Bowling is a sport enjoyed by millions of numbers of people from all corners of the world. It can be a great activity for family time, corporate team-building or even a date, but if you wish to get better and improve your average, getting your own ball is a crucial step to take.
After a long night of fun at your local bowling alley with family and friends, did you find yourself waking up the next morning with a sore hand and possibly even blisters? The reasons vary, but most likely because of the house balls that you were using did not fit your hand properly. If bowling is something you enjoy, wether as a casual bowler or thinking about joining a weekly league, then you MUST purchase your own custom fitted bowling ball.
Bowling is one of the games that a lot of people uses to build bonds with family on friends. It doesn’t matter who you are there is something about watching a bowling ball move down the bowling lane that creates an unexplainable level of excitement. There are many different types of bowling balls, some more ideal for beginners, some better for certain types of bowlers and some can be ideal for almost any player.
Having your own ball is great because you can customize your bowling experience no matter the lane condition to help increase your average score the best way for you. Whether you want a lighter ball or the heaviest ball making the best choice of entry level ball for you can be a lot of work, but we are here to help!
1.Brunswick Tzone Deep Space Bowling Ball
TZone bowling balls are a cheap alternative worth your nominal investment, whether you’re a beginner bowler just getting started in the sport or an experienced bowler seeking on-track and a reliable spare bowling ball.
Brunswick T-Zone Indigo Swirl has also been included as the Top number 4 on Top Picks for the Best Bowling Balls 2021.
This bowling ball is popular for having a high gloss polish, a plastic coverstock, or polyester coverstock, and having a hook potential of 25 low on a scale of 10 to 175 Low-High.
This ball provides an effective balance of straight-line accuracy and consistent spare shot consistency.
Due to this, Brunswick T-Zone Indigo Swirl Bowling Ball is considered a great ball for kids and beginners.
Also, T-Zone bowling balls are the spare ball of choice among bowlers of all skill levels and experience levels.
Brunswick T-Zone bowling balls are highly regarded by bowlers regardless of skill level.
T-Zone bowling balls have provided an easy-to-learn introduction to the sport for many new bowlers who have yet to experiment with the idea of a hook shot.
When it comes to hitting the pin pocket with consistency, T-Zone’s polyester balls provide beginners an advantage.
They have a combination of durable polyester cover stock and straight-line accuracy.
Moreover, if you are after a good aesthetic design that suits your preference, Brunswick TZone Indigo Swirl has prepared various options for you to choose from.
And if you worry about the price, you should not be frightened because this is extremely cost-efficient and it is masterfully executed in such a way as to get you compliments from other bowlers in the lane.
Advantages
- Low cost.
- Extremely easy to pick up and play with.
- The ball’s incredibly low hook potential and symmetrical core provide unequaled lane length in identifying your spare shot mark and hitting it over and over again with ease.
- With the appropriate delivery and fingertip grip, T Zone bowling balls can cut through lane conditions and provide an accurate shot.
- The impact-resistant polyester cover stock is difficult to damage and guarantees a long time period of shelf life.
Disadvantages
- Lose some of their accuracies on heavy-oiled bowling alley with uneven oil patterns.
- They don’t have many hooks and flare potential to work with.
- TZone bowling balls are still a great spare alternative, but some intermediate bowlers may find them too limited and simple for trickier spares and changing lane conditions.
2.Brunswick Rhino Bowling Ball
Advantages
- Affordable
- Beginner-friendly.
- The appearance is solid.
- There are a variety of sizes available.
- On dry lanes, this works wonderfully.
Disadvantage
- There is no hook.
The third best bowling ball that is suitable for beginners is the Ebonite Maxim Bowling Ball. This is also popular and included in Top Number 13 in Best Bowling Balls in 2021.Also, it is perfect for those novices who look for low-cost bowling balls. Ebonite Maxim has no hook and is an excellent piece of equipment for improving your alley performance.
It also contains a feature of straight reaction rate, a three-piece core, and a polyester coverstock for long-lasting performance.Moreover, Ebonite Maxim has various sizes ranging from 6 pounds to 15 pounds which makes it suitable for all genders, whether you’re young or old, and the level of your skills.
The lighter balls are ideal for children or beginners who aren’t used to playing with a heavy ball.The heavier balls, on the other hand, are best for experienced players or intermediate players looking for a good spare to add to their collection.
When compared to resin or urethane balls coverstock, polyester and plastic balls are the most suited coverstock for beginners because it is more durable.As a result, the Ebonite Maxim will last for the entire bowling session which can assure you of long shelf life.
Lastly, it works best on dry lanes, which is the greatest lane condition for beginners since it allows them to have more control over the ball.This bowling ball is designed without a hook because it is for beginners so that it will just travel straight down the lane.
3.Hammer Black Widow Legend Bowling Ball
According to many in the bowling world, the Hammer Black Widow Legend is aptly named. Legendary in this case is more than just hype due to what Hammer brings to this excellent reactive ball that’s best for more advanced bowlers. The Black Widow line has been popular and successful for a long time, and this latest version takes it to a new level. First, it has a hybrid coverstock, which is a first for the Black Widows, and it’s extremely aggressive and ideal for medium-heavy oil. The popular Gas Mask core is also used in this ball, which helps with a strong backend. Hammer stands by their products and the Legend has a 3 year manufacturer’s warranty.
In contrast to the previous two which were best for experienced bowlers, this is another entry level ball that’s great for those just getting started in the game. Alternatively, it can be a reliable spare ball for bowlers who are indeed a bit more advanced. The Ebonite Maxim line has a polyester coverstock and is a good option for reliability and consistency in your shots.
Advantages
- Great balance between control and power.
- Lots of great design and color options
- Has asymmetrical core for enhanced pin action and release momentum.
- Average but workable hook potential.
- The radius of gyration and differential allows for better control of ball movement.
- Moderate ball weight to improve strength and prevent bounce.
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for severely oily lanes.
- Unreliable angles and inconsistency in hooking.
Brunswick Rhino Reactive Ball is one of the best balls in the list of best reactive resin balls for beginner bowlers to get started with the hook style of bowling.This bowling reactive ball is greatly recognized for its features, good value, and is known as a starter hook ball.
The brand Brunswick became known in the bowling market for its high-quality products, particularly its well-made urethane reactive bowling balls.The Rhino bowling reactive balls, which are much more than simply a beautiful cover stock, are the perfect exhibition of control and power for most players’ preferences.
Also read：Top 6 Best Bowling Balls for 2023
Whether you’re a beginner, a professional player, or anywhere in between, this is an excellent addition to your bowling arsenal.Brunswick Rhino Reactive has various color combinations and sizes of options ranging from 10 to 16 pounds.
It has R-16 Reactive Coverstock and a pearl reactive cover type.Lastly, the Brunswick Rhino is cost-effective and it comes with a 2-year warranty effective from the purchase date.
In addition to that, it is an adaptable bowling ball that provides great performance with a lower hook potential that performs well in a variety of lane conditions, making it a worthwhile purchase for all types of bowlers.
What are 3 types of bowling?
Entry Level Bowling Balls
If you’re just getting started with bowling but recognize the advantages of getting your own ball, you’ll want to get started with one that won’t break the bank and will allow you to improve your skills easily.
Assuming that you’re like the vast majority of beginners who throw a straight ball on their first shot, the type of ball to go for is made of plastic or polyester (they mean the same thing but are called by both names). These balls have less friction on the lane and are designed to travel true and straight, so you can achieve consistency in your shot. Even when you step up to the next level, you’ll want to keep your plastic ball around to use for your spare shots.
Intermediate Level Bowling Balls
When you’ve graduated from your straight ball days, say when your league average is in the 140-170 range, or you just want to mix it up and try a new challenge, hooking the ball is the next step.
And the plastic/polyester coverstock isn’t ideal for hooking as it doesn’t react sufficiently with the lane surface. Urethane balls, on the other hand, do allow for greater action between the ball and the lane, which will let it have more of a hook. In general urethane will play best on dry and medium lanes as a strike ball, or as a spare ball in any conditions.
Advanced Bowling Balls
For bowlers who invest more time in the game and want to perform at a higher level, such as tournaments or a competitive league, there are special urethane balls that have added ingredients for even more hook potential: resin particles.
These are called resin or reactive resin balls and typically they are the most expensive, but also the most powerful and capable of getting you the most strikes on your first ball. The particles can be made from various materials, so reactive balls can be geared towards different types of lane conditions. Next we’ll look at a few specific balls from major companies, so if you’ve been wondering what is the best bowling ball on the market today, you’ll know the top candidates.
Bowling Ball Buying Guide
After reading our bowling ball reviews, there are still a couple of questions you might have. The first you might have is where to buy bowling balls. There are plenty of places you might buy a bowling ball, ranging from a department store to your local alley to a variety of websites both small and large.
We recommend Amazon for a few reasons. First, it’s a trusted name so you don’t have to worry, and you likely already do a decent amount of your shopping there. As in many other product categories, it’s able to offer unbeatable prices, and often free 2-day shipping. And finally, it has an incredible selection, with more variety than you will typically find elsewhere. (Also take a look at bowling shoes on Amazon, as you can get great deals on bowling footwear as well.)
Another question is where to get your bowling ball drilled, since it will ship without the finger holes drilled. When you purchase a bowling ball, it comes in a box without finger holes, and this is because you want it to be a custom fit. This means that you’ll still need to get it drilled to your hand by a professional. Call around to your local pro shops to inquire how much they will charge for the surface and take it to the best option you can find. You can expect to pay around $30-50, and if you get quoted a rate that seems high, mention that you’re shopping around and be sure to get a second opinion from another alley.
If you bowl in a league at a local alley, you might try that place first since they may give you a good rate or even for free if you know the right people. Finally, you may wonder if you have to do anything to keep your ball in top shape, and indeed you should give it a basic cleaning every couple of weeks. We hope this article has been helpful! If you have questions or comments about the best bowling balls, leave a comment below.
The six basic fundamentals for bowling:
1. Ball fit and weight
2. Armswing
3. Footwork
4. Timing
5. Release
6. Finishing position.
What size bowling ball should a beginner use?
Typically, adult male beginner players tend to choose balls from 14 to 16 pounds while adult female beginner players choose balls from 10 to 14 pounds. Young bowlers should choose balls in the 6 to 14 pound range.
How do I pick my first bowling ball?
Some say your ball should be approximately 10 percent of your body weight, up to the maximum 16 pounds. Most pro bowlers use 16-pound balls, although more than you think use 15-pounders. Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use.
What new bowling ball should I get?
Some say your ball should be approximately 10 percent of your body weight, up to the maximum 16 pounds. Most pro bowlers use 16-pound balls, although more than you think use 15-pounders. Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use.
Is it better to use a heavy ball or light ball in bowling?
In general, the heavier the bowling ball will be, the better as a heavy ball will be more impactful, carry more power, and will have more chances of hooking than a lightweight bowling ball. The heavier ball will be able to knock down more pins when two bowling balls are thrown at the same speed.