- Black Widow 2.0

First Impressions
The Hammer Black Widow 2.0 returns to the roots of the legendary Black Widow series and shows up in the classic black-and-red color scheme of the original. At its heart is the proven Gas Mask core combined with a carbon fiber outer core for added durability and power, wrapped in the Aggression Solid coverstock with a 500, 1000, 2000 Siaair finish. The specs on the 15-pound ball show a 2.500 RG, a 0.058 differential and an asymmetry rating of 0.016. This combination should deliver the characteristic wide, continuous ball motion with a big angle in the backend that makes high scores possible.
Comparison
Compared to the Hammer Web MB, the Black Widow 2.0 hooked earlier at a similar surface prep. Among earlier Hammer models it sits closer to the Scandal than to the Deadly Aim, since both the Scandal and the Black Widow 2.0 have matte surfaces while the Deadly Aim was polished. The Scandal was considered a high performance ball, whereas the Black Widow 2.0 is classified as upper mid performance. Many bowlers describe it as the successor that comes closest to the original Black Widow — as a strong asymmetric solid it is very clean through the heads and strong but predictable off the breakpoint.
On the Lanes
The Black Widow 2.0 is designed for medium to heavy oil conditions and should provide enough traction without compromising ball motion. In testing it proved especially effective on medium patterns, where it showed a combination of strong midlane hook and a big backend move. Bowlers were able to start deep and send the ball out to board 8 at the breakpoint, using the oil to get the ball down the lane. Its versatility shows in how well it responds to surface changes — from 500 grit all the way to a high polish — which makes it a very adaptable ball that works with just about any player type. Bowlers report excellent control across a range of lane conditions, from the beginning to the end of the session.