If you have ever experienced bowling in your life, you would know that bowling balls are heavy, durable, and smooth to the touch. Like everyone, we have also wondered, what are bowling balls made of? We also wanted to know what is inside a bowling ball, and why they are so heavy compared to soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, and tennis balls.
In this guide, let us take a trip through the history and construction of bowling balls. If you would like to know more about the parts of a bowling ball, the different materials used to create bowling balls, and which kinds of bowling balls are most common in the United States, then read on!
History of Bowling Balls (and Bowling Ball Materials)
The earliest version of bowling (or ball bowling) dates back to as early as 5,000 BC, when Egyptians used stones or rocks to knock down various standing objects at the end of an isle, lane, or surface.
As an actual sport, prior to the 1900s, ball bowlers used bowling balls that were made exclusively of a type of hard wood known as Lignum vitae wood or Guayacan wood.
In 1905, the very first rubber bowling ball was produced, which ushered in an era of constant innovation and adoption of different parts and materials.
After the rubber bowler ball was introduced, polyester bowling balls were developed. In the 1980s, urethane balls were the latest and trendiest bowling balls.
Urethane balls then branched out to reactive urethane balls (or resin balls) and coverstock to complement unique core designs, affecting the balance and weight distribution of the bowling ball.
These days, reactive resin materials are used to cater to different kinds of factors in the sport of bowling, such as lane surface, lane conditions, and higher friction capacity, among others.
What are the Modern Day Bowling Ball Materials?
What are bowling balls made of? This question is loaded, as there are several components that make a bowling ball (design, core, filling, and others), but we have decided to elaborate more on how a bowling ball is more commonly distinguished, its coverstock material.
So, if you are asked, "What are bowling balls made of?", then the answer lies in any of the following materials.
Plastic
Bowling balls made of plastic coverstock presents a very smooth surface and offers the least amount of friction among the three materials in this list.
This is a good kind of bowling ball for the casual bowlers or beginners because of predictability and straight movement.
Professional bowlers also use plastic balls for shooting or throwing spares because of its low hook potential.
Urethane
Closely related to rubber material, urethane balls are more durable than their plastic counterparts. This kind of material provides significantly more friction and has a higher hook potential as well.
For experienced or intermediate bowlers, this material is made for you.
Reactive Resin
Considered to be the best and most advanced type of bowling ball material, this category offers more friction, greater potential for hooks, and better pin action, at the cost of longevity or durability.
This kind of material should be reserved for the veterans and experts of the sport, as there is significantly less margin for error, in terms of shooting the ball and lane conditions.
The difficulty level of this material also allows it to provide better hook ability and angles, allowing for a more strategic or diverse approach.
What Materials are Used for Different Types of Bowling Balls?
To further substantiate the question: "What are bowling balls made of?", we have decided to differentiate the types of bowling and explain what materials are commonly used in building the respective balls per category.
Ten Pin
Ten pin bowling is generally considered to be the mainstream version of the sport. This type of bowling is a part of several national and multinational sports events and has given the likes of Jason Belmonte and Earl Anthony the perfect platform to showcase their skills.
Ten pin balls are made of plastic, urethane, resin, or a mixture of the three materials.
Nine Pin
The nine pin bowling category used to be the most popular of all categories, but was banned due to suspicious links to organized crime and illegal activities. Unlike the ten pin category, nine pin bowling is considered a team sport as the scoring system only records team scores.
A nine pin ball is identical to a ten pin ball, complete with finger holes and possessing similar weight and density. Similar to a ten pin ball, a nine pin ball is manufactured using plastic, rubber, or resin.
Five Pin
Created as an easier-to-learn alternative to the ten pin bowling category, five pin balls are significantly smaller and easier to manage than their ten pin counterparts.
A five pin ball has no holes and are approximately the size of an average hand. These come in rubber, plastic, or a combination of the two.
Duck Pin
Duck pin bowling is a lesser-known type of bowling, but is designed to mimic the ten pin bowling system, but for a more family-friendly, casual experience.
A duck pin ball is smaller than a ten pin bowling ball (approximately the size of a softball), and just like a five pin ball, has no holes. These are usually crafted with a rubber or plastic build.
Candle Pin
The bowling balls used in candle pin bowling are usually the lightest and most compact of all kinds of bowling.
Weighing a little under 3 pounds, candle pin balls have no holes and are usually made with wood, rubber, plastic, or a combination of the three.
The Purpose of Coverstocks
With the number of offerings in today's market, it is important that you have a solid grasp of the things to look out for before purchasing a bowling ball.
An important aspect to consider is the type of coverstock of the bowling ball. There are three main types of coverstocks: plastic, urethane, and reactive resin.
Reactive resin can further be categorized into solid, hybrid, and pearl coverstocks.
Coverstocks essentially dictate the performance, reaction, and predictability of your bowling ball. The lane surface plays an equally significant part in determining how your ball moves toward the bowling pins.
Generally, plastic and urethane coverstocks offer a more balanced and straightforward performance, which is why these are commonly used as spare balls.
Professional or experienced bowlers would oftentimes use resin bowling balls (solid, hybrid, or pearl) as they are more responsive and sensitive to how they are thrown and released, as well as to the pattern or design of the lanes.
What's Inside a Bowling Ball?
The inside of a bowling ball is what gives the ball its weight and density. This is also called the core.
Without the core, bowling balls would be significantly lighter and have an uneven weight distribution, leading to poor performance in bowling sessions.
Nowadays, bowling ball cores fall under a variety of shapes, including:
Most of these shapes or forms are attained by encapsulating the main core with another supplementary core or block of weight.
The mold of the core is essential in determining the velocity, acceleration, and movement patterns of the bowling ball, with minimal regard to the surface of the lane or the intensity or power of the throw.
To keep everything inside a bowling ball in place, filling or filler materials (such as cement or a proprietary filler blend) are then added, giving more weight and rigidity to the ball.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to bowling and the use of a bowling ball, we get asked several questions.
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions asked and our responses to them.
1. What is the best material for a bowling ball?
The best kind of material for a bowling ball would depend on your skill level and budget, and as such, we recommend urethane bowling balls and polyester bowling balls for beginners, and reactive resin balls for those with experience.
We recommend urethane bowling balls and polyester bowling balls for beginners as they are generally more affordable and have more predictable movements, even with varied degrees of bowling ball throws and releases.
Resin balls are more advanced and high-end, both in terms of quality and pricing. These reactive resin balls are more sensitive to lane conditions and therefore require a higher degree of skill to operate or control.
2. What is the core of a bowling ball?
The core of a modern-day bowling ball is designed using technology through a computerized design process and is typically comprised of the main core and a supplementary weight block or collar.
The core of a bowling ball comes in different types but is usually made of some type of ceramic or dense plastic, as a result of the addition of bismuth graphite, barium, and resin.
3. What are 10 pin bowling balls made of?
10 pin bowling balls are made of any of the following four main coverstock materials (or even a combination of the materials): plastic, urethane, and reactive resin. Each of these materials offer a unique performance factor and level of predictability and reaction to the lane surface.
High-end 10 pin bowling balls are usually made of reactive resin, while the more affordable bowling balls are either plastic bowling balls or urethane bowling balls.
4. Are bowling balls made of plastic?
Most of the more affordable bowling balls are made of either urethane or plastic material, but this should not be a major cause for concern, especially if you are only a beginner or novice. Bowling ball urethane and plastic materials are durable and tough, so you should be fine if your bowling ball is made of either of these materials.
Conclusion
Bowling has a long and rich history, and if you consider the manufacturing process and innovation placed into each ball, then you would realize that this sport has just as much potential as the other more famous sports such as basketball and soccer.
If for nothing else, this guide should have equipped you with a greater appreciation and understanding of bowling and a comprehensive set of answers to the age-old question: "What are bowling balls made of?"