| Bowling Balls
Shopping for Proper Weight:
- Average adult male usually bowls with a: 15-16 lb. ball
- Average adult female usually bowls with a: 10-12 lb. ball
- Juniors: 1lb. of weight per year of child's age, i.e. 8 yrs old = 8-lb. ball
- Buy the heaviest ball that you can comfortably hold/control, since heavier balls knock down more pins; Note: better to have a ball that's too light than too heavy
- Be cautious of exceptions in size and physical ability; If you are larger/heavier than average, go up in weight; If you are smaller or have limiting physical features, stay lower in ball weight
Shopping by Composition:
Polyester and plastic balls
- Recommended for beginners and entry-level players
- Roll straight with little hook
- Good for dry conditions
- Ideal if you roll a straight ball
- More forgiving
Urethane balls
- Recommended for more skilled players
- Roll with more controlled hook
- Tend to hit pins so pins remain low and mix with each other, offering more opportunity for strikes
- Usually sold with sanded finish; This assists with hooking, especially if lanes are oiled
Resin balls
- Yield similar benefits as urethane balls, but offer a sharper hook with more abrupt power
- Allow bowlers to achieve greater entry angle than plastic or urethane balls
- Offer greatest strike potential of all kinds of balls
Drilling the finger holes
- Bowling balls need to be drilled unless otherwise specified
- Be sure to take your bowling ball to a qualified professional when getting it drilled
- Professional drilling allows you to customize the placement and size of the finger holes
- You can find out where to get a ball drilled at your local bowling alley
Bowling Shoes
- Bowling shoes vary in width
- Fit to your exact size; Too tight will cause blistering, too loose will throw off your balance
- Look for padded collars, cushioned insoles, and padded linings; Not only do they cushion and support, they minimize movement in the shoe for better stability, balance, and performance
- High-performance shoes are constructed differently for left and right-handed bowlers; These shoes have one shoe with a leather sole (used on sliding foot for smooth stop at delivery) and the other shoe with a rubber sole (worn on the swing-side foot for traction for forward momentum to help with balance)
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