If you’re new to the sport of bowling, you might be wondering what type of bowling ball is best for you. There are various factors to consider when purchasing a bowling ball, such as your bowling style, the weight of the ball, and the type of lane you bowl on.
In this article, we’ll discuss the best bowling balls for beginners. Also, we are going to provide some tips on how to select the right ball for your needs.
If you’re just starting out, it’s best to choose a lightweight ball that is easy to control. A too heavy ball may be difficult to control and could cause you to lose your balance.
Table of Contents
Beginner vs Professional Bowling Ball: What is the Difference?
There is a clear difference between beginner and professional models when it comes to bowling balls. Professional bowling balls are designed for experienced bowlers who understand the sport and how to use a bowling ball to its fullest potential. On the other hand, beginner bowling balls are designed for people who are just starting out and may not have as much experience.
One of the biggest differences between beginner and professional bowling balls is the weight. Professional bowling balls are typically heavier than beginner models, which makes them harder to control. Beginner bowling balls are typically lighter and easier to handle, making them more forgiving for inexperienced bowlers.
Another difference between beginner and professional bowling balls is the material. Professional bowling balls are typically made from harder materials, such as resin, urethane, or plastic. This makes them more durable and able to withstand more wear and tear. Beginner bowling balls are typically made from softer materials, such as rubber or plastic, making them more forgiving if they hit the pins wrong.
Finally, professional bowling balls typically have more complicated designs, allowing experienced bowlers to control the ball more accurately. Beginner bowling balls typically have more simple designs, making them easier for people who are just starting.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Brunswick T-Zone Deep Space Bowling Ball |
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 | Pyramid Path Bowling Ball |
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 | Storm Tropical Surge Bowling Ball |
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 | Columbia 300 White Dot Scarlet Bowling Ball |
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 | Globe Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball |
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 | Bowlerstore Plasma Bowling Ball |
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 | Brunswick Bowling Twist Reactive Ball |
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Here Are The Top 7 Bowling Balls for Beginner
Key Features
✓ Polyester coverstock
✓ Tzone bullet core
✓ Crown factory finish polish
✓ 8-15 lb of weight
✓ One year of warranty
It is one of the most popular bowling ball manufacturers in the world right now. And T-zone is their popular bowling ball for straight and easy bowling capability. It has polyester coverstock to travel fast in the bowling lane. And its Tzone bullet core has low differential as well as low hook potential. So it goes straight into the bowling lane. That makes it a better bowling ball for beginners who have less skill and need to bowl straight and knock pins easily. You get a comfortable grip on this ball which helps a lot for a novice player.
Overall build quality is solid. This plastic-made bowling ball ensures longevity, that is for sure. Also, you can not withstand the beautiful design yet lightweight. It has various weight options from 8lbs to 15lbs, which helps to choose the ball according to your skill level, age, and strength.
On top of that, you get a one-year warranty with it. Also, the price is reasonable for getting started in the bowling sport.
- Affordable price
- Works best on dry lanes
- Goes straight without a hook
- Excellent design
- Does not perform well in heavy oil lanes
This bowling ball is a perfect bowling ball for beginners. Also, if you want a spare ball as an intermediate or expert bowler, this could be the best choice due to its low flare potentiality and smooth finish.
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Key Features
✓ Polyester coverstock
✓ Asymmetrical pancake core
✓ Factory finish polish
✓ 8-16 lb of weight
✓ Two years of warranty
It is one popular bowling ball among players for its durability and beautiful design. If you are familiar with the path rising model, this one is its predecessor. The first thing about this ball is the beautiful design and smooth finish. This polyester coverstock is not the best in the market; it does the job properly when you need a beginner-level ball.
Also, it has an asymmetrical weight block that ensures straight bowling without doing too much hook. Straight bowling is an entry-level shot that goes perfectly for a novice to start with something easy. Yet it travels faster and ensures a hard impact on the bowling pins to a better score.
One of the most important features of a beginner ball is its weight. Since this ball has various weight variations from 8 to 16 lbs, it will be easy for you to choose the suitable one for yourself. In addition, it has two years of warranty with it. That ensures the longevity of the ball. However, plastic-made bowling balls usually last for a long time.
- Excellent design
- Weight variation
- Two years of warranty
- Durable
- Not that much comfy
Indeed it is an entry-level bowling ball, and pro bowlers can choose this ball as a spare. But the prime reason behind getting this ball is surely its superb design. And it performs great in the dry bowling lane. Due to the pancake core, you will get better performance at the oily lane too.
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Key Features
✓ Hybrid reactive coverstock
✓ Symmetrical surge core
✓ 1500 grit finish
✓ 10 lb of weight
✓ One year of warranty
In the journey of being a pro-bowler, you have to start with simple, yet you need to learn all the special skills such as curving the ball, low flare shot, etc. It is not easy to hook a ball in the bowling lane as a beginner. So you need this ball to enhance your skill. Indeed it is a beginner-level ball, but it allows you to make hook shots. The tropical surge has a hybrid reactive coverstock with a 1500 grit finish. That ensures superb speed on the bowling lane where it is dry or oily.
And it has a symmetrical surge core with a decent amount of differential to curve the ball. Although it is a 10lb ball suitable for beginners, you can get a 16lbs ball. So it ensures maximum comfort while you bowl. Yet the design is not that bad. However, the price is a bit high compared to other beginner-level balls.
But again, you rarely get reactive coverstock on a beginner-level ball. So the price is well justified since it ensures durability. On top of that, you get one year of warranty on this ball.
- Hook potential for beginners
- Superb coverstock with a smooth finish
- Strong core
- One year of warranty
- A bit pricey
As a beginner player, if you want to learn how to hook the ball on a bowling lane, this is one you should get. Also, this is the best reactive bowling ball for beginners. Yet intermediate bowlers can also use this ball.
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Key Features
✓ Polyester coverstock
✓ Asymmetrical pancake core
✓ 1000-2000 grit finish
✓ 6-15 lbs of weight
✓ One year of warranty
It is a great ball for beginner to intermediate bowlers. It has a strong back-end motion to help you pick up spares and strikes. The ball is made with a durable polyester coverstock that will last for many games. The ball is also easy to control and will not skid or slide on the lane. Also, it has a superb grit finish to feel better in hand. If you drill it from the pro shop, you get the maximum comfort that you expect.
Also, it has an asymmetrical pancake core which rolls better on the bowling lane. Especially if you use it in the medium oil bowling lane, you get the maximum performance out of it. However, it is not for a hook; you get straight bowling from it. Also, the ball is available in different weight variations, which is suitable for any age. For example, a 6lbs ball is perfect for a 7-8-year-old kid to start with something lightweight yet the best quality ball.
- Superb quality
- Better performance on oily lane
- USBC approved
- One year warranty
- Not a long-lasting ball
You will never get a dry lane where you can bowl straight. Most of the pro bowling lanes are oily, and keeping the ball straight is indeed a struggle there. Start that practice from the beginning level to end up with better skills. And this ball works best at the oily lane for beginners.
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Key Features
✓ Plastic coverstock
✓ 15 lbs of weight
✓ 360° graphics print
✓ One year of warranty
Brunswick is a great choice for every level of bowling players. And this is one of the stylish balls in their lineup. This plastic coverstock ball ensures a better grip in your hand and travels faster in the bowling lane. As a result, you can score better with this ball. This bowling ball is known for superb straight bowling. Whether it is an oily lane or dry lane, it goes straight and ensures a great impact on bowling pins.
Above all, it has a superb 360° graphics print that makes it unique among all the balls. Also, this 15lbs is the best bowling ball weight for beginners if you are an adult. So this is not for kids at all. Yet controlling it is easier than most of the bowling balls available on the market. But the price is not up to the mark at all.
- Superb design
- Works in every lane
- Durable coverstock
- Comfortable grip
- A bit overpriced
If you like to get amused with a superb 360° print that is able to travel straight in every bowling lane, what else can you expect from it? Also, the weight is perfect for an adult. But the price should be 20-30 bucks less. That would be better.
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Key Features
✓ 360° Graphics print
✓ Weight available from 6 to 15lbs
✓ Plastic coverstock
This bowling ball is for convincing your kids to start bowling and makes it interesting to them. Therefore the main focus of this bowling ball goes to the cute and interesting graphics. Mainly this is a basic and entry-level bowling ball from Brunswick, which came in white color. Later Bowlerstore added excellent graphics above it to make it cool. So the coverstock is made of plastic and has no professional core inside it. As a result, the ball travels straight yet is easy to handle because of its lightweight.
Since it is for the kid, it is available in 6 to 15lbs of weight. So, you have the weight variation to choose the right weight. Even adults can try this ball as well. But the price is way higher than you can think of.
- Cute print design
- Easy to bowl
- Durable enough
- Plastic coverstock
- The price is a bit high
This bowling ball is the best choice for kids to get started in the bowling industry and learn properly with an excellent design that attracts kids the most.
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Key Features
✓ R-16 pearl reactive coverstock
✓ Twist low diff core
✓ Crown factory polish
✓ 8-16lbs of weight
✓ Two years of warranty
Brunswick is one of the bowling ball brands in the world. And this twist model is a better upgrade from plastic coverstock. This ball has an R-16 pearl reactive coverstock that works better in bowling with a low differential core. Also, it ensures better durability than plastic. Overall, you get something better than plastic with maximum comfort and a better score. However, this ball came undrilled unless you requested drilling. As a result, you have a chance to drill it properly that fits the most.
Moreover, this is available in various weights that fit better for any age. And you get two years of warranty to ensure its longevity.
- Superb coverstock
- Low differential core
- Affordable price
- Comfortable fitting
- Not for professionals
This is a bowling ball with superb quality yet available in an affordable price range. This is the best reactive bowling ball for beginners. Also, you get two years of warranty with it to ensure long-lasting.
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How We Picked the Best Bowling Ball for Beginners
The best bowling ball for professional bowlers is not the best choice for beginners. It may be the best ball in the market, but not the best for beginners. So, how do you choose a bowling ball for beginners? Keeping that in mind, we picked these bowling balls by considering these factors.
Materials
Usually, bowling balls that use hybrid reactive coverstock and a strong core are considered a good material. But that is not suitable for beginners. Polyester or urethane is the best material for beginners. You may be wondering why because these materials ease bowling to ensure a better score. And the ball curves less, which is good for a novice bowler to hit the bowling pins and get spares and strikes.
Characteristics of Balls
Mostly a bowler who has a lot of skills try to curve the ball and show his extraordinary skills in a tough bowling lane. But as a beginner, you have to get a bowling ball that travels straight and performs better on dry lanes as well as medium oil lanes. Never try high flare potential balls, which perform better in an oily bowling lane but are not easy to control. As a beginner, you may struggle to throw it properly.
Weight
Although you should choose bowling ball weight based on your body weight, start with something lighter. Usually, lightweight balls are easy to control and provide comfort in your hand. So how to choose the right weight? If you feel comfortable with 16lbs weight, start with 14lbs weight and try to score better with it. After getting some better shots, get used to the lightweight ball and gradually increase the weight, which will result in a better score. So a beginner bowling ball weight should be somewhere between 12-14 lbs for the adults and 8-12 lbs for the teenagers.
Price
Beginner bowling balls are usually not as high quality as pro bowling balls. So you can get it for under $100. Perhaps you can get the best quality beginner ball for under $80. Yet it should consist of the above qualities to ensure better performance.
Frequenty Asked Questions
What kind of bowling ball should a beginner use?
Starting with a lightweight ball is the smart choice for a beginner bowler. Also, a ball with low flare potentiality is good for ensuring better performance. However, weight should be based on the player’s weight. And plastic coverstock is a good choice for a beginner bowling ball.
What size bowling ball should a beginner use?
Size is not the biggest issue for a beginner. But it impacts on the performance, that is for sure. You should pick a bowling ball 1/10th of your weight. For example, if you are 140lbs, you should use a 14lbs ball. And always try with a lightweight ball that provides maximum comfort while throwing the ball.
How do I pick my first bowling ball?
When you are picking your first bowling ball, you want to find one that is comfortable for you. You also want to find one that has the right weight and size for you. I mentioned how to pick the right weight above. Also, make sure the ball travels straight and fast.
What is an entry-level bowling ball?
An entry-level bowling ball is a bowling ball that is designed for new bowlers. It is typically a bit lighter than a standard bowling ball and has a less aggressive grip. This allows new bowlers to get the hang of the sport without having to worry about controlling a more advanced ball.
How do you bowl correctly?
There are three basic steps to bowling with a bowling ball correctly. First, you must grip the ball with your fingers and thumb. Second, position your hand on the ball. Third, you must deliver the ball to the pins.
To grip the ball, you should place your thumb in the center of the ball and place your fingers around the ball. Your fingers should be slightly apart, and your hand should be positioned at the bottom of the ball. You should push the ball forward with your fingers and thumb. You should then release the ball and let it roll off your hand.
What weight bowling ball should I use?
When choosing a bowling ball, the weight of the ball is an important consideration. A too-light ball will not generate enough power to knock down the pins, while a too heavy ball will be difficult to control. Most bowling alleys have balls that range in weight from 6 to 16 pounds. You should get a ball that is 1/10th of your body weight.
Conclusion
So that was all about the best bowling balls for beginners. Usually, beginner bowling balls are available in an affordable price range yet maintain the quality. And it is not suitable for doing hook shots or performing better in heavy, oily lanes. But these bowling balls that I mentioned above are properly suitable for beginners. Brunswick Tzone is the overall best choice for beginners if you are still confused. But follow the buyer’s guidelines to choose the suitable one for yourself.
