- Spike Black/Gold

First Impressions
The Hammer Spike Black/Gold was introduced in the summer of 2015 as the newest addition to the established Spike series and shows up in an elegant combination of black and gold pearl. Inside this bowling ball works the proven symmetrical Nasty core, known in expert circles as the Widow Nasty. This core is characterized by a strikingly high 2.56 RG and a very strong 0.054 differential. This specific weight distribution means the ball mechanically revs up very late, but then builds massive flare potential as soon as it reaches the end of the oil pattern. Wrapped around this dynamic core is the GTR IV hybrid coverstock, a further developed shell blend based on the proven Grand Theft Reactive technology. Out of the box, the surface is prepped with 800 and 2000 Abralon and then brought to a high shine with a coat of Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish. In combination with the high RG, this extremely smooth surface should guarantee that the ball glides completely effortlessly through the heads and loses no energy prematurely. A structural特 feature of this generation is the use of a carbon-fiber-reinforced outer core, which should maximize durability and mechanical hitting power at the pins. The interplay of polished hybrid cover and late-rolling core aims at very clean length with an angular yet still controllable reaction at the breakpoint.
Comparison In a direct comparison, the Hammer Spike Black/Gold proves to be the perfect link within its own model family. Compared to the original Hammer Spike, which had a matte surface throughout, the Black/Gold version offers considerably more length and a sharper change of direction in the backend. Compared to the Hammer Spike Black/Blue, which acts as a pure pearl ball, the hybrid cover of the Black/Gold reads the lane a touch earlier and creates a more arcing, more continuous end motion instead of an abrupt skid-flip behavior. If you bring in a strongly established benchmark ball such as the Storm Phaze II as a cross-brand reference, the fundamental differences in design philosophy become clear. With its strong solid cover and lower RG, the Storm Phaze II digs into the oil extremely early and creates very steady, forgiving traction. The Hammer Spike Black/Gold, on the other hand, behaves much more passively on wet boards in the front third of the lane and saves all of its power for the contact with the first friction at the edge of the oil pattern. Compared to pure entry-level balls with symmetrical cores, the Spike Black/Gold shows significantly more aggressive stand-up dynamics thanks to its extremely high differential, along with a distinctly sharper hook into the pocket as soon as it reaches the dry area.
On the Lanes The ideal practical application for the Hammer Spike Black/Gold is clearly found on lanes with medium to low oil volume or on heavily played patterns. The construction of a high RG and the high-gloss polished cover makes it an outstanding tool when the boards in the front part of the lane have already dried up and models with sanded surfaces would grab far too early. As soon as the unavoidable transition sets in over the course of a tournament and the oil is carried down from the heads toward the breakpoint, the ball allows the bowler to choose wide angles and move the game deep inside. The very clean skid phase ensures that the rotational energy is preserved in the core and released explosively only in the last third of the lane, which is essential for excellent carry at the pin deck. If you have a low ball speed, this ball is an extremely valuable option, since its natural length keeps it from transitioning into the hook too early and losing power. If you have an extremely high rev rate, you can use it as a reliable choice for the last games of a series, when maximum control over length generation is required. On fresh and heavy oil, however, the Hammer Spike Black/Gold reaches its physical limits, because the polished cover finds no sufficient hold in dense oil, which leads to flat hits in the pocket.