Our testers at BowlingLife finally got their hands on the newest addition to the Hammer lineup - the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare bowling ball. In this new release, Hammer removed the flip puck from the LED 3.0 core, which was highly successful in the Hammer Scorpion Sting to lower the differential and flare potential and then wrapped the new core in a Semtex Hybrid cover, finished at 2000 grit, reminiscent of the original Hammer Scorpion from a couple of years ago. The result? Hammer potentially created one of the most controllable and versatile bowling balls in their lineup, suitable for both heavy and dry oil patterns.
In this in-depth review of the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare bowling ball, we'll explore whether this latest addition from Hammer could become your benchmark bowling ball for nearly every oil condition.
Key Specifications
Coverstock Type: Reactive Hybrid
Coverstock Name: Semtex Hybrid
Core Type: Symmetrical
Core Name: LED 3.0 Low Flare
Box Finnish: 2000 Siaair
Best For: Medium-Dry oil
RG: 2.47
Total Diff: 0.031
Intermediate Diff: 0.000
Definitions
Asymmetrical core - Asymmetric bowling ball deliver sharper, more angular motion when meeting friction.
Symmetrical core - Symmetric bowling balls produce a soft, controllable motion.
Radius of gyration (RG) - The higher RG, the more back-end motion a bowling ball will produce, as high RG ball skids more and tends to conserve more power for the further part of the lane.
Total Diff - the difference between low RG (X axis) and high RG (Y axis).
Intermediate Diff - only found in asymmetrical balls, as it is the difference between the high RG (Y axis) and intermediate RG (Z axis).
First impression
The Hammer Scorpion Low Flare bowling ball keeps its energy well, giving a smooth and steady motion through the pins. With its Reactive Hybrid coverstock and a 2000 grit finish, it offers great control. It performs like the original Hammer Web Tour but with a bit more pop on the backend. The Scorpion Low Flare seems to be versatile, making it a good choice for bowlers with different playing styles.
Lane Performance
We gave the new Hammer Scorpion Low Flare bowling ball to two of our testers—a speed-dominant one-hander, and a rev-dominant two-hander. Our goal was to showcase the ball's strengths across different potential lane conditions, so we tested it on heavy, medium, and dry sport oil patterns, as well as a typical house shot pattern (THS).
Our speed-dominant one-handed tester really liked the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare bowling ball, especially on medium and dry sport oil patterns and the typical house shot (THS). The ball showed a smooth and controllable motion from the front to the back of the lane, maintaining a strong drive through the pins on all three oil patterns. On the dry oil pattern, our tester experienced a lot of hold from the ball, allowing for a more angular path. For medium and THS, the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare allowed our tester to stay on the right side of the lane longer, providing comfort on both fresh and as the oil broke down.
Additionally, our tester noted that the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare was responsive to a surface change. When the surface was adjusted to 1000 grit on a higher volume oil pattern, the ball became more responsive in the midlane while still maintaining a strong entry to the pins, resulting in a pleasing pin carry.
A rev-dominant two-hander tester found the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare to be most effective on fresh medium and typical house shot (THS) oil patterns. On both patterns, our rev-dominant two-hander tester could hold the bowling ball more in front of him, and the ball showed a clean and controllable motion downlane. It was super smooth, making it easy to control. Even when keeping the ball in the oil while playing in larger angles, it didn't prevent the ball from entering the pocket at a good angle, providing a significant margin for error on a THS. The smoothness of the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare prevented it from digging into the dry parts as the lanes broke down, extending its effectiveness and allowing for an additional three or four frames before considering a ball change without jeopardizing a good result.
Overall impression
After putting the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare bowling ball in the hands of our testers, we discovered that it delivers a clean and easily controllable motion on nearly every imaginable oil pattern. The ball excelled when used on medium, dry, and typical house shot (THS) oil patterns. However, with added surface, it shows potential as a viable option on higher volume oil patterns as well.
Hammer Scorpion Low Flare Evaluation
Whether you're a high-rev player using it across the lanes or a lower-rev enthusiast relying on it for challenging conditions and lane transitions, the Hammer Scorpion Low Flare is a must-have for your bowling bag. The low differential core creates a smooth and steady motion through the pins, while its Reactive Hybrid coverstock and a 2000 grit finish offer great control. The Hammer Scorpion Low Flare is an extremely versatile bowling gem, suitable for all game styles. Choosing this bowling ball is a solid upgrade for your bowling arsenal.
