Hammer NU (Not Urethane) Blue Hammer Bowling Ball | Is It Like The Purple Hammer? BowlerX Review 

“This ball just jerks off the dry” - JR Raymond, 2023.

Way to go JR! Another convincing review! I was on the fence, but I now be over the fence! I’m 54 and lost some rev rate over the years. The NU may be in my bag sooner than later. Again, thanks my friend!!

One of the better and simpler reviews I’ve seen of these two balls. I’m definitely getting a NU.

What a fantastic demonstration, and your analysis of what you were seeing and why, was spot on. Really opened my eyes. Thanks!

They say, "bowling is a dying sport". It will be if they go to string pins.

I have bought several urethane balls over the past couple of years. I have a Purple Hammer, a Brunswick U Motion, a Brunswick Attitude Control and a Radical Double Cross. They all move a little different. One trait they share is they want you to be up the back and getting around the ball is a no no. Just added the NU Blue to my line up the other night. It moves a "like" my urethane balls but carries like reactive (even when you get around it). For me it's awesome. I can see this ball being useful on house as well as sport shots.

NU Blue Hammer vs Motive Blue Tank would be an interesting comparison. I think you nailed this review!

Thank you for your comparison. Best comparison video out there. I like that you’re showing the motions of the balls, and not concerned about striking every time.

First of all, shout out to you in the production of all your shows. Great content. Great analogy of bowling equipment. I just bought the ball. Just had it drilled. I love the bowling ball. It's great. I normally don't like going down and in I had a drill just like you said my My driller drilled it strong just like you said. It keeps in front of me. I can play the three board first arrow, second arrow and I can go deep with it. It goes. It reads a little early and then it just smooths out on the back end but that's a snap but it's continuous just like you said. Thanks again. Take it easy man. Keep up the great work.

I found the Purple Hammer to be a fantastic ball for 2.5 games. For the first game you can play whatever line works for you with a early low soft release. And then as soon as it starts to hook a bit early, engage the loft. Keep doing that until its too uncontrollable, then switch to a weaker urethane like a fast pitch with the pin up. Never needed to move particularly far left. I hope I can bowl it forever.

This is such a well thought out review - I enjoy how balanced your presentation was

Thanks for showing us the nu blue Hammer and giving a good comparison to the purple which I couldn't throw. As a senior bowler who is only throwing 11mph now I am trying to figure out how to drill the 14# nu blue

I’d really love to see you do a video like this with a comparison of the purple reactive and the Nu blue. I love my purple reactive and wonder how the Nu compares.

Great review of the two hammers. I hope I get a blue Hammer for Christmas.

Love your analysis of the 2 Balls. I think the new blue Hammer will be a great ball for the league patterns. It’s going to be interesting to see how it performs on those touchy PBA patterns next season.

Just bought the NU Blue, it will be my first time using it tonight... thanks for the review. FYI, I have the same layout. 👍

So good JR!!! Appreciate the review. Just for sh*ts and grins how about a comparison video on the Blue Hammer NU to Motiv's Yellow Jacket Tank for us bowling review junkies?

Awesome Comparison! I've been waiting for the honest, non-sponsored opinion on the true differences between these 2 balls. The Blue Hammer looks good, but I don't think it's shape looks like the dominant shape and softness of the Purple. I think it's a ball that will work better for those who thought the urethane was too quick than those who thought the urethane motion was perfect.

What I have liked about the lefty who have reviewed this ball is the shape when playing 10. To me this ball has a very very good arc to it allowing you to swing up 10.

Cool video talk tech bowling ball jr Raymond

Great comparison reviews of both bowling balls.

Great review as always. I've been waiting to see you demo this ball

Great review, J.R.! I've watched several other reviews of the NU, and yours is by far the most objective and insightful one that I have seen. Like you say, it is a reactive ball, and it simply is not remotely close to the Purple Hammer's motion. In the final analysis, it is all about marketing. If Hammer gave this ball a different name, a different logo, and said "Hey, we've got a great weak reactive ball here!" even with the exact same reaction, sales would absolutely crater. My question is, do you think that this ball has a place in the bag of a player like myself with a 300-350 rev rate and medium ball speed, or would I be better off with something like the Roto Grip Tour Dynam-x? Thanks again for a great, eye opening review!!

Great review, JR.

Your pin above purple hammer is directly above, but on nu blue is to the right a bit more

"Jerks off" the dry

Great review illustrating the difference between the two balls. One thing i'm curious about is how will the NU Blue affect the oil patterns ? Will there be a lot of carry down like regular urethane provides ?

So on house conditions like if people are throwing surface and breaks down quicker this ball will help blend this out and be more controllable. The only urethane I've thrown was the storm natrual

Another great video JR, I'm torn between the IQ Tour 78u and the NU Blue, can you do a comparison video or are they completely different? I like to stay playing out when my Hellcat XLR8 starts to get too strong.

I'm a week out on this, but I wonder if JR has any thoughts on this. After watching his video on comparing the Brunswick poured Purple Hammer to the EBI poured Purple Hammer, JR said that the Brunswick Hammer was cleaner in the fronts and rolled forward more, while the EBI Hammer was stronger at the back and was a bit more side to side, making for a great 1-2 combination. If JR still has that EBI Purple Hammer, could he compare the NU Blue Hammer to that? I'm thinking the ball motion of the NU will be more like the EBI Purple Hammer versus the forward rolling motion of the Brunswick poured Purple Hammer.

I actually would love a black hammer NU something that would read easier then the blue and purple but still being a reactive with urethane shape

My sport would definitely hang me if all bowling centers went with string pins....I guess back to drag racing!!!!!! Bowlero is something else, pushing that issue

It would be cool to see you scan each ball to see how much the surface changed.

How about a ball give away contest? PBA Tour wins: NU Blue vs Storm IQ Tour 78U?

at box, NU has a rougher surface finish than purple. this was done intentionally so that the length and shape is closer to purple.

It would be great to see the NU vs some of the microcell Tanks.

I ordered the purple hammer and ended up canceling the order after talking to the pro and having him drill me a NU Blue. IDK how i feel about it. i want to get involved competitively and i think the Purple hammer would have been a better fit in a singles scratch setting. With that being said the ball does perform bowled 279 and a couple 250s since having, and it doesnt have the carry down that urethane has so makes for a good team play ball.

PRO Level Bowlers should be tested without Purp Hammer etc. I mean that's part of what makes the Game GREAT. Very curious to see the results.

So it is reactive? It's hard to find a straight answer on it.

Need to get out there abd get a new ball, but every review I get more lost on what ball I should get.

Would you say the NU Blue Hammer is close to the old Hammer Arson Low Flare? Are they similar?

How does the NU Blue Hammer compare to a weak resin ball?

Loving the look of this ball.

I'm going to drill one just like yours jr do you do jopoi love how it rolls

Where would u put the NU hammer on the bag vs a tropical surge pin up 4.inch pin from pap

One question: Why are you glad Purple Hammer is going away?

How does this compare to the Rubicon UC3 “tour-ethane”?

Can someone do a comparison of the NU blue hammer to the Purple solid Reactive Hammer?? Please😅

Are you going to do a comparison with these to the Buffalo. And how will the Buffalo fit with these pieces

He's throwing the purple left of where he's throwing the blue every time and saying its hooking soon

what weight are those balls?

Does it pick up oil as bad as the purple?

How does it do on the dry/burnt lanes?

Is there anything that can be done from a layout perspective to get it started up earlier to get closer to the purple hammer reaction?

I just watched a show for 2 hours almost on Luke for Storm balls has a video on this string shit.. it’s a eye opening that the USBC, is rigging the strings and it’s not a good thing at all folks. Do your self a favor and go to Luke Rosdahl and string pin video..✌🏼

JR could show in slow motion the coming around the ball to your normal release

Cool video talk tech bowling bowling ball Jr Raymond

I like you stand in same places but you don't throw the same speed you're not going to tell the difference. If you really want to see the difference stand far right and see the difference I don't care to see strikes I just want to see hook motion with the same speed

At 4;05 you missed way left. Overall the video cost me some respect for JR.

It's not reactive. Buckosh explained this in a video a few days ago. It's a never before seen/produced coverstock.

Few things: Unless you resurfaced the balls the OOB surface is not the same nor is it 500 grit. If they were both resurfaced to 500 grit and you put a 3 inch pin on them and then said you struggled with the purple hammer this doesn’t surprise me. Everyone drilling these balls the same and asking the question “iS tHiS thE NU pUrPlE!?!!” The ball/core dynamics aren’t the same, so layouts won’t be either. Everyone telling everyone else they need to drill them stronger is correct but going from a pin around 4.5-5in from pap and cranking it all the way to 3in ain’t it and it’s a giant overcorrection imo. Also striking like 4 times with the purple hammer while trying to trick and jack with your hand position to show how it doesn’t work for you was hilarious.

I love your videos, but you should have edited out that first throw with the hammer. It got stuck on your thumb and looks like you tugged it. That’s going to change ball reaction significantly.

First

Original blue hammer was the best ball I ever threw in my life. Better than the purple.