Hammer Black Widow Solid Bowling Ball

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The Hammer Black Widow has been designed to give the bowler more length and more angle at the breakpoint than any Hammer ball to date. The Black Widow features the Gas Mask core with added flip block and Hammer's new Violent Reactive coverstock to produce excellent length, strong backend and enhanced drilling versatility for a variety of bowling styles. The Engine: The Black Widow features the asymmetric Gas Mask core design with added flip block providing a High Mass Bias rating of .014. By desigining the core shape to be a High Mass Bias ball, the Black Widow will produce strong hook motion with aggressive backend. The Tiires: Hammer's Violent Reactive coverstock will give the bowler more length and stronger move on the backend. Combining the Gas Mask core shape with added flip block and the Violent Reactive coverstock produces a strong and aggressive movement at the breakpoint. Featuring the High Mass Bias Gas Mask core with flip block and Violent Reactive coverstock, the Black Widow goes long and attacks violently on the backend. There's no lane condition out there that's safe. 16# 15# 14# 13# 12# RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF RG DIFF 2.51 .049 2.50 .060 2.49 .057 2.53 .055 2.60 .039 Mass Bias Rating High
LineBlack Widow
ColorBlack/Red
CoverstockReactive
Core2-piece Asymmetrical
RG2.50
Differential0.060
Intermediate Diffn/a
Factory finish4000 grit Abralon
Weights12 thru 16lbs
Cleared USBCYes

203 Reviews

  • PaMedic

    Posted by PaMedic on Nov 12th 2006

    This is the first Hammer ball that I have ever purchased and the ball certainly lives up to it's name. Just as the arachnid that it's named after, it strikes with a devastating result. The pin action on a pocket shot makes you think that it has eight legs that sends pins all over the place. Unlike other "Big Name" balls that I've thrown in the past, The Black Widows performance improves with each game that I throw. I'm certainly planning on buying another one just to have around as a spare. Once the Black Widow breaks YOU in, you can't help but have improved scores and averages as well as a lower handicap. If you want a better game, this is without a doubt the better ball. Way to go Hammer!

  • PaMedic

    Posted by PaMedic on Nov 12th 2006

    <p>This is the first Hammer ball that I have ever purchased and the ball certainly lives up to it&#039;s name. Just as the arachnid that it&#039;s named after, it strikes with a devastating result. The pin action on a pocket shot makes you think that it has eight legs that sends pins all over the place. Unlike other &quot;Big Name&quot; balls that I&#039;ve thrown in the past, The Black Widows performance improves with each game that I throw. I&#039;m certainly planning on buying another one just to have around as a spare. Once the Black Widow breaks YOU in, you can&#039;t help but have improved scores and averages as well as a lower handicap. If you want a better game, this is without a doubt the better ball. Way to go Hammer!</p>

  • swed

    Posted by swed on Nov 9th 2006

    I drilled mine WAY to strong.Pin on top and just to the right of ring.5" pin to PAP 4 3/4 to mb wich was placed below and just to the right of thumb.This ball looked awesome until it hit the dry.....i got 7-8" flare,right over x hole.It hit like a cold soggy pancake:) I have the feeling though,that when i get the right layout and the right lane,this ball will kick some a***.I really dont have a hundred words i want to write here so this is just to get this thing done so i can post this. :) <s

  • swed

    Posted by swed on Nov 9th 2006

    <p>I drilled mine WAY to strong.Pin on top and just to the right of ring.5&quot; pin to PAP 4 3/4 to mb wich was placed below and just to the right of thumb.This ball looked awesome until it hit the dry.....i got 7-8&quot; flare,right over x hole.It hit like a cold soggy pancake:) I have the feeling though,that when i get the right layout and the right lane,this ball will kick some a***.I really dont have a hundred words i want to write here so this is just to get this thing done so i can post this. :)</p><p>&lt;s</p>

  • aigaios

    Posted by aigaios on Nov 6th 2006

    I had it drilled up with layout #1 (pin above bridge 5 1/2" from my PAP with the mass bias to the right of the thumb and a weight hole 4" from grip center on a line through the CG). I'm a rev dominant player, so this ball suites me well the way it's drilled. It doesn't break early and hit high unless I really rip up on it without giving it more speed. Like the title says, when it hits the pins it has a venomous bite. It rarely leaves me ten pins when it it hits reasonably close to the pocket. The only condition that this ball really doesn't work on is dry. It just wants to break loose. But that's not what the ball was made for, so I can't complain. Aside from that, this is a totally kick ass ball with some major bite on the back end.<sc

  • aigaios

    Posted by aigaios on Nov 6th 2006

    <p>I had it drilled up with layout #1 (pin above bridge 5 1/2&quot; from my PAP with the mass bias to the right of the thumb and a weight hole 4&quot; from grip center on a line through the CG). I&#039;m a rev dominant player, so this ball suites me well the way it&#039;s drilled. It doesn&#039;t break early and hit high unless I really rip up on it without giving it more speed. Like the title says, when it hits the pins it has a venomous bite. It rarely leaves me ten pins when it it hits reasonably close to the pocket.</p><p></p><p>The only condition that this ball really doesn&#039;t work on is dry. It just wants to break loose. But that&#039;s not what the ball was made for, so I can&#039;t complain. Aside from that, this is a totally kick ass ball with some major bite on the back end.&lt;sc</p>

  • MikeN300

    Posted by MikeN300 on Oct 18th 2006

    I've thrown this ball in the morning when the lanes are flying and I can get into the 40 board and let it out to 10 and the ball rolls amaizing. On the house shot I get into 35 and hit 15 and strike all night. I had a 300 with it first game out of the box. The ball is very continous in the back end and doesn't roll out. Drilled the pin up between the 2 finger and the mass bias about 2" to the right of the thumb. I think an early roll drilling is way to much for a house shot. Next ball I am going to try is going to be the No Mercy

  • MikeN300

    Posted by MikeN300 on Oct 18th 2006

    <p>I&#039;ve thrown this ball in the morning when the lanes are flying and I can get into the 40 board and let it out to 10 and the ball rolls amaizing. On the house shot I get into 35 and hit 15 and strike all night. I had a 300 with it first game out of the box. The ball is very continous in the back end and doesn&#039;t roll out. Drilled the pin up between the 2 finger and the mass bias about 2&quot; to the right of the thumb. I think an early roll drilling is way to much for a house shot. Next ball I am going to try is going to be the No Mercy</p>

  • DerMetzger

    Posted by DerMetzger on Oct 12th 2006

    A friend of mine let me throw his for my league tonight. He and I are pretty much identical when it comes to bowling, so I was sure I could count on his setup to match mine. First game ended up a 244, by that time I was already sold on it, but that wasnt enough, I finished the night with a 656 series. This ball is unbeliveable and I just got done ordering one for myself. I really cannot wait till it arives here and I can get it drilled so I can REALLY put a hurting on the pins.

  • DerMetzger

    Posted by DerMetzger on Oct 12th 2006

    <p>A friend of mine let me throw his for my league tonight. He and I are pretty much identical when it comes to bowling, so I was sure I could count on his setup to match mine. First game ended up a 244, by that time I was already sold on it, but that wasnt enough, I finished the night with a 656 series. This ball is unbeliveable and I just got done ordering one for myself. I really cannot wait till it arives here and I can get it drilled so I can REALLY put a hurting on the pins.</p>

  • The Punisher

    Posted by The Punisher on Oct 12th 2006

    Strong backend reaction. Great turn to the pocket at the breakpoint! No questions about the pinaction. It is a Hammer!!!!!!!!Do not use this one on dry lanes!! It hooks too much! But this is not a dislike!!!! The ball isn`t made for dry lanes! It goes long and turns hard to the pocket. If you bowl with a softer ballspeed, be careful about the backendreaction. Sometimes the Widow turns so hard at the breakpoint, that it is difficult to handle it. But if you can handle this one it is one of the best balls if bowled with. Great pincarry. Throuw it out there it will hook back from everywhere. It is my 5th Hammer bowlinball, but not the last. Thanks to Hammer for giving us so many great balls an equipment! Greatings from Germany. Sorry for some mistakes a made!

  • The Punisher

    Posted by The Punisher on Oct 12th 2006

    <p>Strong backend reaction. Great turn to the pocket at the breakpoint! No questions about the pinaction. It is a Hammer!!!!!!!!Do not use this one on dry lanes!! It hooks too much! But this is not a dislike!!!! The ball isn`t made for dry lanes! It goes long and turns hard to the pocket. If you bowl with a softer ballspeed, be careful about the backendreaction. Sometimes the Widow turns so hard at the breakpoint, that it is difficult to handle it. But if you can handle this one it is one of the best balls if bowled with. Great pincarry. Throuw it out there it will hook back from everywhere. </p><p>It is my 5th Hammer bowlinball, but not the last. Thanks to Hammer for giving us so many great balls an equipment! Greatings from Germany. Sorry for some mistakes a made!</p>

  • lytrel

    Posted by lytrel on Oct 3rd 2006

    Other than aesthetics, the ball is great but because of it being black you notice every spot, and the coverstock it picks up nearly every piece of dirt off of the lane. Which by saying that, would be the only dislike because it would defeinitely change my ball reaction. So you HAVE to make sure you clean the ball after every use. It is lovely additon to my arsenal though, it actually boost my confindence knowing if all else fails the BLACK WIDOW will do its job (Except for really dry, depending on how you have it drilled) ... Great job HAMMER.. It' s nice to buy a ball because of what a company says it does.... And it DOES!!!

  • lytrel

    Posted by lytrel on Oct 3rd 2006

    <p>Other than aesthetics, the ball is great but because of it being black you notice every spot, and the coverstock it picks up nearly every piece of dirt off of the lane. Which by saying that, would be the only dislike because it would defeinitely change my ball reaction. So you HAVE to make sure you clean the ball after every use.</p><p></p><p>It is lovely additon to my arsenal though, it actually boost my confindence knowing if all else fails the BLACK WIDOW will do its job (Except for really dry, depending on how you have it drilled) ... Great job HAMMER.. It&#039; s nice to buy a ball because of what a company says it does.... And it DOES!!!</p>

  • Turn&burn

    Posted by Turn&burn on Sep 25th 2006

    This is a very good ball for lighter patterns and 2nd shift bowlers. You can get great length even when the heads start to go and the true skid/flip reaction retains power at the pins. The core / cover combo can be problematic in a true carrydown situations due to the strong asymetric core and moderately weak cover. This is a great performer on the standard house shot and is pretty versatile for the tweener - crankers can get good hold and recovery as long as they bump the dry down the lane. Touch it too soon and ball rolls out losing energy and carry. Since most (not all) down & in strokers play outside 5, this ball will start in too quickly out in the dry and hit like a pillow. Find oil down the lane to get some hold and ball will do as advertised.

  • Turn&burn

    Posted by Turn&burn on Sep 25th 2006

    <p>This is a very good ball for lighter patterns and 2nd shift bowlers. You can get great length even when the heads start to go and the true skid/flip reaction retains power at the pins. The core / cover combo can be problematic in a true carrydown situations due to the strong asymetric core and moderately weak cover. This is a great performer on the standard house shot and is pretty versatile for the tweener - crankers can get good hold and recovery as long as they bump the dry down the lane. Touch it too soon and ball rolls out losing energy and carry. Since most (not all) down &amp; in strokers play outside 5, this ball will start in too quickly out in the dry and hit like a pillow. Find oil down the lane to get some hold and ball will do as advertised.</p>

  • kingie

    Posted by kingie on Sep 20th 2006

    Well I used my Widow first time at practice. 153 for a 162 average bowler. I really needed to concentrate on my line and speed too. The backend if dry is just like turning the lane on its axis to being vertical. This ball is just what I've been looking for. It's my first real reactive ball I've owned. And most likely be the last for quite awhile - it does what I need and more. I plan on this ball taking me from 160 to 200 average by the start of next season (Feb07). I would recommend that you practice hard before league play with Hammer's Black Widow!!!

  • kingie

    Posted by kingie on Sep 20th 2006

    <p>Well I used my Widow first time at practice. 153 for a 162 average bowler. I really needed to concentrate on my line and speed too. The backend if dry is just like turning the lane on its axis to being vertical. This ball is just what I&#039;ve been looking for. It&#039;s my first real reactive ball I&#039;ve owned. And most likely be the last for quite awhile - it does what I need and more. I plan on this ball taking me from 160 to 200 average by the start of next season (Feb07). I would recommend that you practice hard before league play with Hammer&#039;s Black Widow!!!</p>

  • Matt Coffelt

    Posted by Matt Coffelt on Sep 18th 2006

    After reading the Hammer message boards and after some discussion with Brian Graham from Ebonite. I decided to go with the skid \ flip layout. Pin is just above the fingers 5" from my PAP and the MB is at 45 degrees. Very large weight hole was needed on the centerline since the ball I recieved had 4 oz of top weight. I am a High Track bowler who used to be a cranker, but since a wrist injury a few years ago i lost alot of speed but maintain alot of hand. Out of the box finish I was very disappointed in this layout. the ball hooked very very early and made a constant movement left. no matter how far left I got , how hard i threw it, the ball got to the midlane and started moving left . Solution.... Polish it. After some polish I saw the reaction i was looking for, The ball got WAY down the lane and made the Sharp Angle break I was looking for. The carry was execellent, My house is known for very few messenger pins, and I was sending them all over the place.

  • Matt Coffelt

    Posted by Matt Coffelt on Sep 18th 2006

    <p>After reading the Hammer message boards and after some discussion with Brian Graham from Ebonite. I decided to go with the skid \ flip layout. Pin is just above the fingers 5&quot; from my PAP and the MB is at 45 degrees. Very large weight hole was needed on the centerline since the ball I recieved had 4 oz of top weight.</p><p></p><p>I am a High Track bowler who used to be a cranker, but since a wrist injury a few years ago i lost alot of speed but maintain alot of hand. </p><p></p><p>Out of the box finish I was very disappointed in this layout. the ball hooked very very early and made a constant movement left. no matter how far left I got , how hard i threw it, the ball got to the midlane and started moving left . </p><p></p><p>Solution.... Polish it. </p><p></p><p>After some polish I saw the reaction i was looking for, The ball got WAY down the lane and made the Sharp Angle break I was looking for. The carry was execellent, My house is known for very few messenger pins, and I was sending them all over the place.</p>

  • The Jackhammer

    Posted by The Jackhammer on Sep 11th 2006

    I had mine drilled for skid/flip (recommended layout #1), with the pin above the fingers, and the HMB kicked out. The first time I threw it, it went so late that I thought it would skid past the head pin, but it flipped and crossed over for brooklyn. It has incredible hitting power, but like any really aggressive ball leaves plenty of 9-pins (carries the rest for the most part). After bowling a few games to get used to it, the reaction was so incredible to see that I couldn't believe that it was me rolling a ball like that. It is amazing to throw and incredible to watch. There is no other ball that I have ever seen with length and backend like this. It's almost too good to be true. If you can get it to the pocket, it has superior carry, crushing the pins and sending them flying in every direction, knocking down any that may be waiting for a messenger. I sometimes stuggle with throwing consistent revs and ball speed, so when I circle the ball a little bit, or baby it, it will bi

  • The Jackhammer

    Posted by The Jackhammer on Sep 11th 2006

    <p>I had mine drilled for skid/flip (recommended layout #1), with the pin above the fingers, and the HMB kicked out. The first time I threw it, it went so late that I thought it would skid past the head pin, but it flipped and crossed over for brooklyn. It has incredible hitting power, but like any really aggressive ball leaves plenty of 9-pins (carries the rest for the most part). After bowling a few games to get used to it, the reaction was so incredible to see that I couldn&#039;t believe that it was me rolling a ball like that. It is amazing to throw and incredible to watch. There is no other ball that I have ever seen with length and backend like this. It&#039;s almost too good to be true. If you can get it to the pocket, it has superior carry, crushing the pins and sending them flying in every direction, knocking down any that may be waiting for a messenger. I sometimes stuggle with throwing consistent revs and ball speed, so when I circle the ball a little bit, or baby it, it will bi</p>

  • trav

    Posted by trav on Sep 10th 2006

    if you want a ball to go coast to coast with, this is it. this ball is very strong on the backend. this is very versatile also. i have played deep (35 and deeper with no problem) and i have also been outside of second arrow. if you grab this one a little too much at the bottom it will definately tell you at the breakpoint. i have a little bit of high track but this ball just tilts anyways. this ball has great hitting power too. if i hit in the half pocket zone, this ball will just throw pins everywere. messenger city...... best hammer i've ever thrown in my life. if you have really high ball speed i wouldn't suggest this one cause u might get over/under. but for those of us with high tracks looking for some hitting power and pop on the backend this is my #1 recomendation. i wouldnt call this one a monster hooker cause it doesn't have a strong midlane roll, it completely ignores the heads (in box condition). this ball is all about the backend. this ball should perform wonderfully on any

  • trav

    Posted by trav on Sep 10th 2006

    <p>if you want a ball to go coast to coast with, this is it. this ball is very strong on the backend. this is very versatile also. i have played deep (35 and deeper with no problem) and i have also been outside of second arrow. if you grab this one a little too much at the bottom it will definately tell you at the breakpoint. i have a little bit of high track but this ball just tilts anyways. this ball has great hitting power too. if i hit in the half pocket zone, this ball will just throw pins everywere. messenger city...... best hammer i&#039;ve ever thrown in my life. if you have really high ball speed i wouldn&#039;t suggest this one cause u might get over/under. but for those of us with high tracks looking for some hitting power and pop on the backend this is my #1 recomendation. i wouldnt call this one a monster hooker cause it doesn&#039;t have a strong midlane roll, it completely ignores the heads (in box condition). this ball is all about the backend. this ball should perform wonderfully on any</p>

  • bowlinu

    Posted by bowlinu on Sep 2nd 2006

    i dont know yet cause i dont throw mine that much i threw it like twice and i dont know if i like it but they say that is suppose to go a lil longer than the big rig and i do like the big rig. but i am goin to throw it this weekend in tennessee so i might like it. it might go on the arsenal. hammer is the company this year and im goin to stay wit ebonite too. i like the color of it. it looks like its black. it has a little bit of red in it really it looks like the big rig

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