Hammer Black Pearl Urethane Bowling Ball

The answer to the Pba‘s urethane ban is here 78 hardness black hammer pearl. If you don’t bowl PBA events and like throwing Urethane is will be a great ball for you. It doesn’t hook as much as the purple so this is the perfect ball down from the purple. If you’re bowling the PBA this is a great replacement for the purple your only going to be about 2 or 3 boards right of where you would start with the purple.

I drilled the much-anticipated Hammer 78D Black Pearl urethane to be a little weaker version of the legendary Purple Pearl Urethane. I put my favorite urethane layout on this one, 4” x 25 to get a true baseline read of what this ball does. I use my urethane exclusively on sport shots, and this one really shines when you want to play straighter, or close to the gutter. The 78D Black Pearl urethane is about 1-2 feet longer than the Purple Pearl urethane, and 3-4 boards less. The shape is a little more angular, or at least as angular as urethane can be, which is still way less than resin alternatives. I have used the 78D Black Pearl on Cheetah 35’, Alcatraz 38’, and Aalborg 35'. I have found that when they are fresh this ball shines, I put it down to 360 grit and it rolls and picks up fantastically. The cover takes to surface changes well, as I have used it from 360 up to 2000 with no issues at all. As the lanes transition and this ball doesn’t see enough friction through the mid-lane to carry like it has been doing so well, that is when I switch to my Purple Pearl urethane, move 2-3 in with my feet, and use that extra angle to get the corner pins out with the stronger ball. The 78D Black Pearl urethane is the PERFECT compliment to the Purple Pearl urethane, and if you bowl a lot of sport patterns like I do, it is well worth having this one in your bag. Order your 78D Black Pearl urethane now from Bowler Builders Pro Shop and pro shops everywhere! Nothing hits like a Hammer!

As a PBA member, I anxiously awaited this ball. I throw 15-lb. equipment and recently had a lot of success with this ball at a PBA event. It is different than the Purple Hammer, and it should be given its hardness. However, that’s pretty much where the differences end.



This ball needs a lot of surface to create a similar shape as the Purple Hammer. Don’t be afraid to hit with the 360 or lower grit sanding pad to get the ball to start up earlier. Urethane does have a different shape than reactive and you want a urethane ball to start up earlier.



This ball allows you to play more up the boards or straighter on the lane. It also helps you keep the ball in play. Use it on shorter-length patterns or on high-friction lane surfaces where you want the ball to slow down a bit.



If you are competing in PBA competition, you will absolutely want to have this ball (or two of them) in your bag. If you love the Purple Hammer, this is a great companion to that ball!