The folks over at Hammer are known for churning out some of the heaviest-hitting bowling balls in the marketplace, and the carbon fiber-infused Hammer Scandal is no different! Our Hammer Scandal review will look at this high-performance breakthrough ball from every angle, giving you a complete overview of everything you need to know before making a potential purchase decision.
Does the Hammer Scandal’s undeniable aggressiveness go overboard or is it just right? How versatile is the Hammer Scandal when it comes to varied oil patterns and densities? Dive into our in-depth Hammer Scandal bowling ball review for the answer to these questions and more!
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Overview
Just the second Hammer bowling ball release with carbon fiber infused into its cover stock, the Hammer Scandal is undeniably reinforced for added strength and eye-popping hitting power. Not only is the Hammer Scandal’s cover stock durable enough for increased play life through the toughest of oil conditions, it’s also one of the most aggressive cover stocks on the market today.
The Hammer Scandal is all about hook and that’s even an understatement. The Hammer Scandal is built to gather strength early in the mid-lane before making a distinct read at the breakpoint, firing through the back end with a crushing hook which leads to massive pin carry and some of the wildest pin trajectories we’ve ever seen.
Hammer bowling balls are known for their hard and angular hooks, but the Hammer Scandal takes that to a completely new level. In fact, the Hammer Scandal offers the most total hook potential and back-end firepower in the Hammer oeuvre to date! That’s saying something, but it’s an undeniable fact when you see for yourself how this ball picks up steam.
The more oil on the lanes, the more powerful the Hammer Scandal is. It’s built to absorb maximum amounts of oil, clearing fresh fronts easily and storing energy for extreme sharpness and angularity off the spot. You’re going to be dumbfounded by the sheer amount of down-lane reaction. It’s beyond anything we’ve seen out of Hammer’s bowling balls and pretty much any other high-performance bowling balls out there today.
Features, Specs & Materials
FEATURES:
The Hammer Scandal’s Semtex Solid CFI reactive solid cover stock is a completely new formulation which creates maximum traction in the deepest of oil patterns. The more oil this cover stock sees, the harder and more angular this ball cuts towards the pocket.
The brand-new low RG, high differential Scandal symmetrical core is a perfect counterbalancing weight block for the inherent aggressiveness of the aforementioned cover stock. It keeps things on track just enough for adequate length and fiery back-end crashes.
The Hammer Scandal comes out of the box with a rough 500 / 2000 Abralon surface finish which only adds to the traction possibilities on the deepest and most complex of lane oil patterns.
SPECS:
Color: Blue, Green, Black
Core: Scandal (Symmetrical)
Coverstock: Semtex Solid CFI Reactive Solid
Finish: 500 / 2000 Abralon
RG: 2.48
Differential: 0.054
Flare potential: Moderate to Substantial
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy to Heavy
MATERIALS
You want insane durability and hitting power which simply sounds different upon pin impact? The carbon fiber-infused Semtex Solid CFI reactive solid cover stock provides that while also being porous enough to absorb mass amounts of oil with ease! Make sure to clean the cover stock with regularity to keep its reactivity at peak levels.
The new fired ceramic Scandal symmetrical core is completely surrounded by the carbon fiber outer core system which Hammer is known for implementing. That only adds more strength and pin carry potential for a ball that’s already built for some dynamite impact possibilities.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
There are plenty of hook monsters out there in the bowling ball marketplace, but the Hammer Scandal is more of a hook behemoth than just a mere monster. This ball rips through freshly-oiled fronts before beginning a distinct and long down-lane reaction. No matter what your style and no matter how hard you throw, the Hammer Scandal will open up a plethora of hook possibilities.
The Hammer Scandal allows you to get creative with your approaches and your hook sharpness. Whether you’re looking for distinct sharpness at the breakpoint or a continuous sweeping hook with back-end firepower to spare, the Hammer Scandal has the strength and the versatility to oblige. You’re going to hook harder and hook better with the Hammer Scandal as your strike ball of choice.
There are simply no other balls out there which really dominate heavy oil with this kind of distinct fire. The Hammer Scandal does fantastic in medium oil patterns as well, but it’s really built to tackle the deepest and longest oil patterns the bowling world has to offer. If you play on heavy-oil lanes regularly, this ball is a no-brainer.
The Hammer Scandal is one of the most aggressive and oil-friendly bowling balls to have ever been released. Lower-rev bowlers will fall in love with the Hammer Scandal because it will add insane amounts of firepower to their arsenal where there previously was none. Higher-rev bowlers will love the pure violence it provides. It’s a true crowd pleaser for those looking to add major oomph to their hooks.
Disadvantages:
The less oil on the lanes or the shorter the oil patterns are, the less effective the Hammer Scandal will be. Keep this ball bagged for dry or medium-dry lane conditions. While the cover stock is strong enough not to burn out, you’ll have virtually no lane length to play with. In addition, the hook potential will be equal parts muted and unwieldy.
Did we mention how insanely aggressive the Hammer Scandal is? This ball is a lot to handle and is not for beginning and intermediate bowlers who don’t have the read/react skills to adjust to its violent reactivity. This ball will start playing you if you’re not careful. You need a steady hand and a sharp eye to get the most out of it.
Our Thoughts
The Hammer Scandal is a must buy for any bowler looking for maximum hook in the deepest oil conditions. It’s a modern high-performance bowling ball marvel which only has a couple minor dry-lane quibbles against it to keep it from picking up a perfect score.
The apex of bowling ball firepower, the Hammer Scandal even comes with a lengthy three-year warranty. Not like you’ll need it, but it’s the thought that counts.
Overall Score: 9.75 out of 10
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