Hammer Black Widow 3.0 Review
The Black Widow 3.0 delivers hook-in-a-box motion that defined the Widow line at $169.95. Video reviews inside.
one of the most anticipated bowling balls and we're only in January of 2024 the Black Widow 3.0 what's up guys Bruns Nick's back and I'm going to talk about one of the best bowling balls of all time having a new ball in the line the Black Widow 3.0 now the Black Widow 3.0 has hk22 aggression solid cover so hk22 on this solid resin it's going to be a little bit different than the 2.0 hybrid which was one of the best balls of 2023
we'll see if this one repeats as 2024 expectations are super high so I can't wait to see what this one does on the lanes with specto running of course but before we get to all that please subscribe to my channel if you haven't already now let's see black widow 3.0 in action all right Black Widow 3.0 time hk22 aggression solid original gas mask core we'll go over the specs RG 2.50 differential
058 and an intermediate of 016 obviously bowling on Crown Jewel pattern just a house shot nothing crazy nothing special so original gas mask core we got hk22 solid this ball should be pretty mean hopefully still length and flip I'm expecting that classic sweeping Black Widow motion I'm going to try it from all different angles out and move my way in let's get started I got specto
running so we're going to start it kind of straight up the track a little bit and then we'll make our way in change hand positions along the way in speed oh my my goodness I thought that ball was just going to roll forward and mellow out it did anything but that that was impressive I wasn't even that much around the side of the ball that was
pretty much up the ball first shot a lot of flare as to be expected uh about a qu inch 516 separation between the flare rings but uh if that's the first shot I'm almost scared to see what it does when I move in but we're going to do it I'm going to throw another shot out here first cuz uh I want to see if that was a fluke or not cuz that was first shot I've ever thrown with it and that was
incredible here it comes oh my gosh ah I'm at a lost for words I'm normally the Got The Gift of Gab but playing it straight that ball has all sorts of pop on the back uh yeah let's uh let's start moving it in I'm going to move five boards that's what we do start it out and we move five board increments talk about it some more yeah I'm excited to see the specto numbers
and we'll show them after every shot so we're five boards left now from where we started little bit Inside Out swing but nothing crazy this uh New Black Widow 3.0 I thought nothing could top the 2.0 hybrid you know normally on a big ASM ball that's solid they don't get a lot of use but a
lot of them kind of burn up early and roll forward this one ain't rolling forward this one's rolling right through the pins that aboutall sick all right that's three shots I've kind of jaw dropped there let's keep going let's do it again colors on it are classic black orange kind of what you expect from hammer and the oil a little bit longer
oh man what have sent a scout at that yeah I think I got that in just a little bit kind of gave me another foot or so length and uh ball made the corner snapped everything out but so far from straighter angles and a slight inside out looking pretty dang good right now so let's move another five we're going to be 10 left of where we begin yeah this thing's just flaring like crazy but obviously it's a good flare because it's
not rolling out not rolling forward still got a whole lot of power for the back all right so we moved five this is going to be 10 10 boards might need to slow down a little bit but we'll see I'm going to stay aggressive that's out early ah get it ah all right yeah I sent that a little wide that's all right need to keep my
eyes in a little bit not try to force it out to the right that's going to let it ride the oil a little bit longer yeah I think that'll be the key I mean this is obviously a ball to start with or the 2.0 hybrid where you could start with it but it was definitely a ball that once it start to broke down you need to move in poke around the pattern that's the ball you did it with so if this Ball's better from out we'll see there we
go yeah yeah yeah just wait on it just a little bit longer not try to force it down the lane because the ball gets pretty easy length hk22 that's what that cover stock base does and the ball is not super dull either 500 1,000 2,000 is the Surface Prep so I mean it's got some teeth to it but it's not charcoal by any means it's just a nice Sheen cover all right let's throw one more shot there got kind of a
wide bad rack here so hopefully we can get through the pins but we'll see get up got through it just fine all right time for another move moving another five we're going to be 15 left of where we begin this is where we're really going to start opening our launch angle up getting around the side of it some
more and bringing the speed down all right so we're 15 left of where we started big Bender here a little bit but we'll just uh kind of keep the same tempo as before yeah yeah you can see as you try to open up the angles on the big bowling ball like this is it'll get back but as
it interacts to the pins you know instead of a split the 89 hit it kind of kicked 10 out kind of late hit on 10 so is that bad thing no but that's just one thing you got to watch for as you start moving in and in is you don't want to get too far in too quick where the ball's kind of laboring and not closing that Circle so you want to close it and get to the pins thr another shot there I can probably bring the speed
down just a smidge yeah all right give it that Big Bend send it Coast to Coast you know where the 2.0 hybrid might have reacted a little bit quicker off that spot and got more of the pocket flush and could have carried this ball is definitely a beast playing in the first two to three angles here and now we're starting to see it labored
us a little bit I'm going to try one more shot in the same Zone one last trick I'm just going to get around the side of it a little bit more little more axis rotation to get around the side yep yep and that's really what's made this ball so good for so many years I mean we're coming up on 20 years on Black Widow with this gas mask core is it is so responsive to those kind of changes
those little minor changes you do with the hand creates a whole big difference on the on the pins all right last move moving another five we're going to be 20 left and I think I'm going to have to do a little bit of the same stuff I just did keeping the speed down I don't have to force this ball through the front ball has not actually jumped on me once so super clean cover lot of lot of backend
response come on ball get it all right all right I think I can do better than that fact I know I can do better than that I didn't catch it all at the bottom I'm going to wait on it a little bit more get around the side of it let that ball do the thing cuz I want to get this ball through the pins that's my goal every shot split the 89 leave a nine pin leave an eight pin
something that hurts my feelings yep yeah that's so so good when all you have to do is just adjust the position a little bit at the bottom get around the side and the ball just responds it's really fun to throw all right let's throw another shot or two one from in there and then one back right a little bit where I was really excited with
it but yeah let's get this ball through maybe ride the oil line a little bit longer not try to whip it on all the way Coast to Coast that's just lovely so good going throw one more shot I'm going to move it back in fact I'm going to move it back to uh the second position where I was five left of where I started so standing on the Big Dot
that's where I like to live I don't know about y'all but Big Dot equals home sweet home let's throw a shot let's finish this out cuz this has been a fun video black widows love throwing them love seeing new ones we only get about one a year get it out of there stubborn I tell you stubborn obviously I've broken them down just in
this one video so I'm going to make an adjustment of two in one left left a pretty high four pin there make sure to keep that speed up let's get this out of there so two [Music] left uh-oh missed in didn't matter look how good that ball recovers in the oil too so that's going to do it that's my
review the Black Widow through 3.0 fantastic ball eye opening ball reaction from the get-go from from out from in this ball is super versatile I can't stress that enough it's going to be good for all different kinds of players all types of speeds all kind of oil conditions so if you like this video please comment below let me know what you thought of the Black Widow 3.0 Please Subscribe if you haven't already talk to you guys soon
Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Testing revealed that the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 is an aggressive reactive solid that demands respect on medium-heavy oil patterns. Independent reviewers observed significant hook potential straight out of the box, noting that the HK22 coverstock produces substantial backend reaction once the ball reads the lane. On fresh oil, the ball exhibited considerable aggression through the pins with minimal deflection, though the aggressive surface required a break-in period before settling into a more predictable motion. Comparisons to the Black Widow 2.0 Hybrid showed a marked difference in lane response—the 3.0 Solid generated noticeably more angular motion and required more precise positioning, while the hybrid variant tracked more comfortably through the fronts and proved easier to play straighter.
The testing showed the 3.0 Solid benefits from surface adjustments depending on lane conditions and playstyle. Reviewers found that out-of-box aggression could be toned down through polish or box surface adjustments, making the ball more manageable for extended play. Despite this, the ball retained strong backend motion characteristics—one reviewer noted it performs similarly to heavier benchmark balls in its category, with the capability to handle significant oil volume. The performance at the $169.95 price point generated notable commentary, with testers suggesting the value proposition is compelling given the amount of aggressive motion and striking power delivered in this price range.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Black Widow 3.0 is built for bowlers who throw on heavier oil patterns and need a ball that can combat significant lane volume without compromising hitting power. Bowlers with moderate to higher rev rates will find this ball particularly useful, as the solid coverstock and asymmetric core combination creates the angular motion needed to drive through heavy oil and reach the pocket with authority. If you’re transitioning from lighter oils to sport shot conditions, or if you bowl in leagues with fresh oil patterns, this ball delivers the performance needed to stay competitive without excessive adjustment.
This ball is less ideal for bowlers seeking subtlety or those still developing their technique on house shots. The aggressive nature of the 3.0 Solid means it requires better fundamentals and more intentional positioning to maximize its strengths—it will expose inconsistencies in speed, axis rotation, or targeting. However, for the serious bowler willing to commit to surface adjustments and positioning strategy, the Black Widow 3.0 offers exceptional striking power and control on the conditions it’s designed to handle.
The Pros
- • Gas Mask core with HK22 Aggression Solid = pure power
- • Each Widow release more popular than the last
- • Devastating pin carry on medium-heavy oil
The Cons
- • Too aggressive for medium-light conditions
- • Solid coverstock requires more surface maintenance
Who Is This Ball For?
The Black Widow 3.0 delivers hook-in-a-box motion that defined the Widow line at $169.95. Video reviews inside.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
More Videos (5)
THE KING IS HERE! | Hammer Black Widow 3.0 | The Hype
The Hype
HOOK in A Box!!! Hammer Black Widow 3.0 Review!
The House Bowling
Hammer Black Widow 3.0 In-Depth Review w/ Eric Harmsen!
Real Experience Bowling
Hammer Black Widow 3.0 | Kai Evans
Hammer Bowling
Hammer Black Widow 3.0 | Lauren Russo
Hammer BowlingVerified Bowler Reviews (292 reviews, 4.7/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers say the Black Widow 3.0 is a very strong, versatile solid ball that excels on medium to heavy oil conditions. The HK22 coverstock provides excellent traction through oil while maintaining strong backend reaction and pin carry. Many praise its smooth transition and ability to recover from missed shots, though some find it hooks more than expected.
AI summary of 292 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
So excited to have this ball drilled and throw a few. I recent bought the black widow hybrid in a heavier weight so hoping that I can get more revs and speed.
United States
Ball was shipped poorly Received the ball with a big chip on it Now have to deal with the problems with returning it and getting a refund
United States
Great ball and a lot of bowlers have grabbed it and are really happy with it.
GA, United States
Went to a weekend tournament out of town and shot 810 on day 2! Loving this ball!!
Illinois, United States
Amazing and very strong ball I recommend it if you have mid to little rev rate it will work for you instead of you for it… I have a pretty high rev rate but it worked perfectly when I killed my hand some
United States
Showing 1–5 of 95 verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil condition is the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 best for?
Is the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 good for beginners?
What is the RG and differential of the Hammer Black Widow 3.0?
How much does the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 cost?
What type of bowler should use the Hammer Black Widow 3.0?
Explore More Reviews
Other Medium-Heavy Oil Balls
More from Hammer
Similar Price Range
Never Miss a Release
Join serious bowlers getting the weekly data dump on new ball releases and performance data.