Review: Hammer Black Widow Nasty Bowling Ball

I had the opportunity to test out the Black Widow Nasty bowling ball from Hammer and according to Hammer’s tag-line on the product, “It’s about to get NASTY!”, I couldn’t agree more.  The very first game I tossed with with Black Widow Nasty bowling ball was a 248…not bad considering that my average at the time was a 220.

Hammer has introduced some new weaponry in this release that is expected to redefine their legend in the game of bowling and from what I’ve experienced, I do have some reservations on the claim but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the ball is not a good choice to have in the bag.

Hammer Black Widow Nasty Technical Specs

• Coverstock: Violent Wheel Reactive
• Weight Block: Cover-puck technology
• Factory Finish: 4000 Abralon Sanded
• Ball Color: Black/Purple/Red Sparkle
• Weights: 12 – 16 lbs
• RG: 4.5
• Flare: 8.1
• Torque: 7.0
• Length: 13.5
• Backend: 16.5
• Hook: 50

On the Boards with the Hammer Black Widow Nasty

With the introduction of the new Cover Puck technology core and the Violent Wheel Reactive coverstock, the Hammer Black Widow Nasty, I was actually quite impressed with the response of the ball in the backend motion.  When I first tossed the Black Widow Nasty, I thought I had found the most dangerous ball known to man as my original path pulled this bowling ball on the other side of the headpin.

After making some quick adjustments, I found that the Black Widow Nasty had a lot of potential and once I found the correct spot, I was more than pleased with the results I was seeing.  Compared to other bowling balls I had reviewed, the Black Widow Nasty did offer a wider flare and rather than snapping in line toward the backend, there is a bit of a “hockey stick” shape in the hook pattern that may not be expected.

After lane breakdown, the ball still maintained its response pattern with minimal adjustments required, demonstrating the Violent Wheel Reactive coverstock being able to keep up with your game regardless of lane condition.  The power supplied in the backend thanks in part to the Cover-puck Core provides a driving force into the pocket, keeping the ball strictly in line with the delivery and powering through the pins without much bounce.

Positives: Hammer Black Widow Nasty

• The backend power of the Nasty drives deep into the pocket demanding explosive results
• Hammer’s Violent Wheel coverstock allows for minimal adjustment after oil breakdown
• Extremely flexible in adjusting to almost any lane condition

Negatives: Hammer Black Widow Nasty

• Not suggested as a ball for beginning bowlers; very much a high-performance bowling ball
• May be a bit difficult to control by slower rollers as the weight block may turn the ball too soon
• Marketing claims may overpower actual results

Overall, the Hammer Black Widow Nasty bowling ball is a plus for those bowlers looking for a little more drive in the backend from their equipment.  Adjustments are always going to be necessary during play but once the working path is found, there seems to be very little need to major tweaks in aiming.