What is a ball peen hammer best at?

A ball peen hammer is best at shaping metal due to its design, which features a flat striking surface on one end and a rounded end, or "peen," on the other. The flat end is ideal for delivering force in metalworking tasks, such as driving chisels or shaping metal sheets. The rounded peen can be used to create indents or to make metallic surfaces smoother, which is essential in processes like forming or reshaping metal pieces. This makes it particularly useful in metal fabrication, blacksmithing, and various mechanical tasks, where precision and control over the material being shaped are crucial.

The other choices relate to tasks that either require different types of tools or would not benefit from the specific design of a ball peen hammer. For instance, it's not designed for activities like hammering in screws, shaping wood, or modifying wood to aid in drilling, which are better suited for screwdrivers or wood-specific hammers.