Perhaps at one point in your life, you were at a bowling alley, playing a casual game with friends, and you recognized that not all balls look or feel the same, to say nothing of the difference in bowling balls when it comes to weights, sizes, textures, and more. It can feel daunting not knowing which ball to pick — especially if your first time playing was with more experienced bowlers who seem to know what’s in front of their hands, like the back of their hands. Sound familiar?
Whether you are completely brand new to the sport or you are a returning player looking to refresh your knowledge before meeting up with teammates from a while back, it is essential to know that it’s not all in your head: not all types of bowling balls are the same. And because this game has ample opportunities for camaraderie, with built-in opportunities to strengthen each others’ game in real time over friendly conversation, it can be helpful to know basic terminology and where to start. Read on before you’re ready to strike out the next time you’re feeling out of your lane:
The key to knowing what types of bowling balls you need is first knowing the difference in throwing styles. Bowling balls, because of the varying kinds of materials used for their cores as well as outer layers (see below), the weight you specifically need, and other factors such as personal aesthetic preferences, are not universal by any means. This is because “different strokes for different folks” applies to which type of bowling ball is best suited to get the right speed and angle to knock as many of those pins and as strategically as possible; after all, a huge part of the fun of the game lies in how so much complex strategy underlies something that looks deceptively simple!
As you get more familiar with the kinds of stances, arm movements, releases, and more that work best for you and you pick up the rhythm of the game, you can essentially align your choice of all the differences in ball types by these main throwing types.
Bowling balls do not have one set type; while, just like in any sport, there are still regulations for fairness, there is still a lot of variety, which is what helps you add the right level of spice to your game. Ultimately, the greatest difference in bowling balls all stems from the quality of the material, which is worth many additional conversations on their own, to say nothing about how durability, cost, and maintenance should factor into any beginner’s decision.
For beginners, just know that it’s not in all your head that the different rolls are a result of types of bowling balls when you could have sworn you have been throwing the same way, consistently.
Additionally, differences apply to lanes and influences why there are so many types of different bowling balls. This is because when it comes to “lane type,” think back to middle school science class and lessons on friction: it’s just that in bowling, more common terms like “resistance” are also considered in terms of “oiliness” of the lane. Paying attention to any type of bowling ball’s compatibility with a lane’s oiliness factor is an overall good rule of thumb.
To make this even friendlier, know that when we talk about bowling ball types, there is one common factor that we especially recommend for beginners: good quality plastic ones, created with equally durable and well-made cores and coverstocks, made by equally reliable brands (look for urethane and reactive for future types of bowling balls).
This leads us to our parting thoughts for now: one thing we are proud of at Bowlers Paradise is that our types of bowling balls that are great for beginners are still essentials for player at performance levels up to pro. While the uses of each kind might become more specified as your skill sets grow, what matters most is that you continue to find everything in bowling to be a rewarding honey (that is, really good) ball in its own right.
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