Hammer First Blood

[Kudu22]

I just saw that Hammer is coming with a new medium oil ball that is going to be more angular that my deep purple taboo. Need to get my shop to order one when it is released. I have been waiting for Hammer to do this.

[EboniteKid299]

First Blood looks incredible I saw that today I have to agree.

[Zothen]

I'm looking at the new Columbia 300 VOW! It to is medium oil ball and from what i've been told by my pro shop,the VOW is suppose to be a very nice ball.

Zothen

[Perrin]

Is the Vow what the columbia 300 guy was using on ESPN yesterday?

[EboniteKid299]

Is the Vow what the columbia 300 guy was using on ESPN yesterday?

Yup, it was Dan Mac I think you are talking about right

[striker12]

im thinking on maby getting the first blood for next season and then a few other hammer balls too.

[Perrin]

Yup, it was Dan Mac I think you are talking about right

Yeah couldn't remember his name :) I just noticed the ball was a name I hadn't seen before

[Davec13]

just dropped off my ball to get drilled and talked with the pro and he'll have the first blood set up for demo by the end of the week. So I'll definitely give it a try.

[billf]

First Blood with a Zombie ball. Dave, do you have a fascination with gore? lol

[Davec13]

Maybe. :D

I really wish DV8 would do the demo balls like hammer. At the lanes they "charge" you $5 to demo it. You get a free game and a discount if you do buy the ball. So far he has ran the deep purple, wrench, and soon the first blood. It's a lot better than trying to judge a ball on videos alone.

[billf]

So send them an e-mail telling them how hard it is to recruit deviants when the other companies, like Hammer, have demo days and DV8 doesn't. Bet they will after that.

[ArtVandelay]

So does anyone know much about this ball yet? I heard it was supposed to be MORE reactive than the Taboo black or purple, but the information I saw suggests it would be less...

[75lockwood]

im thinking on maby getting the first blood for next season and then a few other hammer balls too.

Striker.....

Lets assume "a few" means 2

3 hammer balls + the 4 Track balls you mentioned + the other 40 or so balls you want.... your planning on buying a bowling ally to hold all the balls right?

[ArtVandelay]

Im gonna bump this because im selfish and want answers! Hahahaha

Anyone know what this ball will be like? The guy at our pro shop said it would be too strong for the alley and then recommended a ratchet or one of the taboos instead. I thought this was supposed to be a lighter ball than that.

I get the impression it is more polished to carry the lane, an then its core makes it snap once it hits the dry part.

[striker12]

Striker.....

Lets assume "a few" means 2

3 hammer balls + the 4 Track balls you mentioned + the other 40 or so balls you want.... your planning on buying a bowling ally to hold all the balls right?

you are correct lol i could buy the bowling allie here in kingston if i wanted to but it would cost me more money to fix the place then what it is worth.

[Perrin]

Going from the hammer first blood video on Youtube the first blood looks to be 2-8 boards stronger than the Taboo Deep Purple. depending on your style.

THe only case where that wasn't the true was the 'tweener' where the First blood was 1-2 boards less overall hook but with a sharper backend.

[Zothen]

I have heard from several pro shops that the First Blood will be taking the place of the Taboo line!

Zothen

[billf]

Im gonna bump this because im selfish and want answers! Hahahaha

Anyone know what this ball will be like? The guy at our pro shop said it would be too strong for the alley and then recommended a ratchet or one of the taboos instead. I thought this was supposed to be a lighter ball than that.

I get the impression it is more polished to carry the lane, an then its core makes it snap once it hits the dry part.

Check the info at www.hammerbowing.com and read what was already posted between the two threads about this ball. Not a light oil ball.

[ArtVandelay]

I have heard from several pro shops that the First Blood will be taking the place of the Taboo line!

Zothen

I heard that, as well. I wasn't sure what to think, because I did see it was a couple balls stronger, but wasn't positive it was that huge a difference.

The truth of the matter is, I'm not an expert, so I wasn't sure what to think. Would it be safe to say the coverstock is weaker but the core is stronger? That's kind of the impression that I get.


Check the info at www.hammerbowing.com and read what was already posted between the two threads about this ball. Not a light oil ball.

Thanks, Bill. I did read the info in the two threads and look it up at Hammer. I was just surprised because I was getting the impression it was designed to carry further down the lane than the ratchet, or taboo's.

Like I said above: I don't really know what to think. All I know is I need a ball that's weaker than the Lane 1 Droid for nights when the lanes are drier than normal, and my Hammer No Mercy has just about had it (it had a good run... It doesn't even have a marking left on it because it's been resurfaced so many times. It'll be sad to say goodbye to my old friend. We've had some great nights, and some not so great nights. We've shared some moments and laughs. It has made others laugh AT me on occasion. It would rarely get mad at me no matter how many times I, "threw it for a curve." See what I did there?)

[billf]

This ball seems to be following the current way of them all; go long and hook hard on the back end. Many companies are using killer cores with weaker covers to accomplish this. Dry heads and not knowing how to combat them are the biggest obstacle (currently) facing the average league bowler. For the above average league bowler, this is another ball that will be too strong.

[striker12]

on feb 9th at the bowling allie i bowl at they are doing a demo day and the first blood will be there to test out with a few other brands so i can see how it works first before i buy one and if i like it im defently going to get it i also get to test the track 811c/t and the new c300 balls and ebnoite balls too

[SnipingWaste]

I was able to get about 3 games on the first blood. This is a good skid flip ball and saves a lot of energy at the end. This ball goes long and reacts really strong in the dry part of the lane. Think of this as a peril cover but like a strong solid in the back of the lane.

[ecub]

I was able to get about 3 games on the first blood. This is a good skid flip ball and saves a lot of energy at the end. This ball goes long and reacts really strong in the dry part of the lane. Think of this as a peril cover but like a strong solid in the back of the lane.

That's typical from a polished ball.

[ecub]

My 1st Blood just came in today. Picked it up from my pro shop and threw a game with the ball.

THIS BALL IS F'N SICK!!!


I had it drilled with a modified RICO layout, pin about grip center with CG at about 2 o'clock next to the thumbhole. Best layout for me, since my release is so smooth and more consistent with this layout. All my bowling balls are drilled this way. Anyways, the ball is so angular, the more I get the ball out. I have the biggest window with this ball. Shot a 224. Can't wait to use it at league tomorrow. I'm thinking of getting in all the pots.

[noeymc]

the owner of my lanes that i bowl at used it shot a very solid 700

[ghoul31]

what ball has a stronger back end, the first blood or the HRR?

[ecub]

What's the HRR?

[J Anderson]

What's the HRR?

DV8 Hell Raiser Revenge.

[Kudu22]

Just got my FB tonight. Had it drilled with no time to spare before league started. Team mates didn't want me to use it since I hadn't even thrown it and tried a layout with the pin between the fingers for the first time. I still used it. Threw my second over 600 game with a 194 the first game standing at 20 and throwing over the 10. Figured out that I had to move 5 boards left and that beast was right there. Never played that far left before. Absolutely loved the way the ball moved for my style. Have the original Taboo and DP that I have used a lot. Just wanted to share even if it was the maden voyage with it.

[ecub]

Just got back from using the 1st Blood in the Men's league. Shot, I think, around 662. I have to wait for the scores to be posted on League Secretary. I missed a 7 pin spare. Using the 1st Blood to pick it up, the ball took off, causing me to miss it. I missed a 10 pin spare. Used my Taboo Blue/Silver, but dropped the ball, causing to miss right into the gutter. I had a good window if I got the ball out. I like the out and in shot, compared to a down and in. A couple of shots I got it out too far and left a 7 or 8 count or if I didn't get it out far enough, I would leave a 9 count.

The ball is REALLY SICK! It skids through the oil and snaps back once it hits the dry part. Looks like it was doing a 90 degree angle. Once my line dries out, it just turns out to be a strong arc. I have a feeling I'll be back to a 2 ball arsenal, instead of a 3/4 ball arsenal.

[ecub]

Unable to edit my post, but I forgot to mention, someone on our Men's league shot a 300 with the 1st Blood.

[Bizwan65]

No exaggeration, I saw at least 6 kids with this ball in my son's travel youth league this past weekend.