When you find yourself captivated by the thrill of bowling, there's just one remedy: more bowling!
As your passion for the game grows, you might start considering buying your own bowling ball. It's one of the best decisions you can make when starting out in bowling because constant bowling with house balls can lead to forming bad habits. Additionally, the proper grip and weight of a personalized bowling ball can completely transform your bowling experience.
Top 5 BowlingLife bowling ball picks for beginners
Don't feel like reading the full review? Check out our top 5 picks for the best bowling balls to buy for beginners in 2024.
Storm IQ Tour Edition - the best bowling ball for beginners
Hammer Black Widow 3.0 - the best bowling ball for hook
Motiv Venom Shock - the best bowling ball with predictable hook
Motiv Evoke - the most universal bowling ball
Storm Mix - the best bowling ball for spares
A bowling ball, drilled to fit your hand anatomy and playing style, will help you hit the target more consistently and prevent wrist injuries in the long run.
With the wide array of bowling ball options available, the decision can seem daunting, especially for bowling beginners.
If you're in search of the best bowling ball for beginners, look no further. Whether you're seeking a bowling ball that goes straight or provides a controllable hook, this article presents the best bowling balls for beginners, carefully selected by BowlingLife testers. Please note that certain links provided might be affiliate links.
BowlingLife Top Picks
STORM IQ TOUR EDITION
Best bowling ball for beginners
HAMMER BLACK WIDOW 3.0
Best bowling ball for hook
Let's start by understanding the difference between high-performance bowling balls and the ones typically found at bowling alleys. House balls are designed for durability to endure extensive use, while high-performance bowling balls prioritize achieving desireble hook motion on the bowling lane.
Bowling balls can be categorized into three main groups based on their surface reaction: plastic, urethane, and reactive resin. Each type offers distinct advantages and allows players to adapt to varying lane conditions quickly.
Plastic bowling balls feature a hard, low-porous surface with minimal track adhesion, resulting in minimal hooking. Bowling beginners often opt for plastic balls due to their affordability, durability, and wide range of color options, making them an ideal choice.
Urethane bowling balls offer improved friction on the lane, resulting in increased hook potential and sharper pin entry compared to plastic balls. Their durable construction ensures longevity, making them a reliable choice for many years of play.
Reactive resin bowling balls provide even greater friction and a stronger angular reaction on the lane compared to urethane balls. They are commonly used in competitive or sport bowling due to their superior performance capabilities.
We recommend every bowling beginner to start with two bowling balls - reactive resin bowling ball for hook, and plastic bowling ball for spares. In this article, our testers have selected a range of the best bowling balls for beginners. In the description of each bowling ball, you'll find information about the coverstock material it's made of. So, without further ado, let's explore them!
Best bowling ball for beginners
Best overall pick: STORM IQ TOUR EDITION BOWLING BALL
Coverstock: Reactive solid
The standard bowling ball usually sticks around in the market for about a year, but the Storm IQ Tour Edition has been going strong for twelve years - that says a lot! The Master line has always been a hit with players worldwide, and the IQ Tour Edition, introduced in 2012, has been no different. Our testers rate it as the best bowling ball for beginners because it's super reliable and predictable when it comes to hooking. Known as the "9/ machine," this ball has seen major success on the PBA Tour and among casual league bowlers everywhere. It's earned its reputation as a go-to bowling ball that delivers consistent performance across all kinds of lane conditions for a long time.
You might also like: MOTIV EVOKE BOWLING BALL
Coverstock: Reactive solid
Beneath the surface of the new Motiv Evoke bowling ball lies the groundbreaking Overload Core, an asymmetrical dynamo that breaks the mold. By allowing the differential to be modified through drilling, this core distinguishes the Motiv Evoke not just from other Motiv bowling balls, but from every bowling ball available, offering bowlers a whole new level of personalization. Motiv Evoke bowling ball is an ideal choice for a variety of oil patterns, starting with a typical house shot pattern (THS), ending with the medium or even heavy oil pattern. Our testers believe that a bowling ball that can be shaped to fit your game seamlessly and that could be used on many different oil patterns is one of the best bowling ball choices for beginners. Plus, the collors of Motiv Evoke bowling ball are simply amazing!
You should also consider: STORM MIX BOWLING BALL
Coverstock: Urethane pearl
The Storm Mix is an excellent bowling ball choice for beginners. It not only serves as a spare ball, rolling straight as an arrow, but also excels in extremely dry conditions thanks to Storm Mix urethane pearl coverstock. With its traditional 3-piece core, the Mix provides heightened predictability, and its urethane coverstock ensures exceptional durability and improved performance on dry lanes compared to a plastic bowling ball. With a variety of colors available, it caters to the preferences of every bowler. Our testers named Storm Mix a must-have bowling ball for bowling beginners or anyone seeking a durable option.
Best bowling balls for hook
Best hooking bowling ball: HAMMER BLACK WIDOW 3.0
Coverstock: Reactive Solid
The original Hammer Black Widow bowling ball burst onto the scene in June 2006 and quickly became a fan favorite. Fast forward to January 2024, and Hammer introduces one of the most captivating bowling balls of the year—the Hammer Black Widow 3.0. Featuring the renowned Gas Mask core, celebrated for its impressive flare potential, versatility, and dynamic backend motion, along with the aggressive HK22 coverstock, the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 proves to be a dependable companion, capable of adapting to any lane conditions. It's a valuable addition to any bowler's arsenal, catering to a range of bowling styles. This bowling ball is particularly well-suited for beginners looking to master the art of hooking a bowling ball.
Best bowling ball for predictable hook: MOTIV VENOM SHOCK
Just as Storm has its enduring Phaze II, which has proven its effectiveness over nearly a decade, Motiv boasts its own standout: the Venom Shock bowling ball. Introduced in 2014, the Motiv Venom Shock features a Gear symmetric core combined with the Turmoil™ MFS Solid Reactive coverstock, resulting in extended length and a strong backend roll. This bowling ball from Motiv is highly dependable and delivers a smooth performance on medium-dry oil patterns. It has garnered significant success on typical house shot (THS) oil patterns, particularly when other bowlers are using urethane balls. It's no surprise that our testers consistently choose the Motiv Venom Shock for their tournament bags.
Best bowling ball for medium oil: STORM SUMMIT PEAK
In mid-January 2024, Storm unveiled an exciting addition to their bowling ball lineup: the Storm Summit Peak. This release is the pearl counterpart to the highly acclaimed Storm Summit, which earned recognition as one of the top Storm bowling balls in 2023. The Summit Peak showcases a sleek TX-23 Pearl coverstock and a polished Reacta Gloss finish, offering increased skid at the front of the lane and a more pronounced backend motion compared to its predecessor. It's an ideal bowling ball for beginners, as the Storm Summit Peak is engineered to demonstrate remarkable responsiveness to friction, delivering that classic hockey stick motion down the lane.
Best bowling ball for spares: Hammer Black Widow Viz-A-Ball
Coverstock: Plastic
The Hammer Black Widow Viz-A-Ball is an excellent bowling ball choice, catering not only to players seeking a plastic spare shooting option but also to beginners venturing into bowling or those who prefer a straight-style approach. Featuring the acclaimed Gas Mask core, the Black Widow Viz-A-Ball is also suitable for extreme dry lane conditions. Plus, it boasts an impressive appearance which looks even better in pair with the Hammer Black Widow 3.0 bowling ball!
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