Hammer NU Blue Hammer
Hammer proudly presents an innovative bowling ball that's set to redefine the game for those seeking a fresh approach to the classic urethane ball experience. In light of adjustments to PBA regulations concerning traditional urethane balls, Hammer embraced the challenge of crafting a ball that could replicate the iconic Purple Pearl Urethane Hammer's performance without relying on urethane materials – and they've absolutely succeeded. The NU Blue Hammer is a NOT URETHANE ball; instead, it provides the same smooth, dependable, and predictable motion while adding a newfound level of versatility to your game. This makes it an ideal choice for tackling even the most demanding lane conditions. With the NU Blue Hammer, bowlers get the best of both worlds: the advantages of a reactive ball suitable for any competition and the timeless, lane-dominating motion that has made the Purple Pearl Urethane ball legendary throughout the years.
- Color: Bad Ass Blue Pearl
All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown - Core: LED (modified for 14#) (different core for 12-13#)
- Coverstock: Not Urethane
- Finish: 500, 1000 Siaair Micro Pad
- Reaction: Smooth Arc
- RG: 2.586 (15# ball)
- Differential: 0.027 (15# ball)
- Recommended Lane Condition: Medium to Light Oil
- FCC Rating: Total- 16.75, Finish- 9.5, Core- 3.75, Cover- 3.5
- Manufacturer's Warranty: Two years from purchase date
- A few tiny pit holes in the cover stock of the ball are normal
- SKU: HAM60108083
- Product ID: 14835
- Brand: Hammer
- Category: Bowling Balls
- Ball Performance: Mid Performance Balls
Customer Reviews | 14 Customer Questions
By Jim from Oregon
Pros:
A great ball for drier lanes or shorter patterns
Cons:
Have not seen one yet
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
A Pleasant Surprise
I drilled this ball a bit stronger not expecting it to move as much as it did. I was pleasantly surprise. Although the ball moves, we were not seeing any overreaction. A super ball for the drier or shorter oil patterns.
By Pbared from Montana
Pros:
Great compliment to urethane
Cons:
Not as useful on carry down
Best Uses:
House shots or when urethane is too early
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Stronger and cleaner
The NU Blue Hammer impressed me with how close it really was to my Purple. It’s cleaner through the front and a few boards more down lane but still allows me to play the lanes very similar to the way I do with urethane. When my purple starts to hook early and plaque I switch over the the Blue and don’t miss a beat.
By Pbared from Montana
Pros:
Great compliment to urethane
Cons:
Not as useful on carry down
Best Uses:
House shots or when urethane is too early
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Stronger and cleaner
The NU Blue Hammer impressed me with how close it really was to my Purple. It’s cleaner through the front and a few boards more down lane but still allows me to play the lanes very similar to the way I do with urethane. When my purple starts to hook early and plaque I switch over the the Blue and don’t miss a beat.
By chris javier from palm springs
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Not Uretane
Its kinda similar but not quite, its surprisingly hooks and very controllable for house patterns. great for tourneys too. im not much of a urethane bowler but this one is special. NU is mostly about speed control and you can throw this from anywhere.
By Michelle from Oregon
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Predictable
Smooth, predictable, quite a bit of punch downlane without it being Urethane. So far so good! Don't wait any longer.
By Flyin Hawaiian from Oregon
Pros:
Urethane ish reaction
Best Uses:
House shot
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU Hammer
The new blue hammer is close to urethane but not like the purple hammer which makes it a great alternative and reacts well and very controllable to house patterns.
By Clarence from AZ
Pros:
Control!
Best Uses:
Sport and Challenge Patters
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Hammer NU
Hammer NU
The Hammer NU is jus as expected very controllable reaction similar to the shape of the Purple Urethane but with a bit more punch downlane. Good piece for sport conditions.
By Chohn from MT
Pros:
Control
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU Blue Hammer
Hammer Nu Blue- (NOT Urethane):
This ball out of box hooked like urethane, early and often. It was too much for the burned heads we bowl on. It would get downlane and not finish strong. After adjusting surface, it reacted much better. I took the OOB surface to 3000 grit, and let it lane shine, and it pushes much better. For the out-of-town tournaments i used it in the OOB finish was much better. This ball should ROLL off the end of the pattern, and should not have a big change in direction. Play with the surface on this piece, and you will have a controlled roll of the pattern for many different conditions. This is a must-have for tournament bowlers and for league bowlers to not get in trouble with balls that jump off the back of the oil pattern.
By Joe G Jr from Discovery Bay, CA
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
It’s not urethane!
I’m not a fan of urethane at all…and this is not urethane! This will be the get out of trouble ball when the lanes start to blend and transition.
By Joe Somd from Seattle
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU Blue = Yay! Yay! Yay!
This ball is designed to deliver the Hammer Purple-esque Urethane reaction while being Not Urethane. I laid this ball out exactly as my Purple Urethane and I got the exact same reaction plus 2 boards downlane. Same forgiving rolls, same forgiving pins action and same feel on the lanes. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought it was a Purple. I would suggest this ball for any beginners, any bowlers looking for a good low level ball for their tournament bag or anyone who is looking to stay in the same part of the lane as a urethane ball but needs just a couple more boards without giving up their zone they are in or their look.
It's getting in everyone's hands for a reason, don't get left out
By Mike Romero from Monterey, CA
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Not Urethane but Just Like IT!!!
The Hammer NU Blue Hammer is great addition from Hammer. To me, this ball fits right in between the Purple Reactive and Purple Urethane. Very Smooth and predictable. I drilled mine with a 3” pin and is great on sport shots and even better on house shots. Go get this ball today!!!!
By Joey G from Vacaville, CA
Pros:
Smooth reaction, versatility
Cons:
None
Best Uses:
medium oil
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Hammer NU Blue
The NU Blue is as close to the Purple Urethane as you can get without it being actual Urethane. It provides virtually the same motion only I have found it to be not as early as the Purple and more continuous down lane and through the pindeck. I haven't used urethane very much, although I grew up using urethane back in the day. I have used the NU on our house shot (which is as close to a sport shot as I can explain) and I have had more success than most of my other balls. I am anxious to try it on the PBA conditions for a true read.
By Hammertime from Parkersburg, WV
Pros:
Controllable ball motion, creates no carried down
Cons:
Heavy oil patterns
Best Uses:
League shots, flat or harder sport conditions. wood lanes
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU
The new Hammer NU is revolutionary ball. I drilled mine a littler weaker than my purple hammer at 4.5 x 20 . The NU is a little cleaner than the purple with a little more continuation. I found this ball to work the best on medium to dryer lane conditions, especially flatter sport conditions. The NU is very controllable without carrying down oil to the backend like urethane does. It has a awesome color of blue and will be well recognized going down the lane. I would drill the NU just like your purple hammer and you will not be disappointed. You can even use this ball in league play. Very good ball overall.
By Wink from Oregon
Pros:
Controlled, Reliable
Best Uses:
House, Sport shots, Wet/dry conditions
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU is Not Urethane
NU Blue, is my NU favorite. I bowl at a wood lane house. This ball has the early lane control of Urethane balls, but downlane has more drive. After 5 weeks, the cover is still tacky. I've also noticed that the lanes don't get the normal urethane carry down of oil.
This is a must have in your bag!
By Trackstar85 from Renton, WA
Best Uses:
Medium To Light Oil
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Hammer Comes Out With Another Winner
Hammer Bowling Has Come Out With Another Winner. This New Hammer NU Bowling Ball Is Added To A Great Line Of Hammer Balls Over The Last Few Years. Not Only A Great Addition To My Two Favorite Bowling Balls The Original Black Hammer And Purple Urethane The New NU Adds Another Dimension To This Great Group Of Bowling Balls. The Color And Shelf Appeal Of This Beautiful Blue Bowling Ball Really Adds To The Black And Purple Coming Out With A New Brighter Color. As The Purple Hammer Definitely Goes Longer And The Solid Also Has A lot Of Length And Backend Drive Through The Pins This New NU Has A Few More Boards Of Area Then The Other Two. Out Of Box The New NU Is Pretty Aggressive But Very Controllable Through The Mid Lanes And Definitely Still Drives Through The Pins. This New NU Not Being Urethane Has Its Unique Characteristics But Similar Ball Motions To All Of The Urethane Bowling Balls Definitely A Great Ball For Any Tournament Or League Bowler. In All Of My Leagues I See At Least Two Blue NU’s Per Rack This Ball Has Definitely Become Very Popular Amongst All League Bowlers And Definitely Tournament Bowlers. This Ball Is Great For Dry Medium To Light Oil Lane Conditions And Is A Great Ball To Have During Transition When You Want To Stay Further To The Right And Still Play Straight Up The Boards. Make Sure You Go To Your Local Proshop Today And Buy One Of These You Don’t Want To Be The Only One Without One Do You? #Hammer #HammerBowling #NothingHitsLikeAHammer
By Bryan Williams, PBA Member and DV8 Pro Staff from Plumas Lake, CA
Best Uses:
Medium to dry lane conditions
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Believe the Hype!!!
The Purple Hammer has been a benchmark in the world of urethane bowling balls. This ball has dominated the urethane class for years. Because of new rules from the PBA, Hammer had to come up with an alternative to replace the Purple Hammer Urethane ball. Well, Hammer once again has created the next great ball in bowling with the introduction of the Not Urethane (NU) Blue Hammer. The NU Blue Hammer is the first ball from Hammer which creates a urethane-type ball motion using some of the materials found in reactive balls, and to reproduce the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane ball reaction with a coverstock that absorbed oil for improved performance consistency and hitting power. The NU Blue Hammer does just that! This ball is simply AMAZING! The ball reacts like a reactive ball, with the shape and motion the Purple Hammer gave. This is most certainly a viable replacement for PBA Members seeking to replace the Purple Hammer. I have mine drilled with the pin slightly above my ring finger and it has an amazing ball reaction. Definitely check out the NU Blue Hammer at your local pro shop. The hype is real!!!!
By Bryan Williams, PBA and DV8 Pro Staff from Plumas Lake, CA
Best Uses:
Medium to dry lane conditions
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Believe the Hype!!!
The Purple Hammer has been a benchmark in the world of urethane bowling balls. This ball has dominated the urethane class for years. Because of new rules from the PBA, Hammer had to come up with an alternative to replace the Purple Hammer Urethane ball. Well, Hammer once again has created the next great ball in bowling with the introduction of the Not Urethane (NU) Blue Hammer. The NU Blue Hammer is the first ball from Hammer which creates a urethane-type ball motion using some of the materials found in reactive balls, and to reproduce the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane ball reaction with a coverstock that absorbed oil for improved performance consistency and hitting power. The NU Blue Hammer does just that! This ball is simply AMAZING! The ball reacts like a reactive ball, with the shape and motion the Purple Hammer gave. This is most certainly a viable replacement for PBA Members seeking to replace the Purple Hammer. I have mine drilled with the pin slightly above my ring finger and it has an amazing ball reaction. Definitely check out the NU Blue Hammer at your local pro shop. The hype is real!!!!
By Dave from Wv
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU
The NOT URETHANE by hammer was the answer to the pba banning the purple hammer from their competitions. Even though the purple hammer is still completely legal for usbc competition most bowlers will still benefit by adding the nu to their bag. I threw this and the purple hammer side by side and I can honestly say it’s to close for my skill level to tell you any major difference. If anything I will say I noticed the nu being a little further down lane which gave me more continuation
By Kyle from Utah
Pros:
Urethane Motion, Control, Predictability
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Perfect follow up to the Purple Hammer
The NU Blue Hammer is as close to the classic Purple Hammer as I could hope for. I laid out my Blue Hammer identical to my favorite purple to test for ball motion and it was as close as I could hope for. The Blue goes a little longer downlane and is slightly more angular off the spot but maintains a very urethane like ball motion. I’ve thrown it on both house shots and sport shots and was able to control the pattern on both. It’s the perfect successor the Purple Hammer and a great addition to your bag.
By Holeshot from Oregon
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU Hammer
NU Hammer, I drilled this strong for me, 30x3x30. I was able to throw it on burned up house pattern and fresh. It looked great on the burned-up pattern, I was able to get left and it recovered and drove through the pins perfectly. On the fresh I had to square up and play up the oil line. This allowed for some miss room both directions and the ball flat struck a lot. It is cleaner than the Purple Hammer, but much slower to respond than any reactive I have thrown. Surface prep will be key to get that Urethane type motion if that is your goal. Hope this helps!
By Sweetpea Bowl from Worcester, Massachusetts
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Hammer NU Blue
This new Hammer NU Blue release is designed to provide a urethane type motion and be compliant with the new PBA rules. (Please note Purple Urethane Hammers are still legal outside of the PBA.) The NU Blue Hammer features the LED core used in the Purple Urethane Hammer (appears core numbers are slightly modified) wrapped by a "not urethane" coverstock finished at 1000 Siaair. I drilled the first NU Blue Hammer with my favorite layout on a Purple Urethane Hammer- 40 x 5 x 10.
I keep my Purples at 500 Siaair and I went over this first NU Blue Hammer on the spinner with a 500 Siaair pad. Thus far, all I am going to say is I am VERY IMPRESSED and the NU Blue Hammer strikes a lot. The Purple Urethane Hammer seems a bit earlier and smoother than the NU Blue Hammer. That being said, I did make this observation...not only does the NU Blue Hammer NOT seem sensitive to slight release mistakes but also I noticed that I tripped LOTS of corner pins. I don't know if it just matches up on our THS but I definitely noticed lots of slap 10 strikes which is a great thing to see. I definitely see this ball in play whenever a Purple Urethane would otherwise be used. While not exactly like a Purple Urethane Hammer, the NU Blue Hammer absolutely delivers the slower response urethane type of motion as well as strikes a ton! Just in 2 practice sessions, this ball has already earned a spot in the arsenal!
The NU Blue Hammer releases on November 16, 2023- see your local pro shop for more information!
By Tmarlow from Hanford, ca
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
NU (Not Urethane)
The NU Hammer is not urethane, but it’s as close as you can get to the purple. I drilled mine 50x4.5x35 the same as my purple. For me, the only difference for me is the NU doesn’t hook as early as the purple meaning those weak 10’s you get with your urethane you will not get with this ball because it has better continuation on the backend because it doesn’t roll so early. you can use his ball on house shots and sport shots. If you’re bowling on a sport pattern and you can throw a purple, this would be a very good one to combo when the purple starts hooking too early.
By Speedymc from Beaver Falls, Pa
Pros:
Nice smooth rolling ball
Cons:
Would not recommend if your a big hook thrower
Best Uses:
Dry to medium oil
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Love Hammer Balls
I bought to go with the 3rd game house shot. Noticed that I had to straighten out my wrist guard to control the hook on it. I’m normally a deep inside shot and wanted a ball for 2nd arrow when the lanes dry out, works for that
By C Miller from Calif.
Pros:
control, length, continuation
Best Uses:
multiple conditions
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Bad Ass Blue
Hammer's NU Blue has been out for a better part of a month and what I see out of it, compared to the purple is a ball that is cleaner up front, with more continuation down lane.
By Bob Newman from Pacifica
Pros:
Nice shape & carry
Cons:
not Purple
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Hammer NU Blue
The NU Hammer is a nice option for short patterns & and should work on most house shots. It is very smooth and creates a controllable arc to the pocket. I drilled a pin up and a pin down to match my Purples and you do play in a very similar part of the lane. The Purples do pick up sooner, but the NU's are stronger through the pocket. If I'm bowling a Senior PBA event where I formerly threw Purple, I'm throwing the Hammer NU.
Customer Questions & Answers | Reviews
Question:
How will this compare to the U motionl
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Question:
Difference between the Nu Blue and the Purple Reactive
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Answer:
Hello! Hammer uses a FCC rating system to show the strength of the Finish, Core, and Cover so we can compare the reactions by looking at this system. The NU Blue FCC is Total- 16.75, Finish- 9.5, Core- 3.75, Cover- 3.5 and the Purple Solid Reacitive FCC is Total- 18.75, Finish- 9, Core- 3.75, Cover- 6. So you can see that the coverstock is the big difference with the Purple Solid having a stronger coverstock to give it more hook potential.
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Question:
Will this push oil down the lane like urethane?
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Answer:
Hi Owen! If the bowling ball soaks up the oil as it travels down the lane that helps to give the ball more grip and hook more. If the ball does not soak up the oil as well then the ball can "push" the oil down the lane some as it travels through the oil. This ball was intended to be used in medium to lighter oil conditions. In these lighter conditions it would react as it is suppose to and not "push" the oil down as much. If you bowl in medium to heavier oil then this ball would likely not be able to absorb or grip as well and would "push" the oil down the lane.
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Question:
Does this ball require a special cleanerq
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Answer:
Hello! This ball is a pearl reactive coverstock so you could use an all purpose cleaner such as the Hammer Clear Magic or Brunswick Big B Cleaner.
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Question:
How different would the 14 and 15 react? Thoughts on this ball for beginner playing in drier conditions?
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Answer:
Hi James! We suggest it is always best to throw the weight you are most comfortable with and not straining to use a higher weight for the weight block reaction only.
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Question:
How does it compare to the Black Pitch?
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Answer:
Hello! The Hammer NU Blue Hammer with the Not Urethane Coverstock will have slightly more length and hook potential than the Storm Pitch Black Solid Urethane.
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Question:
My ball speed is 12-13 low revs is this to much ball to play down and in on house shot ?
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Answer:
This ball is designed to want to read earlier on the lanes for a smoother reaction. It is not going to be an overly aggressive hook so you could use this but if your wanting to play more down and in you may look for a ball that is either a pearl reactive coverstock and/or a polished finish out the box.
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Question:
What is the more versatile the purple hammer pearl urethane or the nu blue hammer?
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Answer:
In terms of performance they are very comparable. I would maybe give an edge to the NU Hammer being more versatile however because it was not banned by the PBA and the Purple Hammer was because it was a urethane.
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Question:
Could you and should you use this ball on a house shot?
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Answer:
This ball is designed to work in medium to lighter oil conditions so it could work for you on most house shots but keep in mind this ball is not designed to be a very strong hooking ball. It is a very smooth and easy to control reaction.
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Question:
What core does the 12# NU Blue have and how does it compare to the core in the 15# ball?
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Answer:
The weight block does change on the lower weights and here is a link to view the ball on Hammers website where it shows the different weight blocks and RG values: https://hammerbowling.com/products/nu-blue-hammer
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Question:
Would this ball be smoother thin iq ruby
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Answer:
The Storm IQ Tour Ruby will go longer and have more of an aggressive skid/flip reaction, while the NU Blue Hammer will have more of a moderate continous hook.
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Question:
Is it possible to order un-drilled? I don't see the option available.
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Question:
How would it compare to an original black hammer from 1990
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Answer:
It is hard to compare this with a ball from the 90s unfortunately. First, we do not have a lot of information from the older ball in terms of the specs but I would venture to say that most of the equipment now will be much stronger. Also, a ball from the 90s likely has a lot of games on it so this could have diminished the hook potential of what the ball use to have and make the older ball read even less than before. I can say that the NU Blue Hammer is designed for the bowler that does not want a huge hook and wants an easier to read option with a smooth hook. This was designed for bowlers who may have liked those older generation options and want to get away from the more aggressive hooking options.
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Question:
Which ball is more versatile hammer N/U vs IQ Tour
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Answer:
It is hard to say. The IQ Tour is versatile for medium and some heavy oil but the Hammer NU Blue works well in medium to lighter oil. If you feel like your lanes often are on the lighter side then the NU Blue might be the way to go but if you feel it is heavier oil most of the time then the IQ Tour may be better.
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