Howdy,

New to the forum and just getting back to bowling for first time in 20 years and was looking to find out more information.

I saw a couple of Faball Red Pearl Hammer balls on eBay but do not know what this information means:

Listing #1
Serial # 8B018229
What information does the serial number provide?

FABALL
Faball Baltimore - Dennis Baldwin
1988

HAMMER RED PEARL 2ND
NOS (New Old Stock)

BOX SPECS: 15 lb 12 oz, TW 3.5

Is that listing for a  re-release of the Red Pearl Hammer?
I heard from one of the forums that the second release of the Red Pearl Hammer was garbage compared to the original?
Can someone chime in?

Is TW = Top Weight...if so, is 3.5 desirable?

What does the "S" that's located in the middle of the Fab logo mean?

Listing #2
Serial # 8B038413
What information does this serial number provide?

1988

HAMMER RED PEARL 2ND
NOS (New Old Stock)

BOX SPECS: 15 lb 11-1/2 oz, TW 3.5
MEASURED PIN = 2-1/4"

Both listings have a circle/dot near the Fab logo.
Does this look like is its been plugged?
Or is that how those balls came from the manufacturer?

I apologize if I've offended anyone who's not a bowling equipment newbie such as myself.


I am researching this bowling ball as the equipment  I have now (burgundy Hammer, and Green Brunswick Quantum) hooks way too much on the dry lanes I bowl for league.
Also, the (Blue) Pearl Hammer was my first real bowling ball I ever rolled.

I appreciate your input on this subject.

The serial number gives you a little information to work with.

In the serial number 8BO18229, the 8B means the ball was poured in 1988 at the Baltimore plant. Not sure what significance the rest of it may mean, probably just a production number.

 The “S” in the label means that, for some reason, the ball was considered less than perfect, or what is commonly referred to as a “second” as far as production quality is concerned.

 The picture you have of the area that looks plugged, looks to be the “pin”, and yes, it looks to have been a factory repair. That could be enough to render the ball a “second quality” upon release for sale.

 Those Red Pearl Hammers are pretty rare, and usually command a premium price.

Those balls were both marked as seconds because they were pin out.  A lot has progressed since the 90s in our understanding of layouts.  Faball labeled any ball with a pin outside of that circle was as a second.

Thank you for all of the advice. I think I will pocket my money.
Getting a pearl (Blue or Red) Hammer was a bit sentimental because my grandfather gave me a blue one and bowled my highest game with that ball.

@BowlingForDonuts - I looked up that Purple Hammer on bowlingball.com and it has a perfect score of 142.9. My current ball I am rolling is the Burgundy Hammer which has perfect score rating of 128.7. The purple is listed for dry lanes while the burgundy is supposed to be for medium-heavy oil.
I am having trouble keeping the burgundy on the dry lanes I bowl on for league.

So I am confused. I thought as the perfect rating went up, the more the ball is supposed to hook. Are there other factors to help determine hook factor of a bowling ball? Am I missing something?

Thank you for input.

Thank you for all of the advice. I think I will pocket my money.
Getting a pearl (Blue or Red) Hammer was a bit sentimental because my grandfather gave me a blue one and bowled my highest game with that ball.

@BowlingForDonuts - I looked up that Purple Hammer on bowlingball.com and it has a perfect score of 142.9. My current ball I am rolling is the Burgundy Hammer which has perfect score rating of 128.7. The purple is listed for dry lanes while the burgundy is supposed to be for medium-heavy oil.
I am having trouble keeping the burgundy on the dry lanes I bowl on for league.

So I am confused. I thought as the perfect rating went up, the more the ball is supposed to hook. Are there other factors to help determine hook factor of a bowling ball? Am I missing something?

Thank you for input.

Cover.