as long as I always play a little inside with medium put-out.) The Blue doesn't feel the tackiness at all ! It keeps going straight and smooth. Even on the gutter shot (the 1-board), the Slingshot hooked too much but the Blue didn't; it showed a smooth gradual arc from there to the pocket. I could have used a little stronger layout (i.e. stacked) but I like the way the Blue gives me a way out whenever I get stuck with overreaction on medium dry, regardless of what breakpoint I would play.
I know other houses that have rougher midlane areas; whenever I see that much friction when playing inside, I will have the confidence to use the Blue when I need it. On smoother lanes, the Blue will be a killer on the outside !
Either way, when you complement a good weak reactive ball with a quality urethane like the Blue, you will have your butt covered with the flexibility to play either inside or outside on the "dry" as the friction dictates.
I like the Blue much better than the Natural. I'm so glad to get one back.
Likes: Wet-dry, short, or low-volume oil. Anywhere the ball can find dry.
Dislikes: Wet-Medium oil or greater. It skids on oil.
"Hink" - Storm bowler with a few RotoGrips & Ebonites on the side - and one Hammer thrown in the kitchen sink Plenty of competition in L'il Rhody if you know where to find it !
Blue Hammer Urethane
Weight: 15#
Pin: 3-4"
Top Weight: 2.25 oz.
Layout: 4 1/2" Pin Above the Ring Finger.
First Impressions:
Very good impressions for this being my first ever Urethane performance ball. I definitely liked how smooth and controllable it was when everything else in the bag seemed to know no boundries.
Comparison:
Versus the Razyr
Coverstock is the obivious. The Vibe core will help give this ball more hitting power than the Razyr though. You will see more backend from the Razyr versus the Blue Hammer.
Final Conclusion:
When nothing else is working on the lanes for you, go straighter and score greater with the Blue Hammer Urethane. Straighter angles to the pocket when everything else has you at a loss for words. This is an excellent piece for those that bowl mostly straight and on much drier house shot type conditions.
Michael Price - Office Manager
McCorvey's Pro Shop Staff
Phone: (256) 539-1560
McCorvey's Pro Shop - VISIT OUR BRAND NEW ONLINE STORE!
http://www.mccorveysproshop.com/
Hammer Pro Shop Regional Staff
LANE CONDITION
Volume:
Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):
Likes:
I recently dug the original Blue Hammer out of the closet to compare side-by-side with the new model. Due to the coverstocks being so drastically different (original 400 grit, new 4000 grit) the original out hooked the new by about six boards due to its early friction. The newer model does flair quite a bit more with the stronger VIBE weight block. Adjust this cover to a rougher grit and I think it can be as strong as any Urethane ball on the market today. A good option for a tighter line on drier lanes.
Dislikes: Oil
NOTHING hits like a HAMMER
K Gmach
Hammer Amateur Staff
USBC Certified Coach
Go BREWERS!
LANE CONDITION
I used this ball yesterday on the dry for the first time. No leagues over the Christmas break and not much oil left on the lanes. Blue Hammer thrived in the dry. Was playing 15 at the arrows and swinging out to around 5 at the break. The urethane cover was as smooth as butter and never overreacted. Even when I missed right the ball came back and hit with authority. Makes me wish my house would start a urethane only scratch league. Reminded me of when I was learning to bowl with my Dad's Red Hammer.
Likes: Great dry lane ball. Hits with power and is very smooth.
Dislikes: None
Arsenal:
VG Nano Solid
VG Nano Pearl
Frantic
Tropical Heat Solid
Blue Hammer (with Vibe core)