BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Hammer => Topic started by: bowlingnut76 on May 16, 2013, 08:34:10 AM
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Is this ball weaker then the nail and vibe series balls.....?
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While it handles the same range of oil conditions, it does it in quite a different manner. One of the measures of ball strength (but not the only one) is the amount of backend. By that measurement, the Low Flare is "weaker", but I wouldn't call it a weak ball. It would be consider a true control ball, in general, while the Nail and the current set of Vibes are more backend strength balls.
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Like the iq tours?
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Like the iq tours?
The IQ tours are a lot stronger than the Low Flare because of the coverstock. I would not say they are the same type of ball at all. I'd suggest that the IQ Tour Pearl is a full notch stronger, in general, with the stock surface, than the Low Flare. Keep in mind that house oil patterns disguise the differences between balls to a large degree.
As near as I can tell, the IQ Tour Pearl handles medium oil and more, for the average ball speed, average rev rate bowler. The Low Flare handles medium-light to as much as medium oil, for the same bowler.
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I also thought that the iq tour pearl was a flippy ball. No?
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I would compare the low flare to the pursuit(s)
the low flare is stronger than i thought it would be, however, it is way more of a control piece with the clean n sheen on it.
I took it to 2000 by hand during practice for the NATS team pattern and it was still controllable and smooth, but with some more teeth
very under rated piece IMO
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ask plowboy he is your man for hammer questions.
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Bowlingnut... In regards to your question, the ALF is a different motion than the Nail & Vibe series, which are more angular down the lane. The cover stock on the ALF is the same hybrid cover as the Arson Hybrid, but with a low DIF, this ball will not change direction as fast when it hits the friction... Very smooth backend continous motion. The ALF is designed for the medium to medium lighter patterns & The cover stock is very easily tunable to help give it more length or more hook if needed. I have drilled 4 of these with various drill patterns & this ball is so smooth in the backends for me. Have 2 at box surface with stronger drill positions & 2 with weaker surfaces for the extreme burn/dry patterns that I bowl on. You will definitely enjoy this ball for the flatter patterns or for the patterns with extreme wet/dry reactions.
Hope this helps answer your question & please feel free to ask me anything else on the Hammer brand!
- Mike
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on a somewhat related note, do you know anything about a new vibe for the summer?
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Thanks plow boy answer my question.....thinking about going back to hammer in fall
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Cheech.... I have not heard anything about a Vibe in the summer, but have heard a few other goodies coming out soon (July/August).... stay tuned for more info once I receive it from the Big Boss Man...
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I haven't drilled a Nail, but have many vibes and a low flare. The Low Flare is really rough from the factory and will hook more than many would expect but it is incredibly smooth. I took mine to 4000 to calm it down a bit and it is great control ball. It doesn't jump off the spot so it will always have a spot in my bag.
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OK so would you say use it...on fresh or transition when lanes start to break down....ball is left at factory finish...no adjustments to coverstock....i don't like tinkering with my coverstocks.......now i like to throw down and in.....been looking for something smooth for a while....is this it for transition ball...
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BowlingNut... At the box surface, the ALF can be used on the fresh as well as the transition. I know a few bowlers in my area that like to use this ball on the fresh to even out the wet/dry - over/under reaction that we have in one of the local houses, then use a ball later in the set that will allow them to open up the lane in the backends after there is a little carrydown at that point.
For me... with my rev rate, I LOVE this ball so much (have 3 drilled) that I use it on a lot of various patterns that I bowl on in league & tournaments. I love the smooth reaction that I get with this ball & keep me in play for these patterns.
This ball allows you to play closer to the friction without over/under reaction that you may see with a lot of other reactive equipment. The coverstock is easily tunable and very versatile too. I hope this helps your question.
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yes it does plowboy thank you very much....i going to make this ball my next purchase...sounds like a ball I'm going to love and have in my bag for long time...
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I am going to warn you .............
you will end up drilling more than one, its that good
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Well I might if I don't like the next couple of releases...that are coming out..
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I played with mine a bit today at a local tourney. I got it used and the previous owner had the cover at a used 1000 pad. It is quite a bit stronger than I anticipated. It revs up very fast and easily, but still pushed down the lane. The backend move was strong, but not flippy. The carry was well above average.
I can see myself being able to cover just about anything with my Critical, IQ Tour solid, Arson Low Flare, and Super Natural. There's a gap between the ALF and SN that I think can be filled with my Lights Out, but it will need a plug job and different layout. I may also decide to punch another ALF with a weaker layout to fit that spot, but I want to see more of my current one first.
Don
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Just got mine puched up tonight. We decided to go with a strong layout and then play around with the surface later to see what happens.
My Pro Shop guy had never drilled one so he was interested to see how it rolled. I didn't get to many chances to roll it, but from what he and I both saw we love it. I'll say right now that I can already tell its the most predictable ball I've ever thrown, and its possible its going to be my favorite of all time.
Medium or broke down some, this thing is going to be awesome. Damn thing hits like a Hammer!
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Yuuuuuuup! This ball is soooooo good. I now have 4 of these in my arsenal for the tougher tourney patterns that I bowl on.
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Gonna get an actual chance to try them out tonight and see how it does.
I wasn't super impressed with my First Blood last night, but I'm not so sure the lane was just too burnt up. I was having serious issues getting it out across the lane and even though its drilled right handed my Pro Shop guy threw it left handed and it seemed to work better than when he threw it down the right side.
He's not to sure he likes it, but its tracking and rolling right, just wasn't reacting the way we thought. Hopefully they redid the oil today so I can find out.
I have zero doubts about the Low Flare and may get another one with a weaker drilling and change the coverstock to see if I can't throw it on even more dry. I really like the ball.
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Try adding the powerhouse clean n sheen over your current surface
it gives the ball a whole different look.
I also thought the ball was a bit stronger than advertised, but i had hit the surface by hand at a tournament.
Restoring to OBB with the clean n sheen makes it even better IMO
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So I got this ball drilled up thursday did a lil practice with it that night, and used the ball tonight in league, and then did some more practice with the ball after league..
While I bowled like dog poo in league, the ball is sneaky strong!! I mean while the ball doesnt have that huge snap on the backend, i did have a few shots that came back and really surprised me...
I will say i love the nice predictable reaction this ball gives.. It makes me wonder why a ball company didnt try doing a low flare ball years ago???
It makes me almost want to get another one drilled up for a lil bit different reaction..
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rumor has it, that the next ball using similar core technology will be a columbia eruption
should hear something this week about it.
Hearing that the testing was off the charts with it
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that would be interesting!! honestly, i was surprised at how this ball performs with it being a 500grit + polish... which probably makes it about 1500 grit lol....
it would be interesting to see this type of core in a Eruption or even a Enigma or both :)
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rumor has it, that the next ball using similar core technology will be a columbia eruption
should hear something this week about it.
Hearing that the testing was off the charts with it
As long it says "Hammer" stamped on the ball, I am all eyes on this upcoming new release. 8) If it is not.... :o
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Anyone tried one at 500 without the polish? Interested in how it changes things.
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Yes I have. OBB comes 500 + clean n sheen which is a matte polish. Adds approx 1000 grit to underlying surface
without the c&s, the ball can be sneaky strong. I have some c&s so I can duplicate the factory finish