The Zero Mercy Tour is the first ball in the Zero Mercy line to use a different core shape. Instead of the Super Offset weight block used on the Pearl, Solid, and Hybrid, the Tour uses the Obsession Tour asymmetrical weight block. This core design has a much lower RG (2.469″) compared to the 2.524″ RG in the Super Offset design. The differential is also much lower at 0.034″, compared to the 0.053″ offered in the other Zero Mercy releases. This core has been used before in the Obsession Tour and Envy Tour, as well as the pearl versions of those bowling balls. The coverstock on this ball is new as well. This is the first “Tour” ball from Hammer to use HK22C2. Its new C2 Tour Edition coverstock comes out of the box at a very rough 500/1000 SiaAir finish. Between the quick-revving core shape and the very dull box finish, the Zero Mercy Tour gets started early and is very controllable downlane. As smooth as the ball was downlane, we still had plenty of continuation through the pin deck. This ball was at its best for all three of our bowlers when there was more oil in the front, but they were still able to maintain decent pin carry throughout our test sessions with the box finish.

Stroker saw very easy traction on the fresh heavy oil pattern with the Zero Mercy Tour out of the box. The core revved up quickly, and the cover grabbed the lane through the oil. He crossed 12 at the arrows and and got it out to eight at the breakpoint. The ball provided a strong, smooth arc and was very strong through the pins. The dull surface tore up the front of the lane pretty quickly and pushed him farther left with his laydown point. Because of his low rev rate style, his adjustments were very small, moving 1-and-1 left with his laydown and his target at the arrows when the ball started to over-hook and finish...

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