Just drilled the Hardcore Brawl last night and I am really impressed with this ball! Used a 45 degree drilling angle with a 4 1/2 inch pin to PAP..Made no adjustments to the surface. Bowled on our house shot 40 ft on HPL lane surface.
First impressions: After fighting with the Grind for a good reaction, I was interested to see how the changes on the Brawl would show. A noticeably different bowling ball for sure. The Brawl picks up the mid-lanes very well and is pretty angular off the breakpoint for a symmetrical core ball with a strong punch. I''''m used to seeing a gentle arc which usually leads to weak hits at the pin deck for me.
Apples to Apples: Like in the HammerBowling.com video of the Brawl, compared to the Grind with a similar layout, the Brawl packs a lot more hitting power. I had to play with some different finishes on the Grind (finally getting a decent reaction at 1000 no polish), while with the Brawl, the Out of box finish was fantastic.
Surprising note: After throwing the Brawl, I started throwing some of the other Hammer equipment I have as I noticed a group of my league bowlers were watching before they headed home. Although there was a big difference in looks and motion from the Plague and Jigsaw Trap, a lot of focus was on put on the Brawl vs Grind. A lot of the group was impressed as they have been waiting for a ball to "rival the Raw Hammer Acid" which is not something I was expecting to hear. Looks like I should be able to move this ball well in my area.
Justin Buford
Cliff Barnes Pro Shop- Winston Salem, NC
http://www.cliffbarnesproshop.comNothing Hits Like A Hammer
Edited on 11/2/2010 11:27 AM