- Rip’D Solid

First Impressions
The Hammer Rip'D Solid was introduced in February 2018 as a powerful addition to the high-performance line and shows up in a striking color combination of blue, black and orange. At the heart of the ball sits the asymmetric Rip'D core, which combines technological elements of the proven Scandal and Gauntlet cores. With an RG of 2.48 and a differential of 0.054 at 15 pounds, this ball is designed to rev up early and produce a high flare potential. The cover is the Aggression Solid CFI coverstock, a carbon-fiber-reinforced material blend known for extreme durability and improved energy transfer. Out of the box the ball comes with a dull 500/1000/2000 Abralon finish, which underlines its readiness to generate friction immediately even on high oil volume.
Comparison Compared directly to the regular Hammer Rip'D with its hybrid cover, the Hammer Rip'D Solid shows a clearly earlier reaction in the midlane and a considerably smoother, more controlled arc to the breakpoint. While the hybrid version skids through the heads and reacts more angular, the solid reads the lane much earlier. Compared to the Storm Phaze II, the Hammer Rip'D Solid offers a stronger overall motion and more traction in deep oil thanks to its asymmetric core. Next to the Roto Grip Halo, the Hammer Rip'D Solid is somewhat more continuous in the back end of the lane, while the Halo often goes for an even more aggressive change of direction. Against the Hammer Gauntlet, the Rip'D Solid offers improved continuation through the pins, which comes down to the optimized core geometry and the carbon fiber technology in the cover.
On the Lanes The Hammer Rip'D Solid is an ideal choice for heavy oil conditions and long oil patterns. Thanks to its rough surface and low RG, it should keep the ball from shooting past the target in the heads and instead create a stable foundation for the hook into the pocket. If you throw the ball fast, it gives you the security you need to still find enough reaction on slick lanes. On a typical house shot it should be used as long as there is still plenty of oil in the middle of the lane, since once the transition starts it can tend to lose energy too early. In those situations it helps you play the pocket precisely with a controlled, arcing motion. Because of the robust construction, carry stays stable even when the lane starts to change and a move to a weaker cover isn't advisable yet.