Tips on Choosing the Perfect Bowling Ball

When you are trying to find a great bowling ball for a league or recreational play, it can be confusing to figure out what one to get; especially if you are a first time bowler. In order to buy the perfect ball, you need to consider your experience, your physical limitations, and a comfortable fit for your fingers.

Let's start by looking at the materials that a ball could be made up of:

Plastic: The plastic bowling ball is best for children and other beginners because it stays on the course it is thrown and can go straight down the alley. Intermediate bowlers may also use this kind for a spare shot because it has a low hook (the chances of your ball curving to the left or right when you throw it in the opposite direction) ratio. This is usually the best kind for recreational bowlers.

Urethane: Has increased friction once it meets the lanes and has a higher hook potential than the plastic ball, but it is still controllable no matter what path you want to make of it. Urethane balls react very well to dry lanes

Resin: The resin balls are less durable than plastic and urethane, but have higher hook potential and more pin action. However, these are more difficult to work with if you are a straight bowler rather than someone who bowls on a wide variety of different lane conditions. Even so, they work the best on well oiled lanes.

Particle/Proactive: The surface of a particle ball has a bumpy feel to it, creating the most lane friction.

The next thing to consider is the weight and fit of your ball. Keep these guidelines in mind:

6-8 pounds: made for children.

12-14 pounds: designed for adult females

14-16 pounds: most used by adult males

If you choose a ball that is too heavy, you can obviously risk injuring yourself. However, using one that is too light can easily fall out of your grasp and risk injuring others. A good place to determine a comfortable weight range is on your local bowling center's "house balls". These are available for those who do not bring their own bowling ball. Bowling centers indicate a ball's weight by engraving it on or using a color coding system.

Once you have tested the various weights, add one pound on to the total. You should do this because the drilled finger holes will make the ball feel slightly lighter.

In order to test the fit; place your fingers in each of the three holes. Balls with larger holes are typically meant for men, while holes that are smaller and closer together are best for women and children. You can tell if the ball fits properly when your knuckles rest directly over the finger holes and your palm rests comfortably on the base.

When you are purchasing a new ball, however, you will need to have your fingers measured for drilling. The best thing to do is to exercise your hand before you go get your hand measured to determine an accurate span for distance between the holes and a comfortable size hole for your thumb and your middle and ring fingers.

On a lighter note, the colors and patterns available for balls are pretty much endless. You can choose to have one solid color, or select a ball with a swirl of different colors. Children may prefer a ball with their favorite cartoon character on the background of a favorite color. Even house balls may come in bright oranges or pinks.

Choosing the right bowling ball is important because you must choose the one that is safest in terms of weight and fit and will work best with how much bowling experience you have. Hopefully after reading this, you will have a better idea of what works for you. Once you know what you are looking for, you can visit your local pro shop for more information and further help with your selection.