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Bowling Accessories That Actually Help Your Game: What’s Worth Your Money?
When you’re thinking about getting serious with your bowling gear, your mind probably jumps to the big-ticket items: the ball, the shoes, the bag. And yeah, those are the cornerstones of your game. But if you’re only focused on the big stuff, you’re missing out on the little things that can make a huge difference in your consistency and comfort on the lanes.
Here at Fastlane, we’ve seen it all. We’ve seen bowlers completely transform their game with a ten-dollar roll of tape, and we’ve seen guys waste a whole lot of money on gimmicky junk that doesn’t do a thing. The secret is knowing what actually works and what’s just marketing fluff. So, let’s cut the crap and talk about the bowling accessories that are genuinely worth your hard-earned cash, and which ones you can leave on the shelf.
Grip Aids: It’s All in the Feel
How your hand connects with the ball is everything. If that connection isn’t right, nothing else matters. These little helpers are all about making that connection as solid and repeatable as possible.
Thumb Tape: The Best Ten Bucks You’ll Ever Spend
What it is: It’s just thin, textured tape you can put on your thumb or inside the thumbhole of your ball.
Why it’s a game-changer: Your thumb swells and shrinks. It’s a fact of life. You might be fine for the first game, but by the third, your thumb is so swollen you can’t get it out of the ball. Or maybe it’s the other way around, and your thumb has shrunk so much you’re dropping the ball. Thumb tape lets you make tiny adjustments to the fit of your thumbhole, so it’s perfect every single time. It also helps you get a clean release, which is the key to consistency.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. For five to ten bucks a roll, this is the cheapest and most effective way to make sure your ball fits you from the first frame to the last. We carry both the white, textured tape for a little extra grip, and the black, smooth tape for a slicker release. Most of our regulars keep both in their bag.
Grip Sack: For When the Pressure’s On
What it is: A little pouch of rosin, powder, or some other stuff that soaks up moisture.
Why it’s a game-changer: You know that feeling when your hands get sweaty in the tenth frame? A grip sack is the answer. It keeps your hands dry, so you can maintain a consistent grip pressure without having to wipe your hand on your pants every other shot. It’s a simple thing, but it eliminates a huge variable from your game.
Is it worth it? If you have sweaty hands or you bowl in a place that gets humid, then yes, a thousand times yes. For ten to fifteen bucks, a good grip sack will last you a whole season. We like the Storm Grip Sack ($12.95) because it does the job without leaving a bunch of gunk on your hands or your ball.
Wrist Supports: A Crutch or a Tool?
What it is: A brace you wear on your wrist to keep it from breaking back during your swing.
Why it’s a game-changer: For some people, a wrist support can be a lifesaver. If you’ve got a weak wrist or you’re recovering from an injury, it can give you the support you need to make a good shot. It can also help you learn what a proper wrist position feels like. But for a lot of bowlers, it’s a crutch that can keep you from developing good muscle memory.
Is it worth it? Maybe. If you’re struggling with your wrist position, come in and talk to us. We can watch you throw a few shots and tell you if a wrist support would help. We’ve got a few different models, but the Mongoose “Lifter” ($39.95) is a good place to start.
We had a guy in here, Mike, who had a weak release for years. He tried a wrist support and said it felt like bowling with training wheels. But after a few weeks, he’d built up the muscle memory to get the same hook without it. For him, it was the perfect training tool.
Ball Maintenance: Protecting Your Investment
A good bowling ball is an investment. If you don’t take care of it, it’s not going to take care of you. These accessories are all about keeping your ball in fighting shape.
Microfiber Towels: The No-Brainer
What it is: A towel. But not just any towel. A microfiber towel is designed to grab oil and dirt off the surface of your ball.
Why it’s a game-changer: You’ve got to wipe the oil off your ball between shots. If you don’t, your ball will soak it up, and it’ll stop hooking. A good microfiber towel is the best way to do that. It’ll keep your ball’s reaction consistent and make it last a whole lot longer.
Is it worth it? Yes. No question. Get two. Use one to wipe your ball between shots and one to clean it after you’re done for the day. For ten to twenty bucks a pop, it’s a no-brainer. We like the Storm Reacta Towel ($14.95) because it has a rough side for getting the gunk off and a soft side for polishing.
Ball Cleaners: The Fountain of Youth for Your Ball
What it is: A spray that’s made to clean oil and dirt off your ball without hurting the coverstock.
Why it’s a game-changer: A cleaner will bring your ball back to life after it’s soaked up a bunch of oil. It’ll keep the reaction consistent and make your ball last longer. You’ll save money in the long run because you won’t have to buy new balls as often.
Is it worth it? Yes, especially if you’re throwing a reactive resin ball. For eight to fifteen bucks a bottle, it’s a steal. We tell our customers to have two kinds: a USBC-approved cleaner like Storm Reacta Shine ($9.95) that you can use during competition, and a stronger cleaner like Storm Reacta Clean ($12.95) for after you’re done bowling.
Ball Polish and Abralon Pads: The Mad Scientist Kit
What it is: Polish makes your ball shiny, and Abralon pads are like sandpaper for your ball. They both change the surface of your ball, which changes how it reacts on the lane.
Why it’s a game-changer: This is where you can really start to fine-tune your ball reaction. You can make one ball act like two different balls just by changing the surface. It’s a great way to get more versatility out of your equipment.
Is it worth it? If you’re an intermediate or advanced bowler, then yes. If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t need to worry about this yet. A bottle of polish is about ten to fifteen bucks, and a set of Abralon pads is about twenty-five to forty.
We had a league bowler, Jennifer, who was skeptical about how much difference the surface could make. We took her ball from a 4000-grit finish down to a 1000-grit finish when her league moved to a heavier oil pattern. Same ball, totally different reaction. It was like she got a new ball for fifteen bucks.
Comfort and Performance: The Little Things That Matter
These are the things that might not seem like a big deal, but they can make a huge difference in how you feel after a few games.
Slide Socks: Your Best Friend on Sticky Approaches
What it is: A sock that you put over your slide shoe.
Why it’s a game-changer: You ever go to a different bowling alley and the approaches are so sticky you can’t slide? A slide sock is the answer. It’ll give you a consistent slide no matter where you’re bowling. It’s also great for protecting the sole of your shoe.
Is it worth it? If you bowl in different centers or in tournaments, then yes. For ten to fifteen bucks, it’s cheap insurance against bad approaches. The Brunswick Slide Sock ($12.95) is a good one. It’s durable and gives you a good, consistent slide.
Shoe Covers: Don’t Be That Guy
What it is: Covers that you slip over your bowling shoes when you’re not on the approach.
Why it’s a game-changer: You don’t want to be the guy who tracks beer and nacho cheese onto the approach. Shoe covers keep your shoes clean and dry, which means you’ll get a consistent slide every time. They also protect the soles of your shoes, which will make them last a lot longer.
Is it worth it? Yes, especially if you have shoes with interchangeable soles. For fifteen to twenty-five bucks, they’ll protect your hundred-dollar-plus shoes. The KR Strikeforce Shoe Shield ($19.95) is a good, durable option.
Bowling Tape and Bandages: Your Fingers Will Thank You
What it is: Tape and bandages that are made to protect your fingers and thumb from blisters and cuts.
Why it’s a game-changer: If you’re bowling a lot of games, you’re going to get blisters. It’s just a fact of life. This stuff will keep that from happening. It’ll also let you keep bowling if you do get a cut or a blister.
Is it worth it? Yes. For five to ten bucks a roll, it’s cheap insurance against painful injuries that can mess up your game. We tell our customers to keep both Turbo Tape ($6.95) and Brunswick Tape ($5.95) in their bag. The Turbo is good for preventing blisters, and the Brunswick is good for covering them up if you do get one.
What to Skip: Don’t Waste Your Money
Not everything that’s for sale is worth buying. Here’s some of the junk we see people wasting their money on.
- Bowling Gloves: We’re not talking about wrist supports here. We’re talking about the flimsy gloves that don’t give you any support. They’re a waste of money.
- Generic Ball Cleaners: Don’t use Windex on your bowling ball. It’ll ruin the coverstock. Spend the extra ten bucks on a real ball cleaner.
- Gimmicky Grip Aids: If it promises to make you hook the ball like a pro, it’s probably a gimmick. Stick with the stuff that’s been proven to work.
- Overly Complicated Wrist Devices: Some of these things look like they were designed by NASA. If you need a wrist support, start with a simple one.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, bowling is about consistency. The more variables you can eliminate, the more consistent you’re going to be. The right accessories can help you do that. You don’t need to go out and buy everything on this list all at once. Start with the essentials, and then add things as you need them. And if you’re ever not sure what you need, come on in and talk to us. We’ll get you set up with the right gear for your game.
