To understand how the Black Widow Dark Legend Solid is working for me, let me first give you a little context and background:
I am a low rev (150rpm) low ball speed (14mph) Full Roller with a 90 degree axis rotation and zero tilt. I use a conventional grip with rubber inserts for the fingers and a thumb slug for the thumb.
I have historically bowled in one house that has very light oil and very high friction lane surface. Because of my zero tilt, heavy roll and slow ball speed, I am only able to use urethane or polyester in that house. So this year for league I bought a Hammer Widow Spare. I was intrigued by the Gas Mask core with its super low RG core and ultra high diff. I figured it would work perfectly in this house for my style.
I drilled up the Widow Spare with the aggressive asymmetric layout for Full Roller that uses a balance hole. I then hand wet swirl sanded the ball to 4000 grit. The Widow Spare gets about 5 inches of flare for me with this layout. I am able to ease it up second arrow and the ball will get good length and a nice smooth transition with a gentle move to the pocket. The ball rolls very heavy and provides a lot of control. My average went up 15 pins by using this ball.
So based on my success with the Gas Mask core in the Widow Spare, I bought the Black Widow Dark Legend Solid for a tournament coming up at another house that puts down a heavier volume house shot. I drilled it up the same as my Widow Spare, but without the balance hole.
I took the ball down to those lanes to practice with. Out of the box at 500/2000 skip sand, the ball was just too strong and I was having difficulty getting the ball to the pins without it crossing over. I took it to the pro shop and they put 4000 grit on it. Now I could get the ball down the lane, but it was leaping off the spot and was very hard to control. I finished that session of practice and went home scratching my head.
After some thinking I decided I needed to tune the reaction down, so I hand wet swirl sanded it to 1000 grit. I went back the next day and gave it a try. Night and day! Now the ball read the lane earlier and got up the lane without a problem and rolled soft and easy off the spot. Control was wonderful and I now had a smooth arcing shape. I was able to play up second arrow like I do with the Widow Spare on the dry lanes.
As the oil broke down I was able to just move my feet left and keep the same target. The Black Widow Dark Legend Solid hits like a bulldozer! And when it hits it makes a loud crack! The carbon fiber is really loud and different sounding. The carry is amazing. I rarely get messengers, but the Dark Legend Solid must have such a high coefficient of restitution (COR) due to the carbon fiber shell, that pins really get moving, even for me. If I hit my mark, the ball would arc in smooth and gentle and blow the rack out.
At 1000 grit the Dark Legend Solid is now a control ball that mates perfectly with my retro style. Who says the Full Roller style is dead? I am super happy with this ball and it perfectly mimics on heavy house shots, what the Widow Spare does for me on dry house shots. This is now my first ball out of the bag on heavy house shots. Again the control is amazing as is the really heavy roll and heavy hitting power. Hammer has done it again. The Gas Mask core is gold. Low rev bowlers will love this ball. This ball just wants to roll.
Post Script: I forgot to mention, I won that no tap tournament with the Dark Legend Solid!
Check out the 2016 Scorpion where Tommy Jones uses the Dark Legend Solid:
https://youtu.be/SzmWb4NEsMM?t=1666Now if only Hammer would make a urethane ball with the Gas Mask core…
Post, Post Script: Hammer listened to me and they made a urethane ball with the Gas Mask core, the Widow Urethane. I got it and it is a heavy rolling beast!
