Author Topic: Sledge Hammer (Read 26054 times)

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

Ball NPS Score: Not Available
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Hook Potential-Overall: (Scale 1-20) 20 + Dull/14 Shiny ;
Hook Potential- Back End: (Scale 1-15) 15 polished/ 12 dull ;
Radius of Gyration: Low ;
Coefficient of Friction: High ;
Hardness: (D-Scale Durometer) 75-78 ;
Flare Potential: (Range/Inches) 6"-9" ;
Lane Conditions: (Oil) Medium - Heavy ;
Pin Location- Above HOT Spot 6 Â¾" ;
Pin Distance- From C.G. 1"- 4 Â½" ;
Average Top Weight Range 2.0 to 4.5 ounces ;
Surface Finish: Dull (500 Grit/7447 Pad) ;
Ball Color: Includes Mica - Crimson Red w/Silver ;
Pin Color: Brite Yellow ;
Core Outline Color: Fluorescent Yellow ;
Sledge Hammer Engraving: Flourescent Yellow ;
HOT Spot & C.G. Color: Fluorescent Yellow ;
Available Weights/Core: 13 - 16 lb Quad Density Offset ;

Paul Nosek · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 1999, 02:00:00 AM »

Having drilled several Sledge Hammers for a variety of player styles, I can say this about the ball; if you like the skid-flip type of reaction, forget about the Sledge. Also, if you are playing the oil line on a side-to side wet/dry, either move to the oil or move to your bag and grab something else. This ball needs oil to get down the lane, owing to its mica-studded cover. Polish did help to get the ball through the heads cleaner but things got a bit strange at the breakpoint if there was late carrydown. Burnished 1000 grit without polish seemed to be a solution for this, and it enhanced the ball's

midlane roll as well. An excellent ball for higher speed stroker

styles, especially those playing up the boards. Swing players can open up a blend or a tube with ease but you need to watch for adjustments, as midlane breakdown has a strong influence on this ball's energy retention due to the mica studs. Flip players: very condition specific especially if you are a low speed/high rev type, so "caveat emptor".

A brief word on the HOT (Hammer Offset Technology) drilling techniques: Be certain that the ball you select fits the parameters for the desired drilling, and take special note of the undrilled top weight and the relationship between the pin, CG and HOT spot. Ideally they are in line with each other and the CG is centered between the

pin and HOT spot. Some balls I have seen are, due to strong variations in these factors, highly suited for some drillings and completely unsuitable for others; inspect any Offset Hammer carefully for this before you get it drilled. The results are worth the effort.

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 1999, 02:00:00 AM »

This is my benchmark ball for medium conditions. 3 3/8 Pin

1.5 inch CG. Mass Bias on Axis Line What Hammer calls a

Max Flare Control Drilling.

This ball has been great for medium and Dry. Surface is

wet sand with used 600. A smooth predictable arc

that will carry, will have a very high pocket percentage

and seems to get very few splits. There are days

with this ball when you feel like you can control your

pocket location within an inch!

Though not a heavy oil ball (at least with my drilling and surface

prep) this ball allowed me to win a big money tournament

this year. It carried nearly every light hit and yielded only

one split in 6 games under intense pressure. Pocket

percentage baby!

C-Mac · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2000, 01:00:00 AM »

POOF !!!! Another "FLATBALL".....I mean Faball "f" up. It has the same hitting potential as the Syntactive.....none, and hooks like.......well it doesn't really hook either. Unreal how a company could even release something like this. For more overview see my Syntactive review.

Gene Basa · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2000, 01:00:00 AM »

Very versatile and predictable Ball! You can change the ball surface

to suit your lane condition......polish, super sand, semi-polished...

...whatever it maybe the sledge hammer would perform for you! The ball

is priced just right for the performance and versatility it gives.

frank marino · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2000, 02:00:00 AM »

this ball is also one of the better balls on the lanes today

and has a great flip at the end

frank

laner7pin · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2001, 07:16:50 AM »

Bought this ball in August of '99 in Denver, CO when I was on vacation and right off the bat it was a hit. Ball is drilled for max hook, and the first few games on it carried everything in sight. After using it sparingly since then, picked it up again 2 weeks ago, got it resurfaced and a thumb insert put in, and once again this ball is doing what it did when i first bought it. normal house shot is a 10 to 10 medium oil shot, down to about 40 ft, then stripped backends. ball goes down the lane, then turns at the breakpoint and then pins dont have a chance. I usually play 15 to 5, left handed and more times then none leave solid 7 pins. Bowled with this ball in a no-tap tourney for fun and had the first 30 in a row, before i shot it out too wide and left a bucket. Only left one 7 pin, and two 9 pins, the other 27 were flush strikes. Glad I didnt sell this ball cause it has once again found a home in my bag. even after 18 months in my arsenal this ball still deserves an 8 out of 10.

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2001, 08:51:32 PM »

Fabalians,

I still love this ball as I also love the 3D Violet offset.

Drilled 3 3/8 control(mass bias on the VAL. This ball is awesome when there is head oil and the backends are hooking. Even arching, hard rolling and big carry if there is dry on the backend. If carrydown this ball starts pinging 7 pins.

If that happens I switch to my stacked leverage 3D violet. This one can carry on carrydown!!

Both balls are smooth rolling, high pocket percentage balls with big carry.
My sledge had stopped covering boards and I baked a little Sledge Hammer Souffle
in my oven at 115 degrees. All the hook like it is new! My baking technique is on the forum under coverstock preparation - Sledge Hammer Soufle.

I love this ball! Do you have a control drilled reactive? 4 X 2, 3 3/8 X 2,
why not?

Regards,

Luckylefty

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2001, 09:35:55 PM »

"Hey Lucky!

"You left your Sledgehammer on the rack I put it in the pro shop for you!"

In the pro shop. "Hey, You keep forgetting your balls!, Here's your Sledgehammer!"

"No mines on your rack having some grip work", "Yeah right","Take it and use it"

OK!

Pin out 3 inches, pin placement 3 3/4 from PAP, hot spot 1 inch left of thumb. CG kicked right near grip center. No weighthole. Ending top weight of 1 1/2 ounces.

What a perfect complement to my 3 3/8 control drilled sledge(Mass bias on VAL)ball. This goes a tad longer turns very smoothly and hits even harder than my
very hard hitting control sledge.

This one will be used on medium to medium heay where I need a little more kick than my control drilled. Both of these balls explode the rack. As I've stated in previous reviews I've had several series with the control drilled with no 7 pins. This one hits harder!

I've tried a Violet hammer(quite good) this Sledge has the same control more hit!, an AMF Nitehawk(reactive)seems to have more of a mass bias hockey stick move, and many other balls for my medium condition big hitter, but this looks like it might be the best!

Smooth, strong, controllable, big hit.

I love it. Crimson Red how about a re release. I feel like our Pulse Pearl rerelease fans! I'd take 10! Why this ball never hit the big time in many others minds I'll never know!

Regards,

Luckylefty
PS. This thing is still drilled for the guy who abandoned this baby. Wait till it fits!
PSS For you Abe Lincoln fans out there! (I'm one). I've notified the Pro Shop owner and the manager of the center to post a sign for one week looking for the owner of this red shiny jewel before I'll drill this baby. Please say this baby didn't work for you!

GaryT · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2002, 05:22:25 AM »

I had my hammer for two years, it is a good ball. It does not
over and under reacts, but if you don't have a lot of ball speed
it is not a good choice. Also if there is not a fair amount of
oil put it up. This balls tends to burn up most of it energy
in the middle of the lanes, leaving you with a knock on the door
at the pin deck instead of kicking it down. In league play you can count the number of hammers being used on two hands or less. These balls are very lane specific, a lot of pro shop do not stock them, because they don't move them
off the shelf fast enough. The problem I have with my hammer is the
corner pin. I have thrown this ball on numerous occasion and it has
let me down more than a hundred times with carry the ten pin. Now
there are a lot of adjustments to carry the ten pin, I made them all.
But if the lanes are demanding and scores are not high, the is and
excellent ball to grind it out. Now you better be and excellent ten
pin shooter. Now there are days when most bowlers are on, regardless of what they throw, they strike. With the Sledge, this ball will bring you back to reality quickly. You can have 11 strikes in a row, if you use the Sledge, you will end up with 299, if you lucky enough to get 11 in a row.

Gene J Kanak · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2002, 09:13:31 AM »

Hey everyone,

I must say that I was quite surprised to see Gary T's review of
the sledge. I don't really know anything about Gary T's style or
what kind of shot he's playing on, but the characteristics that he
attributes to the sledge, (weak hitter, shot specific), do not at all
match up with my own experience with it. I have found the sledge to
be the best Hammer that I've ever owned, and perhaps the best ball that
I've owned, period. The sledge can be used on a variety of conditions,
depending on your style, the drilling, and the condition of the coverstock.
Originally my sledge was highly polished to give me some length on the dry
conditions of my league shot. However, in my current league I wanted it to
grab earlier and flip harder. All that I did was have the pro-shop take
the surface down, and applied some Hook-it, and now it has been exactly
what I want it to be. This ball will be versatile, provided the person
using it is as well. I think that this is one of the best balls from the
Hammer aresenal, even better than most in the 3D series. And oh yeah, as
far as carry is concerned, if you have any figers on your hand, nothing
hits like a hammer, especially this one.

Justin Buford · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2002, 08:28:09 AM »

The Sledge Hammer is not one of my favorite balls. At first, like with everytime someone gets a new bowling ball, it felt great, it looked great and it hit great. But I wasn't bowling on any challenging condition to really test it. I took it to a tournament a few weeks later and it was a real dud. It hit real weak and failed to carry through the corner pins. Believing that it was just one tournament and maybe the house wasn't real good with 10 pins, I took it out again throughout league and at the following tournament. It bowled on medium oiled conditions and i got barely no reaction from it.. Polished or dulled out..I have had this ball for 3 years now, I am not saying that this isn't the ball for everyone, but for me and my style it was very weak.. BUT I'll give credit where credit is due.. I can sure bounce ten pins out of the pit with it haha..I picked up a 7-10 with my sledgehammer twice..maybe that's why I keep it around.

Justin B.

fabulous · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2003, 04:45:40 PM »

Hey I'm back, I must say this is a sweet ball. I remember before I got this ball, everyone was saying it was a dud and a waist. I begged to differ, I had seen a guy throwing one in a tournament and this ball had so much control and movement that I had to get one. I had a hommie that found me a sledge that was in a pro shop collecting dust. I got a heavy 15lbs pin 1" pin, drilled for dry lanes no good. Hit the thumb hole until the lane were sand paper then it would roll. Re-drilled it 75 degree layout. Huh, all I can tell you is when you see me or I see you, they all ask what ball are you throwing. It loves oil, the more the better, wet/dry nice, long oil come on, flooded puddle spots, the sledge goes around, if I can't get carry I put it down. You can't go wrong with this one kids. This sledge hits so damn hard and so loud I should be in the PBA.

It hits so sweet I'd buy another one. I know its an old ball and nobody might not read this review for a while or even care to hear about the sledge, but this ball is an animal. I've only had it for about a year. Bought it for 85 bucks in Feb 02. I've shot more sevens with this ball than any other ball. I got about ten or so balls just like some of ya'll and I love this ball. I don't travel without this ball. I shot 755 this season with 10 or more other baby sevens and my 755 didn't even make the board, picture that. You got to shoot 762 or better to get on the board, thats big numbers for anyhouse. I don't know why you other cats don't like this ball but e-mail me if you have one you want to get rid of, I'll pick it up. AND to everyone else who love their sledge

LuckyLefty · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2003, 07:57:08 AM »

Still Going..... and going..... and going!
Not the energizer, but the sledgehammer.

Took this red crimson beauty out of the closet, put a slug in to my current drill specs.

Took to league, 6 bagger, 6pin strike, should have shot 279 out of the box but didn't, A..hole on lane two over but that's another story.

When I see this ball on the rack, I feel confidence and I think Round, Round, Round.

On a fresh shot this ball does just what particles are supposed to do.
2 1/2 inch pin out ball drilled 3 3/8 with mass bias on the VAL.
Weighthole on the PAP, leaving ball with 1/2 ounce side 0 finger and top.

Rev REv Rev off the hand round and then roll.
If there is a moderate amount of dry at the back this ball arcs rolls and HITS.

Many a night with no 7 pins. Last night 4 of them and every ball I got wide early. If there is carrydown this is probably not the ball but if played tight it can almost do!

Still my best ball ever.
If I had any sparemaking ability at all, I had two missed 6! Would have hd 680 out the closet.

Still the best control ball ever with humumgous hit!
Used well on fresh league shots, World Team Challenge and a little carrydown, it can't be beat.

REGards,

Luckylefty
PS I have another one from Stevo 3 i'm getting ready to drill stacked as I know this strong mass bias ball is capable of being flippy also.
PPS on the pair I was on somehow we ended up with 4 pretty good lefties.
We all had a nice night over 6, with one 7 in the bunch.
Balls used two Vortex II's and this beauty and a Track, Stomp and RevMaster.
This ball had the best and most even look of the bunch.
Why I wasn't high was only caused by operator spare errors!

loose5682 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2003, 01:32:48 AM »

Had this ball for awhile, got bored and decided to plug and redrill it to compliment my newly acquired Shock Trauma. This ball was the perfect fit. It is drilled with the pin about a 1/4 inch above and 2 inches to the right of the ring finger, cg in palm, HOT spot about two inches left of thumb. Ball is very highly polished, which causes it to get very natural length down the lane and a VERY smooth reaction off the dry. Almost a hockey stick-type reaction, but a LITTLE smoother, picture the Sling Blade-type reaction, natural length, controllable backend, and VERY good hit. The only downside is that the ball does seem very susceptible to release changes...meaning if you don't necessarily hit it real hard, you will end up with a washout or 2-8-10 combo.
--------------------
Andrew Loose
Illinois State University Men's Team

Author Topic: Sledge Hammer (Read 26054 times)

admin

Sledge Hammer

Paul Nosek

Re: Sledge Hammer

LuckyLefty

Re: Sledge Hammer

C-Mac

Re: Sledge Hammer

Gene Basa

Re: Sledge Hammer

frank marino

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laner7pin

Re: Sledge Hammer

LuckyLefty

Re: Sledge Hammer

LuckyLefty

Re: Sledge Hammer

GaryT

Re: Sledge Hammer

Gene J Kanak

Re: Sledge Hammer

Justin Buford

Re: Sledge Hammer

fabulous

Re: Sledge Hammer

LuckyLefty

Re: Sledge Hammer

loose5682

Re: Sledge Hammer