General Info
| Brand: | Hammer |
| Name: | Grape Vibe |
| Reviewed: | June 2011 |
| Empty | |
| Coverstock Specs | |
|---|---|
| Name: | CT Reactive |
| Type: | Reactive Pearl |
| Box Finish: | 800 Abranet / 1000 / 2000 / 4000 Abralon / Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish |
| Color: | Green / Purple Pearl |
| Empty | |
| Core Specs | |
| Name: | NA |
| Type: | Symmetrical |
| RG: | 2.51 |
| Diff: | 0.042 |
| Int. Diff: | 0.000 |
For details on our standard test layouts, please click here.
The Grape Vibe is the seventh ball to carry the Vibe name and uses a brand new formulation of the CT Reactive coverstock. Hammer has included a high load of pearl into this coverstock which makes it stronger and more angular than the Midnight Vibe. Although this ball is super strong at the breakpoint, it reads the rest of the lane just enough for the user to keep it under control.
We found it will work best on our medium test pattern. The polished 4000 Abralon finish matched up perfectly with this condition. The Grape Vibe easily offered length for this pattern. Adjusting with this ball is rather easy. We made small moves with both feet and target as the oil pattern transitioned without any loss of power at the breakpoint and back end.
We were able to use the line we played after the medium pattern broke down as a starting point on the dry pattern. This move proved to be exactly where we needed to be on this pattern. All three testers were about seven left with our feet and around four left with our target than where we started on the medium.
The Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish created too much length for our oily test pattern. This condition made controlling the breakpoint rather difficult. For this type of pattern we would suggest a change of surface to 1000 Abralon finish with no polish for those with higher speeds or lower rev rates, like our Stroker. Players with more equal speed to rev rate ratios will prefer a 2000 Abralon finish, as our Tweener and Cranker did, to combat the higher volume pattern.
The quick change of direction off the friction from the Grape Vibe leaves little room for error on flatter conditions. Balls with this reaction don’t fare well on patterns like our sport condition.
Strengths
The massive back end movement is a ball motion that is very useful on a vast amount of lane conditions. A ball with a back end move as hard as the Grape Vibe, while not overskidding on oil, can easily find a place in almost any player’s arsenal.
Weaknesses
Heavy oil patterns will offer very little for the Grape Vibe. On our heavy volume pattern, it was very sensitive to speed changes and could easily be thrown through the breakpoint.
Overall Summary
The Grape Vibe uses a new formulation coverstock that gives it the most pearl used in a Vibe cover. This cover makes the Grape Vibe longer and stronger than the Midnight Vibe and will be a great choice for players looking for a skid/flip reaction on medium volume patterns.
