Author Topic: Vicious (Read 18703 times)

admin · « **on:** December 31, 1969, 06:00:00 PM »

Ball NPS Score: Not Available

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The Hammer Vicious was designed to be the most skid-flip ball ever produced by Hammer. This was acheived by designing the all new PowerGrip reactive resin coverstock, which has a skid/flip rating of 32. The core is a modified version of the Black 2001. We modified the core with an outer, which allows the light weight balls to retain performance characteristics. The outer core also allows us to increase the differentials, and with the addition of the pancake style flip block, the angularity of the Hammer Vicious is significantly increased.

Coverstock: PowerGrip SF32 Reactive Resin

Coverstock Rating: SF32

Core Type: Symmetric

RG: 2.51 (Medium)

Diff: .058 (High)

Mass Bias Rating: low

BowlPro · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2002, 11:47:27 PM »

Hammer is Back! With the Vicious!

Ebonites has its first entry under the Ole "Hammer"
Label and its a New and Improved version of an Old
Hammer weight block design.

Ebonite took the weight block design of the 2001 Black
Hammer and added a "Pancake Style" Flip Block to the Top
of the ball. This allows for more revolutions which should
result in more hooking power!

The cover stock is the new "PowerGrip SF32 Reactive"
"SF" standing for (skid/flip)! The Fully adjustable cover
will allow you to fine tune this balls reaction to the lane
conditions that you bowl on.

This coverstock along with the stronger weight block does make
this new Hammer come to life! Those of you who we call, "Hammer Heads"
will find this Hammer to be one of the strongest to date!

Our (Label Leverage) Test ball "4X4 drilling", Gave us the ablity to
play inside out with ease! This Hammer was smooth and controlled until
it hit the dry part of the lane, (the Backend) and then it made a strong
left turn!!! As we played different lines we could play inside or out!

The Hitting Power was Ok! (Stronger Releases will see more!)
The Ball seemed to "ping" abit,(Corner Pins) but was better than the
first two 2001 balls from the Past FAB Company.

Overall, this first Hammer from Ebonite is a good effort to keep the Label Alive!
I hope to see more from them as we get into the new bowling season!

We will recommend this ball to Our Customers and to all bowlers.

BowlPro
www.discount-proshop.com

Wadney · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2002, 10:30:02 PM »

This ball is truly VICIOUS. I've had it for about six weeks and have consistently shot very well with multiple 270+ games. However tonight I got the big one--a perfect 300 game during a doubles tournament. This ball is very controlable/predictable. You can play inside, outside, straight up the boards or whatever. It does not loose it's hitting power on the back end. When my bowling friends see me throw the vicious, they all make comments about how they need to get this ball in their arsenal. Everyone seem to really be impressed with the hitting power and how it completes the job on the back end. This is an excellent ball developed by Hammer for their 2002 catalog. I have bowled for over 25 years and of all the balls I've thrown I like the control that this ball allows me to create. Sometimes you just gotta get Vicious

BuddiesProShopcom - Bill · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2002, 02:38:20 PM »

I used this ball for about 40 games so far and here is my review.

I laid the ball out with the pin over my fingers and the Mass Bias in my track. No weight hole. I was going for more of a hook/set reaction.

I was amazed at how many lines I was able too play with just simple hand changes. I was able to start out going up the lane, then after a game, I moved inside and was able to turn the ball up a little more and still get it around the corner.

I am looking forward to get another one of these ball to give it a stronger layout, to see what this ball will do.

This is a great start for the New Hammer. Amazing Carry, and Great Coverstock and Core match up.

I watched a friend throw this last night with a little stronger drilling and this ball got around the corner like someone was kicking it to the pocket. The name of this ball is fitting.

Thanks,
Bill
BuddiesProShop.com

Ron Ware · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2002, 10:21:00 AM »

Of all the years I have been bowling, I have never been as excited about a new bowling ball on the market as I have been with this absolutely VICIOUS, no mercy ball just released by Ebonite/Hammer. The marriage of the modified core with their new PowerGrip coverstock equates to the best skip/flip reaction I have ever seen!!! And believe you me I am always up to date on the current equipment out there and the new stuff that comes out.

When I finally got one of these, I had it drilled leveraged out of the box and after throwing it for a block, I immediately had another one drilled out with more finger and polish to scoot it down the lane a bit more. When this ball turns that corner, it reminds you of that battery commercial, "it keeps going and going and going..." My lowest set has been a 689 during the last four league outings. My high was a 804 with a 300 to boot.

This ball's brute power can and will make a difference in your game. VICIOUS IS SIMPLY AWESOME!!!

Dwight Albrecht · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2002, 08:50:03 AM »

Thanks for reading my review:

This New Release from Hammer now owned under the Ebonite name still lives. Hammer has a great guy with Ed Gallagher in charge.

The 1st Hammer since Ebonite has taken over is a â€œphenomenalâ€ entry back into the Reactive Family of balls. You can tell the R&D people really put their minds together to produce a great choice for the bowlers out there that want that â€œgo long and break hard reactionâ€. Angular movement is the main selling point with this ball.

The cover stock of this ball is the Power Grip SF 32 reactive, which stands for the â€œSuper Flipâ€ which this ball does well. The weight block is out of the Black 2001 with a big added flip block. The core is very dense which lowers the RG but the flip block adds the kick needed in the back ends.

I drilled the Vicious with my favorite layout 3 3/8 X 75 mass bias. Weight Hole by axis point. The first thing you notice when you throw this ball is the good skid through the front 15 feet of the lane and tremendous amount of back ends this ball can generate.

Lane Condition was New Brunswick Syntheticâ€™s with oil outside dry track and oily insides. Back ends fresh. Playing inside around 3rd arrow with a slight belly gave me the best area. This truly is a ball if you need recovery from the inside angles. 689 out of the box were my 1st 3 games with this ball. Quite Impressive.

The only negative I had with this ball was the surface read the oil and dry sometimes to fast and too violent making it hard to control at times. Sensitive to carry down and speed adjustments showed up in backend reaction. But overall if you can control the ball it is quite impressive on the power.

Hammer truly has a winner with this ball and definitely justifies having it on my shops floor to show and sell. It gives me a different look than anything else I sell in my shop.

Thanks for reading my review and best of look in your Bowling futures.

Dwight

g_thing · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2002, 10:53:43 AM »

This is my first review of a ball on Ball Reviews. I am not all that familiar with the ins and outs of the lingo, but I will do my best.

I had the ball leverage drilled with pin about 2:30 of ring finger approximately 1.5 - 2 inches out. Line from pin through CG would pass to right of thumb approx 3 inches or so.

The lines I play vary for the lane conditions. If oily, I try to play around the 10 board and let the ball roll in. If drying, I tend to move left and swing it over the 15 board out to the 10 or so and let it come back. At worst, with little oil, I move to last dot, try to hit the 10 board and swing out past the 5th board for the ball to have room to come back.

First night with the ball after 4 practice shots I hit a 719. Next week hit a 650 or so. In practice this weekend, average well over 210, bordering on 230 for the last 4 games when there was little to no oil on the lanes.

Personally, I love this ball. With the way I throw the ball and my ball speed at times, I cannot afford to put the ball out if it's not going to come back. But this ball is a beauty!! In the heavy oil, I simply slow down, play the down and in shot and wait for the lanes to dry up a little so I can make her dance.

Pin action is great with this ball. Keeps the pins low unless you hit the pocket just right. And when you do, it's like a pins get sucked into the back. An absolute awesome ball, that's all I can say.

Will try and post more at a later date after more use. I am looking forward to a fruitful summer league this year!! And the Vicious will be the main weapon of choice out a 'Hammer' arsenal consisting of a Nova, Truck, 3D Offset Pearl, and a 3D Maxxx Indigo.

Mike Whitacre · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2002, 12:55:39 AM »

I have had this ball about 2 weeks now. It is a 15 LB 2"pin 4 oz top before drilling. The ball is drilled label aggressive (pin at the 2 o'clock position CG kicked out about 1", no side hole)

For me (a Stroker/tweener med revs) this ball really skids and flips. I find it to be touchy from wet/dry and various release angles and ball speeds. It hits very hard, but has a tendency to be a bit over/under for me. I use it as a ball to use after carry down has occurred. Then its a bit smoother. Perhaps after it has broken in alittle the reaction will be a bit more forgiving.

Thanks

Mike

Mike Whitacre · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2002, 11:46:44 PM »

This is a re-review of the vicious I made a week ago.
For me in box condition it was a bit over and under. I wet sanded it with 1000 grit just to take the edge of and now it is alot smoother. Still hits very hard and now has a nice strong arc.

Thanks

Mike Whitacre

Sniper206 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2002, 03:52:14 PM »

You can check my profile for my specs...

I recieved my viscious with a 3-4 in. pin and 3oz of top weight.. I drilled it with the pin an inch under my ring finger, and the cg an inch up and right of the thumb, and have left it in the box finish for now...

I didn't know that hammer could produce a ball with so much power!!! I threw this on lanes that had open play on them most of the day and i was standing 31 setting down around 5th arrow, sending it out to 7 and ripping racks all night long.. This thing almost hooks as much as my aggression, so i will be making a trip to my local pro shop for the ball spinner... Don't let this ball fool you, it will hook, and hook alot..... The reaction is excellent, the carry is all power, and it hits like a semi!!!!

Hammer is back to take some names!!!

thanks for reading this review

Todd

Hornetajc · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2002, 12:33:31 PM »

Well I was given a Vicious with a 2" pin. I drilled it with the pin right under the fingers and the CG kicked right about an inch.

To be truthful, I don't like this ball at all. On a typical house shot I will throw 15 to 7. With this ball I would throw 17 to 8 and it would hit like a marshmellow leaving a ton of corners. The only way it would work with mild success is putting no hand and throwing it up the boards. I threw it on 3 different sport shots (35 ft, 38 ft, and 40 ft). As long as I didn't put any hand in the ball, it would carry ok, still leaving 10's. But if I would go high, I would leave 4-9's or 4-7-9's. Not once did I leave just the 4-pin. I also found this ball had no forgiveness if you don't exactly repeat your hand position.

I think this ball would be good for an up the boards bowler with no hand. Otherwise I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

perfect18x · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2002, 02:01:30 AM »

Hey the first game out of the box using this ball was a 300. You can't get any better than that.... 751 for the first 3 games of our league with a 212 to end the night, so a 963 for 4 games... About a 240 average the first time i ever used this ball. It is a great ball with a lot of backend flip... i recommend it for the crankers who like to play deep that throw the ball coast to coast.... perfect18x ( now i need to change all my names on here and my email addy to perfect19x lol lol lol

Hin Hale · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2002, 04:07:23 AM »

All Hammerheads should thank EboniteÂ´s staff for this ball.
ItÂ´s a great ball that hooks alot. I belive that they were
trying to make the first "new Hammer" a sure success, thatÂ´s why
this Hammer is so very!! like the Matrix Dominator.

govt45 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 14, 2002, 02:43:37 PM »

A buddy of mine on my league team bought this ball. Pin was 3 3/8" from PAP, which going by the drilling instructions would set the ball up for med & wet lanes with large ball flare and earlier roll. The Vicious most definitely has a vicious flip at the breakpoint. With this drilling and the lane conditions we were on, he had a hard time keeping from going brookland. I must say though, it didn't seem to matter whether he hit the pocket or went brookland, it hit hard and had great pin carry.

Needing a new dry lane ball for myself, I bought a Vicious this past Monday night. Had it drilled pin 4 1/2" from PAP, which again, by the drilling instructions, set the ball up for dry lanes with less ball flare and late roll. I bowl 16-18 mph, medium revs. Playing straight up the 10 board threw 7 X's in a row out of the box. Unfortunately, at that point my thumb started sticking and instead of getting it reamed out then, I kept going through the game. After getting the thumb hole reamed I rolled just to check the adjustment made, and threw 4 more in a row.

There is no doubt that the drilling makes a huge difference on this ball. The ball drilled 3 3/8" from PAP hooks, hooks & hooks... and would be a great ball for wetter lane conditions. With the drilling I have 4 1/2" from PAP, the ball is MUCH tamer (still has a vicious flip though). So be sure you know what you want out of this ball and get it drilled accordingly.

This is going to make a great addition to my newly building arsenal. I can't wait to bowl on more dry lanes now :-)

ball boy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2002, 02:00:31 PM »

The name says it all - it's damn Vicious!!!!

Spec's: 15.5 oz 2-3" pin with 4 oz of top wt.

Loaded it up with my favorite drilling - pin above ring finger, cg kicked out about an inch with a small wt. hole. Ball just sniffs out the dry boards and - BAM!! Thing really flips hard into the hole. Impressive heavier roll but still wants to be extremely angular on the backend. Reminds me of an old Turbo X on steriods! Ball is a super one to swing wide and watch it come back!! You have a lot of room to miss with it either way. It will hold in the oil and scream back from the dry. It can be sensitive to the oil and it will skid through it's breakpoint. Mostly happened if I was too hard, too deep. All in all a great medium to heavy oil ball. If you have or need snappy backend, this is the ball for you! It shocks me that this core is the Black Hammer 2001 with a flip-block attached and it hooks as much as it does. I guess Fab had good cores and bad coverstocks.

Great Job Hammer!! Keep the name alive!!!

Author Topic: Vicious (Read 18703 times)

admin

Vicious

BowlPro

Re: Vicious

Wadney

Re: Vicious

BuddiesProShopcom - Bill

Re: Vicious

Ron Ware

Re: Vicious

Dwight Albrecht

Re: Vicious

g_thing

Re: Vicious

Mike Whitacre

Re: Vicious

Mike Whitacre

Re: Vicious

Sniper206

Re: Vicious

Hornetajc

Re: Vicious

perfect18x

Re: Vicious

Hin Hale

Re: Vicious

govt45

Re: Vicious

ball boy

Re: Vicious