My stats are in my profile.  Higher track, softer speed, above average revs.  Purchased a 15lb No Mercy from BB.com and received one with a 3-4" pin out with the CG aligned approximately 1/2" right of the pin/HART.  I drilled the ball with a 4.5" pin to PAP distance, with the pin approximately 1" above the ring finger.  The HART was kicked left far enough to fall between the first and second oil rings in my track.  Sort of a combination of the #1 and #6 layouts.  I left the ball in box condition (4000 grit Abralon).  


No Mercy Photo


Shot #1
This was a day old house shot on AMF HPL synthetics.  There was a fair amount of carry down on the lanes and the heads were starting to go.  I was able to throw the No Mercy ANYWHERE between 13 at the arrows and 5 at the breakpoint to 20 at the arrows and 13 at the breakpoint. It was insane. On the 13-5 line the ball flew through the heads, made revved up at the break point (I'm not talking about just getting into a roll, but really seemed to increase in revs!) and a strong finish through the pins. When in deeper, the ball revved really strong in the midlane and kind of settled flush in the pocket. It was just tossing pins everywhere.  Compared to my scorchin inferno (photo in profile)...there just was no comparison... The scorchin inferno would check up early if played straight up the boards and just skate and not recover on the backend if I bumped in to play a little swing shot.  Night and day difference between the two balls.  

Shot #2
Old, old 6 lane center.  Synthetic guardian heads that are literally worn out (holes exist in the lay-down area) and wood backends.  Bowled a tournament in the house which was run in the evening after high school practice and early league.  There seemed to be very dry outside boards (outside of 5)...and a ton of carry down in the track area.  The heads were burnt up from 10 to 15 on the right hand side of the lanes).  On this shot I was able to move inside and play a tighter line to the pocket (around 23 at the arrows and 13-14 at the breakpoint).  The ball easily cleared the heads and revved up strong in the mids.  Considering the conditions, the ball hit very sell.  I left a few weak 7 pins where I swung the ball out a little wide and it didn't quite recover, but for the most part everything near the pocket carried.  I attempted to throw my scorchin inferno on this shot as well (some warm-up shots).. it wouldn't even wrinkle playing the inside line..  I was able to get to the pocket somewhat (had to be very accurate) lofting the heads some and playing a small swing shot towards the extreme outside of the lane.  Again on this condition, the NM was a clear winner over the scorchin inferno.

Shot #3
Fresh house shot 39ft medium oil with dry outsides and backends.  The NM makes this shot almost too easy.  Pretty much throw it anywhere right of 15 at the breakpoint with decent speed/revs and the ball is in the pocket.  Great hit and carry.. lots of messengers... I have had no reason to throw any other equipment since punching up this ball.  


Overall
This ball carries as well or better than any ball I have ever thrown (see profile for the list!).  I have left very few wrapped 10 pins.. have yet (knock on wood) to leave anything in the middle (5, 8, or 9 pin) and only an occasional weak 7 pin (when playing inside).  This is the first ball I have punched up in quite some time that just seems to be leaps and bounds better than other equipment I have thrown in the recent past.  The ONLY knock I have on this ball so far is that is seems to be tracking up very quickly.  I'm sure part of it is due to bowling at the VERY old center (shot #2 above), but the cover of the NM must be on the softer side...  So far, this only appears to be cosmetic as I have not yet noticed any difference in reaction or performance.  This ball is good enough that I may buy a couple and stash away for future use.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.        

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Monday Night Football Successful INSPITE of Broadcasting Crew

My specs are in my profile for anyone who wants to see them.  My PAP is 4" over and 1/2" up.  I am a medium-low tracker who throws 18.5-19 MPH, with a medium-high rev rate.  I bought this ball for some heavier oil I have encountered at some out of state scratch tournaments, but still wanted to get something that cleared the midlane fairly well.  Here are the ball and drilling specs:

Weight (pre-drill): 15lbs. 3oz.
Top Weight: 3 oz.
Pin:  3" out (CG came 3/8" to left of center, seems to be common on these balls)
Drilled at Moore's Pro Shop

I went with a modified #1 drilling where I ended up having a pin to PAP distance of 4 3/4", CG slightly to the right of center (remember I am a lefty), and the HART in the first flare ring on my ball track.  The pin ended up above my ring finger, with no weight hole necessary.  When I weighed it up post-drill and saw I had (-)9/16 oz. side and 3/4 oz. finger I was skeptical to say the least that this ball would even turn a corner at all!!!

Review:  I was pleasantly surprised at my first impression of the ball on a 43 ft. house shot, it performed fairly well.  On the fresh oil with "clean" backends this ball turned a nasty corner when it hit the dry outside boards and carried extremely well.  As the oil started to carry down this ball started to leave quite a few 7 pins and light pocket 10 pins and even when I tightened the line up it still did not read the heavier oil as well as I was hoping it would.
I bowled sets of 623, 676, 674 and decided it was time to change something on the ball.
         I decided to change to cover from the 4000 Abralon surface (which I think was the reason for the lack of a good read in the heavy stuff) to a 1000 grit Abralon surface, cross hatching the cover for extra bite.  What a difference in this ball!!!  I bowled on a 38 ft. sport condition and shot 684 with some great carry, if my accuracy had been better that day it would have been an easy 750 series.  I then used it in two different houses, one using a 43 ft. pattern, heavy centers, drier out to five, OOB outside five.  The other house I used it in had 42 ft., heavy centers, drier out to 4, OOB outside 4 board.  This ball is incredible on this stuff.  You can slow it down a touch and bump it off the corner and watch it recover, and carry (I shot 298 my second game, with a 723 series, on the 43 ft. pattern), or you can play inside where I normally like to play swinging 17 to 8 and watch it set up in the hole all day long.  I used this ball Tuesday night on the 42 ft. pattern and shot 290, 235, 269 for a 794 series (the only open I had all night was a blown 6-8 high flush split in the 9th frame game two).  If you are looking to get this ball for heavier oil, definetly take the cover down or you will get a squirty read on heavy oil as the lanes transition.  But, if you want the ball for a medium THS then punch up a #1 drilling to fit your game and leave it at 4000 abralon.  I did not care for the 4000 as it bit too hard in the dry and did not read heavy oil well, but that is just me.  This is my first review, so I hope it was o.k. and informative, especially for the lefties out there!!!

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*"Smokey this is not Nam this is bowling, there are rules."

IN THE BAG:
Hammer No Mercy
Columbia Wrath XP
Columbia U-Turn Particle Pearl
Track Revmaster

Personal Stats: http://members.bowl.com/FindAMember/memberView.aspx?mp=985&ms=391&s=2006-2007

Hey...new member, been reading for a couple of months. Love the info...thought I would contribute, give you some feed back.  I have owned my for 2 months now. I love the ball, hits like a ton of bricks. My average has increase 15 pins. I a tweener about 18 mph usually over third arrow out to 5-10, depending on backend. My NM is drilled in #1 pattern. Word of advice, my ball is nicknamed the vaccum...because it gets shiny and dirty very quickly...over trial and error I have discovered soak hot water every 20 games (via Brain at Hammer staff), sand to 1000 abritron and use the Ebonite power house ball wipe after each game if heavy oil, then energizer at the end of the night right away. Hand wet conditions very weel including carry down. Buts got to be clean. Then you will be very satisfied with ball in heavy oil...soft cover sucks up everything, it is what is suppose to do. Thus it is high mantainence. You going to have to deal with that on these aggresive oil absorbing coverstocks.  Did that last night night to handle carry down and work very well.   Tip..if you know your PAP place a piece of white tape on the ball over your PAP, observe the flare pattern and if it opens up through the front and the closes to a tight pattern on the back ends your ball is drilled correct for your release and Axis.  I discover this is a great tool to see the ball reaction.  Lack of carry seems to occur when you PAP flare does close at impact.

I've had my No Mercy for a few months now. Had it drill as recommended. My average has gone up a few pins since I started using it. My average now sits around 185 over three leagues. Last night I bowled my 1st 700 series (265, 241 212=718). House shot on wood lanes. This ball is unbelievable!

age: 16
stroker
speed: 16-17mph
average: 197
drilling layout : #1 recommended

this ball is great. hooks in the backend and kills the pocket last saturday (feb 3rd) I bowled a 299 game (solid 8 pin on 12th frame :*(! ) and a 736 series. I love this ball. If u want a backend ball then get this ball

It's abossutely AMAZING! It picks up very late and looks like someone kicked it. I feel that it is amlost unfair for my to use this ball in league because no one stands a change when I'm using it. It absolutely slaughters the pins, very rarely leaves splits, and can get a strike from almost anywhere it hits. I have gotten about 20 strikes from hitting the 3-6 pocket, because the pins just fall when I throw this ball. It's by far the best ball I have every thrown. Only problem is burnt lanes or carrydown, is a no-no. But 10 out 10. I can't wait for the new No Mercy. =) Thanks Hammer!
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Crush them don't knock them down!!!

This ball rides nice nd smooth but to aggressive for me and the angular one is better   i really dont like this ball  i only average 157 wit it

Well, I loved the ball when I got it, it was very forgiving and hit like a ton, but otherwise, for me it has been a disappointment. Why? Well, for one thing, the coverstock is EXTREMELY high maintenance. Put it this way-- I could use this ball as a lint roller. It sucks oil, and everything else, off the lane. Therefore, I have found that it requires frequent hot water/dawn baths to get oil out of the ball.

I have no problem giving a ball a little extra TLC as long as it maintains reaction. Well-- it does not roll anything like when I bought it. Which is a huge disappointment. It has maybe 100 games on it now. For some people, that's a lot. For me, that's 2-3 weeks of bowling, and I don't feel like I've gotten my money's worth, especially considering my previous Hammer, a Big Deal, lasted 1000 games before I retired it.

I know this ball will not last anywhere near that. The coverstock is pretty soft, and mine is beat up. In comparison, my main go-to ball, a Columbia Action Attack, has twice the games, and almost no marks on it and has barely lost reaction.

I know lots of people who are used to buying balls and replacing them every hundred games or so. All I can say is that I think that's nuts. I expect a bit of durability if I drop premium $ on a ball. And my frame of reference is this-- my Big Deal did not lose reaction anywhere near as quickly as this ball has. My Lane Masters New Standard 2 and World Class did not lose reaction like this, and both of those balls are early arcing pieces.

To sum it up, brand new, this ball is killer, but enjoy it while it lasts-- it won't be long until you'll looking to buy a ball to replace it.