Bowling is a great way to spend time with friends and family, but it’s even more fun when you have the right bowling ball. Bowling balls come in all different shapes and sizes, so make sure you know what type of bowling ball will work best for your game before you head out to the lanes. We’ll discuss everything from bowling ball materials and construction to weight distribution below!
Bowling Ball Materials and Construction
Bowling balls can be made out of a few different materials, such as polyester and plastic. Polyester bowling balls are usually more expensive but they’re the most durable option. Plastic bowling balls have a bit less grip than polyester bowling balls so your fingers may slide off during play, which could result in an inaccurate bowling shot.
Bowling balls are also made in a variety of different constructions, so you’ll want to know the construction type before purchasing one. The two most popular bowling ball constructions are reactive resin and urethane bowling balls.
Reactive bowling balls have an outside layer that can be “reacted” with oil or other bowling ball additives to help the bowling balls perform better. They also usually have a higher surface-to-volume ratio and are lighter than urethane bowling balls, which can give them an edge when it comes to accuracy.
Urethane bowling balls, on the other hand, don’t react with oil like reactive bowling balls do so they require bowling ball lubricant. That bowling ball lube will help the bowling balls maintain their shape and reduce friction, which can lead to better reaction times for many bowlers.
Bowling Ball Weight
The weight of a bowling ball can affect how fast it travels down the lane and how high into the air before coming back to the ground. For this reason, some bowlers will use two or more balls with different weights for different parts of their game. Read more »