Raw Hammer - Black

When I switched to 2-handed a few years ago, I bought a Widow Ghost Pearl and shortly afterwards decided to try an Sym Solid from Hammer as well. This ball, with the solid black and orange lettering just looked awesome. It was a little strong for me being new to 2-handed but had a superb shape from midlane to the backend. Again, it was too strong for me and I polished it up at first... Fast-forward a couple years with some speed and rev improvements and this ball got a second shot. I put it back to out-of-box finish and gave it a go one night at work. I absolutely loved the shape this ball had at around 15-16mph just a hair outside the 15 board at the arrows. This was throwing from about 18 board with the feet. I actually keep this ball in the locker when I am looking for something to throw easy and straight. This is a great symm solid to start with and can stay with you for a long time.

I love using this ball because it is strong for the other lanes at my meets.

Hello and thank you for reading my review of the Raw Hammer Black. With the abundance of friction in my area paired with my rev dominant nature, I went with my favorite pin down layout of 50 by 5 by 80. I was looking for a ball to control the midlane and be slow and continuous off the spot. This ball achieves this motion and then some. This ball is not the weakest in my bag by any stretch, so it'll see plenty of use. It is a great piece to keep my angles in front of me on the fresh, allowing me to control my downlane motion. For a sanded ball, it does have a little bit of a weaker shell promoting just enough length on high friction surfaces, with a controlled and continuous response to friction. The shelf appeal is there, with it being a black ball with orange engravings. It's very easy to read as it goes downlane. This ball covers the needs from the beginner bowler to the advanced.

The Raw Solid is, in my opinion, the most underrated ball on the market today. Do not let the entry level tag fool you, this balls rolls very well across a variety of conditions. It goes through the pins better than every other entry level ball I have thrown. Get yours today, you will not be disappointed.

The entire Raw series is likely the best entry ball money can buy hands down. And I wouldn't call them entry level. I am not a Hammer rep or any rep for that matter. But kudos to whoever designed this ball and series. I have two solids dull and shiny and one blue / silver pearl. Likely will throw the hybrid in the mix just because. Anyways I bowl on older wood lanes. I am the lane man as well. 6 lane house with above the ground ball returns. Hand oiled shot. 39 ft of juice even front to back. Dry 8 to gutters.
All the Raws are 45x4.5x45 based on a 5 in PAP
On the fresh I'll gravitate towards the dull Raw. And yes I like it better than my Widow 2.0. Unfortunately that ball is just to finicky on these lane beds. To picky on the exact friction it sees. Either to much or not enough. Not the Raw it reads these lanes about as well as possible. Even on the burn I can get the dull Raw through it if I want. However that's where the shiny Raw or Pearl comes in. For me the Pearl is controlled angularity the Shiny solid is just a snappier Arc . Either choice is a good one when the lanes start drying up. And by the way these things hit like a truck. Lots of energy at the pins and great carry. Especially when you make a good shot. Another huge plus is for me they don't over react off the dry boards. And they don't go to long on the oil.
Check mate. Yes go getcha some!