The 10 Best Replacement Bowling Balls to Own in 2021 (2023)

FAQs

What bowling ball has the highest flare potential? ›

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. A heavier ball drilled specifically to your hand will seem to weigh about the same as a house ball two pounds lighter.

It depends on so many factors, from the number and frequency of uses, to its maintenance schedule, and even the climate where you live and the temperatures it's exposed to. With proper maintenance, you should get at least 5-10 years out of a quality bowling ball.

Hammer Black Widow 2.0

The is the best option if you are a beginner. This ball comes with different features, it has enough traction to assist on medium to heavy oil, and a big sweeping continuous ball motion that creates a lot of angle and high scores.

The bowling ball with the biggest backend ever, according to Bowling This Month, is the Iron Forge with a 18.8 rating! Some bowlers have the perception that MOTIV® makes the best solid balls in the game, but they can't wrap their mind around the idea that we make some of the best pearls too. Reality...we do!

Urethane– This coverstock is more durable than plastic and offers more friction between the ball and the lane surface. Therefore, urethane has a higher hook potential than plastic. Due to the increased friction on the lane, urethane tends to deflect less which results in better pin action.

The 7-10 split is widely considered the hardest shot in bowling, but guess what: Statistically, it's not! According to a fascinating statistical analysis of professional bowlers' scores since 2003, the hardest shot in bowling is actually the 4-6-7-9-10 split, also known in bowling lingo as a “Greek Church”.

Generally, you should have a regular average of 200 or better. Each tournament has different rules, which can include a minimum score average over a minimum number of games. You'll research each competition individually, but reaching a 200 average is a good goal to strive for as you practice.

14 vs 15 Pounds…

A majority of bowlers are throwing 15 pounds, with 16 pounds and then 14 pound equipment. It's funny that years ago when 16 pound was the majority, it was thought to be less favorable to drop to 15 pound.

Should I wipe down my bowling ball every time? ›

After each shot, you'll notice that your ball has oil residue that it picked up on its way down the lane. You should be wiping your ball down between each shot (use a soft, microfiber cloth) to remove most of the oil, but you also need to clean your ball more thoroughly at the end of the game and later at home.

Use rubbing alcohol in between shots: While you're playing, wipe the ball down with rubbing alcohol after every shot. This helps limit the spread of disease, and will also keep your ball free of the lane oil that can affect its performance.

Cores and coverstocks are made to expand and contract as temperatures change. Extreme cold and extreme heat can make a bowling ball crack. Phasing is a chemical reaction that makes the bowling ball change colors as it adjusts from being cold to room temperature.

Pin down layouts give you a slower, more controllable overall ball reaction. If you're bowling on a flat pattern, you might want to start with a pin down ball and maintain a straighter angle, because it's smoother.

Follow the 10% rule.

A bowling ball should weigh 10 percent of your body weight (up to 16 pounds), which means you really shouldn't be grabbing, say, an 8-pound ball if you weigh 150 pounds. You want some weight to the ball, but it shouldn't be so heavy that it's uncomfortable.

Plastic- This material has less friction as it rolls down the lane meaning it has the least hook potential.

If you are an adult male, you will probably want a bowling ball within the 14 to 16 pounds range. It should be noted that there are exceptions.

Though all three use different restrictions, Lohmann's average of 10.75 is considered the best.

The Thrash is the perfect balance of length and backend. The modified “flare-Ring” core helps the Thrash navigate the front end of the lane while the WOW II Pearl coverstock provides enough traction to give the bowler a strong arcing backend reaction.

What does polishing a bowling ball do? ›

Why Polish a Bowling Ball? When a bowling ball comes from the factory with a polished finish, that factory polish can wear off in as little as 6 to 12 games. This can change the reaction of your bowling ball making it hook earlier and less in the backend of the lane.

Strength in a bowling ball is defined as when the bowling ball digs into the oil on the lane. Strong bowling balls coverstock are dull in appearance and read the lane early, giving you a smooth ball reaction. They are a good choice for longer oil patterns with higher volumes of oil.

5000 Grit will take the least amount of surface off a bowling ball. It will make the ball hook downlane later, allowing for a bigger backend reaction.

A ball that is altered with a sanding pad will grab the lane and hook sooner than a ball that is polished. Sanding pads, called Abralon pads, are used to alter the surface of a bowling ball. The more course the sanding pad, the rougher the surface and the sooner the ball will start to hook.

A strike is when you knock down all ten pins at your first attempt in a single frame. Two strikes in a row are called a double, three strikes in a row are called a Turkey, while four and five strikes in a row are called four/five-bagger(s) and so on and so forth.

A quick method to determine where the ball should be leaving the end of the oil pattern is to simply apply the rule of 31. How do we do this? Subtract the number 31 from the distance of the oil pattern; this will give you the board number where your ball should exit the pattern.

Holding a bowling ball with two hands gives you an extra level of control and that translates into better performance on different lanes. That's because, in order to produce enough power for your throws, it helps to have one hand supporting while the other executes the release rather than just relying on only one arm.”

Your chances of making this shot are only around 1%. And that's compared to a 0.7% success rate of the 7-10 split!

A new bowling ball can cost you as low as $40 all the way to in excess of $300 depending on the material used to make the ball, whether you customize it, and so on. Beginners will typically pay between $40 to $60 for a ball, intermediates between $100 and $250, and advanced bowlers can pay in excess of $250.

You should use the same weight of ball for both your spare ball and your strike ball. This will help it feel familiar while you're gripping it, and you won't have to change up the speed of your release.

What to look for when buying a bowling ball? ›

Choose a ball that's about 10% of your body weight (up to 16 lb). If you feel uncomfortable holding that weight, try the next size down. Holes. It should go without saying, but if a ball has finger holes that are too snug or too loose, it can ruin your game (and hurt your fingers too).

The first step and absolute key to getting strikes is hitting the “strike pocket”. The strike pocket is between the 1 and 2 pins for left-handers and between the 1 and 3 pins for right-handers. Hitting the pocket consistently with the right amount of speed and hook will lead to repeating strikes and much higher scores.

Pro bowlers supplement their careers with second jobs, like delivering sod, or working at a call center. They share Motel 6 rooms on tour to save on travel expenses, and thrive on the less-than-exciting dime of beef jerky sponsorships. Once sexy, bowling is now synonymous with cheap beer and smelly feet.

For advanced bowlers, a scoring range of 200-250 is normal. This range usually includes five to eight strikes, two to three spares, and one to two open frames.

It is recommended that you should choose the heaviest and largest bowl you can handle comfortably. This is because smaller and lighter bowls can often require more effort to deliver and can be moved easily when knocked by another bowl.

Bowling balls are manufactured in weights starting from 6 pounds to 16 pounds. The average male bowler will use a ball weight of about 12 to 16 lbs, an average female will use 10 to 14 lbs, and professional bowlers use 14 to 16 lbs (most use 15 lbs).

Healthy adults can almost always handle 14-15lb balls, and from there you will learn about how your body reacts to bowling and whether or not a heavier or lighter ball would work better for you. Choose whichever ball will get you bowling the most. In most cases, this means choosing anywhere from 13-15lbs.

The 14 pound equipment seems to have more length than the 15 pound equipment. There are a couple of reasons for this. First is that it's lighter and easier to throw harder. Second is that lighter balls tend to have higher RG core designs.

The Motiv Jackal Ghost is USBC approved and is not banned.

Nearly all of the house balls at a commercial bowling alley are made from polyester (or plastic) and come with a conventional grip. Polyester balls roll straight with almost no hook, and are great for spare shooting.

Is a 15 or 16 pound bowling ball better? ›

Today, most pros and pro shop operators prefer and recommend 15 pound equipment. The decreased weight and dynamic strength of the modern-day equipment work more effectively together to increase carry.

Follow the 10% rule. A bowling ball should weigh 10 percent of your body weight (up to 16 pounds), which means you really shouldn't be grabbing, say, an 8-pound ball if you weigh 150 pounds. You want some weight to the ball, but it shouldn't be so heavy that it's uncomfortable.

Choosing Bowling Balls for Teens and Adults

Bowling ball weights max out at 16 pounds, and most serious bowlers use balls in the 13-15 pound range.

So if you can only throw a 16-pound ball at ten mph as you practice (16×10=160), you would be better off with a 14-pound ball at 18 mph (14×18=252) for greater impact.

The Storm Spectre bowling ball, which the USBC banned from all USBC certified competition, is not allowed in any level of PBA competition.

Effective March 30, 2022, these balls models are prohibited from use in USBC national tournaments, including, but not limited to, the USBC Masters, U.S. Open, USBC Open Championships, USBC Women's Championships, all PWBA Tour events, USBC Junior Gold and Youth Open Championships, USBC Intercollegiate Championships, ...

The revocation comes after USBC determined that the Jackal and Jackal Carnage balls do not comply with current specifications and requirements in the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual.

Plastic- This material has less friction as it rolls down the lane meaning it has the least hook potential.

Urethane is a more durable bowling ball option and has a higher hook potential because of the friction that is created between the ball and the lane. This is a step up from plastic balls so those who have some experience bowing can move up to give urethane a try. It is better for pin action and is still controllable.

Candlepin Bowling

Like duckpins, the bowling ball has no holes, and the bowler is given three rolls per frame. In a characteristic unique to candlepin bowling, the fallen pins (often referred to as "dead wood" ) are not cleared between rolls on the same turn, and how the pins fall and stay can affect the score greatly.

What is the 3 6 9 rule in bowling? ›

This system was developed many years ago, and it involves moving your feet right either three, six, or nine boards from the spot you stood to shoot your strike depending upon the front pin in the row you're trying to convert. By moving your feet that way, you can easily convert most of the spares.

The heavier the ball the more hitting power and driving power, and the more pin action. The lighter the ball, the more concern bowlers had about deflection. It shouldn't come as a surprise then that in the '80s and '90s, bowling ball companies were said to be producing three 16-pound balls for every one 15-pound ball.