Choosing a bowling ball can be perplexing and stressful the first time. There are various opportunities: which brand is the best? Which Material should you choose? What type of core is optimal? What ball can be a hook, and how do you choose the perfect ball for the turn? What is the optimal ball weight?
To learn about some of the core concepts underlying bowling ball selection and what factors to consider while selecting an appropriate bowling bowl. Relax; it’s much more straightforward than it appears.
This article will discuss the benefits of having how to buy a bowling ball and how to choose the perfect one.
Table of Contents
Types of Bowling Ball
A bowling ball is a round object thrown along a two-inch path to knock down nine pins in the bowling game. Most professional competition regulates the weight, shape, balance, diameter, and surface finish.
Bowling balls are an essential part of the game. They are made up of a hard rubber outer shell with a coverstock or surface used for gripping the lane, and a spherical weight called the core to give it mass.
There are several types of bowling balls available for purchase. If you’re throwing it straight,
A polyester ball, often known as a plastic ball, spare ball, urethane ball, reactive resin Balls, or particle Balls, is a good choice. If you’re still learning how to hook the ball or need to learn, an entry-level performance bowling ball is a good option. The entry-level balls are the logical progression from polyester balls.
The ball you choose will depend on your skill level, how much emphasis you want to put on accuracy versus power, and what kind of lane conditions you bowl on most often. Your choice may also depend on whether you throw your ball overhand or underhand.
The Bowling ball’s Material
Precision Drilled Finger Holes = Consistency
The primary advantage is that your personalized bowling ball will be drilled to precisely fit your hand. If you’re using house balls, the finger holes will never be the same from ball to ball, which makes developing any consistency in your stroke much more difficult.
If you utilize bowling balls purchased at the alley, the holes will be too large or small for your fingers or too wide apart for your hand size.
This results in an erroneous thumb and finger release and poor shots. This error is entirely the responsibility of your ball, not yours!
On the other hand, a personalized bowling ball is drilled precisely for your hand and no one else’s. Gripping a custom-drilled ball is a different sensation, and once you’ve had the chance to do so, you’ll feel much more confident with your swing and release.
Adjustments are much easier to make when uneven equipment is eliminated, and you’ll never want to go back to house balls!
We’ll discuss some critical traits to consider when selecting a bowling ball.
Ball Components
The house balls at the alley are composed of plastic, the least expensive Material available for bowling balls. While this is frequently appropriate for beginners and children, particularly those who bowl a straight stroke without a hook, many alternative bowling balls available for sale are constructed from various materials and offer significant added benefits.
Balls of Urethane
Urethane bowling balls have a softer coverstock or outer shell, which causes more friction on the lane, increasing their hook potential. (A hook is critical for routinely hitting strikes.) Additionally, the urethane ball will roll more evenly than the plastic ball and carry more pins at the time of impact, which means they will knock down more pins and deflect less.
Balls of Reactive Resin
Reactive resin balls are a relatively new concept that includes resin particles into the urethane ball’s coverstock. This increases the friction generated, creating an even more significant opportunity for hooking action. Reactive resin balls are often more adaptable; they have a strong hook on dry lanes and may be used in slippery conditions due to their increased skid (generating significant speed).
Balls of Particle
A more recent discovery, particle bowling balls are essentially reactive resin balls with microscopic bits of glass or ceramics to further increase friction. This increases grip in greasy lanes, higher power, and increased hook potential. Particle bowling balls are often reserved for highly experienced bowlers and are preferred by many professional bowlers.
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Determining the Bowling Weight
To find the right ball, you may need to find the ideal weight. Perhaps the most common issue when selecting a ball. You’ve never used a ball drilled just for your hand/fingers. Therefore many people think they need a lighter ball than they do.
Most house balls have large finger holes and small spans, making them difficult to hold. The finger ball is maybe two pounds lighter than a regular house ball. This is why you must establish your ideal ball weight.
How Much Weight Should It Have?
It is critical to choose the proper ball weight. A typical adult guy bowls with a 15 or 16-lb. ball, whereas a female bowls with a 10-12 lb. ball. Increase your weight if you are larger or heavier, and decrease it if you are shorter in stature. While a giant ball can knock down pins, a hefty ball might cause injury or adversely affect your stroke. Assuming you’ve previously bowled with house balls, you should have a good sense of the weight that’s optimal for you. (If not, be particularly vigilant the next time you’re in the lanes.)
A basic rule of thumb for children is to utilize one pound for every year of age. (For instance, an eight-pound ball for an eight-year-old child.)
What are the Different Types of Grips & Which one should I use?
You have two grip options for your bowling ball:
- Traditional
- Fingertips
Traditional Grip: A standard grip is inserting your thumb directly into the ball and your middle and ring fingers around the second knuckle.
Fingertips Grip: A fingertip grip is where the thumb is pressed directly into the ball while the middle and ring fingers are pressed on the first knuckle.
If you choose to use the fingertip grip, it is recommended that you purchase “inserts or plugs.” Inserts assist you in increasing the friction on the hook.
If you choose a polyester/plastic ball, you should consider utilizing a traditional grip. If you want to hook your ball, you should carefully consider employing the fingertip grip with or without inserts.
What is the Best First Bowling Ball?
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When purchasing your first bowling ball, you’ll probably want to go with plastic (a plastic coverstock is typically referred to as polyester) or a urethane model.
If your primary goal is to toss a straight ball and you’re on a small budget, plastic/polyester is an excellent alternative. It will be the cheapest option. While the cover material is identical to that of the house balls, you’ll have the critical advantage of a ball that fits your hand precisely. Additionally, polyester/plastic balls are the most durable, owing to their rigid, low-friction outer shell. Here are a few of our favorite plastic/polyester bowling balls (click for more information):
On the other hand, if you’re serious about improving your bowling game and regularly shooting higher scores, a urethane or reactive resin ball is the best investment you can make. A polyester/plastic ball will not generate enough friction to make a strong hook, which is essential for consistent strikes. On the other hand, balls with urethane and resin coverstocks are designed expressly for this purpose!
Check Also: How Often Should You Get a New Bowling Ball?
While a bowler is just learning to bowl a hook, urethane balls are recommended, and experienced bowlers prefer them when bowling on lanes with less oil. Here are a few of our recommendations for an entry-level urethane ball at an affordable price (click to view details):
Bowling Balls: Where to Buy
If you want to purchase a bowling ball, there are a few options. While most large department stores will have a few, we do not advocate visiting them because they are frequently of poor quality.
Additionally, you can visit the pro shop at your local bowling alley, which will have higher-quality balls. However, purchasing online will provide you with the largest selection and the best pricing.
Amazon.com is our recommendation. They are the most trusted name in online retail, allowing several bowling businesses to use their marketplace, resulting in significantly lower prices.
You can narrow down balls by price or even percentage of discount using the choices in the left column of the page. You’ll find several hundred bowling balls at a discount of 50% or more!
Amazon.com has the right bowling ball for you.
After purchasing your ball, you should bring it to a nearby pro shop to have it drilled into your hand. All shops will provide this procedure for a modest cost, and you may discuss your preference for a fingertip or traditional grip with the pro. Generally, ordering online will still save you a significant amount of money.
Final Word
To determine which bowling ball is the finest to purchase, you should visit a nearby bowling alley and test numerous bowling balls.
This will help you grasp the distinctions between various balls much more clearly. Consult the specialists in the alley and inquire about the ball’s different core kinds and coverstocks.
Experiencing the differences firsthand can assist you in selecting the ideal bowling ball for your style.
Hello everyone, I’m Sonjay Chowdhury.
Bowling for Beginners is a resource I made to help new bowlers learn the basics of the game, whether they’re just starting or hoping to make it as a professional.
I’m an aspiring bowler with a strong passion for the game. I started playing the game at a very early age, and it’s been an integral part of my life ever since.
The start was not as easy as many hurdles to becoming a professional bowler. However, if you’re passionate about something and have the guts to work your way, then there’s nothing in the world that can stop you.
However, I eventually overcame the barriers, and right now, I’m a member of many prominent bowling clubs around the country. For me, bowling isn’t just a hobby; It’s instead a passion that’s embedded in my veins.
I’ve chosen to commit a good deal of my time to assist anyone interested in learning to bowl. If your objective is to bowl more strikes and increase your scoring average, or if you want to learn more advanced techniques and skills, I have enough resources for you as well.
I hope everyone who wants to bowl may learn to like it.
Happy Bowling!
