This came in an email blast, on their FB page, and their website.


Not much to really show on it yet, outside of some great witty banter, but it looks okay.

Semtex Hybrid CFI cover - same as the Gauntlet, yet at the same finish as the Scandal
Scandal Core - symmetric
9/9.75/8.75 FCC rating - slightly weaker in the cover than the 9/10/8.75 on the original Scandal

Other than that, could be a well rounded hybrid symmetric ball. But I wonder if it is a bit too late. They already retired both Scandal and Scandal Pearl, so I don't know if it really has a place except to just round out the Solid/Hybrid/Pearl line for the Scandal.

Obviously in the overseas releases, this gets lost, but here in the US, it does round out the product line. They placed it in the HP line as well, which makes sense, but there doesn't seem to be much need for this with the Rip'D being new and the Gauntlet still in production, outside of being a symmetric ball versus asymmetric.

Thoughts?

BL.

Not including balls that are just a different color,

Hammer has 22 balls in their lineup currently
Ebonite 17
Track 11
Columbia 11

great balls of fire!

Many competitive bowlers I've talked to tell me that the Fierce Phobia is relatively close to a GB3, just not as versatile.

I don't understand the reasoning for it especially with the success of the Guantlet Fury and both Rip'D. My only guess would be the Fierce Phobia not selling well.

Not including balls that are just a different color,

Hammer has 22 balls in their lineup currently
Ebonite 17
Track 11
Columbia 11

That's... a lot.

Even though the numbers are similar, the Scandal/S is more ball.
I would guestimate its a step up piece from the Fierce Phobia
I have been repeatedly told that the numbers don't mean as much anymore as they used to, you don't get the whole story from just the numbers.
Cover technology is where the opportunity to make advances is coming from.
With a focus of "where" in the midlane the ball will read
1' either way is a big deal in the world of ball motion, especially if they are trying to get it to read in the oil

As mentioned it give you a HP symmetric core ball to go with all the asymmetrics offered by them and every other manufacturer.  Typically more condition, driller, bowler friendly.  Brunswick did this years ago with the Inferno line and Hammer seems to be the first to come back with that using the Bad series through the Scandals.