Surface finish: Box
Layout: 60 x 4 7/8″ x 72
PAP: 3 15/16″ over and 1 5/16″ up
Speed: 18mph
Revrate: 340 rpm
RG: 2.55
Diff: 0.042
Ball review:
The new Nail ressurrects one of Hammers old lines of balls. Nail looks great with a nice blend of yellow, red and silver. On the lanes it is clean, which makes it ideal for drier lane conditions. To me a lot of low performance balls tend to be really touchy on the backend, but the Nail seems to blend it out a little better, while still creating enough backend to get through the pins.
The Nail will be a good step down later in a block on medium or medium short oil patterns. Because it is symmetrical it still maintains control and continouation even though the fronts and midlanes are getting dry.
Tested on Pro Anvilane with Kegels Middle Road
Surface finish: Box
Layout: 5 1/2″ pin under, 60 degrees
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.51
Diff: 0.052
Ball review:
The first thing I noticed about the Benchmark was the amount of hook. It was more than I expected and the Benchmark will definitely be able to handle some oil without being too strong for medium or shorter patterns.
The motion of the Benchmark is as expected. Good midlane and continuous and smooth backend. I can make it work from most angles from deep inside to the outside, which is a very good characteristic.
Benchmark will be well suited for handling a lot of different conditions and will be a good compliment for other medium to medium strong balls like Gamechanger and Eruption.
And it has the old retro Columbia 300 logo, which fits the Benchmark name very well.
Surface finish: Box
Layout: 5″, pin in middle finger, 45 degrees
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.51
Diff: 0.056
Ball review:
The new 919c is a lot of hook wrapped in some nice colours. The 919c has the hook potential of a high performance ball, but is a little cleaner through the fronts.
The thing that makes the 919c stand out is the backend motion. It is not overly angular, but just seems to continue on it’s own. It goes through the pins a little different and will continue without having to be forced to it.
This ball is something I think will work on the longer patterns, because of the amount of oil and that you need to get left, but still have the ball continue.
Surface finish: Box
Layout: 5 1/4″, pin over, 45 degrees, small hole on midline
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.51
Diff: 0.056
Ball review:
The Ransom Demand has the Full Swing core combined with a Super Tilt 2.0 cover. This makes the Ranson Demand very strong with a strong, continous backend.
The Demand will definitely need some volume and a little lenght to get it down the lane, but it will perform very well when it gets it.
This is one of the balls I’m most excited about. It is very strong and will allow me to be aggressive and move left without having to change my game a lot. It handles oil really well and gives me a ball motion I know is going to read, but at the same time is going to come back on the backend.
This ball is going to be very good for players looking for a little extra. And it looks like the original Black Widow, which isn’t a bad thing either.
Surface finish: 2000 grit
Layout: 4″, pin under, 60 degrees, hole on midline
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.46
Diff: 0.040
Ball review:
The new Eruption uses the same Resurgence-core as the Burst and Out Burst, but with a new cleaner cover.
For me I see the same kind of backend motion as the Out Burst. Smooth, but strong.
The Eruption is very clean for me and actually a little weaker than I expected. This makes it good for medium or medium-shorter patterns or when there has been some play on the lanes.
The Eruption is a great compliment to the Game Changer, Game Breaker, 503c and other medium strenght balls.
Surface finish: Box
Layout: 50 x 4 1/2″ x 15
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.53
Diff: 0.050
Ball review:
The new Epidemic looks sick and it is sick!
This ball just hooks a bunch. It has nice length and a really strong, snappy backend. This ball will do very well if you need to move left and throw it right without wondering if it will hook back.
The Epidemic will catch a lot of attention both going down the lane and hitting the pins.
Surface finish: 2000 grit
Layout: 4″, pin under, 70 degrees, big x-hole P4
PAP: 5½” out – 1/8″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.48
Diff: 0.048
Ball review:
The Arson is a great compliment to the Hammer line and will be a great compliment to any arsenal. It combines the low RG, medium diff Hot Sauce core with a Max-Hook Hybrid cover. This makes it a stronger ball in terms of hook, but with a very smooth backend, that continues through the pins.
I see a lot of possiblities with the Arson. I can use it on the fresh, because of the controllable backend, but at the same time I can use it in the later games, because it won’t overreact of the dry.
The Arson compliments my Out Burst very well as it is a little weaker and a little cleaner.
Surface finish: 1000 grit
Layout: 3 1/2″ pin under 45 degrees, x-hole down
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.55
Diff: 0.025
Ball review:
I was very excited about this new urethane release. Urethane can be a great option and something unique, but it hasn’t really been a big success for me.
That was until the Blue Hammer. I used the Blue Hammer exclusively on the short pattern for the EMC 2011 and bowled really well. It gave me a option of staying very straight and right on top of the friction without having to overthrow it.
The Blue Hammer seems a little cleaner than a lot of other urethanes, but still has that nice smooth backend motion. For short patterns this is the ball to try and people with lower speed or higher rev rates will even be able to use it on medium patterns.
I’m looking forward to trying this ball on shorter patterns in other centres.
Surface finish: Box
Layout: 4″, 1″ under the fingers, 70 degrees, x-hole P2
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1 up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.53
Diff: 0.053
Hook power: -
Ball review:
The new Cyclone from Ebonite is the replacement of the Tornado, but in reality it’s a big upgrade for the Entry Level line.
The Cyclone has the very succesful GB 10.7 coverstock from The One and Gamebreaker. This gives it lot stronger roll and makes it handle a lot more oil than the Tornados. The new core-design also gives it a good amount of flare.
This makes the Cyclone usable on both medium and shorter oil patterns. It reads the midlane a lot better than I expected and is nice and smooth. As soon as there’s some friction I think this will be a good option.
The Cyclone will give a lot more value for money in the lower price range and will be a great compliment for both new and experienced players.
Surface finish: Box
Layout: 5″, pin under, 30 degrees MB, x-hole P2
PAP: 4 3/8″ over and 1″ up
Speed: 18 mph
Revrate: 320 rpm
RG: 2.52
Diff: 0.056
Ball review:
The Signals is the newest release in the Vital-series and it uses the same core as the Vital Sign and Vital Energy.
The Signals is a ball very well suited for when the pattern breaks down. It has good length, but still reads the midlane well enough to not be over-under.
The backend is controllable, but with a lot of recovery. I feel I can change the backend motion of the Signals very easily with my hand. I can tame it down, but also really make it go sideways.
The Signals remind me of the One Pearl and I think it will do very well on medium to longer patterns after a few games.
Surface finish: Box
