Faball Blue Hammer Bowling Ball

I bought this ball from a bar that was closing down it is an extremely consistent and functioning ball. This is by far the best ball I own. It fits how I bowl perfectly and is always consistent. The Blue Hammer is the best ball ever made in my opinion.

This is another ball that I'm glad that I've not gotten rid of over the years. A good bowling ball still has some functionality and use over time. It's a matter of finding out when and where it can be used. The Blue Hammer was a dominant ball for a brief period just before reactive resin balls came into vogue. Its numbers (2.51 RG, .020 differential) have withstood time and are just now being duplicated with symmetric pieces (as of this writing in 2014) that are being introduced into the market. Again, this ball still has great carry ability. Pins can and do scatter, but they are kept low.

THIS REVIEW WILL ONLY BE FOCUSED ON SHORT SPORT PATTERNS, NO HOUSE PATTERNS Info: medium-fast ball speed 400-450 RPM Medium-high track Medium-low tilt I drilled this ball 4 years ago, as my first urethane ball. Mainly to use as spare ball. My dad used it in the 90's, and I found it in our basement. As I started to play on a larger variety of conditions, I learned that this ball will definitely come in play on shorter conditions. As I play a lot of tournaments on many different conditions (mainly sport), I see many different kinds of bowling balls rolling down the lane. I have yet to try another urethane ball, but the Blue Hammer seems to hook less than modern urethans balls such as the Natural or especially The Liberator. On fresh short patterns, I need to sand my ball down to 500 just to make it hook at all. On one hand, this lets me play the extreme outside without having to neglect RPM or increase ball speed. When it comes to playing up the bords on the extreme outside line, this ball is great. It hits with impressive power aswell, I'm shooting messengers quite often. On the other hand, the Blue Hammer basically doesn't let me open up the lane one single board. I often see other players be able to move a few boards left with their modern urethane balls. It might not be much, but still enough to create a little bit of extra launch- and entry angle. The Blue Hammer doesn't let me succeed doing that at all - no matter how I lower my ball speed or crank up my revs. I feel sometimes feel like WRW Jr. As most urethane balls, it's usually rubbish after a few games. The newly sanded (you need to sand this ball before every use to make it work) cover gets worn out and a bit greasy, and the backends get oily aswell. This makes it easy to leave buckets or flat 10's. Quite usual among urethane balls. Depending on the surface and the pattern, this ball might work decently on patterns that are up to 40 feet. Just as long as there is friction to outer boards (not as in a THS), or the surface itself has a lot of friction. The final verdict: When the best game plan is to play extremely up the boards on the extreme outside of the lane, this ball is GREAT. When the shot is on the outside but not too extreme, you would benefit from having a stronger urethane ball. I mean, you could use this ball and probably do decent, but if this ball gives you 210 a more fitting urethane ball could give you 220-230. If you're playing a tournament on a short pattern and have the possibility to bring several urethane balls, I think the original Blue Hammer would be a good chioce. If you want to own only one or perhaps two, I wouldn't recommend it. Still an okay ball though! Edit 11/08/14: I recently drilled my first modern urethane ball (Natural) and compard to that ball, the Blue Hammer keeps its surface fresh way longer. It only took a couple of shots for the Natural to get greasy and shiny, while the Blue Hammer still looked fresh after a couple of games. This is probably because of the fact that the Blue Hammer doesn't flare at all, which basically means there is only one track of oil on the ball. The Blue Hammer actually hooked more than the Natural.

As expressed above, this is a great choice if one chooses to carry "only one ball." A controllable hard hitting ball that goes exactly where one throws it with a consistent, smooth, predictable arc. It serves equally well as a strike or a spare ball. According to lane conditions, it can cross-boards or be thrown down-and-in + anywhere in between. This ball will keep one close even when it is not the ideal and/or first choice for the conditions. However, in order to use this ball effectively, one must be able to control and vary speed. This is perhaps one of the most versatile, hard hitting balls ever made.

I GOT THIS BALL FROM MY SUMMER SCHOOL TEACHER THE OTHER DAY HE HAD IT SINCE HE WAS 13 HE SAID HE AVERAGED BETWEEN A 195 AND 200 WITH IT AND HE SAID HES TO BUSY AND GAVE ME THE BALL WE BOTH HAD THE SAME PAP AND IT WAS DRILLED CG KICKED 1 3/4 INCHES WITH PIN 1 INCH RIGHT OF RING FINGER THIS BALL STILL GRIPS THE LANE ON MEDIUM OIL AND HITS PRETTY HARD NOT THE HARDEST THING I'VE THROWN BUT STILL CARRIES MOST THINGS VERY SOILD BALL LOVE THE CLASSIC LOOK AND CORE WHICH GIVES IT A SMOOTH AS SILK ARC AND JUST BLOWS UP THE POCKET THE COVER IS ALSO VERY DURABLE AND DOESNT REALLY ABSORB THE OIL SO A TOWL IS NEEDED WITH THIS BALL

This ball is great. Great control, hook, and most of all it hits the pins like a bomb explosion. I have used this ball for many a 200. The urethane still lives in me. That is all I have to say except, I HATE THIS 100 WORD MINIMUM!!! o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Best ball I had and currently have. If you can find one I recommend it. No matter the type of house you throw at, I found myself playing practically the same line. I am not a big cranker and this ball does the job for me. I tend to sand it on a regular basis with a 320 grit, keeping the oil off. Faball definitely did the bowling industry right with this ball. This ball seems to find its way to the pocket, allowing you to recover from a bad shot if you make one. It results in a fantastic brooklyn shot if you end up throwing that bad.<scri

Update (04/26/04): Just shot 762 scratch along with a 658 and 664 for a 2084 and currently first place in Singles for the Georgia State Tournament. The lanes were wood and the shot was fairly dry. All these fools were using "newer, higher-tech, better" balls. HA! I laugh at them. Old school! I just plugged and redrilled this ball back to a left-handed lable drilling. It arced smoothly and saved its energy for the back end on a second shift condition. This will be another ball I have resurrected for drier conditions on synthetic lanes. Pin action was strong and there was no over-reaction on pulled shots. When I rolled it correctly, the ball responded excellently. First real series was 690 after switching to it six frames in. I guess a 700 would have been there if I started with it. Another plus is the it sets nicely for a spare ball on heavier conditions.

This ball is still the king of bowling balls. My wife throws a backup ball from the left gutter over the first arrow, and it explodes in the lefty pocket even though she doesn't have great ball speed. When this ball turns over, look out. I should have bought one for myself, but we all do stupid things sometimes. This is as consistent a ball on any pattern as I've ever seen. It isn't as condition specific as newer balls, and it seems to cut through oil and stay on line in dry. This ball is the answer to the trivia question: What's the best bowling development to come out of St. Louis, Missouri? In this city, that's saying something.

I haven't thrown this ball in years, but I feel compelled to give it the review it deserved through the 5 years it served me well. I began bowling in the Junior Leagues in 1989 and started off with another legendary ball, the Yellow Dot. When I learned to throw a hook ball, my father (who was a retired local pro) purchased a brand spanking new Blue Hammer to replace my Yellow Dot. I was perhaps too young at the time to truly appreciate the ball for what it was... a legend... but I was more than happy about the performance it gave. With my Hammer in tow, my team won our league the last 3 years we bowled. The ball came with me when I eventually graduated the Juniors into the adult leagues, and for years after that. Oh sure, I had newer balls... bright and fancy with intimidating names, but none ever quite took the place of good ol' BLUE. I retired the ball shortly before I quit bowling my first year of college and donated it to the Goodwill... sadly. Many years later, I have beg

I bought this one in 1990, and this baby introduced me to sending a ball out and letting it come back. Before then I was a full-roller throwing a AMF Classic GL-4. I had to make a lot of adjustments after I figured out the pro shop guy didn't drill it to be a full-roller. It took about 2 or 3 weeks to get my new approach and shot timed correctly, and when that happened, my 150 days were over, and the 170s began. I got my first 200 with it after 2 months. I started carrying shots the GL-4 would leave solid. I was so happy with it I decided to take a chance on the Burgandy Hammer. Even my dad switched to Hammer that year after seeing the power my Blue Hammer had. This was probably the best urethane line ever. I wish I could find them and get a 15-pounder. It gave me 3 good years until I retired it in 1994 because there wasn't enough room for it in the bag. But I'm thinking about bringing it out of retirement to help with left-side spares.

I truly feel sorry for anyone who has never had the pleasure to throw or even never to have seen this ball thrown before. And for anyone who has thrown this ball out of the box i envy(I use my Father's old Hammer). This is the only ball i have ever owned that i have been able to get ample reaction on all lane condition i have tried. All these new companies who make these new super fancy balls should look back ,and find what made the Blue Hammer so special. And finally one has, Ebonite who has now taken over Hammer bowling put that same original Hammer core in the new Blade series. I cant wait to get my hands on one of them.

Great ball to take with you all the time. I've never gone to a tournament yet and not used it when the"newer" gear did squat. Would love to try the Burgundy. I'm looking if I can find one in the box yet. I'll need to get lucky!!!! If you've got one, hang onto it. Eventually the lane cond's may change where the older products will star to work again. Right now all that new oil makes this ball less productive. For tournaments, you can't beat it. I've never tried their other products except for the purple reactive when it first came out. Worked great on the right lanes. Too bad I left it out in the cold one night. Good Luck out there. IT"S HAMMER TIME!!!!!!!

I am very pleased with this ball like my Purple Hammer. I prefer my Purple Hammer though. Because of the fact that the Blue Hammer breaks too soon once the oil dries up. It does quite well on medium to oily lane conditions. Hits like a Hammer. Breaks through the pocket with much power. I have used other Fab products. This one along with the Purple Hammer takes the take for performance and versatility. Too bad these balls are not around anymore. I will hold on to this one as well as my Purple Hammer. Would like to try out the other Urethane Hammers from the past.

Hey everyone, I am sincerely sorry for anyone who has gone without the privilege of owning one of these gems. The Dull Blue Hammer was one of the best bowling balls ever created, period. This ball was very easy to tweak with different drillings and surface prep, it could be used on a variety of conditions, offered a very predictable and consistently strong reaction, and it hit like a truck. I still see this ball carried by many players in league play and tournaments. This is quite possible the best urethane ball that was ever produced, and it is one of the best that I've ever seen overall. If any of you get the chance to drill one of these up, do it! I had a couple of these when I was in my earlier years of bowling and did not appreciate just how awesome this ball was. I certainly wish that I still had one today. Oh well, I have 4 other balls to get me through. Anyhow, hats off to Fab, as this was probably the best Hammer ever made, (even surpassing the Crimson Sledge,