Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane Review
The most popular urethane ball in bowling. Consistent, predictable performance on short oil at $149.95. Video reviews inside.
hallelujah we finally test the hammer purple pearl urethane or the purple hammer as it's known if you like what we do follow us on facebook instagram youtube don't forget to subscribe and check us out on patreon is it weird that we took this long to test this ball perhaps i mean it's a situation where firstly the ball's been around for a while and secondly since i don't personally throw urethane often anymore i don't go out of my way to buy these
balls for reviews there was also a time where the ebi balls were discontinued and the cost on the open market was pretty much ridiculous i know there's been a you know and continues to be i would say demand for the purple hammer and what i cannot personally do is give you context to how this particular brunswick version compares to the original hammer ebi version but i guess at this point it doesn't really matter since this is what's available so let's get into it what i see right away is the purple hammer is the more direct type shape
like any urethane ball for the most part you want to waste as little energy on side to side motion to allow it to hit down lane and carry in a way it's it's going to wind up being easier to talk about this ball relative to other urethane balls but shootout will be coming up the pearl in the urethane definitely adds a touch of push as compared to a solid urethane it will be clearer when we do that comparison video while this is a urethane ball that you expect to read early it still needs friction to respond i would say so and i
was able to get to the pocket going up seven eight a little further left and there's too much friction too early um you know urethane still reads relatively early right and this is a i would say a you know typical urethane in that it's pretty pretty easy to break the reaction what i mean is on a cliff shot as soon as you move the ball to the high volume side of the cliff the ball can easily go 60 feet if you're not careful but what i really liked is playing the direct shot
from there i had the light hit working high flush as well as the frozen rope which is really that miss in on a house shot and that really worked well you can ask this ball to move down lane but you definitely have to manipulate you know via speed and axis rotation more so you know more so than you would with a reactive ball otherwise you will get deflection uh in a way i was a little surprised that could get into the third arrow and make it work without tremendous difficulty but again that's you know
slowing it down a bit from a two-handed standpoint as you would expect the purple hammer is a great ball for my two-handed game it's obvious i'm sort of rev dominant style with medium speed since i'm crossing lots of volume getting it down lane isn't extremely difficult again that with that you know cliff type of shape but the smooth motion and response down lane really gives me great control and a wide open pocket i can wheel it away out to
the friction and get it to come back but with that urethane control versus that sort of uncontrollable really hard you know snap of reactive resin the thing i did notice is the reaction softened substantially as the test progressed to the point that i actually had to move five boards left that's to find the pocket again but what was fun was to be able to to play way more direct as a two-hander and not have to be on say like the badger pattern to do it
the good thing is i got the reaction back when i moved left it wasn't like i moved left and urethane puked like you know like it can do since you're draining more energy with more friction you know and i would say typically you don't want to go straighter once you've opened up but the shot was gone and i had no choice and so anyway it looked quite good final thoughts i would say the bottom line is i can see why urethane lovers like this ball it is on the
what i would say quote lesser side of urethane strength while remaining relatively versatile lesser meaning it offers a slightly cleaner longer look than your solid urethane shape and that change is enough to allow a bit more stored energy because it does have limited flare it does seem to sort of lengthen the pattern um as you throw it there's really no denying that um we saw it after about two games uh three games even worse i did have to move back left as i mentioned to pick up earlier friction to
get to the pocket but because of the cleaner look i was able to get it dry to drive [Music]
Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Testing on the challenging 38-foot Kagel Alcatraz pattern revealed the Black Pearl Urethane to be a notably controlled and predictable performer compared to its counterparts. Independent reviewers observed that while the ball exhibited weaker overall motion than the Purple Pearl it replaces, this characteristic actually enhanced playability for bowlers with moderate rev rates and speed. The symmetric core (high RG at .265, low differential at .05-.15) delivered the traditional urethane behavior expected from this coverstock category—minimal flare, no excessive revolutions—making the ball straightforward to read and adjust with on difficult lane conditions. When fresh out of the box, the ball demonstrated excellent traction and control typical of urethane, though surface adjustments (polishing to 500 grit and beyond) showed that increased shine reduced grip, making it slightly earlier to the breakpoint than the softer Purple Pearl at similar rev rates.
The Black Pearl’s motion shape proved rounder and slower than the Purple, which testers noted created a larger effective pocket hit area—a practical advantage when precision is challenging on demanding patterns. Testing showed the ball performed best when played straighter with minimal angle rather than being swung across multiple boards; this straighter path to the pocket became its defining characteristic. Independent reviewers found the ball particularly effective for bowlers with medium to medium-high rev rates at moderate speeds, as well as for those with slower, more controlled deliveries seeking consistent, predictable motion. On the house shot patterns tested, the controlled response profile translated well, with one tester noting the ball “did all the right things in all the right places.” The main trade-off versus the Purple Pearl was reduced length and angle capability—the Black simply won’t track as deep down the lane—but for its intended medium-light oil condition use, this limitation was negligible.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane is ideally suited for bowlers transitioning into urethane equipment who value consistency over complexity, or for established players seeking a more forgiving urethane option on medium-light oil conditions. Bowlers with moderate rev rates (medium to medium-high) and controlled speed will see the best results, as the ball’s slower, rounder motion profile is optimized for this release profile rather than high-velocity approaches. The straightforward core dynamics make it an excellent teaching tool for bowlers still developing their game, while the predictable motion characteristics reward solid fundamentals without punishing minor misses as severely as higher-performance urethane options.
This ball is less ideal for bowlers who regularly play on fresh, heavily oiled patterns or those seeking maximum length and angular motion down the lane. League bowlers on house shots and recreational players will find the Black Pearl’s controllability and responsive coverstock particularly valuable, especially since the lower price point ($149.95) makes it an accessible entry point into quality urethane coverage without the premium cost of specialty reactive resin equipment.
The Pros
- • Often imitated, never duplicated — the original PPU
- • Pearl urethane pushes longer than traditional urethane
- • Tournament bag essential
The Cons
- • Very conservative core (.015 diff) limits total hook
- • Not effective on heavy oil conditions
Who Is This Ball For?
The most popular urethane ball in bowling. Consistent, predictable performance on short oil at $149.95. Video reviews inside.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
More Videos (3)
Black Hammer Pearl Urethane vs. Purple Hammer Pearl: Which Reigns Supreme?
Real Experience Bowling
BLACK PEARL URETHANE | Review and Comparison to Purple Hammer
Luke Rosdahl
Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane Ball Review
Ryan JulianVerified Bowler Reviews (220 reviews, 4.9/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers say the Purple Pearl Urethane is the gold standard for urethane balls, offering controllable motion with stronger backend continuation than traditional urethane. Most praise its exceptional pin carry and ability to handle short sport patterns and transitioning lanes. The ball performs about 2-3 boards stronger than the original, with smooth predictable motion through oil yet devastating pocket power.
AI summary of 220 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
This ball is quite possibly the most unique ball on the market currently. The pearl urethane cover helps the ball push through the fronts just a little, but responds super slow to friction. It allows you to open up your angles more than a traditional urethane ball like the black hammer and still continues well through the pins. The biggest thing I noticed about this ball was how hard it hit. I threw it on the 2019 PBA Del Ballard 34' pattern and was able to play up the boards around 5 to start and chase it as far left as about 12-5 during game 4. Both angles the pocket seemed HUGE and the carry was unbelievable! This is a must have for any tournament players bag!
I have thrown the newer Black Hammer, the Black Widow Urethane and now the Purple Hammer. All three have great characteristics. The Black Widow is the strongest motion of all three and the Black Hammer is the weaker and smoother of the three. And the Purple Hammer is at the top of the three as a go to motion when I need to control the lane and still get to the pocket at the right angle. Whether you're two handed, left handed or right handed, these are your top choices for urethane. The Purple Hammer is a MUST HAVE, for sure!! Andrew Jensen Bowlersmart Rockford Cherry Manager Track Regional Elite Staff Coolwick Staff 12Bagger Staff Vise Staff
Drilled this the same layout and surface I had my previous Purple..and I will tell you they are extremely similar! The new updated version might be a touch cleaner and shape a little more downlane but super super similar and I’m excited to have this back in my bag!!
It’s Purple.. so that’s 4 strikes I think pretty much guaranteed It has a Hammer logo.. so that’s 3 strikes Urethane ... that’s 2 strikes right there. Comes with 2 lucky hits do it being elite The ball is amazing. Controllable and continues while keeping the pins low. When this ball hits the pins The pins fall at angled of 32 -53 degrees into other pins straight back. That’s called a strike only with this ball. It’s the cheat code to a Atari. Thank me later. Get this ball.
I have a medium rev rate and I also bowl PBA regionals, this ball is very necessary on all short patterns and lots of friction panels. Best Purple Ball EVER!!!!!!
Showing 1–5 of 63 verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil condition is the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane best for?
Is the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane good for beginners?
What is the RG and differential of the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane?
How much does the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane cost?
What type of bowler should use the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane?
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