Are you in the market for a new bowling ball but unsure of how much you should be willing to spend? It’s a common question for bowlers of all levels, and finding the perfect balance between cost and quality can be a challenging task. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various factors that impact the cost of a bowling ball and help you determine the best option for your needs and budget. From entry-level balls to high-end options, we’ll cover all the bases and provide expert tips for finding the perfect ball at the right price. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced bowler, this guide will help you make an informed decision and get the most out of your game.
The cost of a bowling ball can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including the material it is made of, its weight, size, and brand. Entry-level bowling balls, which are suitable for beginners or casual bowlers, can be purchased for as little as $40 or $50.
Mid-range bowling balls, which are suitable for more advanced or serious bowlers, can cost anywhere from $100 to $200. High-end bowling balls, which are typically used by professional bowlers or those looking for the highest level of performance, can cost upwards of $200 or more. It’s important to keep in mind that while a higher price doesn’t necessarily guarantee a better quality ball, it is typically a good indicator of a ball’s durability and
This article will talk about Bowling Ball prices, types of bowling balls, the most expensive bowling balls, and the cost of getting a custom bowling ball created according to your requirement. So, make sure you read this article till the very end, and you will be able to buy the perfect bowling ball for yourself.
How Much Does a Decent Bowling Ball Cost?
Bowling balls that are readily available in the bowling alleys are known as house balls, and they are primarily generic-sized. This means that they are not designed for a specific hand, and they might not be perfectly fitting on your hand at all, but you will still have to use them if you do not have a bowling ball of your own.
If you are playing casually with friends and family, house balls do just fine. Still, if you are planning to become a pro, you need to step up your game, and by doing that, you will have to get rid of house bowling balls and get yourself a proper bowling ball that will be good enough for your grip and weight requirements.
Bowling is not a super-expensive sport from the get-go. So, if you were to go through the market to find a bowling ball as a beginner, you would not have a lot of difficulties finding one that fits a small budget. Decent-quality bowling balls can be found anywhere between $40 to $70.
If you are thinking of upping the ante, bowling balls are available for around the $100 mark, even better quality. But initially, I would suggest that you go for a bowling ball that is not too expensive and comes with precise movements, like a plastic bowling ball.
Bear in mind that bowling balls do not have finger holes in them at the time of purchase. Those are explicitly made according to the request and measurement of your grip and might cost a bit extra, but trust me; this investment will be excellent for you.
Here you can check out the best Selling Bowling Balls.
Custom Bowling Ball Prices
What is better than getting a pre-made bowling ball and getting it fixed for your grip? Get a custom bowling ball designed according to your requirements, control, weight, material, and hold.
Pro shops design custom bowling balls that will take all your requests from coverstock material to weight and everything. These bowling balls are perfect for intermediate players who know what they are doing and want to be established as a bowling brand.
These bowling balls can be tailored to your requirements anywhere from $150 to $200. Depending upon the material and excessive requests, the price point can go up to $300. That is why it is suggested that you get a custom bowling ball designed only if you are THAT passionate about bowling and you have the budget to spend on a custom bowling ball.
Types of Bowling Balls and their Prices in the Market
The types of bowling balls usually refer to the coverstock of the bowling ball you are playing with. Regarding coverstocks, there are four different bowling balls in the market. So let’s take a look at their specifics and pricing.
Plastic Bowling Balls
Plastic Bowling Balls are the most common type of coverstock material used nowadays. These bowling balls are perfect for newbies because they lack spin and hooking ability. They offer the least friction and usually move straight as they are thrown.
When it comes to the price, these bowling balls are usually at the bottom of the ranks, so they are great for beginners. They cost anywhere from $40 to $60, a healthy and affordable price for bowling balls in the market.
Urethane Bowling Balls
Now, this is where things start getting interesting. Urethane bowling balls are more durable than plastic bowling balls and offer a decent amount of hook. They have more friction and can swing and spin if the bowler wants them to, which is why they are meant for a more experienced bowler.
If we talk about the pricing of a urethane bowling ball, it is a little more expensive than a simple plastic bowling ball. Urethane bowling balls can cost anywhere from $75 to $125, which is still in the territory where an intermediate bowler can happily purchase them.
Reactive Resin Bowling Balls
Reactive resin is a step above urethane bowling balls. They are not as durable, but when it comes to hooking potential and spinning ability, these bowling balls offer the most friction and, thus, are mainly meant to be used by professionals who know what they are doing.
Reactive resin bowling balls are best for taking strikes and are also on the more expensive side of pricing. They can cost anywhere from $150 to $250 or even more if you are going for a high-quality popular brand reactive bowling ball, so only buy it if it falls within your budget.
Particle Bowling Balls
Particle bowling balls are not for everyone, that is for sure. These bowling balls are known as chained tires in the snow. This refers to their incredible friction and almost uncontrollable hooking potential, which is why many professionals think twice before choosing to bowl with this particular ball.
However, when it comes to price, they are not quite expensive. This is because most intermediate and beginner bowlers do not prefer them compared to other coverstock materials. Their prices can vary but usually lie between $70 to $130, which is a lot to spend considering you will probably struggle to deal with this ball’s trajectory and movement.
Is an Expensive Bowling Ball Better?
A question that followers ask me many times is, do you think an expensive bowling ball is necessarily better than a competitively affordable one; And to that, I always say it depends. It depends on whether you know how to control that bowling ball and whether you are getting the results from that bowling ball that you desired in the first place. If not, then it is undoubtedly not worth your money.
Let us take an example. Say you spent $150 on a reactive resin bowling ball, but you are at an early stage in your career. So, you are unfamiliar with even straight throws, and you have got yourself a hooking ball. That is not going to work out in your favor.
Compared to that bowling ball, what would be better for you is a plastic bowling ball that comes for significantly less than that reactive resin bowling ball, around $40-$50. It will help you develop your throwing skills and get you down the basics of bowling. The perfect bowling ball has a few factors or checkmarks that it needs to tick to be the best choice for you. Let us look at these factors that make a bowling ball perfect.
- Size and Weight – The size of the bowling ball refers to how big it is for your hand. And the weight for a perfect bowling ball needs to be good enough to feel hefty but light enough so it does not hurt your wrist or be challenging to maneuver on the lane.
- Finger Holes – Everyone has different-sized fingers. That is why the perfect bowling ball is one whose finger holes are drilled according to your finger size, and that can be perfectly gripped for a comfortable and controllable throw.
- Throwing Requirement – Last but not least, the ball needs to be perfect for whatever throw you are looking for. For example, a straight throw would be better with a plastic ball, and hooking would be better with a urethane or reactive ball. It also depends a lot on the lane conditions.
Conclusion
Having a bowling ball that is perfectly adjusted to your finger measurements, fits perfectly in your hand, gives an excellent grip, and performs all the actions that you expect from it, can be quite a blessing for a bowler, and that should be your ultimate goal. If you get a bowling ball for yourself, you will know how it spins and how much force is needed to make an impact.
It is time you ditch house bowling balls and move on to getting your custom bowling ball. Now that you know all the market prices and specifics of bowling balls, you can choose one according to your requirements quite easily. I hope you learned a lot from this article and that you will have a fantastic upcoming bowling career!
