Bowling with one bowling ball

"Bowling with one bowling ball in your arsenal is like golfing with only one club in your bag" . Purchasing a bowling ball with the right weight and designed is very crucial to a bowler's game as well as the most important investment a bowler can make . It is known that lane conditions vary from bowling center to bowling centers, lane to lane, and game to game . The key to a high bowling score is to be able to match the bowler's equipment and ability to the conditions of the lanes.

In the last 40 years, there have been four major changes in coverstock materials. In the 1960's, a bowler only had one choice and that was a hard rubber ball. In the 1970's, polyester balls were introduced to the market. In the 1980's, coverstock made a dramatic improvement when they released its urethane balls to the marketplace. Finally, in the early 1990's reactive urethane resin raised the game of bowling and bowling scores to a new level and dimension .

Polyester/Plastic Balls

Polyester balls are designed to roll straight with very little hook. In the game of bowling today, polyester balls are only suitable when the lanes are extremely dry and when reactives and urethanes balls are hooking the lanes too much. However, because the polyester ball are not as susceptible to oil variations, many bowlers use a polyester ball mainly for their spare ball. When the oil variations are not an issue, it allows the bowler to concentrate on the release of the ball, rather than having to determine where to stand and which mark to throw the ball on. Polyester balls are considered as an entry-level ball, mainly for new bowlers, and are less expensive .

Urethanes: Control roll

A urethane ball has a more controlled and predictable roll. The urethane ball is often the ball of choice when the lanes are very dry. Usually on dry lanes, the reactive balls are over reacting - particularly on the back end of the lane. Like reactives, urethanes can be drilled and finished to suit a bowler's particular bowling style. A bowler can have their urethane ball drilled to react with more/less hook, more/less skid, etc. Urethane balls are more economical than reactive balls. Furthermore, urethane balls are more durable than the reactive balls and will last longer, and hold up better, with less maintenance .

Reactive: Big backend and hard hitting

When reactive resin balls were introduced five years ago, bowling scores have not been the same. Reactive resin balls are designed to have big backend, and greater hitting power. Bowlers no longer have to be accurate in hitting the pocket to get a high score. With a reactive resin ball, bowlers only need to keep the ball within the general area of the strike zone. This way, bowlers can concentrate more on speed as well as be able to get the ball to the strike zone without the ball hooking too early .

Reactive resins balls are known for its tacky surface which grips the lanes, particulary on the backend that gives it the increased hook and greater hitting power . Although manufacturers design balls to favor certain lane conditions, a ball can be drilled with different layouts and pin placements that can dramatically change the reaction of any ball. In other words, depending on how a bowler's ball is drilled, the same ball can react on the lanes differently for another person.

It is essential that a bowler shops around for a proshop that is knowledgeable in new technology. Most importantly, a proshop must have operators who are well trained in drilling bowling balls. Once a bowler is satisfied with a proshop, he/she should stick with the same proshop when purchasing future balls. This will allow the proshop operator to be able to evaluate a bowler's bowling style and know the lane conditions that the bowler faces. The operator of the proshop will be able to suggest which balls a bowler should invest in.