There are many bowling balls in the market that experts consider to be the best heavy oil bowling ball but in truth, high-performance bowling balls are even more specialized. Whether we are talking about the best bowling ball for long oil pattern, the best bowling ball for medium to heavy oil lanes, or anything in between, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
If you would like to know more about the effect of heavy oil lanes on bowling balls, factors to consider before buying bowling balls for heavy oil patterns, and our list of preferred bowling balls for heavy oil patterns, then keep reading!
How Do Heavy Oil Lanes Affect Bowling Balls?
If you think heavy oil was originally added to make the game of bowling difficult, then you may have to think again.
As early as the 1970s or 1980s (depending on who you ask), ball lanes became heavy oil lanes to preserve the surface from the impact of high-performance bowling balls.
A few decades later, oil patterns, differences in hook potential, and a special form of bowling, known as heavy oil bowling, became staples of the sport.
How exactly do heavy oil lanes affect bowling balls? There are several analogies to make to answer this question.
If you love driving, you would know that driving on wet pavement, on slippery roads, or in rainy conditions poses a significantly higher safety risk compared to normal road and weather conditions. This is because the lack of grip of wheels will make it harder for you to steer and operate the vehicle properly.
The same goes for football and soccer players. If the playing arena is all wet and muddy, then you would have a harder time maneuvering around the field. This is why special footwear or cleats are used in these sports (similar to how a bowler would use a bowling ball for heavy oil lanes).
In essence, the application of oil on the bowling lanes makes it significantly tougher for the ball to perform in a controlled and predictable manner because of lack of grip, friction, and traction. A bowling ball that is incapable of reacting and gripping the heavy oil lanes is disastrous, especially with regard to hook potential and high-performance spare or straight shots.
Things to Consider to Get the Right Heavy Oil Bowling Balls
When getting the right heavy oil ball, the factors to consider are generally the same as any other special-purpose ball, but there are a few distinctions that have to be made which you will be reading towards the end of this section.
Take a look at our in-depth analysis of the factors to consider when it comes to heavy oil balls to supplement your knowledge of the sport of bowling.
Weight
Choosing the right weight of your bowling ball is as important as ever when it comes to heavy oil bowling.
The general range of bowling balls is from 6 pounds to 16 pounds, and most professional bowlers utilize balls that are on the heavier side of this range, but this does not necessarily have to be the case for you.
Choose a bowling ball weight that is heavy enough for you to have decent performance, hook potential, and pin carry, but light enough for you to be easily able to make adjustments in the release or throw, especially when spinning the ball to execute a hook shot.
For a bowling ball for heavy oil, we recommend sticking with the same weight as your other bowling balls, just to be more familiar with how that size performs and reacts.
Coverstock
There are three widely used coverstock materials in bowling, namely: plastic/polyester, urethane/polyurethane, and reactive resin coverstock. Of the three types, the best performer in heavy oil bowling would be the reactive resin coverstock.
The reactive resin coverstock bowling ball is a good ball for heavy oil bowling because of its porous material. This coverstock surface not only absorbs the oil on the lanes but also has a higher grip potential and hook potential, leading to better ball performance and a higher overall score.
Within the reactive resin coverstock category, there are three types of bowling balls, namely: pearl, solid, and hybrid coverstocks. Any of these types would be fit for developing a bowling ball for heavy oil conditions, but for those who have not fully mastered hook potential, shot adjustment, and the other technicalities of the sport, we recommend a solid coverstock bowling ball, as this ball tends to hook earlier and react faster than its pearl and hybrid counterparts.
Core
The core of the bowling ball affects how volatile it can be when rolling down the lane.
A symmetrical core bowling ball is more balanced and stable, leading to easier, more predictable movement patterns at the cost of fewer revolutions and pin carry.
An asymmetrical core is for the more advanced players. At the risk of losing control and predictability, a bowling ball with an asymmetrical core revs up higher and has a strong finishing potential, which is good for hook shots and more aggressive playstyles.
A good core within a bowling ball for heavy oil conditions really depends on the bowler's proficiency and skill level. Either core is okay in this regard.
Technique and Grip
Your technique and grip are very important when talking about finding the best bowling ball for heavy oil conditions.
Take note of your stance, approach, and playstyle. Identify if you are a slow, methodical bowler or a quick, aggressive bowler. This would be good to know because some bowling balls are only fit for a particular pace or playstyle.
As for grip, there are two generally accepted bowling ball grips: conventional (thumb fully inside the finger hole, middle finger and ring finger two-thirds of the way inside the finger holes) and fingertip (thumb fully inside the finger hole, middle finger and ring finger one-third of the way inside the finger holes).
The best grip to use is the grip you are most comfortable with. Heavy oil conditions are not ideal to practice new techniques and grip styles. We recommend going with what you are most used to, and to try to understand how the oil affects your performance first, before trying out new playstyles.
Grit Finish
Grit finish (or polish) affects how abrasive or coarse your bowling ball's coverstock surface is.
As a simple guideline, the lower the grit finish, the better the grip of the ball on the bowling lane surface. The higher the grit finish, the smoother the ball will be, leading to late reactions down the lane.
This is somewhat comparable to what differentiates a solid coverstock bowling ball from a pearl coverstock bowling ball, where the former reacts earlier while the latter performs better towards the end.
In heavy oil conditions, the best bowling ball grit finish should be in the low range, around 500 - 1,000 grit finish. This would help your ball perform better and have an earlier reaction to the heavy oil bowling lane.
Oil Level/Thickness and Oil Patterns
A heavy oil lane is the thickest or densest of all lane conditions. Aside from this, there are medium oil, light oil, and dry lane conditions (see the best balls for dry lanes).
As we have already discussed, heavy oil leads to less grip and friction, making it more challenging for the bowling ball to perform better and in a more predictable matter.
Another factor to consider is the oil pattern. Oil patterns differ from bowling alley to bowling alley, but as a general rule of thumb, lanes are more heavily oiled at the beginning half of the lane, where the bowling ball typically makes initial contact.
Another consideration should be the trajectory your ball takes. For left-handed bowlers, expect the left side of the lane to retain the most concentration of oil as this side is rarely utilized, if at all, by right-handed bowlers. As a side note, left handers may want to check out our guide to the best left handed bowling balls.
Durability
When purchasing a ball, it is actually not that common to have durability in mind, especially when it comes to reactive resin coverstock balls.
Of all the general types of balls, the polyester/plastic coverstock ball is the most durable, followed by the urethane/polyurethane coverstock balls.
The reactive resin coverstock ball, however, is not as durable as its other coverstock counterparts, regardless of the specific type (solid, pearl, hybrid).
Our best recommendation for this particular factor is to take a look at how long the ball has been in the market and what the user and critic reviews are when it comes to the performance and longevity of the ball.
Design
Most balls, especially those at a premium price point, can offer you great performance, hook potential, and oil absorption, so if you are having a difficult time choosing, maybe think about the design or color of your ball.
Several brands and ball lines have different themes or designs. We have included in our top 7 list a few of the more intriguing designs in the market today, and you should check out balls that fit your personality or preference.
However, this should not be your top priority. If you had to pick between a ball with a design that you do not like with good performance and a ball with a great design, but with poor performance, then go for the former.
Top 7 Heavy Oil Balls
There are so many balls in the market right now, making it absolutely challenging for bowling ball buyers to choose the best ball for them.
We have curated this list of top 7 heavy oil balls for you to pick from or at the very least, use as a reference to help you decide on the quality and integrity of any other ball that is available to you.
1. Hammer Black Widow
The Hammer Black Widow sports a hybrid coverstock and a gas mask weight block, allowing bowlers to dominate heavy oil lane conditions.
The core design is not only unique but is also infused with carbon fiber technology, allowing for good length down the lane and a surprisingly strong backend reaction.
2. Storm Physix
The Storm Physix is amazing on heavy oil lanes due to its hybrid coverstock and atomic core, allowing for good grip and explosion when colliding with the pins.
The core of this bowling ball allows for greater pin carry and acceleration towards the backend, making it one of the best bowling balls in the market, even for medium oil conditions.
3. Hammer Scandal
The Hammer Scandal is another supreme addition to the brand's arsenal and is advertised as the best ball to use in medium to heavy oil conditions.
This bowling ball has good oil absorption, above-average energy retention, and an underrated mid to backend reaction, making this one of the balls to beat when it comes to heavy oil conditions.
4. Brunswick Kingpin Rule
If you are looking for high-performance balls, the Brunswick Kingpin Rule bowling ball is one of the greatest in today's market, and it has been for several years.
Developed to have an earlier lane reaction, this solid coverstock ball is practically perfect for heavy oil lane conditions.
5. Roto Grip Halo
Do not let the name fool you. The Roto Grip Halo is monstrous on the lanes, heavily oiled or otherwise, making it one of the best bowling balls in the market.
Designed with an asymmetrical core and a solid coverstock, this aggressive bowling ball has an impeccable reaction and good performance in all kinds of oil conditions.
6. Brunswick DV8 Quantum Bias
For someone looking for a minimalist option that gets the job done magnificently, the Brunswick DV8 Quantum Bias is the ball for you.
This ball performs so well in medium to heavy oil lane conditions and is fitted with an asymmetric core to allow for a more powerful backend performance and higher revolutions and pin carry potential.
7. Storm IQ Tour
If you are a smart and methodical bowler, get a ball that perfectly matches your playstyle. The Storm IQ Tour is an amazing ball that comes in an Emerald shade.
Designed with a centripetal control core and pearl coverstock, expect this ball to be very user-friendly and forgiving, even in medium to heavy oil lane conditions.
Tips to Get Good at Heavy Oil Bowling
Heavy oil bowling is no joke. In fact, it took us several months to get an accurate read on how we should release the ball onto the lane.
Based on months of practice and watching guides online, we have come up with the following tips and tricks to get really good at heavy oil bowling.
Work on Technique and Be Consistent
There is no other way around repeated training and practice sessions.
In order to master heavy oil lanes, you truly have to put the hours in to get the right stance, approach, and release.
Heavy oil conditions are very demanding and may force you to make minor adjustments to your technique. Just make sure that you keep everything in mind and do not forget to work on other lane conditions as well.
Understand the Fundamentals
Bowling may be seen as a simple sport to the uninitiated, but once you get into bowling, you will realize how intricate the sport is sooner or later.
This is why it is very important to understand the fundamentals of the game first. This not only means your technique and motion but also your gear and equipment.
Understanding the function of every piece of bowling gear and equipment you have is key to having a deeper appreciation of the sport of bowling.
Get Your Hand Behind the Bowling Ball
A simple technique that some experienced bowling ball players still forget is to, as much as possible, keep your hand behind the bowling ball.
Keeping your hand behind the bowling ball gives you more leverage upon release, and allows your ball to instantly reacted in the early to mid lane, and have a sufficient amount of power and revolutions to execute the hook shot and strike.
Choose the Best Bowling Ball
To emphasize even more, having the best bowling ball for various oil and lane conditions is one of the most important things to consider, especially since the market is saturated with hundreds (if not thousands) of bowling balls and bowling ball variations.
Make sure to have the best set of balls for each purpose, technique, and lane condition to have the best opportunity to earn higher average scores.
Conclusion (Plus Our Personal Favorite)
It is very difficult to find specialized bowling balls, and it may end up costing you a lot, but with the right ball, what you spend on should serve as an investment to better yourself as a bowler, whether you are a casual or competitive player.
As for our personal favorite, we are going with the Roto Grip Halo.
The name itself and the design are more than enough to satisfy or bowling cravings, but this ball offers so much more in terms of performance and hook potential, particularly in heavy oil lanes.
The asymmetrical core and solid coverstock combo fits advanced players' techniques and playstyles more effectively, and it can surprisingly grip and read the heavy oil lanes earlier than its competitors.
To find the best heavy oil bowling ball for you, simply refer to this guide for a refresh on what to look out for and our personal favorite balls in the market today.