Hammer bowling balls are best known for urethane and for the Black Widow, and in Malaysia you buy them from X Proshop, the Brunswick group's local distributor. Prices on its web store ran from RM550 for the Axe spare ball to RM1,050 for the Zero Mercy in October 2026. Hammer also makes some of the few urethane balls you can still buy new here.
The urethane brand
Hammer's story starts with a cover, not a core. Faball Enterprises, founded in 1978, launched the first Hammer in 1981 with a urethane shell. Back then, most balls were rubber or plastic. Urethane gripped the lane more, so it gave bowlers more control and stronger pin action. Later came the Purple Hammer, which became one of the best-known urethane balls ever made.
Hammer also has an early first in core design. In 1997, it released the 3D Offset, widely credited as the first ball with an asymmetric core. That idea is now standard across the whole industry.
The Purple Hammer hardness ruling
Not every chapter is a happy one. The USBC tested Purple Hammers made in 2016 and 2017 and found some below its minimum hardness. As a result, it barred balls with serial numbers starting 6 or 7 from its national events. Other events could adopt the rule if they wished. So if you buy a second-hand Purple Hammer on Carousell, check the serial first.
Black Widow: twenty years of one name
In June 2006, Hammer released the Black Widow with its "Gas Mask" asymmetric core. It became the brand's flagship, and versions keep coming. In October 2026, Hammer's site listed the Black Widow 3.0, 3.0 Dynasty, Tour V1, Mania and 2.0 Hybrid. Even the polyester Black Widow Viz-A-Ball uses a Gas Mask core.
How Hammer's range stacks up
Hammer sorts balls by performance level on its site. Here's the October 2026 list, matched to what X Proshop sold that month:
| Level | Example balls | X Proshop price |
|---|---|---|
| High performance | Zero Mercy Solid and Pearl, Reckoning, Spawn, Full Effect | Zero Mercy RM1,050 |
| Upper mid | Black Widow 3.0, Black Widow Mania, Blacklist, Fallout | Black Widow Mania RM980 |
| Mid | Purple Pearl Urethane, Black Pearl Urethane, NU 2.0, Hammerhead Pearl, Bubblegum Vibe | Bubblegum Vibe RM800; Purple and Black Urethane, Hammerhead, NU Blue RM900 |
| Lower mid | Raw Hammer | RM650 |
| Spare | Axe, Black Widow Viz-A-Ball, Black Widow Spare+ | Axe RM550; Viz-A-Ball RM680 |
One newer ball needs a word. The NU Blue Hammer, RM900 here, is Hammer's answer to recent PBA rule changes on traditional urethane. It aims to give a urethane-like reaction from a different material. X Proshop also listed an 11 lb version at RM700.
When urethane makes sense on Malaysian lanes
Urethane hooks earlier and smoother than reactive resin, and it reacts less at the back end. That makes it useful on short patterns and on the dry, broken-down lanes you see late in a league night. It's also handy for straighter players who want control. However, on a fresh, long oil pattern, a urethane ball can run out of steam. Our oil patterns guide and the overview of bowling ball types explain when to pick which cover.
Local tip
A Hammer urethane ball pairs well with a strong reactive ball from any brand. The two give you clear options when the lanes change, which is the reason many league bowlers own one.
Pros and cons of Hammer bowling balls
- Pro: a rare source of new urethane in Malaysia, with Purple and Black Urethane both in stock in 2026.
- Pro: a full ladder from spare balls to high-end Zero Mercy.
- Con: one main local channel, so choice depends on what X Proshop brings in.
- Con: urethane wears and soaks up oil, so it needs more ball care than plastic.
Compare Hammer with its sister brands on our bowling ball brands page.
Frequently asked questions
Are Hammer bowling balls good?
Yes. Hammer has been a serious performance brand since the 1980s, and its urethane balls are still a benchmark for control. The Black Widow name has lasted two decades because it hits hard. On the other hand, much of the range here sits between RM650 and RM1,050, and some older Purple Hammers face limits in national events in the US.
Where can I buy Hammer bowling balls in Malaysia?
From X Proshop, the trading name of JNJ Distribution Sdn Bhd in Subang Jaya. Brunswick, which owns Hammer, named JNJ its exclusive consumer products distributor for Southeast Asia in 2024. X Proshop sells online and through its own pro shop counters. See our pro shop guide to find a driller near you.
Is the Purple Hammer legal?
Mostly, yes. After hardness tests, the USBC barred Purple Hammers made in 2016 and 2017 (serial numbers starting with 6 or 7) from its national events. Other tournaments could choose to follow that rule. If you own an older Purple Hammer and want to bowl in a sanctioned event, ask the organiser first and check the USBC approved ball list.
Which Hammer bowling ball is best for beginners?
The Raw Hammer, at RM650 on X Proshop in October 2026. Hammer calls it an entry-performance ball, and it comes in solid and hybrid covers from 10 to 15 lb. If you only need a spare ball, the Axe (RM550) or the polyester Black Widow Viz-A-Ball (RM680) do that job and look the part too.
Who makes Hammer bowling balls?
Brunswick Bowling Products, of Muskegon, Michigan. Hammer began as a Faball Enterprises ball in 1981. Ebonite International bought the brand in 2002, then Brunswick bought Ebonite's assets in November 2019. So Hammer now sits alongside Brunswick, Ebonite and Track in the same group.
