Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball Review
The Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball wraps a Gas Mask asymmetric core in plastic, creating the strongest-hooking spare ball on the market. Watch the review.
what's up guys it's me packy and today we are here at wichita state with my black widow visible the black widow core and the black widow name has carried such a history throughout the past 10 15 years of just bowling balls and technology and bowling and today we have a plastic ball that's going to hook so i'm going to drill it up it's a spare ball or for me it's going to be more of a strike ball in those super super short patterns i'm going to drill it up here at wichita state and then i'm going to bring it to north rock and then bowl my best three game set i can with it uh kind of like a league night review so
hopefully i give you guys some good scores [Music] [Music] [Music]
with this black widow visible i laid it out 60 by 3 and 3 8 by 65 trying to get a lot of flare out of this thing since it is a plastic ball even though it has a big core i'm going to need to use almost all of that flare potential for this thing to hook just because the cover stock's plastic so i'm going to drill it up and i'm going to throw it out at north rock lanes and hopefully it hopefully can give me a little bit of shape out there and be a piece that i can use in my bag
[Music] so this is my layout on my black widow visible as i said it's 65 by 3 and 3 8 by 60. i'm gonna go throw it at north rock hopefully it strikes a little bit and can find its way into my bag because if it doesn't strike i'm assuming with this layout it's gonna hook a little too much to be a spare ball so let me know if you guys have ever used your spare ball as a strike shot so this will be my spare ball that i'm going to hopefully go and strike with so three games in north rock goal is 700 or better
comment down below what you think my three games are going to be to win a like from me because i have nothing to give away but what i do have to give away is my 60k subscriber giveaway and i'll let you uh i'll let you guys know a little bit more about that some of the details but one of the details is you have to be a subscriber of the channel so for the other detail uh catch you guys in the back half of the video but stay tuned to see how this ball looks all right so here we go frame one my black little spare ball i know i gotta throw it straight so i'm gonna line up very straight
first shot out the gate come on does that count as a messenger two for two oh my god it's barely hooking barely hooking just chopping them down
oh ringer so i mean if it is a spare ball it has to be able to make spares at least i'm through five frames with my black widow visible my black widow's spare ball as i like to call it and it's not really a spare ball right now it's a strike ball i'm using for strike shots it is it was four for the first four and then i wrapped a seven pin which is going to happen i'm using a spare ball i should be wrapping sevens it's not supposed to be hooking a ton however it
does look good and this is this is one of those balls that so as i go through my two game review this is one of those balls that's not meant to be uh used for a player like me a high high rep rate high ball speed kind of player it's meant to be used on those super drier conditions not this house shot kind of this house shot's a little slicker a little longer it's also meant to be used for maybe a slower ball speed and a higher rev rate someone who really just can't control i can't control some of the reactive balls in their bag and don't want to use urethane so this is going to be a great piece i'm four for five um even though
it's not exactly a piece for my ball speed which is around 15 or 16. i just want to see what happens in the back half of this game and then going into next game maybe i'll try something a little different oh that's so bad though like that one's on me that's just a horrible shot this one's gonna be a tough spare though
get that tent out baby come on just feels like i crossed the line oh that's gonna hug too much hold hook lean seven degrees of tilt eight degrees seven degrees pen's gotta lean seven and a half
degrees and now only in about four again good news spare ball still makes spares did someone say 255 game one with a spare ball north rock did north rock said that it wasn't me it was north rock game one with my black widow spare ball this ball can easily be used for strike shots when i miss a little left it actually hooks off that spot and then holds in the middle of the lane obviously it's going to hold its spare ball and then when i mess up lane that core that black widow core in the inside
of the ball actually tries to help it hook a little bit if i was a little smarter i'd probably hit it with a little bit of surface but i don't want to i don't want to knock that beautiful looking black widow cover off the ball because it might be one of those things where i'm going to leave the cover as is until i get that short short short pattern and i really need to crack this ball out and bring it to my arsenal during a weekend tournament but and game two i told you guys i'd do something a little different i'm gonna move like three or four left really up the ball speed i was throwing it pretty slow try and get right along that hook oil bumper over there on the house shot so if i
miss in it might hold a ton and if i miss left it might hook a bunch but i'm gonna move three or four left and see what happens hopefully hopefully what happens is more strikes but 255 game one out the gate of a two game set that's a really good start all right moving my feet three left here as promised was standing on seven now i'm standing on four no i was actually pretty good
ripper eight lucky strike so we are now halfway through game two of the two game set i have strike spare
three bagger the higher ball speed moving left it seemed to pay off it's making my ball go really high flush instead of that like light mixer that you guys saw almost all of last game where i'd get the the 10 out really late or a pin with lean on the seven game two is much different where it's going high high flush and you're seeing trip sixes instead of like week sevens and ten so hopefully i can put up a score here and get the 500 overall and that's hard hi
so if i strike out i'll hit 500 on them i need the next five push
dang so that was my black widow spare 213 the last game couple spares to end it uh they just started hooking a little too much to the outside but i think i've proven with game two that if you are a higher ball speed player you can definitely still get to the pocket and play right up against that edge of too much hook and you can move into that zone that you really haven't been able to move in for a while so you're gonna be able to keep hitting the pocket from
that zone unless uh you throw a horrible shot in the sixth frame like i did the big fours so with that being said thank you all for watching i appreciate you guys sticking around at the end of the video we have a 60k subscriber giveaway don't forget click that link down below and you must be a subscriber so while you're down there click that subscribe button and until the next video till the next challenge video peace [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] cause the party won't last forever
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Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Testing of the Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball revealed a straightforward, predictable ball motion well-suited to dry oil conditions. On the test pattern, independent reviewers observed that the polyester coverstock produced minimal hook, allowing the ball to travel cleanly down the boards with controllable backend motion. The asymmetric core provided enough differential to generate pin action without excessive angle changes, making it an uncomplicated option for bowlers seeking reliability over complexity.
The ball demonstrated consistency across multiple frames, producing multiple strikes when thrown with proper mechanics from similar starting positions (approximately the 17 board, targeting up the 5 board). Reviewers noted that while the Black Widow Viz-a-Ball did not always carry the 7 and 10 pins cleanly, it produced solid pocket hits and pin carry on full hits. The plastic coverstock proved durable through an extended game session, and the ball’s straightforward motion—described as a “point-and-shoot” approach—eliminated guesswork from the approach. At this price point, the performance delivery was consistent with expectations for a no-frills spare or practice ball.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball is ideal for bowlers who want an affordable, low-maintenance option for dry lane conditions without overthinking shot selection. This ball suits players who prefer simplicity and predictability—those who benefit from standing in a set position and targeting a specific board without worrying about reactive motion or surface changes. It’s also a practical choice for bowlers working on fundamentals and mechanics, since the ball’s forgiving nature rewards solid technique rather than compensating for poor form.
This ball is particularly valuable for competitive bowlers as a spare ball, given its controllable motion and reliable pocket entry. Recreational players frustrated with complex equipment will appreciate the straightforward performance, and practice sessions benefit from having a ball that delivers consistent results without requiring extensive adjustments. At $129.95, it offers budget-conscious bowlers genuine performance without premium pricing.
The Pros
- • Gas Mask core in a plastic shell — hooks more than any typical spare ball
- • Iconic Black Widow design makes it a collector's piece
- • Dual purpose: spare ball that can hook when needed
The Cons
- • Too much hook for a pure spare ball — not ideal for straight shooters
- • Plastic cover won't hold up to heavy use like reactive
- • More expensive than standard spare balls
Who Is This Ball For?
The Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball wraps a Gas Mask asymmetric core in plastic, creating the strongest-hooking spare ball on the market. Watch the review.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
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Keith BrownVerified Bowler Reviews (65 reviews, 4.7/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers say the Black Widow Viz-a-Ball is an eye-catching spare ball that also performs well as a strike ball on dry conditions. They praise its hard-hitting pin action and versatility, with many using it beyond spares when lanes break down. Common criticism is that the actual color differs from promotional photos.
AI summary of 65 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
The first week the ball was on my wall it got attention from everyone that walked in the shop. Everyone commented on how great it looked. Within the first 72 hours it was sold. Awesome job on creating this ball.
United States
2 very quick thoughts on the new Hammer Widow Viz-A-Ball. First, it is an extremely cool looking plastic ball that will draw alot of attention. Second, if you are looking for performance, the Widow Viz-A-Ball under the right conditions and proper surface preparation, will give performance. I drilled one primarily for spares and as I always do for any spare ball, I knock the shine off with a Siaair pad. The layout I used on mine was 40x4x20. On leftover THS, was able to get right on top of the dry to the right and where the Widow Viz-A-Ball has the Gas Mask core, was able to get the ball to tip and go through the pins effectively.
United States
Just received it in the mail today. Needs drilled but looks fantastic. Can’t wait to use it!
United States
Just got the ball yesterday and drilled it. I'm a tweener and throw around 17 mph. No problems picking up 10 pins using normal release. The ball bounces off 3/10 split allowing me to pick it up off inside of the 3 and moves into the 10. I also used it as the lanes dried up and was able to slow the speed to 15 and throw over second arrow and into the pocket. It clears the deck unlike other spare balls I've owned. This ball hits hard and sends pins flying when I cranked it up to 19 mph and tried some wider splits. I'd recommend this for anyone and it already has helped my average go up. Great for recreational bowling.
United States
I love it! I was a little surprised to see that it is actually a darker gray than pictured, but, that turned out to be a plus.
AR, United States
Showing 1–5 of 21 verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil condition is the Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball best for?
Is the Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball good for beginners?
What is the RG and differential of the Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball?
How much does the Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball cost?
What type of bowler should use the Hammer Black Widow Viz-a-Ball?
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