Which bowling ball is right for you – the Hammer black urethane or the purple urethane?
Both of these balls have their pros and cons, so how do you decide which one is right for you?
In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at the differences between these two balls and help you figure out which one is best for your game.
Stick around – you might just learn something new.
What are Hammer black urethane and purple urethane bowling balls?
The Hammer black urethane series is a new durable and versatile line of bowling balls released by Hammer.
This line has been built for bowlers with strong or aggressive equipment needs who wish to play on medium-heavy to heavy oil conditions.
The purple urethane was one of Hammer’s first releases, and it set the standard for what a urethane bowling ball should be.
This series is extremely versatile, allowing bowlers of all styles to find success on medium-heavy oil lane conditions.
Black Urethane vs Purple Urethane – Differences
No matter your skill level or style of bowling, the Hammer black, and purple urethane bowling balls are both great choices.
There are a few key differences between the two that you should be aware of before you make your final purchase.
Appearance
The first thing most people notice is how different these two balls look from one another.
The Hammer black urethane features more angular and sharp angles, giving it a more aggressive look.
The purple urethane has more rounded edges with a lot of swooping patterns on the outer core.
Core
One of the most important parts of a bowling ball is its inner core since this part affects how quickly the ball transitions from the front to the back of the lane as well as how much oil the ball can handle.
The Hammer purple urethane has a standard weight block for this type of bowling ball, whereas the black urethane features an Asymmetric core with an RG of 2.48″ and a .054″ Intermediate Diffusion Bar.
Coverstock
Both balls come with an ionomer coverstock and a 2000-grit polish finish.
The difference in the color of these two ball’s coverstocks will affect your ability to see where you’re aiming, but this is purely a cosmetic difference.
Lane Condition
This is probably the most important factor when choosing between black urethane and purple urethane.
The ball will do entirely different things on the lane depending on the type of oil you are bowling on.
For example, if you bowl on a long, fresh house shot with medium-heavy lanes then you’ll want to go with the Hammer purple urethane.
This is a ball that will provide you with a lot of hook potential, allowing you to make powerful moves at the pocket.
However, if you are bowling on shorter, heavier patterns then it’s best to choose the black urethane.
This ball is meant for heavy oil conditions and can handle this type of lane very easily.
Purple Urethane – The best choice when bowling on short to medium oil patterns
The Hammer purple urethane is well-suited for when you bowl on shorter or more manageable house shots with medium-heavy oil.
This ball will give you a lot of hook behind the pocket and allow you to make powerful moves at the pins very easily, but it is also versatile enough to play well on medium-heavy oil lines with long patterns.
Black Urethane – The best choice when bowling on long oil patterns or heavy/thick oil conditions
These balls are great for when you bowl on any longer, fresh house shots with heavy or thick lane conditions.
This ball will allow you to keep the pins low on these heavy oil patterns, all while maintaining a strong and continuous backend reaction.
Will the black outperform the purple?
The Hammer purple urethane bowling ball will win in short to medium oil conditions because of its high hook potential.
It’s the perfect bowling ball for when you want to make a move at the pocket and play into that heavy front part of the lane.
When it comes to long oil patterns, bowlers will typically prefer using Hammer’s black urethane because of its ability to maintain continuous backend motion on these types of lanes.
Which one I should buy?
Purple Urethane: The purple urethane bowling ball is best for when you bowl on medium-heavy oil patterns and want to make a big move at the pocket with a powerful hook.
Even though this ball was designed to work great on medium-heavy oil patterns, it will also perform quite well on fresh house shots with long or lighter oil.
Black Urethane: The Hammer black urethane will win in longer and heavier conditions like the ones you find at most bowling centers.
It’s best for when you want to make a move at the pocket and maintain a strong and continuous backend motion on heavy oil.
Are urethane bowling balls good?
Yes, the bowling balls are some of the best that you can purchase today.
This type of coverstock is typically used on house shots with very little oil, so it’s able to maintain its strong motion on longer patterns with medium-heavy or heavy oil conditions.
Which Hammer bowling ball hooks the most?
The Absolut Hook is a high-performance bowling ball that will provide you with a lot of hook potential.
This is another type of coverstock, so it’s very similar to the purple and black urethanes discussed above.
The Hammer Uproar also has a strong urethane coverstock and can create an impressive amount of backend motion on medium-heavy oil patterns.
Is the purple hammer symmetrical?
Yes, the Hammer purple has a very symmetrical core design, which makes it very easy to control on the lane.
Is the black hammer asymmetrical?
Yes, The Hammer black is also available in an asymmetric design, allowing you to choose between various hook potential and backend motion types.
This ball features a strong and high RG symmetrical core, with an asymmetric Companion core.
What are urethane bowling balls used for?
They are most commonly used on house shots with very little oil because of their ability to maintain continuous backend motion.
This is possible due to the high friction coefficient created by the urethane coverstock, compared to other types of bowling ball coverstocks like reactive resin and particle.
The balls are also used on longer oil patterns because they can create a lot of hooks behind the pocket.
This is why many bowlers will take these urethane bowling balls into heavier lane conditions that typically require a more angular ball motion to navigate successfully.
Urethane balls are commonly preferred in these cases because they provide the most total hook potential when compared to other coverstocks.
Do pro bowlers use urethane?
Yes, many professional bowlers are using these balls to take advantage of the total hook potential that this type of coverstock can generate.
One example is Jason Belmonte, who uses The Hammer Uproar on heavier oil conditions where he needs to make a big move at the pocket.
What is the advantage of a urethane bowling ball?
These bowling balls have strong and continuous backend motion, making them a good choice for bowlers who want to make a big move at the pocket on oil patterns that are medium-heavy or even heavy.
These balls will maintain their strong angular momentum down the lane, allowing you to carry strikes into the back part of the lane.
Are all urethane bowling balls the same?
No, it’s important to remember that the urethane coverstocks found on these bowling balls are actually quite different.
For example, the Hammer black is more aggressive than the purple version because of its higher coefficient of friction.
This results in better hook potential at the back end, allowing you to make a stronger move at the pocket.
Urethane bowling balls are commonly preferred for medium-heavy and heavier oil patterns, as opposed to reactive resin or particle bowling balls that require a smoother slide at the backend of the lane.
Conclusion
The Hammer purple is the best choice for when you bowl in medium-heavy oil conditions while maintaining a high hook potential, whereas the black will win in longer conditions like most bowling centers.
So if you find yourself bowling on long oil patterns frequently then it’s best to choose the Hammer black urethane.
If your condition is medium-heavy then you should go with the purple urethane.
Jerry Coleman is a professional bowler and experienced bowling blogger. He founded and owns the www.voelkersbowling.net website, which provides news and information about the sport of bowling. Jerry has competed in numerous tournaments over the years and has won several awards for his bowling skills.