BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Hammer => Topic started by: bergman on July 06, 2014, 01:26:47 AM
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Hello Hammer Fans:
I would appreciate your advice. I am considering building a Hammer ball arsenal. I am an old school stroker, righthanded, (been bowling for over 40 years).
My rev rate is approx. 290. Axis tilt-12 degrees: Axis rotation-approx. 30 degrees. Ball speed off the hand- 17mph (avg). I currently average
223 (house shot) and 188 in a sport league. As a stroker, I often struggle on some of the flatter patterns. Interestingly, I seem to do well on the fresh because my ball does not jerk left when it exits the pattern.
My biggest problem is when the shot starts to break down and the
young "Turks" begin to open up their angles. I have a difficult time
trying to get a "bump" like many of them can do despite hand, equipment, drill angles, speed or surface changes. This often forces me to move inside of them and hopefully, catch some hold. If I cannot find any, I often get stuck in a dead zone---no "hold", and no ability to open up my angles--not even slightly.
I fully realize that sport conditions will always be a challenge and that
there are no magic bullets, but I would appreciate any advice you might
have as it relates to Hammer equipment choices, especially from the
higher speed-to revs bowlers out there.
Thanks so much!
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low flare - great piece for when the lanes get opened up, if left at OBB, you have to drill this piece a little stronger than you normally would, gets through he heads very well.
absolute curve - earlier rolling and extremely predictable
deadly aim - new piece, great reviews by ball testers
black widow legend - off the charts reviews by testers and staffers alike
Billy O used this ball on all of the TV shows (used on all patterns) and dominated
USBC queens champ also used it.
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Heavy and/or long - Deadly Aim, Cold Blood
Medium - BW Legend, Absolut Curve, AMP
Short and/or Broken down - Arson Low-flare, Spike, Cobalt Vibe
I have the Cold Blood and Absolut Curve right now and Both balls have been great. I went with milder layouts and haven't been disappointed. The Cold Blood at 2000 is great on anything with oil for me and the Curve is my house shot killer and does pretty well on the medium length patterns
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Also look at the Nail Titanium. I have the ball with a "length" (weaker) layout and really love it. The NT is a nice ball for dry lanes.
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Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. It is a big help.
Now it's off to the pro shop!
Thanks again
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All my stats are very similar to yours, although I do have better luck on sport shots than you. My guess is that your problem is not so much the sport patterns, but the way the young guys blow them up on you. I bowl pretty well on sport patterns with the other seniors, but I have to find ways to play them differently when the kids are on them.
As for your arsenal question, I am in no way a Hammer guy, but I currently have a Cobalt Vibe, which I would highly recommend to you if you can find one. It is a ball that allows me to stay a bit further right, and more importantly play a little more direct through the heads. On 38-42 foot patterns it can keep you right of the young guys and not have to deal with their blown up heads. There may be something new out there that is comparable to the Vibe, but I am not aware of it. I also am throwing a Blue Hammer, primarily for a spare ball, but it is another ball that can really carry on short patterns or wet dry house shots. I am going to try a Black Widow Legend also. I really like the Hammer cores. Not sure what they have in the line of strong pearls ( like my Marvel Pearl ) or control solids like the IQ Tour.
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All my stats are very similar to yours, although I do have better luck on sport shots than you. My guess is that your problem is not so much the sport patterns, but the way the young guys blow them up on you. I bowl pretty well on sport patterns with the other seniors, but I have to find ways to play them differently when the kids are on them.
As for your arsenal question, I am in no way a Hammer guy, but I currently have a Cobalt Vibe, which I would highly recommend to you if you can find one. It is a ball that allows me to stay a bit further right, and more importantly play a little more direct through the heads. On 38-42 foot patterns it can keep you right of the young guys and not have to deal with their blown up heads. There may be something new out there that is comparable to the Vibe, but I am not aware of it. I also am throwing a Blue Hammer, primarily for a spare ball, but it is another ball that can really carry on short patterns or wet dry house shots. I am going to try a Black Widow Legend also. I really like the Hammer cores. Not sure what they have in the line of strong pearls ( like my Marvel Pearl ) or control solids like the IQ Tour.
In regards to your request for the strong pearl - Absolut Flip will fit in that category, & the control solid - Arson Low Flare will be my recommendations. Hope this helps!
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The arson low flare is by far the best and most versatile ball they have made. I can use mine on anything, it's fantastic. That ball is a must for not just any hammer line up but any lineup. For me it was better then the 3 good iqs. That ball is versatile enough to handle the transition and the fresh for me.
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The arson low flare is by far the best and most versatile ball they have made. I can use mine on anything, it's fantastic. That ball is a must for not just any hammer line up but any lineup. For me it was better then the 3 good iqs. That ball is versatile enough to handle the transition and the fresh for me.
Yup my answer to anyone who wants to try out Hammer is to start with the ALF, I've yet to find anything I can't use it on except if its extremely wet (and I've never seen it so more or less guessing on that). The sound that thing makes when it hits the pins, never heard anything else I've ever owned sound like that, house sounds like its coming down.