Hammer Bowling
Encyclopedia
Hammer Bowling is a division of Ebonite International
that specializes in the creation of mid to high performance bowling balls and quality accessories. Its products are manufactured in Ebonite's Hopkinsville, Kentucky
plant. Hammer sponsors several PBA Tour
bowlers including: Tony Reyes, Patrick Allen
, Doug Kent
, Bill O'Neill
, and Billy "Billy-O" Oatman.
In 1996, Faball Enterprises licensed the Hammer product name to Faball USA. This company maintained the brand name since that time until its acquisition by Ebonite International on February 8, 2002. Faball Enterprises was formed in 1978 by Johnny Wonders and Earl Widman. In 1981, they created the second urethane ball in the market and Hammer was born. Hammer was the first to put a logo on the side of the ball. After a PBA player was featured in a tournament telecast using the ball with its visible hammer logo, sales exploded. The hammer bowling ball was also the first to produce a urethane two-piece ball.
After the sale of its Hammer line to Ebonite, the Faball team went on to create a new line of equipment under the name of Visionary Bowling Products. They currently produce several lines of equipment including the popular Ogre series, the New Breed series and Gladiator series. Visionary Bowling Products are manufactured in St. Louis, MO.
Some of the more famous Faball era Hammer products are the Blue Hammer, Red Hammer, Burgundy Hammer, Black Hammer, The Nail and the Reaper series. Some of the more famous post-Faball era Hammer lines include the Blade series, Vicious series, Diesel series, Hawg series, No Mercy Series, Vibe series, Black Widow Series, Jigsaw series, the Raw Hammer, Hammer Hardcore and Taboo series.
Ebonite International
Ebonite International is a parent company that oversees the manufacture of bowling balls and bowling equipment. Their headquarters and primary manufacturing facility is located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.-Expansion in 2007:...
that specializes in the creation of mid to high performance bowling balls and quality accessories. Its products are manufactured in Ebonite's Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville is a city in Christian County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 31,577 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Christian County.- History :...
plant. Hammer sponsors several PBA Tour
PBA Tour
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
bowlers including: Tony Reyes, Patrick Allen
Patrick Allen (bowler)
Patrick Allen is one of the premiere left-handed ten-pin bowlers currently on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. He has won 13 PBA titles, including two majors...
, Doug Kent
Doug Kent
Doug Kent is a right-handed American professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . In the 2006-07 season, Kent became just the sixth bowler in PBA history to win two major championships in one tour year as he captured titles in the USBC Masters and Denny's PBA...
, Bill O'Neill
Bill O'Neill
William John O'Neill was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Americans , Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox . O'Neill was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
, and Billy "Billy-O" Oatman.
In 1996, Faball Enterprises licensed the Hammer product name to Faball USA. This company maintained the brand name since that time until its acquisition by Ebonite International on February 8, 2002. Faball Enterprises was formed in 1978 by Johnny Wonders and Earl Widman. In 1981, they created the second urethane ball in the market and Hammer was born. Hammer was the first to put a logo on the side of the ball. After a PBA player was featured in a tournament telecast using the ball with its visible hammer logo, sales exploded. The hammer bowling ball was also the first to produce a urethane two-piece ball.
After the sale of its Hammer line to Ebonite, the Faball team went on to create a new line of equipment under the name of Visionary Bowling Products. They currently produce several lines of equipment including the popular Ogre series, the New Breed series and Gladiator series. Visionary Bowling Products are manufactured in St. Louis, MO.
Some of the more famous Faball era Hammer products are the Blue Hammer, Red Hammer, Burgundy Hammer, Black Hammer, The Nail and the Reaper series. Some of the more famous post-Faball era Hammer lines include the Blade series, Vicious series, Diesel series, Hawg series, No Mercy Series, Vibe series, Black Widow Series, Jigsaw series, the Raw Hammer, Hammer Hardcore and Taboo series.