Hammer Purple Pearl 78D Review
The Hammer Purple Pearl 78D urethane excels on dry to medium oil with outstanding control and predictability for accuracy bowlers. Watch the review.
So, look at those two shots. Two completely different ball motions from the first shot to the second shot. And that is a trade of urethane and a trade of just making sure that you wipe your bowling ball off every shot so you can get a consistent reaction. And more importantly, that's why we say first shot doesn't count. >> Guess what does count though? >> What? >> That 10 back you just >> tinback.com. >> It looks real good. >> Oh, >> no. I mean, it actually says it right
Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
The Hammer Purple Pearl 78D combines the proven Super LED symmetric core with Hammer’s Urethane Pearl 78D coverstock to create a controllable, predictable bowling ball. With an RG of 2.63 and differential of .034, this ball provides moderate flare potential of 3-4 inches, delivering consistent length through the front part of the lane before making a smooth, arcing motion toward the pins. The 500-grit factory finish gives the ball enough traction to read the lane early without creating an overly aggressive backend reaction.
This urethane pearl construction makes the Purple Pearl 78D particularly effective on dry to medium oil conditions where reactive resin balls might hook too early or create unpredictable reactions. The ball’s strength lies in its ability to provide bowlers with exceptional control over their ball reaction, making it easier to repeat shots and adjust to changing lane conditions throughout competition. While it won’t provide the explosive hook potential of high-performance reactive balls, the Purple Pearl 78D compensates with reliability and versatility across multiple lane conditions, making it an excellent addition to any bowler’s arsenal who values precision over power.
Who Is This Ball For?
- Bowlers seeking control over hook
- Players on dry to medium oil conditions
- Two-handed bowlers looking to tone down reaction
The Pros
- • Excellent control and predictability
- • Strong value at $149.95 price point
- • Good length through heads with controlled backend
The Cons
- • Limited hook potential compared to reactive balls
- • May struggle on heavier oil patterns
Who Is This Ball For?
The Hammer Purple Pearl 78D urethane excels on dry to medium oil with outstanding control and predictability for accuracy bowlers. Watch the review.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
More Videos (2)
Verified Bowler Reviews (6 reviews, 5.0/5 avg)
Not enough reviews for AI summary
Summaries generate automatically at 5+ reviews
The ball is great gives just as much if not more miss room than the purple pin did, granted its not comparable to the green pin. but its great, hooks more than the og purple and thats exactly what i needed to create a stronger entry angle
My first urethane ball in well over 20 years. Grew up throwing urethane on wood lanes in the 80's and early 90's. Got this as what I thought would just be another tool in my bag. Just got it today, so limited time with it, but I absolutely loved it! My go to, benchmark, ball is a Hammer Cherry Vibe I bought in 2010. This Purple Hammer moves about as many boards, but has that classic urethane smooth arc shape with a strong drive through the pocket. Thick shell makes a difference. Heavy hitter. Reads the friction, but doesn't jump off it like my Vibe, or even my Rhino Pearl does. This might be taking the #1 spot in my bag that my Vibe has owned for 16 years.
Here's my take on the new Hammer Purple Hammer 78D. The new Purple has a Super LED symmetric core (modified LED core found in the original Purple to increase track flare) wrapped by a purple pearl 78D urethane cover. Box finish is 500 Siaair. For comparison purposes, I drilled a 78D with the same layout as one of my original Purples, 40 x 3 3/4 x 10. I also put a fresh 500 Siaair on the original Purple. I tried it on mostly fresh THS. From what I see, notwithstanding the increased track flare, there is a difference in motion. I had to be a little further right and on top of the dry to get the 78D to shape properly. A careful eye can see that the 78D picks up a little differently than an original Purple. It also seems like the 78D is a bit more forward off the spot so I used a slight hand position adjustment to get the ball to shape properly. In the end, the Purple 78D will be a useful tool in the bag. As I found it easier to "curve" an original Purple (to be expected given the different cover), I believe that straighter more direct angles through the front will help the 78D to be at its best. This new 78D Purple will be at its best on fresh patterns where a slow response ball to get control of the pattern is required. The Purple Hammer 78D is readily available. See your local pro shop for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil condition is the Hammer Purple Pearl 78D best for?
Is the Hammer Purple Pearl 78D good for beginners?
What is the RG and differential of the Hammer Purple Pearl 78D?
How much does the Hammer Purple Pearl 78D cost?
What type of bowler should use the Hammer Purple Pearl 78D?
Explore More Reviews
Other Medium-Light 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.