Bowling balls are the bread and butter of casual (or entry-level) and professional bowlers alike. Not having the best bowling balls is similar to a tennis player not having their favorite racket or a triathlete not having their favorite pair of shoes. In other words, the sport of bowling is just different when it is not played with a good ball.
In this comprehensive guide, we take a look at the best bowling balls according to the most relevant categories. We have included performance-based criteria but also made sure to consider some of the secondary considerations that are made when choosing a bowling ball (such as affordability and oil lane conditions).
The Top Bowling Balls in 2021
We have compiled a list of 10 different bowling balls that fit into 10 different categories. These bowling balls are the best in their respective features and if it were up to us (and our bowler spirit), each committed bowler should at least have a third of the bowling balls listed below:
1. Storm Sure Lock: Best Bowling Ball for Hooks/Best Bowling Ball for Curving
The Storm Sure Lock is the brand's 3rd iteration of the well-praised Lock series.
This ball comes with a 2000-grit Abralon finish and comes in a unique navy blue, electric orange colorway.
This ball is marketed for heavy oil conditions and is noted as the best ball for hook shots or curve shots by the Storm.
The Sure Lock has a differential rating of 0.054, a reactive solid shell, and an asymmetrical core called Rad-X.
2. Hammer Black Widow 2.0: Best Bowling Ball for Beginners (Entry-Level Players)
No matter where you check and who you ask, the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 is at the top of the mountain when it comes to providing a beginner with a diverse, strong, and relatively fast ball that would push him/her to the next level.
Hammer Black Widow comes in black and red with a design inspired by none other than the black widow, a ferocious predator in its own right.
The coverstock of the Hammer Black Widow is identified as aggression solid, has a gas mask core (the gas mask core is shared with other leading models within Hammer's line-up), and comes in a 500, 1000, 2000-Siaair finish.
The original Hammer Black Widow ball was one of the greatest success stories in the history of bowling. As far as we are concerned, the Black Widow 2.0 is on its way to do just as well.
Also check out our guide to the best beginner bowling balls for more great choices.
3. Motiv Venom Shock Pearl: Best Bowling Ball for 2-Handers
Branching off from Motiv's most popular originals, the Motive Venom Shock Pearl is a unique addition to the brand's arsenal that does surprisingly well with hooking for 2-handed players, especially at medium-length (or average length) to slightly longer length lanes.
Designed for medium to light oil conditions, bowlers of any skill level would absolutely love this. But this holds true most especially for 2-handed bowlers as the top gear core and Hexion pearl design and engineering, coupled with a 4000 grit LSS finish, a maximum differential of 0.034 (for the 15-pound variant) and an underrated hooking potential will lead to wondrous results.
4. Brunswick Kingpin Rule: Best Bowling Ball for Heavy Oil Lane Conditions
Finding the best ball for this category was one of the most challenging things about this guide. We finally decided to go with the Brunswick Kingpin Rule, which comes in a wonderfully designed Maroon, Orange, White color pattern.
This low RG ECA-XR ball sports a solid cover and a 500, 2000 Stair Micro Pad finish, giving it the dynamics and control required for dominating heavy oil lanes.
Bowlers might not be as familiar with the Brunswick Kingpin Rule as we are, but we are not joking when we say that in terms of hooking, back-end performance, and bowlers' delight when accomplishing strikes, this product is arguably the best.
Check out more great heavy oil bowling balls here.
5. Brunswick Method Solid: Best Bowling Ball for Medium Oil Lane Conditions
Two years down the line, we still find ourselves completely surprised by the futuristic-looking blue and purple Brunswick Method Solid.
Featuring Brunswick's most innovative core technology known as the Dynami-core (which bowlers in our area absolutely adore), this ball is one of the best when it comes to medium conditions because of its friction coefficient, strong response, and reaction to moderately dense oil, and high differential provided by the core.
This Brunswick ball sports a 2.499 RG, a differential of 0.055, and a 500, 2000 Siaiir Micro Pad finish, which is the most prominent finishing type provided by Brunswick's most recent models.
6. Storm Fever Pitch: Best Bowling Ball for Dry Lanes
Is it my ball or is it actually getting hot in here? The Storm Fever Pitch bowling ball is one of the greatest ball products for alleys that are quite stingy with oil application.
Check out more of the best bowling balls for dry lanes here.
The Storm Fever Pitch has a flare rating of only 3 inches to 4 inches, comes with a factory finish of 2000 Grit Abralon, has a very fruity Orange Pearl color, and is empowered by its PWR+CTRL urethane shell.
Both beginner bowlers and experienced bowlers have been dazzled by the performance of this Storm ball. We bet you would be impressed, too.
7. Columbia 300 White Dot: Best Plastic Ball (Polyester Ball) in Bowling
The Columbia 300 White Dot may not be in the target sights of many bowlers, but trust, this red, white, and blue colored patriot of a ball is one of the greatest ball products to come out of Columbia 300 in the past couple of years.
If you need a ball that is a sniper when it comes to rolling down straight into spare pins, then you will never go wrong with this red, white, and blue masterpiece.
8. Storm Mix Blue: Best Urethane (Polyurethane) Ball in Bowling
When it comes to the best of the best in terms of a polyurethane build, the Storm Mix Blue is the greatest to have ever appeared in the market.
Marketed as a pearl urethane cover, the Storm Mix Blue is one of the most controllable and agreeable ball products from Storm. It features a traditional 3-piece weight block, a low friction rating, and performs eerily well in light oil conditions.
9. Storm Phaze III: Best Bowling Ball with a Symmetric Core
Look no further than the Storm Phaze III when it comes to a high-performing product (that some might say may even be as aggressive and dynamic as products with an asymmetric core).
The R3S Hybrid Reactive shell and the patented Velocity core are but a few of the most important features of this product that make it a great buy, regardless of year.
Bowlers, take notice of this one, especially for those who seek predictability without sacrificing much power, speed, and aggression.
10. Storm Proton Physix: Best Asymmetric Core Bowling Ball
When it comes to absurd-looking asymmetric weight cores that actually do the job perfectly well, the Storm Proton Physix is top of mind.
This high-performance product is marketed as a high-traction, high-hook ball that works even in the densest, oiled-up conditions. The low RG assists in producing the necessary rotations for the ball to be effective in entering the pocket with swiftness and power.
How to Choose the Best Bowling Ball for You
Moving on from our list of the best bowling balls, we now have to take this guide a step further and assess the particular factors or considerations to know of before actually getting a bowling ball.
Whether this is your first bowling ball purchase or your tenth, it is still important to be aware of all of the following:
Coverstock Material
Coverstock (or cover stock) material is essentially the outer shell or the cover of the ball and dictates how the bowling ball will actually perform down the lane and how it would respond to heavy oil, medium oil, light oil, or dry lane conditions.
Generally speaking, there are three coverstock (or cover stock) materials, namely: plastic or polyester, urethane or polyurethane, and reactive resin.
Plastic or Polyester Coverstock
This type of bowling balls have the least amount of friction or resistance against the lanes. This means that playing a game with a plastic ball or polyester coverstock ball would entail a whole lot of straight shots (as opposed to hook shots or curve shots).
Most experienced bowlers utilize plastic or polyester coverstock bowling balls when executing spare ball shots. A spare ball shot is essentially a straight shot that is thrown in the direction of a pin that remains standing after the first attempt within a frame.
Urethane
A urethane ball or polyurethane bowling balls are slightly a step ahead of plastic or polyester bowling balls in that they offer more friction and are known to be more durable and reliable.
In terms of straight shots, a urethane bowling ball can be dependable for the most part. In terms of hook potential, however, while we can definitely say that urethane or polyurethane bowling balls have decent hook potential, they are nowhere near the high-performance hook potential of reactive resin bowling balls.
Reactive Resin
Reactive resin bowling balls are broken down into three sub-categories: hybrid reactive resin (or reactive hybrid), reactive pearl coverstock, and solid reactive resin coverstock.
Solid Reactive
Solid reactive bowling balls tend to have a higher degree of friction and resistance against the lanes. A solid reactive bowling ball usually features much more aggression and predictability before it traverses the mid-lane. It hooks earlier and achieves its breakpoint much quicker than hybrid reactive and pearl reactive bowling balls.
Pearl Reactive Coverstock
A pearl reactive coverstock bowling ball, contrary to the solid reactive bowling ball, has an ever so slightly lower degree of friction and resistance against the lanes (but greater than its polyester and urethane counterparts) but is still significant enough for the ball to hook way past the mid-lane (toward the back-end) under typical circumstances.
Pearl reactive bowling balls are typically reserved for high-performance bowling athletes as the predictability and margin of error with these balls are rather slim.
Hybrid Reactive Coverstock
To create a bowling ball that is a balance between solid reactive (which reacts early) and pearl reactive coverstock (which hits its breakpoint toward the back-end), we have what is called the hybrid reactive coverstock bowling ball (or reactive hybrid bowling ball).
A hybrid reactive bowling ball is the midway point between solid and pearl bowling balls and serves as a great high-performance bowling ball for individuals looking to adjust their shots accordingly based on oil conditions and other relevant situations. Under medium to heavy oil lane conditions, the hybrid reactive coverstock bowling ball would achieve its breakpoint toward the back-end, but depending on how the ball is thrown and released, a hybrid coverstock ball could react much earlier than usual.
Weight
As we all know, bowling balls come in different weights. Balls start as light as 6 pounds (typically designed for beginners and kids) to balls as heavy as 16 pounds (designed for more aggressive and experienced playstyles).
Finding the perfect weight range for your personal bowling balls is a matter of strength, coordination, and personal preference.
For the beginner or entry-level bowling ball players, we would advise going with 10-pound to 14-pound balls. For the stronger and more experienced bowling players, you would do well with 14-pound to 16-pound balls.
Core or Weight Block
If you have heard of a two-piece core, gas mask core, symmetrical core, asymmetrical core, and other technical terms from your friends and acquaintances, then you are definitely mingling with the right people.
The terms mentioned above refer to the shape, design, and weight distribution of bowling ball cores or bowling ball weight blocks.
A bowling ball weight block or bowling ball core primarily determines the RG (radius of gyration), flare potential, or overall rotational power and aggression of the bowling ball.
Take for example an asymmetric bowling ball weight block or bowling ball weight core. This type would typically have a higher RG and flare potential and would therefore be more challenging to control but more powerful once it enters the pocket.
On the other hand, a symmetrical core bowling ball weight block or bowling ball weight core is more predictable and typically has a lower RG value and flare potential. It may not enter the pocket as aggressively as an asymmetric bowling ball, but that is the compromise that a player would have to make in exchange for more predictability and consistency with each throw.
Hook Potential
A hook shot is what a 3-point shot is to basketball or what a birdie means in the sport of golf. It simply is a better, more efficient, and more effective way of ensuring a high score and defeating the opposition.
Hook potential is defined as the capacity or potential of the bowling ball to have a curved trajectory in order to make contact with the sweet spot or the pocket of the set of pins to increase the likelihood of a strike.
The best balls for hook shots would be reactive coverstock products with either a symmetrical core or an asymmetrical core, especially in medium to heavy oil lane conditions.
For light to medium oil conditions, a polyurethane cover bowling ball would do (but we would still ultimately suggest going with reactive resin balls, heavy oil or not).
Straight Shot Potential
As opposed to the hook shot potential, we also have to consider what we call the straight shot potential.
There is nothing too complicated about this factor. If you need a ball that just goes straight down the lane, no curve or hook whatsoever, then you are looking for a spare ball, which can either be a polyester (plastic) coverstock ball or a urethane (polyurethane) coverstock ball.
Take a look at some of our recommended bowling balls for straight shots.
Lane Conditions
Conditions of a lane may seem like such an overcomplicated aspect of the game. Once you level up in the sport of bowling and advance to competitive levels, understanding the oil density, oil patterns, length, and other relevant conditions of lanes will spell the difference between a great to a perfect game and a mediocre to the average game.
If you want to be a better, more educated bowling ball player, then you have to take into account the game of lanes. With this should come an understanding that there are certain types of balls that react to lanes and conditions of lanes differently than others.
For a lane that has length, perhaps a bowling ball that executes its hook earlier than others would be less ideal than a bowling ball that executes its hook at a later point.
For a lane that has a high amount of oil and a unique oil pattern to boot, it may be better to go with more predictable balls that still have reactive resin coverstocks, but have a unique reaction to heavy oil conditions.
Finally, for a lane that is super dry, perhaps urethane coverstocks and polyester coverstocks would do the trick. Just note, this is usually not the case in a professional game or competitive game.
Skill Level
No one starts out hitting one strike after another strike. We all begin with gutter balls, failed hook shots, and a spare shot that did not even come close to hitting any pin whatsoever.
However, as your experience in executing a strike and preventing gutters racks up, you may have to look at the gear and equipment you are using rather than your personal skill and technique (although we still believe that skill and technique will elevate your game more).
Beginners
For beginners, we would suggest investing in either a polyester or plastic ball. Any ball that comes from the likes of Brunswick, Storm, Columbia 300, or Hammer would be great for beginners.
Intermediate Players
For intermediate or medium-level players looking to work on their strike game, take a look at reactive resin balls, particularly the solid and hybrid coverstocks (for better lane control). A pearl coverstock ball may be a bit too challenging so it would be best to stick to solid coverstock or hybrid coverstock.
Advanced-Level
For advanced-level players ready to fully commit to the game of bowling and are yet to scratch the surface of true professional and high-level bowling, you should go with any type of reactive resin balls with high RG values.
Low RG balls would serve you well but if you are looking to take advantage of features and benefits that do not come with the traditional builds, then look for asymmetrical core balls with good reaction and low grit.
USBC and PBA Recognition
The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) are the most noteworthy unified organizations in the sport of bowling. With a bowling ball comes a set of rules and regulations, which is why the USBC and the PBA are such strong entities in the sport right now.
We have not found actual accreditation processes done by either entity, but as long as the type or brand of bowling ball you use is accepted in competitions that are hosted or regulated by either the USBC or the PBA, then you should know that you have the right bowling ball in your hands.
Brand Reputation
With the brand of a bowling ball comes the company's reputation. Powerhouses such as Columbia 300, Storm, Brunswick, Hammer, and DV8 have made a name for themselves over a span of several decades.
Younger brands such as Pyramid have also ensured customer satisfaction and high-performance products and equipment.
In choosing a bowling ball, make sure to take a look at the brand. We know it may be frowned upon when people tell you to go with a particular brand, but in the case of bowling, there are a handful of brands that have consistently produced high-quality products with innovative features and benefits.
Value and Pricing
Bowling ball prices vary based on the coverstock used, the overall weight, the core, and the core technology, and so many other features and benefits.
Budget varies from person to person so we would ultimately suggest that you take a look at your options, find competitive price points, and save up if necessary for a bowling ball that would actually cover your needs.
How to Maintain a Bowling Ball
There is no need to cover yourself up in embarrassment. Like us in the beginning, we had no idea how to maintain a bowling ball, much less that it had to be maintained on a regular basis.
There are several guides online that teach you how to maintain a bowling ball at home or via a professional maintenance center. We even have a few guides posted on our website, but as a general rundown, take note of the following maintenance tips and tricks:
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of bowling balls do professionals use?
Bowling ball professionals use 15-pound to 16-pound balls that have a high differential, high RG, and high flare potential for executing hook shots and urethane or polyurethane balls for easier shots such as spare shots or straight shots.
What is the best type of bowling ball?
The best type of bowling ball in terms of high performance and securing strikes and interacting or obtaining a reaction with the lane or surface best is reactive balls. Reactive resin balls come in 3 distinct variations: solid (early surface reaction), pearl (late surface reaction), and hybrid (mid surface reaction). However, if we are speaking of spare shots or straight shots, a polyester or urethane bowling ball would suffice in terms of performance.
What is the most aggressive bowling ball?
The most aggressive bowling ball is a low-grit reactive bowling ball (either hybrid or pearl coverstock) that has an asymmetric core for a higher differential, stronger RG value, and high flare. This type of ball has a low predictability factor but will surely be the fastest and most powerful rolling down the lane, regardless of bowler strength or bowler technique. Brands such as Brunswick, Storm, Hammer, and Columbia 300 have pearl and hybrid balls that would fit the criteria.
Conclusion
The best bowling balls on the market are few and far between, especially in 2021 when availability and production facilities are only beginning to return to normal. Hopefully, with this list we have provided, you will be more than capable of choosing the best product for you.