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Author Topic: First Blood  (Read 35505 times)

Ballreviews

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First Blood
« on: January 16, 2013, 12:33:05 PM »
Ball NPS Score: 100.00
Hammer First Blood Ball Specs:
- Color: Orange/Blue/Silver All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Reaction: Skid / Flip
- Coverstock: NBT Reactive
- Core Type: First Blood
- Factory Finish: 1500 Abralon® Polish
- Radius of Gyration (RG): 2.48**
- Differential (Diff): .056**
- ** RG and Diff are based off of 15 lb. balls
- Hook Potential: High
- Length: Long
- Recommended Lane Condition: Medium Oil

Description: Ready to suck the life out of your bowling pins? This ball will leave no survivors. The Hammer First Blood introduces the new First Blood core and will give you the clean skid/flip reaction you are looking for. The NBT (Next Big Thing) coverstock will allow for the longest and sharpest backend reaction in Hammer's history. This ball cuts through the oil and will finish strong with a powerful cutting hook.
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gilsalang0925

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2013, 03:18:47 PM »
LANE CONDITION

Length:

Volume:

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc):


COMMENTS

Likes:  The ball has great length and back end is strong.  Seeing it in Bill Oneil's hands is awesome.  I can't wait to get this ball to my bowlers.  The ball is Awesome!

Dislikes:  I only had the ball in my pro shop for 20 min. The seed ball I had got sold to one of my customers. 


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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Hammerhead216

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2013, 09:11:20 PM »


Length:

Volume:

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): 43 foot house shot



Likes: Drilled this ball 60X6X45.... This ball has greatdown lane motion that can be used in league and tournament play with this layout. Very clean through the fronts with a great mid lane read. Low set with this ball since drilling is 691. Ball strikes a lot. Drilling another one soon with 70 X 4.25 X 40. Really looking forward to see what this ball motion is going to be for me.

Dislikes: NONE!! Every tournament bowler needs this ball in there bag,
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Mistabecka

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2013, 12:10:13 PM »
Layout: 60x5x40
PAP:  3 ¾ x ¾ up

Pre-Drilling Expectations:

I am anticipating the First Blood to be more aggressive compared to the Purple Taboo and have a slightly larger hook potential. I am hoping this ball will outshine the Purple Taboo and the Black Taboo. Hammer has spent a lot of money promoting this release so I hope it is solid.

Ball Appearance:

The images online accurately represent the colors of the ball in person. I enjoy the colors very much. Inserts recommendation: neon orange or blue.

My Random Thoughts (i.e. My Review):

After bowling on many different lane conditions the First Blood needs oil. On medium oil conditions and on short patterns the ball overreacts and doesn’t carry well. However, once I switched to a different set of lanes(longer pattern) the ball killed the pocket.

The ball motion of the First Blood reminds me of the Jet Black Taboo. Once it hits the breakpoint nothing will slow it down.

This ball will officially replace my Purple Taboo in my arsenal.

Over the course of 25 games I left an abnormal amount of 9 pins. I attribute this to the amount of backend and carry through the First Blood has once it hits the pocket.

I changed the out of box surface to 2000 grit abralon and found it increased my carry potential overall.

Final Thoughts

The First Blood has caused me to sell my Purple Taboo. Overall, Hammer has released a solid ball that will be around for a while. It requires some oil to use and should be avoided on shorter oil patterns. If you decide to go with the First Blood you will not be disappointed!
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SteveAustin2808

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2013, 05:41:55 PM »
Hammer First Blood
Weight: 15#
Top Weight: 3.25 oz.
Pin Placement: 3-4"

Layout:
60x5x60 (my favorite asymmetrical layout)

First Impressions:
One of the best balls I have ever thrown. Simple through the front and a lot of backend reaction down lane. The perfect blend for when the lanes a tad bit on the slicker slide for a shinier OOB surface ball.

General Thoughts:
The name alone is a reason to get excited on this release. With its tricolor effect, watching this ball roll down the lane looks really cool! It has been a long time since I have had a ball with this much explosion and pop on the backend. This ball gets through the fronts very nice and just hits the pocket at will. Although it can become too much, I have encounter using this ball moving all the way over to the left gutter cap quite a few nights in league.

Comparison/Contrast:

Versus the Taboo Deep Purple

Deep Purple rolls a lot earlier and bleeds energy quicker up front than does the First Blood. Deep Purple would work better on a more overall volume of oil though.

Versus the Taboo Jet Black

First Blood has more pop on the backend while the Jet Black gives length and is smoother down lane.

Final Conclusions:

Incredible backend reaction and just keeps going. One of Hammer's best releases definitely!

Watch my video of the Hammer First Blood by clicking the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTvQryY6jtk
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gilsalang0925

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2013, 03:37:25 PM »
LANE CONDITION

Length:

Volume: 100 Units in the middle and and 6 units on the outside.

Type:  THS


COMMENTS:  You can drill different layouts for different reaction.  The ball really hits hard.  Thanks Hammer for making a great ball! 

Likes:  I drilled 45x5 1/2x40 and this ball has great length and a strong hook stop reaction.  The ball has strong length and more of a hard arc backend. 

Dislikes:  None
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gilsalang0925

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2013, 07:56:13 PM »
LANE CONDITION

Length:  41

Volume: Medium

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes:  Heavy roll and hitting power!  Used a Motion Hole Layout for a customer going 11 1/2 inches from the pin using a 1 1/16 hole.  The balls backend reaction is continuous.  The more you swing it, the ball revs up.  If you pull the ball it holds.  I took the Motion hole from the Radical Yeti drilling pattern. 

Dislikes:  Need more oil up front.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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elvismat

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2013, 07:13:44 AM »

Length:  38 ft
Volume: Med-heavy

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes: Hitting power

Dislikes: Longer / flatter pattern


I purchased this ball, I left it box finish and it was pattern specific, it did not turn the corner for me, on fresher / longer patterns.  I had the polish taken off, this worked better for me, due to I'm more of a down in bowler, not a cranker.  The carry / mix with the pins is pretty good.

Thanks..
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Armourboy

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2013, 04:05:37 AM »
LANE CONDITION

Length: NA

Volume: Medium/ medium heavy

Type: THS


COMMENTS

Likes: Being I just had mine drilled this summer I've had to wait to finally get enough lane oil to try  it out. It gets down the lane pretty well and has a really nice backend, as long as there is enough oil this thing hits like a truck. For me at least, with the drilling I used ( #3 strong drilling), it rolls up earlier and reads the mid lane really well, and then still has enough pop on the backend to get things to fall.

Used the OOB finish

Dislikes: None found yet.

PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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Hammerbowler87

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2013, 02:16:42 PM »
Layout=30x5 1/2x50
Rev Rate=425

The first blood wasn't very good for me out of the box. It just got way to long and never really wanted to recover. So I brought it back in the shop and hit it with 2000 abralon and seen an big difference in the way the ball reacted down lane. Now it start making a sharper corner and hit like a truck. It is a ball I can throw on house shot conditions. If you are looking for something that just hooks the lane out the box go with the Cold Blood but if you like a smoother reacting ball that has a lot of punch in the pocket this is the ball for you.
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kgmach

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Re: First Blood
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2013, 11:45:07 AM »
LANE CONDITION:  many

Length: several

Volume:

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): Kegel Main Street, USBC Blue, THS etc


COMMENTS: Hammer's longest and sharpest entry in history.  The NBT (next big thing) coverstock with 1500 grit Abranet capped off with Powerhouse Factory Finish, gives this ball an easy push through the heads and saves the energy for a huge, sharp backend recovery......no matter how deep on the lane you get.  Just keep chasing the breakdown in and trust it to the right.

Likes: unbelievable recovery, trust it and wheel it!

Dislikes: No dislikes.


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS
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