All- I have read a few posts concerning the DOOM cover and "problems" with it.
I will tell the truth....I didn't like the ball out of the box. The balls were very over/under for me, and I just didn't care for them. While bowling a sweeper along side a MWPBA regional Hammer staffer, I asked what he thought of the ball. He absolutely RAVED about it. I asked him about my situation, and he said that he had the same problem, but that he had solved it.
He cut the factory polish off with 600 paper. Then he sanded it up to whatever grit he wanted with abralon pads, and then repolished with Ebonite Factory Finish Polish. I tried it. Now the DOOM is one of the best balls Hammer has ever made IMO.
The Factory polish doesn't agree with everyone. It will work for some, but others will have to cut it off and repolish. If you are having "problems" with the ball, I would suggest trying this!!
As for dying.....I have over 40 games on each of mine, and have had no loss of reaction. I don't anticipate haveing one either. BUT, I don't clean my balls with ANY chemical solutions. The ONLY cleaner I use is Ebonite Energizer cleaner, and I use it every 10 games, maybe. I have never believed in using alcohol, simple green, print cleaner, or any other "chemical" cleaner. I have physically watched a bowler clean his new 'S' ball after 3 games with print cleaner/alcohol, and watched it die after about 40 games. Just my opinion, but I don't think that these cleaners/solvents are doing what many think they are. I think they are hurting the covers of some of the balls.
A lot of this is my opinion, but it an opinion based on many games on many balls over a 3 year span working with Hammer.
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Jason Jenkins
'05-'06 Hammer Amateur Staff
"Nothing HITS like a Hammer"