Author Topic: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls (Read 3074 times)

Doug Sterner · « **on:** August 23, 2008, 06:12:28 AM »

I have been reading a lot of posts in this forum of late dealing with the need to scuff the new Hammer balls to make them work on medium house conditions.

I have had some issues with the "factory finish" on Hammer products in particular needing a break in period before they started reacting consistently.

Has anyone else noticed this? It seems to me that this problem has surfaced mainly since they started selling the Abralon pads. My guess is that they are making the under-polish finish is too smooth for most people to use effectively.

If I am not the only one, then why hasn't Ebonite done anything about it?

I swear for every person I hear having a positive experience with a polished Ebonite ball OOB I hear 5 people saying they needed to alter the ball to make it work. Any ideas? What am I missing here?

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Doug Sterner
Doug''s Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling

Dan Belcher · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2008, 02:15:10 PM »

Pretty much every single ball Ebonite and Hammer release anymore comes at 4000 PLUS polish. While the highly polished finish is good for shelf appeal, it also gives people that big backend skid/snap on the medium lane conditions most house bowlers see. They know that the more experienced guys will alter the finish and actually use the balls as intended.

SVstar34 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2008, 02:28:50 PM »

I haven't had a problem with the Ebonite and Ebonite brand balls I have thrown, they react right away for me. I threw a Psycho after it had just been drilled and it did what the layout called for.
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My Arsenal:
Twisted Fury
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Blue Vibe

azguy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2008, 02:28:51 PM »

I don't remember selling a Hammer, in the past 2 years, that I didn't change the cover to 2000 or 1000 for the customer before they ever walked out the door. I know my customers and they also saw the changes in the covers. None of them like the 4000 finish so I just take the change before they ever throw them.

Only had one come back and want a touch of polish on it, the rest all like the 1000 or 2000 over the factory finish. Not knocking the balls, just none cared for the OOB finish.

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az guy aka: R & L Bowlers Pro
rlbowlerspro@cox.net

charlest · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2008, 02:29:03 PM »

Doug,

Are you referring ONLY to the premium lines, like the Black Widow and Psycho, or also to the Vibe line?

FYI My Blue Vibe seemed fine out of the box. No need to scuff it or bowl ~20 games with it.
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."
Unofficial Ballreviews.com FAQ

keeones23 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2008, 02:50:20 PM »

Everything I throw gets the 4k treatment. No need for the polish.
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No more excuses, Just
Shut your mouth and "F"ing BOWL

streamline · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2008, 03:37:09 PM »

A lot of the hammer balls that I have had/have I tend to go to 2k abralon and then apply factory finish before I throw it, that or I hit it the box surface with a slightly worn 4k pad to knock the luster down a bit.

I have noticed in my area this is the case for most lower rev guys and/or higher ball speed guys.

I have however found the Vibe line great in box finish as well as the Doom.

Fatboy8 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2008, 04:15:08 PM »

My buddy who runs our center talked to a very reliable source, and they said:

"the balls come out shiney, for shelf and appearance appeal, most people will need to adjust the surface for their needs". The Ebonite NVS was one of his points on this too.

So, for marketing, a bright shiney ball appeals to more people, than one of a duller surface. All about sales and appeal.
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Nothing Hit's Like A Hammer

surface_solutions · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2008, 05:53:44 PM »

I read in BTM that no matter what brand of ball you buy, you can never duplicate the OOB finish...with that said take the time to alter the cover before you ever even throw the ball. AZGUY has it all going on in that regard.

Bottom line, take the money you would have spent on a couple new balls, buy a spinner, abralon (or taxi) pads, and some polishes and change the cover before holes are even put in the ball.

Must of us true hammer heads aren't buying the next Widow because of the way it shines on the shelf.

Doug Sterner · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2008, 08:05:04 PM »

Thanks for the replies guys. Most of you have confirmed my suspicions.

As a pro shop guy though I have a problem convincing my customers to let me sand that bright, shiny new ball they just paid a lot of money for.

I used to do just what AZ Guy suggested with the older Storm stuff. I hit EVRYTHING with 1000 grit paper and then polished if the person wanted a "pretty" ball. Now with the Abralon pads it's even easier...now if we could just get 800 and 1500 grit Abralon pads :-(

I agree the Doom and Vibes worked great out of the box for some reason...the Widows killed me though.
--------------------
Doug Sterner
Doug's Pro Shop
Owego, NY
http://dougsproshop@aol.com
www.dougsproshop.net
Lane 1 Buzzsaw...The Official Power Tool Of Bowling

Author Topic: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls (Read 3074 times)

Doug Sterner

Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

Dan Belcher

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

SVstar34

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

azguy

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

charlest

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

keeones23

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

streamline

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

Fatboy8

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

surface_solutions

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls

Doug Sterner

Re: Polished Finish On Hammer Balls