Well...I got to try out my NO Mercy tonight. I could only use it the first game. I bowled a 190....four pins below my average. However..that ball is strong and it does hook. I tried to use it the second game at first...mistake. I knew it was but it was a new toy and....well, you've all been there. Threw two splits, then switched to the Black Widow and got taped then missed the 10 pin by a millimeter. After that the game got worse with a pocket 7-10 split. Ended up with a "wonderful" 149. Salute! Followed that with a 205 however to salvage a bit of pride. I had a 544....not very good for me at the moment but I bowled better than the score indicated. I just didn't get a lot of luck or carry. However....with both the No Mercy and Black Widow...the strikes I was getting were all ten in the pit. I didn't get a single scramble all night. I was in the pocket quite well....even in the 149 game after the first four frames. It was just one of those night when the pins decided then didn't want to fall. I could have had an easy six with just a little luck.  

Observations: No Mercy.....very strong, hits hard as advertised. Makes a smooth but powerful move to the pocket. I was standing on 30, out over 15 past 10 to about 8 and it was coming back beautifully. I just was getting a few taps in there...both leaving tens and sevens. Took a little while to get the "hang" of that ball and how it moves. I like it. Simple as that. After that game I cleaned it with Ebonite Powerhouse cleaner (orange fragrance) and put it away...that is after the splits. After I got home from bowling...I recleaned it with Track's Clean n' Dull. I like this bowling ball. It was worth the price easily. Can't wait to bowl next week (my other league is off for the holiday.)

Black Widow: Good ball...just didn't get any luck with carry tonight(something we've all experienced....somenights you can bowl beautifully and not score very well...other nights you're not really on but get an easy six hundred.) It makes a great complement with the No Mercy. Add a Raw Hammer Doom in there and that's a really nice little arsenal to have.

I had been using Track's with success but this month my Mean Machine was wasn't finishing, despite careful cleaning, and a trip to the proshop for "de-oiling". The No Mercy and Black Widow certainly moved tonight.....making me feel quite confident once more. And this is not a knock on the Mean Machine. It's a great ball and I would recommend it. But the No Mercy does seem to be a stronger ball for me at the moment, and on the lanes I'm bowling on (Holiday Bowl in Albuquerque, NM.)

Thank you Hammer (and Ebonite) and Ron Hickland. No Mercy and the Black Widow were purchased from Paul Yoder's Pro Shop in Albuquerque, and drilled at the same location.

Chuck