Bowling Ball 5 Steps to Choosing the Right Bowling Ball for You

Bowling with the right ball will dramatically improve your scores and consistency, but there are so many types and sizes of balls. For beginners, finding the right ball is often a daunting and overwhelming task, so you may want to consult your local pro shop or bowling-center operator for help.

5 Steps to Choosing Your Own Bowling Ball

Most likely, especially if it’s your first ball, you’re going to want a reactive-resin cover stock, which will give your shots greater hook potential.

Find your ideal ball weight. Some say your ball should be approximately 10 percent of your body weight, up to the maximum 16 pounds. Most pro bowlers use 16-pound balls, although more than you think use 15-pounders. Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use. A heavier ball drilled specifically to your hand will seem to weigh about the same as a house ball two pounds lighter.

Even with these guidelines, you should never use a ball too heavy just because you feel you should. The real optimum ball weight is the heaviest ball you can comfortably throw

.Determine your ideal cover stock. The cover stock is the material on the outer surface of the ball and is very important in determining how your ball will react to the lane conditions. There are three main types of cover stocks: polyester (more commonly referred to as plastic), urethane and reactive resin. To figure out which is best for your game, see the tips below for detailed information on each cover stock.Choose your ball. Once you know the weight and cover stock you need, you can find a large number of balls online, or you can ask your local pro shop. There are differences in each category, but a conversation with a pro-shop operator or some online research should be enough to get you the right type of ball for your game.

You can find a good plastic ball for $50 or even less. Reactive-resin balls start at around $100 and go up from there, though some may cost several hundred dollars.Get it drilled to fit your hand. You can find pre-drilled bowling balls, but if you’re going to use one of those, you might as well save your money and use a house ball. A ball drilled specifically to your hand gives you more control and also significantly decreases the risk of injury. Take your ball to a pro shop and have an expert measure your hand and drill your ball. Some stores will include free drilling with the purchase of a ball, but in other cases, you shouldn’t expect to pay more than $30 for drilling—and it’s worth it. Be patient. When you first hold (and release) a ball drilled to your hand, you might be afraid it doesn’t fit. This is because the house balls you’re used to using really don’t fit. With a little practice, your new ball will prove to be infinitely more comfortable and controllable than a pre-drilled house ball.