- Obsession

First Impressions
The Hammer Obsession comes in a striking black, pink and burgundy color scheme and was released on February 18, 2021. Technically it is built around the asymmetric Obsession core with a 2.468 RG and a high 0.050 differential, which produces high flare potential. The coverstock is the newly formulated Envy Solid CFI, in which the shell has been reinforced with carbon fiber. The factory surface is finished with 500 and 1500 Siaair Micro Pad, and DOT technology allows for flexible drilling options.
Comparison
In a direct comparison, the Obsession offers more hook and a sharper move at the end of the lane than the Obsession Tour, positioning itself three boards inside of the Hammer Black Widow 2.0. The ball ranks among the strongest on the market and stands on the same level as the 900 Global Reality, the Motiv Jackal Legacy and the Brunswick Results Solid. Compared to the Obsession Tour, its differential is 0.016 points higher, which gives it noticeably more flare, more hook and a more aggressive reaction. One user describes the ball characteristics as very similar to the Hammer Redemption Solid.
On the Lanes
The Obsession should deliver an aggressive midlane reaction and strong backend motion on heavy oil conditions. The design is clearly intended for heavy oil patterns, where bowlers need help generating friction. The ball performs best on heavy oil patterns and should mainly be used in those environments. On medium to light oil conditions it has little use — the Obsession Tour is the better fit there. The low RG core system should produce a very quickly revving ball motion off the hand. The ball requires regular maintenance, since it loses performance over time, but a treatment with a 1500 or 2000 pad can restore its liveliness.