- Spike Orange/Blue

First Impressions
The Hammer Spike Orange/Blue was released in July 2013 and forms a distinctive cornerstone of the established Spike series. Visually, the ball catches the eye immediately with its striking blue and orange color scheme. Inside works the symmetrical Nasty core, which shows a high 2.56 RG and a very strong 0.054 differential. This specific weight distribution is designed to come into rotation mechanically very late, but then to build up massive flare potential. This core is wrapped in the GTR III hybrid coverstock. This cover combines the properties of solid and pearl materials and is technologically based on the proven cover blend of the high-performance Taboo series. Out of the box, the surface is sanded in stages with 800 Abranet as well as 1000 and 2000 Abralon before being brought to a high gloss with Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish. In combination with the high RG, this smooth preparation should guarantee that the ball glides through the heads completely effortlessly and loses no energy prematurely. As soon as the ball reaches the end of the oil pattern, the dynamic core unleashes its power and creates an aggressive yet still controllable move toward the pocket. The direct interplay of polished hybrid cover and late-rolling core aims at very clean skid with an angular finishing reaction.
Comparison In a direct comparison with the later Hammer Spike Black/Blue, which uses a pure pearl cover, the Orange/Blue hybrid version shows somewhat more balanced ball motion. While the Black/Blue is designed primarily for an extremely sharp skid-flip effect, the hybrid cover of the Orange/Blue reads the lane a touch earlier and produces a more arcing, more controlled finishing move. If you bring in an established benchmark ball from another brand like the Storm Phaze II as a reference, the enormous differences in design philosophy become clear. With its matte solid cover and a considerably lower RG, the Storm Phaze II digs into the oil extremely early, which creates very steady and predictable traction over the entire lane. The Hammer Spike Orange/Blue, by contrast, behaves much more passively on wet boards and saves its power for the contact with the first friction at the edge of the oil pattern. Compared to weaker symmetrical entry-level balls like the Brunswick Rhino, the Spike Orange/Blue shows considerably more aggressive stand-up dynamics and a noticeably more pronounced hook thanks to its extremely high differential, once it reaches the dry part of the lane. Its strength lies in generating length without giving up any punch on the backend.
On the Lanes The ideal application range for the Hammer Spike Orange/Blue is on lanes with medium to low oil volume or on heavily played patterns. The physical construction of high RG and highly polished cover makes it an excellent choice when the boards in the front half of the lane have already dried up and models with rough surfaces would grab far too early. As soon as the unavoidable transition sets in over the course of a tournament and the oil gets carried down, this ball allows you to move your line deep inside. The clean skid phase ensures that the rotational energy is preserved deep in the core and only released abruptly on the backend, which is absolutely required for excellent carry at the pin deck. If you throw the ball at somewhat lower speed, you'll benefit greatly from the natural length, since the ball does not go into the hook unintentionally early and lose power that way. On freshly oiled or extremely wet patterns, however, the ball reaches its limits, because the polished hybrid cover does not find enough hold in the heavy oil and the ball slides slightly past the breakpoint, which leads to weak hits. It is therefore a specialist for medium conditions, when late reaction and clean length are called for.