Likes: Great Length for a heavy oil ball with a great backend. Doesn't over-react when hitting the dry. Hits harder than anything I have ever seen. Very Forgiving.....can make mistakes and still come away with a good end result.
Won this in a local tournament. Had really liked Hammer back in the day...but wasn't really impressed with the last couple years offerings. Had heard good reports on this so figured drill it up and give it a go. Pin Under drill, with box condition....wanted it to get into a bit of an early roll but have energy for the backend. Throw around 15-16 mph....High Track tweener. All I can say is WOW!. Clears the heads well....reads the midlane....if hits the dry early doesn't roll up but holds......and makes a controlled yet strong arc to the pocket. As for carry.....Forgetaboutit! Hit the head pin and watch the fireworks! It is also very forgiving....can pull into the oil and still have enough to get to the pocket and carry...and if I swing it to the dry doesn't over-react and roll out. What more could you ask for???
BOUGHT THIS ONE USED W/15 GAMES ON IT. 15# ORIGINAL DRILL WAS ZERO,12:00 PIN UNDER FINGERS, CG IN PALM. KEPT DRILL THE SAME,JUST PLUGGED TO MY SPECS. BALL KEPTED DULL.FIRST GAME OF THE WED EARLY LEAGUE 269. 226 THEN 202. OVERALL LIKED ITS CARRY. PLAYED 15 TO 8 GAME 1&2. MOVED DEEP INSIDE LAST GAME, ALMOST 4TH ARROW (LANES REALLY BREAKDOWN QUICK). BALL DEFINITLY NEEDS HEAD OIL. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST BALL OUT OF THE BAG. I GIVE IT A 9 . WILL REVIEW AFTER 50+ GAMES.
I purchased this used from AMS Pro Shop in N. Kansas City, MO. Drilled with CG kicked to left a little, pin an inch below and to right of ring finger, and leverage hole across from PAP.
I generally bowl on synthetics. I found the ball to suit me best with a little polish on it as opposed to the regular condition(dull).
Note- particles are definitely NOT hook monsters- so if you're looking for something that covers boards look at an aggressive reactive or low load particle.
With this ball, I have something that works well on oily lanes and/or carrrydown. Pocket hits carry 90 percent of the time. It's a ball that does not deflect as much as some reactives will on oil or carrydown. I found that I can string strikes more often than with my other equipment- both solid pocket hits and off-hits as well!! Hit 'em light and watch the action!!
Ebonite/Hammer has done a great job resurrecting the Hammer line after Fab let it go. Hammer will definitely get a look from me when future purchases occur.
Bowling is a habit- Just Do It !!!
If there is oil, this is the first ball out of my bag now.
Update - 4-29-03 - Threw my first 300 game with this ball this past Friday. Up the 11 from the 17-18 line. 10 identical pocket blowouts, finished with 2 brooklyns! Great ball.
I bought this used and thought going with a lighter weight would allow me to add RGs & speed if needed. After using the leverage drilling pattern (3-3/8" CG & Pin from PAP, Pos "C"), I could not get the ball to hook as I thought it should. I then placed it in the dishwasher for 1 cycle with a little detergent and then used Ebonite ball cleaner, then Ebonite ball poilsh. I tried again...WHAT A MONSTER!!! The Vicious Particle cleared the front (oily) heads easily & in the mid lane started it flip and brutally finished into the pocket. I do not recommend swinging this ball too far out for then corner pins and splits will appear for the Vicious particle will actually hit behind the headpin. Also, the ball is speed sensitive so playing a tight line (standing 25 and shooting 3rd arrow) works extremely well for the way I like to roll. No matter how far out I through it, there was always a surplus of power in the backend and will overpower the lanes when they begin to dry out. The skid/flip reaction can be hard to gauge at first, but with just a few practice games, the shot is easy to predict, although not as forgiving as other Hammers, e.g. the Wheel and the Diesel Particle Pearl. But all-in-all, I would definately recommend this ball to experienced bowlers for improving their "oil" game. Nice job Hammer/Ebonite!
I got this ball as a blem. The only difference between this ball and prodcution was the label had been rubbed of a little, so no big pin issues. I had the ball drilled with the pin above and right of the ring finger with the ring finger hole acctually going through a piece of the pin with the CG below the ring finger. I am right handed and have medium high revs and slightly above average ball speed. This ball hooked out of the building on my normal house shot so t stayed in my bag for a couple of months until the winter season was out. This summer the house I am in put out a flood and this ball was the answer. Played across 20 arrow out to about the 8 board and this ball slams the pocket. Decent amount of room for error as well whether I tug it or send it out too much. Great ball, you just need to find out what condition it suit you best for.
If there is one thing that I dislike about the review board it's this. What one person thinks is alot of oil is another persons light shot. For example. The house I bowl at is notorious for a true heavy long pattern. I say true because you will not see anyone throw a shinned up resin or medium oil ball. It's sanded particles and dulled up resins period. Now to my review. I bought this used form trouter13 and was excited to throw it on our slop fest. Well first ball just sat there and slid out and never made it into it's roll. I tried many lines but the ball was never able to get into it's roll. In it's defense the ball looks like it has been shinned up a little so i'll refinish it and clean it then repost another follow-up. Needless to say I had to use my X-it again for a 178.255,202.
Well this is my follow-up. One week later, cleaned the ball and gave it a light scuffing, just enough to get it into an earlier roll. I bowled with it and it did make a move on the backend but in my opinion a flip that is almost worthless. I know alot of people have raved about this ball but I feel there are way more smooth controlled particles on the market. The move this ball makes is almost sideways and it's either a powerful strike or horrific split. (I had alot of each). Anyways I went 196,204,215. Not terrible but again for me it's way to unpredicable.
I bought this ball last year before my center went to the new Anvil Lanes. Ball had been collecting dust until last night. My house has been experiencing a lot of carry down due to lack of temp control and I had been having a hard time getting a ball to read and react to the condition. I brought out my Vicious. I had it scuffed to 600 grit and slowed down my ball speed a little. I have a Particle EMB that would not make it to the pocket up the 8 board and I was able to play the Vicious off 20 out to 5 at the break and back to the pocket strong. This is a great ball if you can find wet heads to get through otherwise all of the power is gone before the arrows.
I've been using this ball for almost a year now. I was looking for a better mid/heavy oil ball the my old Matrix TPS that was finally dying. The VP gives me all that I'm looking for under these conditions. I play 15 to 10 at about 16 mph and the ball is very predictable. If you are accurate the ball will be there. It carries light hits very well. My house is notorious for pocket 7-10 and 8-10. I have more of these splits then ones going thru the nose. The VP isn't responsible for the pocket splits, everybody (with all kinds of equipment)leaves them. I finished last season at 206 and so far this year I'm at 223. As long as the heads don't burn out I'll use this ball all night. I hardly put it away, just adjust left and play a little deeper.