Hammer Black Widow 2.0 Review And Its Alternative

Hammer has re-energized their OG Black Widow with the Black Widow 2.0. Have you bowled with this one yet? If you consider yourself a true hammerhead, you should know what is up with the 2.0 version of Black Widow. Right after the ball was released, it got sold out almost everywhere. If you still haven’t had the chance to get your hands on this ball, you should be aware of its specifications and characteristics thoroughly. So is the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 just as good as other bowling balls from the Black Widow line? Or is it better? Read this detailed review to the end to find out!

Why is this bowling ball the best?

The Black Widow 2.0 is just what you expected in the original Black Widow. This asymmetrical ball is ready to provide top-notch performance with enough traction and continuous motion for lots of angles and of course, high scores. For medium to heavy oil patterns, it will be a mistake not to choose the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 bowling ball. 

Features

Coverstock

If you think you have not encountered a super aggressive coverstock yet, that is going to change forever with the Aggression Solid reactive coverstock of Hammer Black widow 2.0. Unlike other recent Black Widows, the 2.0 is actually showing some special moves that you didn’t even think were possible from the Black Widow line.

The Aggression cover is making the ball much cleaner through the fronts. This is a very important factor for balls to move smoothly. When the fronts are clean, a bowling ball moves much better at the breakpoint and then to the pockets. When the Black Widow 2.0 rolls, it stores its energy for the backend and this is when you see the aggression of the coverstock that is needed for knocking down the pins.

Although most solid reactive balls are great at reading the lane, the Black Widow 2.0 is a bit different. It takes its time to read the mid-lane. This is where the ball won’t be as early as other Widows. You would love to reach out to Reactive solids like the Black Widow 2.0 because of the control you will have over the ball’s movement and reaction. Yeah, this Black Widow lets you do that. No wonder why everyone is saying that this particular piece of Solid Reactive bowling ball will make a nice investment.

Factory Finish

Okay, let’s talk about the coverstock finish of Black Widow 2.0 now. The Aggression solid outer shell is finished at 500/1000/2000 Siaair Micro Pad which is its factory finish. Considering the construction of the coverstock, the matte finish will work best on heavy oil patterns. So to get the best results to keep the ball rolling only on medium-heavy lane patterns.

The way this ball retains traction in medium to heavy lane conditions is truly amazing. Why? Because it does all of that without sacrificing the ball’s motion. If you think your bowling ball needs a bit more sanding, you can always customize that according to your choice. No worries, it won’t hamper your bowling ball’s performance.

Core

The Hammer Black Widow 2.0 ball needs no further introduction for its weight block. And the reason behind that? Well, just like other Hammer balls, this one also has the legendary Asymmetrical Gas Mask core. On top of that, this Gas Mask core is surrounded by the Carbon Fiber outer core that adds much more durability and insane power.

I believe that the asymmetrical Gas Mask core is what made the Hammer bowling balls so popular. Bowling balls like Black Widow Pink, Black Widow Ghost Pearl, Black Widow Gold, Black Widow Urethane, Dark Legend, Dark Legend Solid, and so on. Because this core has large flare potential, the Black Widow 2.0 bowling ball is packed with versatility. The core is what ensures the exceptional backend bite which you don’t see in too many bowling balls these days.

The core of Black Widow 2.0 has an asymmetrical shape that looks like a “gas mask”. It has an RG of 2.50″, a total differential of 0.058″, and a mass bias differential of 0.016″ which is exactly the same as Hammer Black Widow Ghost Pearl. The abovementioned aggressive solid coverstock and this gas mask core are a match made in heaven, no doubt!

The Black Widow 2.0 is designed to adjust to various entry angles so that you can roll over on any board you want it to. You will be surprised to see how strong and continuous this ball is down lane. The combination of RG and differential proves that the asymmetrical core is not only good, but great at retaining energy, ensuring flawless hooks, and tremendous pin-hitting ability to keep your performance at its peak. 

Color

One of the most interesting factors about the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 is that it is an identical twin to the original Black Widow bowling ball. This is because the 2.0 ball shares the same color scheme as the original Hammer Black Widow Ball. But, don’t worry, they don’t perform the same.

The Black Widow 2.0 has a solid black body with some hints of red. The specifications say it has red because the spider logo is engraved on the ball and it is painted in red. Because the logo is embedded on the surface of the bowling ball, there’s no way it will ever wear off. I absolutely love the color black and there are many of you who are just like me. We are gonna love this bowling ball for its gothic appearance.

Hook Potential

The Black Widow 2.0 is the piece of a bowling ball that your bag has been missing because it is not like other Black Widows. Hammer has revived this bowling ball to make a player undefeatable, no doubt about that. So, before I tell you about that ball’s hook potential, Big Caution— Strong curves ahead.

The perfect tango of low RG (2.50) and high differential (0.058) is something we have previously seen in the Hammer Black Widow Ghost Pearl ball. Due to these Differential and RG combo, the Black Widow 2.0 makes an excellent candidate for strong and aggressive hooking on the lane. No, the hooks are not going to be terrifyingly angular, but they would be strong enough to get you through the fronts as clean as possible and then make its aggressive move for maximum backend before rolling toward the pins.

Once you have the chance of playing with the Black Widow 2.0 bowling ball, you are gonna love the angularity when the hooking takes place. It will prove that it is indeed a stronger hooking high-performance bowling ball. Just like other Black Widow bowling balls by Hammer, it is just enough strong to fly the pins off the lane.

So do you want a bowling ball that can provide a bit of delayed, yet aggressive mid-lane motion and then smooth continuation? Then, you will be glad to have the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 bowling ball. The ball will never be weak as retains energy like nothing else and hit the bowling pins like a “Hammer”.

If you have a league or tournament coming,  know that the Black Widow 2.0 is going to handle medium to heavy oil with plenty of power unleashed at the pocket. Don’t forget to try it out on multiple patterns and see how it reacts to these patterns. My assumption is that it will have readable motion, smooth entry angles, and excellent carry power. These are just the things you need to win your upcoming league/tournaments. I promise you, dear Hammerheads, that you are not going to be disappointed with this ball’s overall performance.

Breakpoint Shape

One thing I have noticed about Hammer Black Widow 2.0 is that it doesn’t hook exactly like the Ghost Pearl. The Ghost Pearl hooks more than Black Widow 2.0. But the Black Widow 2.0 still does enough as an asymmetrical bowling ball to get you through anything. So let’s take a look at the breakpoint shape the bowling ball has to offer.

Thanks to Hammer for adding the iconic Gas Mask asymmetrical core on the inside and a stronger solid reactive coverstock on the outside. Many bowlers are already familiar with what to expect from the core. So naturally, you can expect to see some strong backend reactions. The ball’s effortless motion is going to reflect other Black Widow bowling balls. The Black Widow is engineered for Aggressive Backends no matter how you throw the bowling ball down the lane. Just know that the curves will have lots of aggression.

What We Like

– While most Black Widow bowling balls are designed for pro-level bowlers, the Black Widow 2.0 is ready to serve the bowlers who are great at bowling as well as those who are trying to get better. So this bowling ball is suitable for bowlers who are constantly trying to improve their bowling skills.

– Asymmetrical bowling balls are known to be unpredictable. But that’s not the case for Hammer Black widow 2.0. Every time I threw this bowling ball I have been delivered with predictable ball motion and expected pin-to-ball reaction. Plus, the ball is also very precise when t comes to hitting the targeted pocket/pin.

– As I have said before, the cove-core duo is a perfect match. They are like soulmates! While the core makes your ball’s motion unstoppable, the coverstock reacts powerfully. You gotta appreciate this kind of ball performance because it’s rare.

– Like an ideal asymmetrical bowling ball, Black Widow 2.0 doesn’t lose its energy as it travels down the lane. It keeps the energy untouched and manages to hit the pins with maximum force. The smooth and clean backend motion is one of the important factors that contribute to the ball’s overall performance All of these ensure your chances of more strikes.

What We Don’t Like

– This bowling ball may not be your cup of tea if dry lanes are what you’re comfortable with more. Because the coverstock is designed to perform better on medium-heavier lane conditions, you better not throw the Black Widow 2.0 on a dry lane pattern. If you notice any change in ball reaction, it’s because the lane is breaking up, and it’s time you switch to a dry-lane-friendly bowling ball.

Hammer Black widow 2.0 vs Legend vs Ghost Bowling Ball

If you put these three bowling balls— Hammer Black Widow 2.0, Legend, and Ghost Pearl side by side for comparison you will find lots of similarities and some dissimilarities at the same time.

– First and foremost, all three balls have asymmetrical Gas Mask cores.

– Each has different types of reactive coverstocks. Black Widow 2.0 is Solid, Ghost is Pearl, and Legend is Hybrid.

– Both Ghost and Legend have polished finishes whereas Black Widow 2.0 bowling ball has a matte finish.

– The Black Widow 2.0 and Legend is considered high-performance bowling ball whereas the Ghost Pearl is a pro-level bowling ball.

– Both Black Widow 2.0 and Pearl are designed for Medium-Heavy lane conditions. The Legend is specifically designed for heavy lane conditions.

– Ghost Pearl features the Aggression Pearl coverstock and Black Widow 2.0 has the solid version of the Aggression coverstock. The Legend features NBT Hybrid coverstock.

– Black Widow 2.0 bowling ball has an Aggressive Backend breakpoint shape, Legend has a Big Move breakpoint shape, and Ghost Peal has the Aggressive Midlane & Backend breakpoint shape.

Conclusion

So there you go, my friends! Now you know all the necessary information regarding the Black Widow 2.0 by Hammer. If you have been anticipating buying a new bowling ball and the characteristics of Black Widow 2.0 matches your need, you shouldn’t delay anymore. Grab this bowling ball right now and see the magic! If you play it right, your bowling score will significantly improve and so as your bowling skills. So become a part of the Black Widow squad today! Good luck!