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How to Pick Your First Bowling Ball (and Not Get Ripped Off)
So, you’re tired of using those beat-up house balls. You know the ones. They’ve got more nicks and scratches than a demolition derby car, and the finger holes feel like they were drilled for an alien with three thumbs. You see the league guys with their own gear, and you’re thinking, “It’s time.”
Good. You’re in the right place. Getting your first real bowling ball is the single biggest step you can take to get better at this game. But it can also be confusing. There are a million different balls out there, and they all promise to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. How do you know what to get?
We’ve helped thousands of bowlers in your exact shoes here at Fastlane. Let’s cut through the marketing hype and talk about what really matters when you’re picking out your first ball.
Why You Need Your Own Ball, Period.
Let’s get one thing straight: house balls are not designed to help you score. They’re designed to survive being dropped, thrown into the gutter by a five-year-old, and generally abused day in and day out. They’re made of cheap plastic, and they’re drilled to fit nobody in particular.
A ball that’s drilled for your hand is a completely different animal. It feels like an extension of your arm. You don’t have to grip it for dear life, which means you can be more relaxed and consistent. And, most importantly, it will hook. A house ball goes straight. A real bowling ball hooks into the pocket, and that’s where strikes come from.
We see it every week. A bowler who’s been stuck at a 130 average for years gets their first real ball, and all of a sudden they’re shooting 160. It’s not magic. It’s just the right equipment.
How Heavy Should I Go?
This is the first question everyone asks. The old rule of thumb was to use the heaviest ball you can handle. That’s not terrible advice, but it’s a little outdated.
Here’s the deal: a heavier ball hits the pins harder. But only if you can throw it with the same speed and control as a lighter ball. If you’re muscling a 16-pound ball down the lane, you’re probably better off with a 14-pounder that you can actually control.
For most guys, 14-16 pounds is the sweet spot. For most women, it’s 12-14 pounds. But don’t get hung up on the numbers. It’s all about what feels right to you. When you come into the shop, we’ll have you hold a few different weights and see what feels comfortable. It’s better to throw a lighter ball well than a heavy ball poorly.
The Guts of the Ball: What You Need to Know
This is where it can get confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. There are two main things that make a bowling ball do what it does: the coverstock (the outside) and the core (the inside).
The Coverstock: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
The coverstock is what actually touches the lane. For your first ball, you’ve got three basic choices:
- Plastic (or Polyester): This is what house balls are made of. It doesn’t hook much. It’s great for shooting spares, but it’s not what you want for your first strike ball.
- Urethane: This is a step up from plastic. It’ll give you a little bit of hook, but it’s very smooth and controllable. It’s a good option for a beginner who wants to learn to hook the ball without getting into trouble.
- Reactive Resin: This is what most serious bowlers use. It hooks the most and gives you the best chance to strike. For a beginner, you want an entry-level reactive ball. Something like a Brunswick Rhino or a Storm Tropical Surge is perfect. They’re designed to be easy to control, and they won’t break the bank.
Don’t make the mistake of buying the biggest, baddest hook monster on the market for your first ball. It’s like giving a Ferrari to a 16-year-old with a learner’s permit. You’ll just end up in the ditch. Start with something you can control, and then you can move up as you get better.
The Core: The Engine on the Inside
Inside every performance bowling ball is a weight block called a core. You don’t need to be a physicist to understand this. Just know that for your first ball, you want a symmetrical core. It’s more stable and predictable, which is exactly what you need when you’re learning.
The Most Important Part: The Fit
You can buy the best ball in the world, but if it’s not drilled to fit your hand, it’s worthless. This is why you should never, ever buy a ball online. You need to go to a pro shop and get properly measured.
When you come to Fastlane, we’ll measure your hand, talk to you about your bowling style, and figure out the best way to drill your ball. We’ll make sure it’s comfortable, and we’ll make sure it’s right for you. And if it’s not perfect the first time, you bring it back and we’ll fix it. No charge. That’s not something you’re going to get from a website.
The Bottom Line
Getting your first bowling ball is a big deal. It’s the start of a journey. Don’t be intimidated by all the options out there. Just come on in to Fastlane and talk to us. We’re not here to sell you the most expensive thing in the shop. We’re here to help you get the right gear for your game. Let’s find your perfect ball together.
