Perhaps the most popular and beloved division of Ebonite International, Hammer Bowling is one of the world’s leaders in the production of hard-hitting mid-performance and high-performance bowling balls.
Hammer Bowling began with the vision of two men — Earl Widman and Johnny Wonders. Together, they created Faball Enterprises back in 1978 with hopes of becoming a name in the bowling ball and bowling equipment markets.
In 1981, the company created its first hit — a urethane ball with a claw hammer logo on the side of it. The first bowling ball with such a logo on it, sales took off after the ball was featured on a PBA tournament telecast.
The Hammer line of products officially became a thing in 1996. Six years later, Faball USA sold the rights to Hammer Bowling to Ebonite International.
Since then, Hammer’s popularity has exploded with amateur and professional bowlers alike. PBA stars such as Tom Daugherty and Bill O’Neill have worked out sponsorships with the company, along with PWBA superstar Shannon O’Keefe.
Ready to play like the pros play, creating massive back-end reactions and violent pin action on shot after shot? We’re here to help with our definitive list of the 10 Best Hammer Bowling Balls For 2021!
Top 10 Hammer Bowling Balls For 2021
10) Hammer Phobia Bowling Ball
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We start with a backend reaction monster. The Hammer Phobia Bowling Ball is a heavy hitter that glides and skids through the heads without losing energy. If you’re a bowler that likes a balance between volatility and easy lane length, the Hammer Phobia‘s pearl coverstock and symmetric core will strike fear into the hearts of medium-heavy and heavy oil patterns.
Specs
Color: Smoke/Bronze/Blue
Core: Phobia (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Semtex Pearl (Pearl Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/2000 Abralon
RG: 2.49
Differential: 0.054
Flare potential: Medium-High
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy
Pros
- This ball is a balanced offering in terms of violence and length.
- The pearl reactive coverstock offers lasting strength and reactivity.
- The Hammer Phobia uses its late volatility to create some extraordinary pin carry.
Cons
- Dry lanes need not apply. This ball wants and needs oil.
- You might be a bit taken aback by what this ball does near the pocket.
9) Hammer Scandal Pearl Bowling Ball
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On the hook scale, the Hammer Scandal Pearl Bowling Ball is in a league of its own amongst other reactive pearl offerings. Not only that, but the Scandal Pearl is also adept at skidding and flipping when lane conditions begin to deteriorate. With mid-lane stability and sharp backend kick, this ball is bound to create some controversy on league night.
Specs
Color: Green/Smoke/Gold
Core: Scandal (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Semtex Pearl CFI (Pearl Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/1000 Abralon, Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish
RG: 2.48
Differential: 0.054
Flare potential: High
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy
Pros
- The Hammer Scandal Pearl holds the middle of the lane with minimal effort required.
- Back-end sharpness is a trademark of the Hammer Scandal.
- If you want some skid/flip fun at the end of your league proceedings, this ball will do it for you.
Cons
- This ball needs oil to do its job. Keep it out of the dry.
- The pearl reactive coverstock limits this ball’s angularity on the whole.
8) Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane Bowling Ball
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What we truly adore about the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane Bowling Ball is its LED core — an evolved update of a traditional symmetrical light bulb core. If you’re looking to put modern reactive coverstocks away for a urethane cover that promotes utmost control all the way down the lane, the Purple Pearl could very well be the nail in your league opponent’s proverbial coffins.
Specs
Color: Purple
Core: LED (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Urethane Pearl
Factory Finish: 500/1000/2000 Abralon
RG: 2.61
Differential: 0.030
Recommended Lane Condition: Dry, Medium
Pros
- If you’re a control bowler with a soft hook, you can do wonders with the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane.
- Down-lane predictability is easy to achieve with this ball.
- This ball hits hard and forgives off-hits with fantastic follow-through.
Cons
- Urethane coverstocks are not made for deep oil. Keep this in the dry and medium, and stay away from the heavy stuff.
- This ball is hard to get angular at the back. It’s more about control and less about back-end unpredictability.
7) Hammer Fierce Phobia Bowling Ball
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The carbon fiber-infused coverstock of the Hammer Fierce Phobia Bowling Ball adds ample hitting power and overall durability. But, it’s really the combination of the coverstock and the Phobia core which makes all the difference. The Phobia attacks the middle of the lane with aggression and sharp backend theatrics, getting violent while staying steady. It’s truly fierce and a true standout in the Hammer oeuvre.
Specs
Color: Blue/Red/Black
Core: Phobia (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Semtex Hybrid (Hybrid Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/2000 Abralon
RG: 2.49
Differential: 0.054
Flare potential: High
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium, Medium-Heavy
Pros
- Back-end craziness is a trademark of the Hammer Fierce Phobia. This ball goes nuts through the pins.
- If you want to take control of the mid-lane with confidence, this ball is a great choice.
- The hybrid reactive coverstock turns oil into added impact with ease.
Cons
- This ball loses its punching power on dry lanes.
- The angular back-end reaction might be overwhelming and uncontrollable for some.
6) Hammer Black Widow Urethane Bowling Ball
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The Hammer Black Widow Urethane Bowling Ball is all about its old-school urethane coverstock and wild ball motion courtesy of its Gas Mask core. The Black Widow Urethane combines wild off-kilter pocket approaches with trademark mid-lane staying power, prompting booming strikes without the need for a reactive coverstock. This ball hits hard from multiple angles. It’s a proven winner.
Specs
Color: Black
Core: Gas Mask (Asymmetric)
Coverstock: Urethane
Factory Finish: 360/500/500 Abralon
RG: 2.50
Differential: 0.058
Flare potential: Medium
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
Pros
- The Hammer Black Widow Urethane simply stays on the lane to get the job done.
- Adding the Gas Mask core to this ball credits a unique blend of control and angular firepower.
- The strikes you can create when you slot this in just right are a thing of beauty.
Cons
- Urethane covers aren’t for everyone. They take time to get used to.
- This ball can get submerged in really heavy oil.
5) Hammer Web Pearl Bowling Ball
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From easy to angular in no time at all, the Hammer Web Pearl Bowling Ball is the best of all worlds. For your information, the Web Pearl can get it done on any medium-oiled lane thanks to its effortless length in the front end and angular twist at the back. Don’t be content with any old reactive pearl ball. Add the Hammer Web Pearl to your cart and get to shipping if you’re a fan of confident mid-lane reads and lots of fireworks through the pins.
Specs
Color: Black/Silver
Core: Spheroid (Symmetric)
Coverstock: GB 10.7 Reactive Pearl Aggression Pearl (Pearl Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/1000 Abralon Polish, Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish
RG: 2.48
Differential: 0.048
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
Pros
- The fantastic length of the Hammer Web Pearl will help you stay on the lane and tracked towards the pocket.
- This ball’s angular finish is a real vibe. You can do some crazy damage.
- The reactive pearl coverstock is durable yet quite aggressive.
Cons
- The angular backend finish of the Hammer Web Pearl may be a bit much for some hook novices.
- Dry lanes cause this ball to lose its touch.
4) Hammer Black Widow Pink Bowling Ball
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If pink is your favorite color or you just want a little bit of personality in your bag, the Hammer Black Widow Pink Bowling Ball is definitely for you. The Aggression Pearl CFI coverstock offers oodles of hitting power and fantastic durability when lane conditions break down. And the off-the-wall Gas Mask core is a member of the Hall of Fame in terms of our favorite asymmetric cores available right now.
Specs
Color: Pink Pearl
Core: Gas Mask (Asymmetric)
Coverstock: Aggression Pearl CFI (Pearl Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/1000 Abralon Polished, Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish
RG: 2.51
Differential: 0.048
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium, Heavy
Pros
- The pearl reactive coverstock takes a beating and keeps on trucking.
- If you want hitting power late in league play when oil conditions are questionable, the Hammer Black Widow Pink can do that for you.
- The asymmetric Gas Mask core lets you approach the pocket from a variety of creative angles.
Cons
- The Gas Mask core isn’t for everyone. It takes a lot to tame.
- While it blends wet and dry decently, it needs a fair amount of wet to do its thing.
3) Hammer Ruthless Bowling Ball
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The Hammer Ruthless Bowling Ball doesn’t apologize for its powerful hook motion and valuable predictability down the lane. The Juiced Solid coverstock combines with an updated light-bulb core for a strong, repeatable motion through the pocket and to the back wall. This ball is all about power and trusted ball movement, attacking medium-heavy and heavy oil conditions with ruthless intensity.
Specs
Color: Blue/Dark Blue/White
Core: 40 Watt (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Juiced Solid (Solid Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/1000/2000 Abralon
RG: 2.52
Differential: 0.041
Flare potential: Medium
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy
Pros
- You wanna hit hard over and over? The Hammer Ruthless kills pins dead.
- The 40 Watt light bulb core helps provide a repeatable, game-winning ball motion.
- The Juiced Solid coverstock drinks up oil and turns it into backend fury.
Cons
- This ball gets unruly in drier lane conditions.
- The Hammer Ruthless isn’t as angular as other offerings on this list.
2) Hammer Scandal/S Bowling Ball
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The Hammer Scandal/S Bowling Ball is highlighted by one of our favorite coverstocks ever released. The Semtex Hybrid CFI coverstock works in concert with the symmetric Scandal core and carbon-fiber infused outer core for unreal energy retention down the lane. The Hammer Scandal has a great backend reaction. The Hammer Scandal/S is even better when it comes to backend booms and mid-lane smarts. This Hammer bowling ball is a prime investment for players looking to make some noise in the slick stuff.
Specs
Color: Blue Solid/Blue/Red Pearl
Core: Scandal (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Semtex Hybrid CFI (Hybrid Reactive)
Factory Finish: 500/2000 Abralon
RG: 2.48
Differential: 0.054
Flare potential: High
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy, Heavy
Pros
- Blending out the wet and the dry is easy with the Hammer Scandal/S.
- Energy retention is the star of the show here. The violent reactions you’ll get on the back end will surprise you.
- This ball controls the middle of the lane without being too predictable.
Cons
- If the lane is too dry altogether, this ball will go a bit sideways on you.
- Those looking for a little more predictability on the back end might want to look elsewhere.
1) Hammer Diesel Heavy Duty Bowling Ball
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When it comes to bang for your buck, the Hammer Diesel Heavy Duty Bowling Ball checks all the boxes and satisfies all the categories for serious bowlers. This ball is all about strength — strength through the fronts, strength down the lane, and booming power through the pins. The Diesel symmetric core mows down pins like a runaway Mack truck. It’ll mean great things for your scores once you get on track towards the pocket.
Specs
Color: Black/Orange
Core: Diesel (Symmetric)
Coverstock: Juiced Hybrid (Reactive Hybrid)
Factory Finish: 500/1000 Abralon Polished, Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish
RG: 2.51
Differential: 0.046
Flare potential: High
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
Pros
- The Diesel symmetric core was a fan favorite in earlier Hammer bowling balls. It’s easy to see why.
- Pin carry is a huge plus with the Hammer Diesel Heavy Duty. This ball hits strong and causes some damage.
- Mid-lane control is a thing of beauty with this one.
Cons
- It’s not the most angular backend reaction out there. It’s more dependable than volatile in that way.
- It loses a little bit of efficacy in deeper oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hammer a good bowling ball?
Yes! No matter what oil conditions you face at a giving bowling alley, the Hammer brand name is worth your trust and hard-earned money. With strong backend reactions, dependable yet powerful ball motion, and some of the best materials in the bowling ball market right now, Hammer has you covered.
And for those looking for quality bowling accessories such as bags and gloves, there’s nothing you can’t find at a fair price under the Hammer Bowling umbrella. And the warranty structure for Hammer Bowling balls just adds to the investment potential for these powerful, graceful bowling ball beauties.
Who bought out Hammer Bowling?
Hammer Bowling was bought out by Ebonite International in 2002. After the company’s purchase, Hammer has skyrocketed to its position as one of the most beloved bowling ball brands going today. You can order a Hammer from nearly anywhere that sells a wide variety of bowling balls, be it Amazon or another online marketplace.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t go jumping from bowling page to page, looking for your next strike ball or spare ball. No matter what oil lane conditions you face regularly, enlist the services of Hammer Bowling. Any of the ten bowling balls profiled above could mean big things for your overall play and average bowling score. The Hammer product name is synonymous with quality and massive pin carry. Get yours today from one of the links above!
