Featuring the High Mass Bias Gas Mask core with flip block and Violent Reactive coverstock, the Black Widow goes long and attacks violently on the backend. There''s no lane condition out there that''s safe.




16# 15# 14# 13# 12#
RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF
2.51 .049 2.50 .060 2.49 .057 2.53 .055 2.60 .039

I drilled the widow to compliment my NO MERCY and deceided to label stack it 1" to the right on my ring finger. The widow gets down the lane a little farther than the MERCY but makes a harder arc to the hole and works well with a little carry down or the outside burns up a little and need to bump of it. Its a great ball oob finish but i prefer mine with a touch of polish to make the break point easier to get to. Another fine carrying ball by hammer.

                                VISE AMATEUR STAFFER

Specs:
15.03lbs
2-1/4 top
3 to 4 inch pin

Layout:
Pin 5-5/16 from PAP
MB 3-5/8 from PAP
Small X-hole is 5-1/2 from Center of Span

http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blkwidowok7.jpg


The Black Widow is an awesome ball. I have to say it's Hammer's premeire ball
today. With the particular layout i have i get a skid snap reaction. On most of the patterns i have bowled on, having the ball polished worked the best. Out of the box finished which was 4000 Abralon rolled ok but seem to burn up fast. I had more of an arc reaction compared to skid snap.

Condition:
AMF Synthetic
38ft Crown Shot
7 to 7 oil, outside dry

I played anywhere from 8 and out to the gutter and the Blk Widow went long and set up nice every time. I was using more of an up the back release instead of tilt because it would seem to bite early and bounce or just go straight if i stayed in the oil all the way down. I had a few messengers which were nice to see. When the lanes started to breakdown i could either increasemy speed or move in a little to get more skid through the heads.

With this particular layout, when there is carry down or heavier up front i need to alter the surface. I plan on either getting another Widow with an earlier layout or maybe get a HZ. Overall, Hammer has made another excellent ball.

Thanks to Brian Graham for the layout suggestions and advice.

Are you kidding me? I feel like god just threw down a bowling ball to me and said " Go have a good time". I am a lefty and i had the pin placed to the left of my ring finger and the CG kicked out about 2 inches to the left with an X hole on the left side to increase flare. This ball is amazing. I was playing on medium to meadium heavy lanes with a good amount of carrydown and this ball shined. The amount of room that this ball gives you is rediculous. i could miss 4 - 5 boards and this ball had no trouble getting back to the pocket or holding the line depending on where i missed. I started standing 15 throwing out to 10 at the breakpoint and this thing came screaming to the pocket. The deeper i moved, the more impressed i was with how this ball recovered. A beautiful smooth arc to the pocket and it was lights out. Shot a 668 for the series, but mostly due to bad spare shooting. Had 14/15 strikes between last 2 games. This ball is amazing. I think i might have trouble going to sleep 2nite just thinking about it.

Honestly, I wasn't very impressed with this ball.  I can't believe all the hype this one got.  This was the most snappy/flippy ball I've ever thrown.  I can't believe terplife03's response of "smooth arc to the pocket".  This thing hits dry and just goes high or doesn't come back.  Unless you're Doug Kent throwing this ball for 100k at the masters, I don't recommend it.  It's ok, but there are just so many better balls out there on the market.
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Wow, Brad, I wish I could bowl like you.- Matt Holmes

I was using the TORNADO ball from Ebonite and i have to say that it is quite a good ball. my average with the Tornado was 180.... That was until i got myself a HAMMER BLACK WIDOW.....On my first game alone i scored a high of 224. The Black Widow is just EVIL... even if you miss the arrow, somehow it still manage to find its way to hit the pins right in the pocket...If a novice like me can hit the 220 mark, i wonder what the pro bowlers can achieve. The possibilities are just endless...True to the motto, NOTHING HITS LIKE A HAMMER.

Managed a 1343 in a 6 game series.

Ball Spec's
Ball Weight-16#
Pin Length-2 3/4"

Drill Pattern
Layout #01-
60˚ layout Pin placement is 5" from the PAP,located below the ring
finger. Mass Bias placement is 3.25" right of the centerline, below and
to the right of the thumb hole. It's similar to the #2 (All Purpose)
drilling on the Black Widow drilling sheet. No X hole.

Layout #02-
75˚ layout Pin placement is 3.25" from the PAP,located above and right
of the ring finger. Mass Bias placement is 1.25" right of the
centerline, below and to the right of the thumb hole. It's similar to
the #4 (Smooth Arc) drilling on the Black Widow drilling sheet. No X
hole.

Bowler Style
RH, Medium Rev's, High Track, speed 17-18 mph.
PAP is 5 7/8' x 5/8"up using standard grip layout.
 
Surface prep.
O.O.B. 4000 Abralon, Also 500 Abralon.  

Lane condition
Brunswick Pro Anvil lanes
41' Pattern (Fresh)
Mendes Synthetics
THS Pattern (not fresh but some oil still in middle)

Ball with Layout #01 Review
This was the wrong layout for me on the Black Widow.  With my high track
this drilling caused me to track over the finger and thumb hole
regardless to how I released it. This happened to me once before with a
MoRich Labyrinth and a similar drilling on it. All most no reaction with
the ball on wet or dry condition. Very little flare about 1"-2". Like
the Labyrinth this ball needs to be drilled with allot of regard for the
pin safe zones if you have a high track! Follow the drilling sheet.

Ball with Layout #02 Review
Now this layout is a vast improvement all around! The ball no longer
tracks over the finger and thumb holes. The track area has moved to
about 1"+ away from the the holes. The amount of flare has increased
also to around 4". The balls reaction for me has been a strong arc to a
banana shape depending on condition. With strong continuation thru the
pins and good deflection. Lane play was- Feet at 20-24 playing zones 1 &
2 around the breakpoint. The Black widow fits in between my Track Emb
(Emb is a Particle earlier movement , but less hook) and my Nitro/R2 (
which has more length and not as strong looking as the widow).

Opinion
I agree with the rest this is a great ball and if used on higher oil
patterns, it needs more surface than the O.O.B. finish. I think this a
great Tweeners & strokers ball and they would get the best use of it.

Also maintain the ball surface grit and Clean it after each set. I would
recommend a good deep cleaner something like Clean-n-Dull or Hook-it.
This is to help the life of the ball.

Layout: my favorite, pin above ring finger, MB at about 30* X-hole on axis pt.
This is very smooth but strong.  Very predictable through the mids with a pin crushing curve on the back.
WORD OF CAUTION.....this ball MUST be cleaned regularly.  If not cleaned, it will shine up and lose it's hook.
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istrike300
Nothing hits like a Hammer!