Author Topic: Question concerning Blue Hammer (Yes, the original!) (Read 4741 times)

dizzyfugu · « **on:** January 17, 2008, 04:08:47 AM »

I never thought I'd post here - but I have the hands on a single drill Blue Hammer in very good shape (Yeah, ebay). As far as I know, it is urethane with the classic Hammer core - and it has good rep!

I suppose it is good for medium shots today - does anyone still use one and share impressions? There are no reviews on this piece at BR.com, so any input would be gladly appreciated.

Besides, does anyone know the RG differential of the core? I am not sure if it is the same 0.04 as in the later Blades?

Thanks a lot in advance!

--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2008, 02:18:23 PM »

I can't help you with any of the numbers on the ball, but I too have one. Except mine is undrilled and sitting in my room

I have been throwing my old Urethane Beast a tad and it still has that 3-4 board hook on a medium-light wood shot.

I am going to punch up the Blue Hammer soon as my light oil piece for tournaments. Can't wait to use that bad boy.

I hear all the older gentlemen talking about how they would buy one new Blue Hammer per season, and I love the urethane reaction so it's going to be fun playing with my new toy!
--------------------
Formerly SGC300
"Never get into a pissing match with a skunk, cuz he'll piss all over you and like it."-Keyshawn Johnson on Terrell Owens

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2008, 02:52:31 AM »

Thanks a lot! I am really curious about the BH, it must have dominated the early 90ies as THE benchmark ball on tour. It is a true classic, and I suppose NIB specimens are real collectors' items

@harrylegthigh: I already checked 123bowl.com - there are some reviews on the BH, but they lack the core data. But thank you very much for the hint!

Anyone else?
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Maine Man · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2008, 02:59:15 AM »

This is the best link I could come up with. It gives the core shape, but no spec's as far as rg or diff data:

http://bowlingballreviews.com/ball.asp?ballid=290
--------------------
MainePBA
"Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2008, 03:53:05 AM »

Yup, thank you! In the meantime I also contacted Hammer - if someone knows, they should?
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DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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dizzyfugu · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2008, 05:45:27 AM »

That's the plan... I really want to try an "old school" ball - many centers around here use only light oil or blocks, and I like the recation I get from my SBG and Pure Hammer. Over/under is a great problem for me, with lower speed and "sufficient" revs. So, urethane with a true core should be a (durable) solution, but these days such kind of balls are hard to find (and, no, I won't get a Liberator, too pricey). I just hope I get the ball, it really looks as if in good shape

--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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scotts33 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2008, 06:08:45 AM »

quote:
Yup, thank you! In the meantime I also contacted Hammer - if someone knows, they should?

Since, Ebonite bought the label "Hammer"...they probably know lil about the original Hammer line diz.

That information lies with John Fabinich and the Wonders family <Visonary>.

FYI...I've had or have all the old Hammer line. The original Blue has a cover that is not impossible to change but it does not easily change like newly maunufactured equipment.

If you are looking for a ball that has a dynamic core and can be played on the same line as the old Blue....I'd suggest the Blue Green Centaur. Very similar IMO.
--------------------
Scott

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2008, 06:11:53 AM »

Thank you, scotts33

--------------------
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CPA · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2008, 10:16:13 AM »

There are two guys in our THS league, both lefthanders, using old hammers and dominating the league. Both of these guys have a lot of revs and can't control the new equipment. One uses a blue hammer and the other a burgundy hammer.

I remember that when the blue hammer came out, you saw several of them on each pair of lanes.
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USBC Bronze Coach

alzgarvin · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2008, 09:01:34 AM »

I posted a while back looking for a good ball for an extreme dry outside house. I asked opinions on some different balls and got several replies also on the Green Blue Centaur. Picked one up and have not drilled it yet ( not sure how to set it up) . But the reason I am posting here is that I dug out my old Burgundy Hammer that has very few games on it and reset my pitches and span and cleaned it up with a wet sand 1000 abralon. This ball hooked way too much too early on this pattern( 1st game fresh oil) that I have been struggling on. The ball read the lane instantly set up and then laid off on the back. The ball would come back with a good solid ring of oil and only flared about 1 inch total. So the ball would hook and roll in the oil but once it cleared the pattern it would not finish due to rolling over its own oil. Laying off in the back is a good thing but not with the early hook this ball produced. Could not play down and in cause it hooked off your hand and a swing shot from 12 to 8 would read set and then not finish enough to carry. I am going to take this ball to 4000 abralon and retry but to let you know this ball flares very little even with the classic core. Pin in ball with 1/4 oz finger and 3/4 pos side.

I am curious how the blue hammer reacts compared to the burgundy, and then if the green blue centaur is like the blue hammer, how it compares to the burgundy so I know how to lay it out.

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2008, 12:37:29 AM »

Thanks to Jeff Ussery at Hammer for his quick reply (and re-reply)! Great customer service!!

If his info is correct, the classic Hammer core is just the same as the one used in the early Blades and the Pure Hammers (Had/have both and loved them for the smooth reaction).
--------------------
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dizzyfugu · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2008, 09:39:40 AM »

Yahoo! I got it - a beauty for its age:
http://i14.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/d2/32/6003_1.JPG

Just had a hard day at league today which confirmed me that such a ball makes sense. Lanes were very dry, back end screaming, even my Pure Hammer moved a lot and had to be bellied across 3rd arrow and even deeper. O. K., got away with a 181 average, but... urethane, that's what it's at!

--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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Spider Ball Bowler · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2008, 01:34:06 PM »

After I read this I started getting excited about the one I have NIB. I figured at one time I would sell it off and not make enough on it anyways, so on Friday I took it to my driller, and I am picking it up 2morrow. I can not wait to use it in league lol.

I shot 696 2 weeks ago with my old Urethane Beast, and it was a BLAST! I hope the Blue Hammer is just as much fun or more.
--------------------
Formerly SGC300
"Never get into a pissing match with a skunk, cuz he'll piss all over you and like it."-Keyshawn Johnson on Terrell Owens

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2008, 03:46:27 AM »

quote:
I may be confused, but if you going to use this ball expecting it to be weaker than your pure hammer I think you might be uh, mistaken. My ball has no pin and its just drilled with the Faball?cg in the center of my grip. This is not the ball to use on real dry back ins, mine moves guite a bit when it hits dry. The difference between this and reactive, in my experience is it does not jerk as dramatically as the reactive nor flair as much, but it really does move and cover some boards on fresh or dry backends. This was one of the or maybe the, strongest of the hammer urethanes.
--------------------
Harry

This movement is my hope, too. I have become a great fan of "urethane movement".

My (black) Pure Hammer, which I originally bought for dry lanes, proved to be a hooking beast - but it is still a very good choice for light oil and late games. It is very smooth, but likes to move early and a lot.
On the other hand, I have a Slate Blue Gargoyle that fits the bill for a true dry lane ball. The Blue Hammer comes into play mostly because of curiosity, with the more modern PH as a benchmark.
I also have no idea how strong this piece really is, concerning coverstock as well as the core, and on today's conditions. Advertised for medium top heavy oil in its days with a matte finish, I think it will match on medium to medium-dry shorts today with a finer surface. At least, that's the plan.

The core seems to be the same low RG 0.04" differential piece as in the Blades and Pure Hammer (according to my Hammer staff info), and I like this core a lot due to the smooth movement and good roll it creates.

I do not know the span on my ebay BH - but it is drilled label, too. I might stick with the drilling and have span and pitches adjusted. Later on, surface experiments will follow when I can figure out how strong it is and how it fits between my other balls. The plan from the belly is a very high grit surface, but no polish. Well, I'll see.

I am really looking forward to it - also because it is a massive piece without filler

I'll keep you informed, just sad that I won't be able to post a review since the BH is simply missing in the list. Well, maybe I'll encourage it when it is about time for conclusions...

--------------------
DizzyFugu - Reporting from Germany

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scotts33 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2008, 06:00:30 AM »

quote:
do not know the span on my ebay BH - but it is drilled label, too. I might stick with the drilling and have span and pitches adjusted. Later on, surface experiments will follow when I can figure out how strong it is and how it fits between my other balls. The plan from the belly is a very high grit surface, but no polish. Well, I'll see.

Good luck on the surface adjustment. These balls are known to be hard to adjust not like balls of today.

--------------------
Scott

Author Topic: Question concerning Blue Hammer (Yes, the original!) (Read 4741 times)

dizzyfugu

Question concerning Blue Hammer (Yes, the original!)

Spider Ball Bowler

Re: Question concerning Blue Hammer (Yes, the original!)

dizzyfugu

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Maine Man

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dizzyfugu

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dizzyfugu

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scotts33

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dizzyfugu

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CPA

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alzgarvin

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dizzyfugu

Re: Question concerning Blue Hammer (Yes, the original!)

dizzyfugu

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Spider Ball Bowler

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dizzyfugu

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scotts33

Re: Question concerning Blue Hammer (Yes, the original!)