I remember that when I was 5 years old, I did not like bowling very much. I thought that it was a boring sport and was more interested in soccer. My elder brother used to bowl occasionally in our local arena, but I never saw him play. It was in the year 2002 when I started to become a fan of bowling after buying a game on WII called Brunswick Pro Bowling 2007.
That was when I started to take more interest in the game. And finally, one question arose in my mind what is the best bowling ball on the market today?
Like you, I had a tough decision to make regarding buying the best bowling ball. It is very tough to address the question of what is the best bowling ball on the market today if proper research is not done beforehand.
If you want to buy the best bowling ball today on the market, you will have to address this question at first, what is my playing style?
Also, you will need to have a clear idea about what bowling balls are made of and how will you choose them. Don’t worry, I am here to help you.
What is a bowling ball?
Since you have come here to learn about the best bowling ball on the market today, you might want to know more about what a bowling ball is. Like the baseball or the tennis ball, it is nothing except for a ball that you need to use to hit the bowling pins.
If you have a bowling ball on your hand, you must have noticed three holes in them. Each of these three holes is for your thumb, ring finger and middle finger. This is the description of a bowling ball used in ten-pin bowling.
There is also another similar bowling sport called five-pin bowling. You will need a bowling ball here as well but the balls will not have any holes. They are usually smaller and lighter than those balls used in Ten-pin bowling.
Factors such as friction of the surface, porosity, and distribution of the mass will determine how the ball will roll down the lane once you release it.
The outer part of the ball called coverstock determines whether the ball will spin or go straight while traveling.
How to play bowling ball?
Since you are reading my article, I am assuming that you know something about how to play the game.
I always tell my friends that the ball’s holes should fit perfectly on their fingers, otherwise their whole game will become spoiled. Here are some of my other advice.
- The ball you buy should be 10 percent of your body weight. For example, if you are 160 pounds, your ball should weight at least 16.
- When stretching your hand, do not extend it more than necessary.
Take extra care during the release of the ball. You need to have a clear idea about the rotational axis of the ball. All the things you studied in schools such as axis, plans, and angles will come into play here.
Many professional players I have encountered have had a problem in this area, i.e where to aim the ball. I tell them that should not try to aim it but feel it. I ask them to imagine how the ball will be moving. Simple as that.
Another thing that many bowlers do not give much attention to is how to find the proper position between the platform and the carpet used for preparation.
I often visualize the platform by taking the ball on my hand first. I go to a bowing position to maintain my equilibrium. At the final step, I look below the ball.
In the end, it all narrows down to concentration and equilibrium. Keep in mind that this approach will require a lot of practice and patience from your end.
Things to be considered before choosing the best bowling ball on the market today
Choosing the best bowling ball on the market is quite a daunting task indeed. My first rule for bowling is that you should buy a ball, not borrow one from another. Also, the cover of the ball should be to your suiting.
For example, if you are a hook player, make sure that the ball can generate friction with the lane. If there is a lot of oil on the lane, the cover of the ball needs to be as strong as the friction generated by the oil.
Also, the reactive resin ball is better than plastic made ones since they have more hook potential. These balls do not need to be swung a lot during release.
Do not ever compromise price for quality if you want to play like a professional. I always tell my fellow bowlers to buy bowling balls of reputed brands such as Brunswick, Ebonite, DV8, etc.
The last factor is weight. More weight is not always an advantage during play. Factors such as power, speed, and consistency are affected by heavy balls. There should a balance between the weight and speed of the ball.
Remember to consider these things before choosing to buy the best bowling ball on the market today after finished reading my article.
Bowling ball ratings
Rating a bowling ball is dependent on how much it can hook. The website bowlingball.com has made its rating system regarding this. This is done by comparing the bowling ball’s hook capability of different companies.
This rating system gives a point of only 5 for plastic made balls which has very low hook potential. The highest rating achieved in this scale is the Storm Sure Lock made by Storm Bowling with a whopping 235.6 points on a scale of 300.
Do not use this factor only to make your decision on buying a bowling ball. Other factors such as your bowling ability, the condition of the lane and any other properties mentioned in the ball’s description also need to be taken into account.
Top bowling balls for heavy oil
Bowling balls which were made especially for heavy oil conditions will have the most potential for hooking. Any professional player needs to have at least one ball in their arsenal which can hook in heavy oil conditions.
All the leading manufacturers such as Storm Products, Brunswick, Ebonite, DV8, etc make balls suitable for heavy oil. Here is a list of some of my favorites.
- Virtual Gravity NANO made by storm
- Evil Siege by Brunswick
- Hellraiser by DV8
All of these balls have achieved more than 220 points in the Perfect Scale rating system.
Types of the bowling ball
Many bowlers are looking for balls which not only have a great length but also a strong reaction at the backend. Brunswick has solved this problem via their Nexxus bowling ball.
This ball will go at ease at the front, but also save rotation in the axis in the middle of the lane. In medium or heavy oil conditions, the reaction at the backend will be perfect for the player.
There is also the Defiant Bowling Ball made by Roto Grip. The marriage between the core and the coverstock will make a possible hook of any other balls from the company seen so far.
When compared with other brands such as Stroker, Tweener, and Cranker, they all have failed to impress.
The final ball in this category is the Defiant Soul Bowling made by Roto Grip. It offers a balance between the defiant edge and the classic Defiant models.
The weight block has not been changed but the coverstock plays the main role here. The combination of 4000 Abralon finish and a 77H hybrid cover was designed to perform on heavy oil patterns.
Best bowling ball brand
It is often a tough question to answer when it comes to the best bowling ball brand. In recent years, many new brands have come up alongside the old and reputed ones. You are aware of the reputed brands such as Brunswick, Ebonite, and storm, which have more than 25 years of experience in the business. Again, newer brands such as 900 Global are also becoming popular in recent years.
We have two individual reviews of Pyramid path bowling ball & Hammer bowling ball. You can read & compare.
To decide on the best bowling ball brand, you will have to look at the customer reviews of a product, what people say about the company, and also the Perfect Scale rating of the balls made by the brand.
Most aggressive bowling ball
If you are looking for the most aggressive bowling ball, I will suggest you look at the BTM hook rating of it. Also, such balls can absorb more oil from the lane than others and have greater friction.
I will recommend balls such as Storm Virtual Gravity Nano, Original Mastermind, and many others. However, I will put the Guru Mighty which has earned more than 60 points in the BTM hook rating at the top of my list.
Strongest bowling ball on the market
Not unexpected but the strongest bowling ball is those made for heavy oil conditions. They often relate to the most aggressive bowling balls as well.
As I mentioned earlier, the Guru Mighty is my choice for the strongest backend recovery. The hook length of this ball is quite long and it will also create the greatest angle when entering the pocket of the arena.
Other balls made by reputed companies such as Brunswick or ebonite also have good strength and turning.
Best bowling ball on the market
Now is the time for me to address the question of what is the best bowling ball on the market today. Amazon is the best place to look for when making this decision to make this decision.
You might be surprised to find that most of the best sellers coverstock is not made of reactive resin. It is because the price depends on a lot on the coverstock.
Better coverstock means a higher price. For polyester coverstock, I will recommend the Pyramid Path Bowling Ball and Hammer Black Widow Legend Bowling Ball for hybrid coverstock.
Conclusion
I hope that I was able to answer your question regarding what is the best bowling ball on the market today.
The truth is that there is no straight or clear answer to this question. Bowler preferences and requirements are constantly being changed as time is passing.
I want to remind you one more thing that does not buy cheap balls but rather buy balls of good reputation and quality. Do not underestimate the newer bowling ball brands because they are often as good as the reputed ones.
Thank you very much for reading my article what is the best bowling ball on the market today. To know more about bowling ball you can click here.
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