I can remember how lost I was when I first started bowling as a kid. I had no idea how to hold the ball, how to throw it, or what ball to even pick. What you learn quickly is that the ball you pick has a major effect on how well you bowl. However, picking the right ball is not as easy as you might think.
I recently read an article by Mike Hawkins, a bowling columnist for DailyAdvance.com. Mike does a fantastic job informing of all the details when choosing a bowling ball that is right for you.
The article discusses the individuals finger fitment in the holes as well as the proper weight for the individual. Keep in mind that when choosing the weight of the ball, it should be approximately ten percent of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, you should be throwing a 12-pound ball.
For the more advanced bowlers out there, what if you want to start improving your game by buying your own bowling ball that is drilled so your fingers fit perfectly in the ball?
There are a few things to know if you are looking to get into your own bowling ball. If you are still a novice bowler and have only been at it for short amount of time, I would recommend your first ball to be a plastic ball. Buying a plastic ball such as a Brunswick T-Zone is a smart choice and it will not break the bank. It was the first plastic ball I ever threw.
A plastic ball will allow you to focus on your accuracy which is the most important part of bowling. Forget ball speed and curving the ball. If you’re new, accuracy is key and you will see your scores gradually increase over time.
The best way to improve your accuracy is by throwing the ball in one fluid motion and holding the ball the right way. Have your middle and ring finger in the top holes and your thumb in the bottom. When you walk to the lane, do not stop at the foul line. Rather the ball should be moving as you walk so by the time you get to the foul line; you are already throwing the ball.
YouTube: MonkeySee
Once you have improved your game with plastic balls and you want to improve your game further, it is time to start looking at reactive bowling balls.
If you are ever at the bowling alley or watching professional bowling on TV and see players put a curve on the ball, this is thanks to reactive bowling balls.
Note: the ball is not the only thing that causes the ball to move. A lot of it is the way the player releases the ball. To learn more about how players create power and rotation on the ball, watch the video below.
YouTube: Brad & Kyle
The outside layer of the bowling ball is known as the coverstock. There are four types of coverstocks. We already talked about one of them, being plastic, the other three are urethane, reactive resin, and particle, otherwise known as proactive.
The urethane coverstock offers more friction between the ball and the lane, giving it more hook potential than plastic.
The reactive resin coverstock gives the ball more friction on the lane, giving the ball the ability hook more when traveling down the lane.
The particle or proactive coverstock gives the ball a rough feeling as it travels down the lane. This offers the most hook potential on the heavier oil patterns. It is a must for advanced bowlers.
Photo by: Marcus British
Here are some quality bowling ball brands to look at when you are looking to get into a more advanced ball: Storm, Hammer, Ebonite.
The other factor in the way the bowling ball moves is the core. Cores cause the ball to spin in such a way that will cause each ball to move differently. Each core is shaped differently giving each ball a different ability to how much it will move.
The last thing to keep in mind when picking your bowling ball is the way the finger holes are drilled. If you are still a beginner and you are getting your first plastic ball, it is best to get a traditional fit to the ball. If you are advanced however, and are getting into a reactive ball, you should get a fingertip fitting.
Fingertip fittings are exactly what it sounds like. Instead of your whole finger going in the top holes, it will be just your fingertips. This will give you a wider grip on the ball which will allow you to control the ball more and put more rotation on the ball so it will curve more.
The ball you choose has a great impact on how you perform on the lanes. You are definitely more likely to succeed with your own ball that is custom fitted to your own hand. If you are serious about bowling and you want to improve, this is the way to go.
How advanced are you in your game? Are you a beginner or are you more experienced and throwing a hook? If you have any questions about the types of bowling balls or what you should buy, feel free to ask me in the comments!
Steven Truant Blogs 