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Author Topic: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it  (Read 2610 times)

REVOLUTIONS PS

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Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« on: October 17, 2004, 03:57:06 AM »
I have noticed several times all over the net that whenever sites list their "best sellers" or "most reviewed balls" Ebonite and Hammer almost never are listed anywhere in the top 15 or so.

I have felt that their cover stocks have durability issues more often than any of the other companies.  Could I have been right and now it's catching up with them?  

What are your thoughts?
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LuckyLefty

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2004, 12:44:33 PM »
Boy,  

I haven't found that.  I have always found Ebonite coverstocks to be weaker or cleaner than others.

In some parts of the country that is a deficit and on the left I LOVE Brunswick.

Whene I am now I am starting to love my Ebonites.  I'm using a Vortex 2 pearl and loving it and have another one coming on Trade.

REgards,

LUckylefty

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MSC2471

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2004, 01:04:54 PM »
I guess you can ask Goof1073 about the condition of my Ebonite V2 Particle when I turned it in, the coverstock took a beating through the 2 plus years I had the ball, even though I cleaned it every set.

I liked the look of some of the Hammer equipment, but as others have discussed I think you need to take the shine off most of their balls to get the desired reaction on the conditions you bowl on.

Most of the people I see around my area throw Brunswick, Storm, Track and Columbia, along with the occasional offering in the Ebonite, Hammer and Lane 1 categories...

Matt
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REVOLUTIONS PS

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2004, 02:11:37 PM »
I found that the cover stocks on many of the Ebonite balls in particular just lost their reaction much faster than other equipment I was throwing at the same time.  Predator, Apex, Matrix Dominator and on and on...I still have my Navy Stinger and had no such problem but that is an exception.
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seadrive

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2004, 02:35:54 PM »
RPS, didn't you tell me once that Ebonite's coverstocks are very thin, compared to other companies' balls?  Do you think that's the reason they seem to lose their reactions so quickly?
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REVOLUTIONS PS

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2004, 02:55:13 PM »
Wow, you have a great memory.  That was my initial theory but when I looked into it all the companies seemed to agree that oil doesn't penetrate the shell more that 1/16th of an inch.  I have to accept that, since I have no information that proves otherwise but whatever the reason, those Ebonite balls were losing reaction faster than Storm, Columbia, Brunswick, Track and others.
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Steven

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2004, 03:17:56 PM »
RevPS: I know we've had this Ebonite longevity discussion in the past, and I'm still perplexed with the "death" some have experienced.

I have an Apex Intensity, Predator Jungle Green and a Savage Solid that are all used regularly, and none of which show noticeable loss in reaction. And I alter the respective covers regularly for fine tuning.

Like you, I have a Navy Stinger that probably will never die.

Out of curiosity, about how long is it before you regularly see loss of reaction in Ebonite balls?
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REVOLUTIONS PS

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2004, 06:27:07 PM »
Steven,

    I know you and I talked and you didn't seem to agree.  I can't explain why that would be but I can tell you that (apart from perhaps you) no one takes better care of their equipment than I do.  That said, it didn't help my Dominators and others from losing their reaction and carry after a modest number of games, nor does it change the fact that "hook again" didn't do a thing to revive the test balls I did.  

    What I was looking for here was to see if in fact there were people here who agreed and perhaps that has lead to the perceived drop in popularity for the company.  We shall see...
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intergalactic

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2004, 06:32:56 PM »
My warrior I have had for 2 years now and it never dies! I never cleaned it or payed any attention to it the first year I got it. The pin is cracked the grips are falling apart but man I love it so much.
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kingpin268

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2004, 07:15:29 PM »
Only recently have i tried Brunswick equipment, before i used only ebonite (only 4 balls). My V2 sanded i think has died and now a good medium light oil. soaking never helped. i was looking for a good particle ball, apex obsession in mind. anybody thrown it? i was wondering how fast or slow this ball died. i'm only 14 and cant afford to buy a new ball every couple of weeks. the diesel particle was my other choice, and was trying to find the same information (time before it died) and ability to play in carrydown.
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StormRoto

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2004, 07:16:49 PM »
Try the new Real Deal and Saw Blade Froma Hammer with the new Particle Pearl Coverstocks they match up better with the cores and are really great balls.


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Maelstrom

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2004, 07:29:46 PM »
I think the reason is that ebonite/hammer hasn't made any breakthough material or anything that stands out from the rest. Like track has thier morpheus cores, and now the highly popular rev-lever in the rule, storm has the RAD core, which had proven to be extremely popular, brunswick has thier activator cover, legends now has thier diamond particle which is getting them some attention, and so on. I just don't think that ebonite/hammer has had anything like this in the last few years or so...
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da Shiv

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2004, 10:18:19 PM »
I see lots of Diesels and Blades, but the popularity of the Ebonite brand balls seems to me to have taken a dive.  I like Hammers and have success with them, but I haven't used a ball with the Ebonite name on it for awhile.

I have no durability issues with Hammmers, but I am an obsessive ball cleaner.  I do my whole regimen after every set of games.  They don't have time to die.

I know that it's the less popular position to take, but it seems to me that the various ball companies have a noticeable ball reaction philosophy, and that philosophy is noticeable to some extent in all of their products.  I don't want to get into an argument about that--or hijack this thread--so I won't get into my opinion about what those philosophies are other than to say that it seems to me that Hammer in particular and Ebonite to a somewhat lesser extent are more about midlane control than about backend reaction.  A lot of bowlers like to see that big back end move, and some other companies are more likely to give it to them than Hammer and Ebonite.

Shiv
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sheppy335

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2004, 08:58:35 AM »
I use all Ebonites and have only had one get weak on me and it was my fault for not taken care of it. I clean mine and they never have problems and all my balls are atleast 1 years or older. I think with so many balls out there it is hard to get in the list and you have to remember that is for this website. pleae let me know if i am wrong with that one! But one thing i think Ebonite does wrong with come out with news ball all the time.
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Oil is served Best with fingers!
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Goof1073

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Re: Ebonite and Hammer Popularity...or lack of it
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2004, 11:36:32 AM »
quote:
I guess you can ask Goof1073 about the condition of my Ebonite V2 Particle when I turned it in, the coverstock took a beating through the 2 plus years I had the ball, even though I cleaned it every set.
Yup...Matt's V2P was pretty tracked out when he finally retired it with us for a Track Animal that he brought in.

I think the popularity of one company over another is a very hard thing to predict as you move from one area to another.  I was talking recently with one of the Hammer Staffers that I know about "the deal."  From what he said the ball just didn't match up well with the bowlers in the south, etc. but on the older wood surfaces here in the north east the ball was just killer.  He and the other Hammer Staffer I know both love the deal and the big block diesel.  

In my area there are more Storm balls being thrown than anything.  We held a hammer demo day end of last season and have since been able to get some more exposure for hammer in our area.  Ebonite continues to be a good seller for us...probably third best in sales.  

As far as the longevity issue is concerned I will admit that my original V2 has lost a good amount of its initial reaction.  I have cleaned the ball and put it through a few hook again treatments though.  The ball continues to be one of my favorites even with the deminished hook potential.
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