This is a review for the Raw Hammer Black Solid.
Drilled it 4.5x35 (pin over ring) as I wanted a weaker ball in my bag for when the lanes get dry and I don't want to be all the way left. I chose the Raw Solid as I wanted something with a higher rg to not rev up so early but also a medium differential and solid cover so that the ball wouldn't be so sensitive to friction as I find many balls in the lower price points to be.
On the lanes this ball gives me above average length and a medium response to friction. It does not rev up early or hit the corner hard, but has potential to cover some boards when I choose to soften up my speed and get it into the dry quickly.
The first time I used this ball was in game 4 of our challenge league on 48'. On paper this sounded like a terrible idea, but my look inside with my stronger balls wasn't good and with 3 games of people using sandpaper just left of the track I needed an option to play on top of that friction without seeing an over reaction off of the dry boards. This type of transition is becoming more common on higher length, higher volume patterns when the majority of bowlers start with such strong bowling balls. The Raw hammer gave me 240+ in back to back weeks in my 4th game on a really long pattern just by allowing me to control the pocket when camping in the track was the better play than chasing the oil in with stronger balls.
I have had some success in game 3 on our house shot, but our pattern is just a little bit too slick so with my ball speed my carry is suspect. I find that stronger balls and covers match up better for me. My best look yet was this past weekend at the end of a tournament on 36' winging it from 4th arrow outwards. The lanes had transitioned to the point where the heads were fried and traditional short pattern angles were not an option so I needed an option to get left but get the ball far enough down the lane to "play the lanes wrong". The Raw gave me more length than any pearl symmetric in my bag and was smoother off the friction than anything in my bag (other than my tanks which rolled out).
The Raw Hammer Solid fits a need in my bag which I desperately needed. This is the weakest, lowest price point ball which is in my tournament arsenal but has managed to bail me out of tricky situations time and time again. It gives me enough length to clear the heads, yet I can use my ball speed and tricks to either stay straight or generate sufficient shape from inside angles so long as this ball sees some dry boards.
The Raw Hammer Solid is the most hook potential that you will see out of the low/mid price point. It is ideal for medium/light oil and will be enough ball for bowlers with softer ball speed on most league patterns. More importantly I recommend this ball to tournament players looking for help on drier lanes. Go with your favorite layout on this ball instead of gambling on an exotic layout + polish on a midrange ball to give you more control and smoother angles on beat up patterns.
