Hammer-Black Widow 2.0-16 lb.-Reactive Solid Bowling Ball-No Thumb
DrillingUSD $89.99
Condition : Used
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Bowler Ratings
PATTERN
ST
TW
CR
Oily:
7
7
8
Medium:
9.8
9.8
9.8
Dry:
NA
NA
NA
Sport:
7
6.5
6.5
Bowler ratings are from 1 to 10 in order of Stroker (ST), Tweener (TW), Cranker (CR)
General Info
Brand:
Hammer
Name:
Black Widow 2.0
Reviewed:
November 2020
Empty
COVERSTOCK SPECS
Name:
Aggression Solid
Type:
Reactive Solid
Box Finish:
500 / 1000 / 2000 SiaAir
Color:
Black / Red
Empty
CORE SPECS
Name:
Gas Mask
Type:
Asymmetrical
RG:
2.500
Diff:
0.058
Int. Diff:
0.016
The Gas Mask core makes its return to the Hammer lineup in the Black Widow 2.0. This ball shares the same color scheme as the original Black Widow, but features the Aggression Solid coverstock sanded to 2000 SiaAir to provide more traction on today’s oils. Our testers found that the Black Widow 2.0’s combination of strong midlane hook and large back end motion matched up well for all of our testers, particularly on the medium oil test pattern.
Cranker started deep on the medium pattern and wheeled his ball out to around eight at the breakpoint, using the oil to his advantage to get the ball downlane. The Widow 2.0 provided plenty of back end motion, and he was able to continue chasing left as the pattern broke down. He also tested this ball with Crown Factory Compound, which allowed him to move farther right and create an even sharper motion off the breakpoint. At this similar surface, the Black Widow 2.0 was still earlier than the Web MB. The strength of the Aggression Solid coverstock and the dull box finish were easily able to handle the heavy oil pattern for Cranker. Keeping the ball a little closer to the pocket at the breakpoint, the Black Widow 2.0 provided plenty of traction in the midlane, but with a bit less margin for error than on the medium pattern. He was able to move in as the pattern broke down, and he liked the stronger back end shape compared to The Sauce, Scandal/S, and Statement Solid. The Black Widow 2.0 also retained energy better than the Web Tour Edition and other recent sanded balls in the Hammer line. On the sport pattern, Cranker had a bit too much angularity off the breakpoint. This forced him to open up his angles, but the surface wasn’t quite strong enough to combat the out-of-bounds outside of the track area. He needed to wait for the track to open up for his reaction to improve with the box finish. Adjusting his surface with 1000 SiaAir by hand smoothed out his ball’s motion and improved his reaction quite a bit on the fresh. He could either start with the ball at this rougher surface or simply keep the ball at box finish and use something a bit earlier on the fresh and wait for the pattern to develop to pull this ball out of the bag. Overall, the Black Widow 2.0 was best for Cranker on the medium pattern at box finish, but it responded well to surface changes to match up to the other patterns.
Stroker had plenty of hook on the medium oil test pattern, with the Black Widow 2.0 creating traction in the midlane and a continuous motion at the back end. The ball was earlier and stronger than the polished Web Pearl and had a more angular shape than the sanded Ruthless and Web Tour. He was very impressed with the hook and continuation he saw once he had to move farther inside, and he had no need to change the surface at any point in the testing session. On the heavy oil pattern, Stroker was able to close down his angles and keep the ball tight to the pocket. On the fresh, the Widow 2.0 would rarely go through the breakpoint, and the reaction improved as the lanes transition and friction built up in the track area. When this happened, Stroker had no problem moving in and going around the lane, which is a testament to the overall strength and downlane reaction of this ball. He kept his ball at the box finish and used the 2.0 when he needed more total hook than he saw with the Web MB. Stroker had the best reaction of the three testers on the fresh sport pattern. With his lower rev rate, he was able to stay straighter up the lane just outside the track, allowing the strong midlane motion of the Black Widow 2.0 to give him the hook he needed to get to the pocket. He was able to stay with the Black Widow 2.0 at the box finish as the pattern transitioned. Stroker liked this ball best on the medium pattern.
Tweener liked the angles he could play with the Black Widow 2.0 on the fresh medium pattern, with the ball providing recovery to the outside and enough read and continuation to carry on shots missed inside. Compared to the Ruthless, Tweener had a few more boards of hook on this pattern, along with plenty more angle than the Web Tour. As the lanes got drier, he increased his speed instead of changing the surface in order to maintain the midlane read he was getting from the box surface. On the heavy oil pattern, Tweener was also able to tighten up his angles to make this ball work, but he didn’t have as much swing area as on the medium condition. He saw less hook out of the Black Widow 2.0 than the previous high-performance solids, the Statement Solid and Rip’D Solid. Like Stroker saw, the more friction that built up on this pattern, the better the ball looked. On the fresh sport pattern, Tweener’s reaction was right in between Stroker’s and Cranker’s. His reaction was not as controllable as Stroker’s, but not as touchy as Cranker’s. Sanding the ball to 1000 SiaAir like Cranker caused too much early hook for Tweener, so it was better to leave the ball at box finish and allow the pattern to come to him in transition than to try to make it work on the fresh. The medium pattern was clearly the best reaction for this ball in Tweener’s hands.
Performance Ratings
NAME
VALUE
COMMENTS
Torque
8
This ball is more angular than the original Black Widow from 2006, with the closest comparison being the Dark Legend.
Length
13.5
The strong core shape and rough box finish keep the Black Widow 2.0 from getting too far down the lane before making its move to the pocket. Its motion was easily adjustable with Crown Factory Compound to create more length, if needed.
Back End
18.3
The Black Widow 2.0 provides big back end recovery. We saw a similar back end motion between the Black Widow 2.0 and the polished Web MB.
Total Hook
56.5
The Black Widow 2.0 will give bowlers more overall hook than any of the previous Black Widow releases. It provided plenty of midlane read to match up to today's oils.
Strengths
The midlane reaction this ball provides allows it to be very useable for all styles of play. It creates the right balance of midlane traction and energy retention for a big change of direction downlane.
Weaknesses
Only the dry test pattern kept us from using the Black Widow 2.0. For heavier or longer patterns, the ball might need more surface for fresh oil in order to create as much area as it does on medium conditions.
Overall Summary
The first Black Widow since the change in manufacturing facilities lives up to the name. Bowlers looking to replace older versions can find the same strong combination of midlane and back end reaction they have come to expect from the Black Widow series, with plenty of versatility for different styles of play.
PATTERN
ST
TW
CR
Oily:
7
7
8
Medium:
9.8
9.8
9.8
Dry:
NA
NA
NA
Sport:
7
6.5
6.5
Bowler ratings are from 1 to 10 in order of Stroker (ST), Tweener (TW), Cranker (CR)
General Info
Brand:
Hammer
Name:
Black Widow 2.0
Reviewed:
November 2020
Empty
COVERSTOCK SPECS
Name:
Aggression Solid
Type:
Reactive Solid
Box Finish:
500 / 1000 / 2000 SiaAir
Color:
Black / Red
Empty
CORE SPECS
Name:
Gas Mask
Type:
Asymmetrical
RG:
2.500
Diff:
0.058
Int. Diff:
0.016
The Gas Mask core makes its return to the Hammer lineup in the Black Widow 2.0. This ball shares the same color scheme as the original Black Widow, but features the Aggression Solid coverstock sanded to 2000 SiaAir to provide more traction on today’s oils. Our testers found that the Black Widow 2.0’s combination of strong midlane hook and large back end motion matched up well for all of our testers, particularly on the medium oil test pattern.
Cranker started deep on the medium pattern and wheeled his ball out to around eight at the breakpoint, using the oil to his advantage to get the ball downlane. The Widow 2.0 provided plenty of back end motion, and he was able to continue chasing left as the pattern broke down. He also tested this ball with Crown Factory Compound, which allowed him to move farther right and create an even sharper motion off the breakpoint. At this similar surface, the Black Widow 2.0 was still earlier than the Web MB. The strength of the Aggression Solid coverstock and the dull box finish were easily able to handle the heavy oil pattern for Cranker. Keeping the ball a little closer to the pocket at the breakpoint, the Black Widow 2.0 provided plenty of traction in the midlane, but with a bit less margin for error than on the medium pattern. He was able to move in as the pattern broke down, and he liked the stronger back end shape compared to The Sauce, Scandal/S, and Statement Solid. The Black Widow 2.0 also retained energy better than the Web Tour Edition and other recent sanded balls in the Hammer line. On the sport pattern, Cranker had a bit too much angularity off the breakpoint. This forced him to open up his angles, but the surface wasn’t quite strong enough to combat the out-of-bounds outside of the track area. He needed to wait for the track to open up for his reaction to improve with the box finish. Adjusting his surface with 1000 SiaAir by hand smoothed out his ball’s motion and improved his reaction quite a bit on the fresh. He could either start with the ball at this rougher surface or simply keep the ball at box finish and use something a bit earlier on the fresh and wait for the pattern to develop to pull this ball out of the bag. Overall, the Black Widow 2.0 was best for Cranker on the medium pattern at box finish, but it responded well to surface changes to match up to the other patterns.
Stroker had plenty of hook on the medium oil test pattern, with the Black Widow 2.0 creating traction in the midlane and a continuous motion at the back end. The ball was earlier and stronger than the polished Web Pearl and had a more angular shape than the sanded Ruthless and Web Tour. He was very impressed with the hook and continuation he saw once he had to move farther inside, and he had no need to change the surface at any point in the testing session. On the heavy oil pattern, Stroker was able to close down his angles and keep the ball tight to the pocket. On the fresh, the Widow 2.0 would rarely go through the breakpoint, and the reaction improved as the lanes transition and friction built up in the track area. When this happened, Stroker had no problem moving in and going around the lane, which is a testament to the overall strength and downlane reaction of this ball. He kept his ball at the box finish and used the 2.0 when he needed more total hook than he saw with the Web MB. Stroker had the best reaction of the three testers on the fresh sport pattern. With his lower rev rate, he was able to stay straighter up the lane just outside the track, allowing the strong midlane motion of the Black Widow 2.0 to give him the hook he needed to get to the pocket. He was able to stay with the Black Widow 2.0 at the box finish as the pattern transitioned. Stroker liked this ball best on the medium pattern.
Tweener liked the angles he could play with the Black Widow 2.0 on the fresh medium pattern, with the ball providing recovery to the outside and enough read and continuation to carry on shots missed inside. Compared to the Ruthless, Tweener had a few more boards of hook on this pattern, along with plenty more angle than the Web Tour. As the lanes got drier, he increased his speed instead of changing the surface in order to maintain the midlane read he was getting from the box surface. On the heavy oil pattern, Tweener was also able to tighten up his angles to make this ball work, but he didn’t have as much swing area as on the medium condition. He saw less hook out of the Black Widow 2.0 than the previous high-performance solids, the Statement Solid and Rip’D Solid. Like Stroker saw, the more friction that built up on this pattern, the better the ball looked. On the fresh sport pattern, Tweener’s reaction was right in between Stroker’s and Cranker’s. His reaction was not as controllable as Stroker’s, but not as touchy as Cranker’s. Sanding the ball to 1000 SiaAir like Cranker caused too much early hook for Tweener, so it was better to leave the ball at box finish and allow the pattern to come to him in transition than to try to make it work on the fresh. The medium pattern was clearly the best reaction for this ball in Tweener’s hands.
Performance Ratings
NAME
VALUE
COMMENTS
Torque
8
This ball is more angular than the original Black Widow from 2006, with the closest comparison being the Dark Legend.
Length
13.5
The strong core shape and rough box finish keep the Black Widow 2.0 from getting too far down the lane before making its move to the pocket. Its motion was easily adjustable with Crown Factory Compound to create more length, if needed.
Back End
18.3
The Black Widow 2.0 provides big back end recovery. We saw a similar back end motion between the Black Widow 2.0 and the polished Web MB.
Total Hook
56.5
The Black Widow 2.0 will give bowlers more overall hook than any of the previous Black Widow releases. It provided plenty of midlane read to match up to today's oils.
Strengths
The midlane reaction this ball provides allows it to be very useable for all styles of play. It creates the right balance of midlane traction and energy retention for a big change of direction downlane.
Weaknesses
Only the dry test pattern kept us from using the Black Widow 2.0. For heavier or longer patterns, the ball might need more surface for fresh oil in order to create as much area as it does on medium conditions.
Overall Summary
The first Black Widow since the change in manufacturing facilities lives up to the name. Bowlers looking to replace older versions can find the same strong combination of midlane and back end reaction they have come to expect from the Black Widow series, with plenty of versatility for different styles of play.
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