Bowling Balls, Bowling News
Hammer and Ebonite Drop 5 New Bowling Balls for September 2026: Here’s What You Need to Know
By Brian Halstrom, BowlersMart Editorial Team | Published September 2026
Hammer and Ebonite just announced their September 2026 release: five new bowling balls, all landing on September 17, 2026. Hammer brings two new Zero Mercys and a Black Widow spare ball, and Ebonite adds a new flagship to The One series and a pearl to the Turbo X family. Together they run from a dry-lane polyester to a heavy-oil solid, priced $149.95 to $194.95, with a real answer for every slot in a league bag.
All five are available to reserve now at BowlersMart with always-free shipping and 60-day returns. Below you will find every release broken down with specs verified against Brunswick’s official info sheets, who each ball is built for, a head-to-head comparison, three ready-to-bowl arsenals, and links to the full deep-dive reviews. Earn points on every purchase through our Striking Rewards loyalty program.
What You Need to Know
- What: five new bowling balls, three from Hammer (Zero Mercy Tour, Zero Mercy Hybrid, Black Widow Spare+) and two from Ebonite (The Great One, Turbo X Pearl).
- When: universal release date September 17, 2026.
- How much: $149.95 to $194.95, from a spare ball with a real core to two high-performance Hammers.
- Where: available to reserve now at BowlersMart with always-free shipping and 60-day returns.
What Connects These Five Releases?
The thread running through the four reactive balls is Brunswick’s HK22 coverstock platform, and this drop pushes it into new places. The Zero Mercy Tour is the first Tour ball to carry the HK22C2 additives that made the Zero Mercy Solid and Pearl two of Hammer’s biggest recent successes. The Zero Mercy Hybrid completes that line with a four-color hybrid. On the Ebonite side, The Great One is the first HK22C2 solid in The One series, and the Turbo X Pearl gives the Turbo X family a pearlized HK22 GB 10.7 cover for the transition.
What changes from ball to ball is the engine. Hammer brings back the Obsession Tour core by popular demand, keeps the Super Offset core on the Zero Mercy Hybrid, and puts the iconic Gas Mask core under a polyester cover on the Black Widow Spare+. Ebonite pairs the Centrex Symmetrical Mass Bias and Turbo cores with DynamiCore, the reinforced outer-core construction that adds durability and a harder hit. The result is five balls that fill five different slots: a benchmark solid, an angular hybrid, a value flagship, a skid/flip transition ball, and a spare ball that doubles as your dry-lane option.
The September 2026 Lineup
Five new releases, all with a universal release date of September 17, 2026, listed from heaviest oil to driest.
1 - Hammer Zero Mercy Tour Bowling Ball
Release
Ships September 17, 2026
Oil Condition
Medium to Heavy Oil
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core | Hammer Obsession Tour (Asymmetric) |
| Coverstock | Hammer C2 Tour Edition Solid Reactive |
| Factory Finish | 500, 1000 Siaair Micro Pad |
| RG / Diff / Asym (15 lb) | 2.469 / .034 / .013 |
| RG / Diff / Asym (16 lb) | 2.484 / .029 / .011 |
| Weights | 12-16 lb |
| BowlersMart Price | $194.95 |
What’s New: By popular demand, the proven Obsession Tour core returns, and for the first time the HK22C2 additives from the Zero Mercy line are infused into a Tour cover formulation: the C2 Tour Edition Solid, sanded to 500 and 1000 Siaair.
Best For: Bowlers who want the smooth, predictable Tour shape of the Obsession Tour, Envy Tour, and Effect Tour, but with enough traction to handle heavier volume. It reads the lane early, stays controllable through the mids, and keeps its energy through the pins.
Bottom Line: The benchmark solid of the drop: familiar Tour motion with the next step in Hammer traction. See the Hammer Zero Mercy Tour at BowlersMart. Read the full Hammer Zero Mercy Tour review.
2 - Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid Bowling Ball
Release
Ships September 17, 2026
Oil Condition
Medium to Heavy Oil
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core | Hammer Super Offset Core (Asymmetric) |
| Coverstock | Hammer HK22 C2 Hybrid Reactive |
| Factory Finish | 500, 1000, 1500 Siaair / Factory Compound |
| RG / Diff / Asym (15 lb) | 2.524 / .053 / .020 |
| RG / Diff / Asym (16 lb) | 2.535 / .045 / .017 |
| Weights | 12-16 lb |
| BowlersMart Price | $194.95 |
What’s New: The four-color HK22C2 Hybrid cover sits between the best-selling Zero Mercy Solid and Pearl: more midlane traction than a typical shiny ball, with the quick response to friction and powerful downlane motion the line is known for.
Best For: Zero Mercy fans who want a shiny ball that handles more oil. If the Solid reads too early and the Pearl skids too far as the lanes transition, the Hybrid lets you stay in your comfort zone longer before you have to move.
Bottom Line: A shiny ball with a real midlane footprint and the angular Zero Mercy backend. See the Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid at BowlersMart. Read the full Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid review.
3 - Ebonite The Great One Bowling Ball
Release
Ships September 17, 2026
Oil Condition
Medium to Heavy Oil
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core | Ebonite Centrex Symmetrical Mass Bias (Asymmetric) with DynamiCore |
| Coverstock | Ebonite HK22C2 GB 15.1 Solid Reactive |
| Factory Finish | 500, 1000, 3000 Siaair Micro Pad |
| RG / Diff / Asym (15 lb) | 2.466 / .056 / .027 |
| RG / Diff / Asym (16 lb) | 2.474 / .049 / .021 |
| Weights | 12-16 lb |
| BowlersMart Price | $159.95 |
What’s New: The first HK22C2 solid in The One series: the proven Centrex Symmetrical Mass Bias core, DynamiCore construction, and a 500, 1000, 3000 Siaair Micro Pad finish that reads earlier than the polished Reverb and Ovation while keeping the continuation the series is famous for.
Best For: Bowlers who want top-tier performance at a mid-tier price on medium to oily lanes. If you loved The One Reverb but need an earlier, more controllable read on fresh oil, this is the ball built to stand on its own in the Ebonite line.
Bottom Line: The value flagship of the drop, with Reverb-style continuation from a sanded solid. See the Ebonite The Great One at BowlersMart. Read the full Ebonite The Great One review.
4 - Ebonite Turbo X Pearl Bowling Ball
Release
Ships September 17, 2026
Oil Condition
Light to Medium Oil
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core | Ebonite Turbo Core (Symmetric) with DynamiCore |
| Coverstock | Ebonite HK22 GB 10.7 Pearl Reactive |
| Factory Finish | 500, 1000, 1500 Siaair / Factory Compound |
| RG / Diff / Asym (15 lb) | 2.517 / .040 (symmetric) |
| RG / Diff / Asym (16 lb) | 2.527 / .035 (symmetric) |
| Weights | 12-16 lb |
| BowlersMart Price | $149.95 |
What’s New: A pearlized take on the Turbo X: the same symmetric Turbo core and DynamiCore under an HK22 GB 10.7 Pearl cover at a 1500 Siaair and factory compound finish, for more length than the original and a quicker response off friction.
Best For: League bowlers whose stronger balls start reading too early once the lanes transition. It clears the front, stores energy, and creates angle off friction with less total hook than most balls in its class, which makes it easy to migrate deeper with.
Bottom Line: The skid/flip ball for medium and broken-down patterns, priced to earn a bag slot. See the Ebonite Turbo X Pearl at BowlersMart. Read the full Ebonite Turbo X Pearl review.
5 - Hammer Black Widow Spare+ Bowling Ball
Release
Ships September 17, 2026
Oil Condition
Dry / Light Oil
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core | Hammer Gas Mask Core (Asymmetric) |
| Coverstock | Polyester (Plastic) |
| Factory Finish | 500, 1000, 2000 Siaair / Factory Polish |
| RG / Diff / Asym (15 lb) | 2.480 / .058 / .013 |
| RG / Diff / Asym (16 lb) | 2.500 / .049 / .012 |
| Weights | 10-16 lb |
| BowlersMart Price | $149.95 |
What’s New: Not every polyester ball is created equal. The Spare+ pairs the iconic Gas Mask core from the Black Widow line with a polyester cover in a white pearl finish with sparkle, so it shoots spares straight and still has enough core dynamics to bowl on extremely dry lanes and short, low-volume patterns.
Best For: Anyone who wants one ball for corner pins and the driest conditions. The 16 to 14 lb balls carry the full Gas Mask core, 13 and 12 lb get a dedicated core, and 11 and 10 lb use a pancake core for a true straight roll.
Bottom Line: The Black Widow name on a spare ball that doubles as your dry-lane option. See the Hammer Black Widow Spare+ at BowlersMart.
Which New Ball Is Right for You?
Not sure where to start? Here is a quick guide based on what you need most from your next ball:
| If You Need… | Go With | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth control on heavier oil | Hammer Zero Mercy Tour | The Obsession Tour core under a sanded C2 Tour Edition Solid: early, predictable, and strong through the pins. |
| A shiny ball that handles more oil | Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid | More midlane traction than a typical pearl with the angular Zero Mercy backend, so you can stay put longer as the lanes transition. |
| Top-tier performance without the top-tier price | Ebonite The Great One | One Reverb continuation from a sanded HK22C2 solid on the proven Centrex core, with DynamiCore. |
| Length and a quick move when the fronts open up | Ebonite Turbo X Pearl | A skid/flip pearl that clears the front and creates angle off friction with less total hook than most balls like it. |
| Spares, plus a ball for the driest lanes | Hammer Black Widow Spare+ | Polyester over the Gas Mask core: straight for corner pins, with enough core to bowl on short, dry patterns. |
Quick Compare
Ships September 17, 2026 | Medium to Heavy Oil
Asymmetric | Hammer C2 Tour Edition Solid Reactive
RG 2.469 / Diff .034 (15 lb)
Tour control with real traction
$194.95
Ships September 17, 2026 | Medium to Heavy Oil
Asymmetric | Hammer HK22 C2 Hybrid Reactive
RG 2.524 / Diff .053 (15 lb)
The missing Zero Mercy
$194.95
Ships September 17, 2026 | Medium to Heavy Oil
Asymmetric | Ebonite HK22C2 GB 15.1 Solid Reactive
RG 2.466 / Diff .056 (15 lb)
One Reverb continuation, sanded
$159.95
Ships September 17, 2026 | Light to Medium Oil
Symmetric | Ebonite HK22 GB 10.7 Pearl Reactive
RG 2.517 / Diff .040 (15 lb)
Quick, angular transition ball
$149.95
Ships September 17, 2026 | Dry / Light Oil
Asymmetric | Polyester (Plastic)
RG 2.480 / Diff .058 (15 lb)
A spare ball with a real core
$149.95
Build Your Arsenal From This Drop
These five balls are designed to fill different slots in your bag. Here are three ways to build an arsenal from the release:
The Hammer Bag
Fresh / Control: Hammer Zero Mercy Tour
Transition: Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid
Spares and Dry Lanes: Hammer Black Widow Spare+
Read the fresh with the Tour, move to the Hybrid for more length and backend as the lanes break down, and shoot spares with the Spare+, which also covers you when the pattern goes bone dry.
The Ebonite Bag
Fresh / Strongest: Ebonite The Great One
Transition: Ebonite Turbo X Pearl
Spares: Hammer Black Widow Spare+
A two-ball reactive setup with a step down built in: the sanded Great One for the heart of the night, the Turbo X Pearl for skid/flip once the fronts open up, and a spare ball to finish frames.
Mixed Three-Ball League Bag
Heavy Oil: Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid
Benchmark: Ebonite The Great One
Lighter Oil: Ebonite Turbo X Pearl
The strongest backend in the drop for fresh oil, the earliest-reading solid as your benchmark, and the quickest pearl for when the lanes dry out. Three different shapes at three price points.
FAQs on the September 2026 Hammer and Ebonite Drop
Five balls, all with a universal release date of September 17, 2026: the Hammer Zero Mercy Tour, Hammer Zero Mercy Hybrid, Ebonite The Great One, Ebonite Turbo X Pearl, and Hammer Black Widow Spare+. They range from $149.95 to $194.95 and cover dry lanes to medium-heavy oil. All five are available to reserve now at BowlersMart with always-free shipping and 60-day returns.
All five have a universal release date of Thursday, September 17, 2026. You can reserve any of them now at BowlersMart so yours goes out as soon as it lands.
They share the HK22C2 chemistry but are built for different jobs. The Zero Mercy Tour puts the proven Obsession Tour core under a sanded C2 Tour Edition Solid cover for a smooth, early, predictable Tour shape with a 15 lb differential of .034. The Zero Mercy Hybrid puts the Super Offset core under a shiny four-color hybrid cover for more length and a sharper, more angular backend, with a 15 lb differential of .053. Pick the Tour for control on heavier volume, the Hybrid for a stronger backend as the lanes transition.
Both use the Centrex Symmetrical Mass Bias core, so the continuation through the pins is in the same family. The Great One is the first ball in The One series to wear an HK22C2 solid cover, sanded to a 3000 Siaair Micro Pad finish, so it reads earlier and handles more oil than the polished Reverb. It is also designed to stand alone in the Ebonite line at a lower price than the top of the range.
DynamiCore is the reinforced outer-core construction used on Ebonite balls. It improves durability, resists the dents and nicks that change a ball’s reaction over time, and delivers a harder, more responsive hit at the pins. In this drop, The Great One and the Turbo X Pearl are built with DynamiCore. The three Hammer balls use their own core platforms instead.
It is a polyester ball, but it is built around the Gas Mask core from the Black Widow line in 16 to 14 lb, with a dedicated core in 13 and 12 lb and a pancake core in 11 and 10 lb. The heavier weights carry enough core dynamics to be a real option on extremely dry lanes and short, low-volume patterns, not just a spare shooter. If you only want a dead-straight roll for corner pins, the lighter weights give you that.
The Zero Mercy Hybrid and The Great One are the two strongest, with 15 lb differentials of .053 and .056. The Great One reads earlier from its sanded solid cover and is the pick for fresh, heavier oil; the Zero Mercy Hybrid stores more energy and delivers the sharper backend. The Zero Mercy Tour hooks less in total but is the most controllable of the three on heavy volume.
Yes. All five have a USBC approval date of September 8, 2026 and are approved for sanctioned league and tournament play. Every order ships free from BowlersMart with no minimum, includes 60-day returns, and earns points through the Striking Rewards loyalty program.
Top Selling Bowling Balls
Which of these five are you most excited about? Leave a comment below. Missed the summer wave? Catch up on the 15 Brunswick-family balls from July and August, and see the full lineup of new bowling balls for 2026.
All bowling balls ship free from BowlersMart with 60-day returns. Earn points on every purchase when you join our Striking Rewards loyalty program.
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