by Melissa Gilbert

Created on: September 01, 2009   Last Updated: September 03, 2009

There are two choices when it comes to choosing the right bowling ball. You can borrow it from the bowling alley, or you can buy one. Both, you have choices of weight. If you borrow the ball from the alley, you don't always have a choice of what the ball is made out of.

If you are new to bowling or do not plan on bowling too often, I would suggest just borrow the ball from the bowling alley to play. You can buy one if you want to though. Having your own ball is a must for people whom are pros or bowl in tournaments. It is also suggested that if you bowl in leagues, to buy your own bowling ball. If you have your own ball, the ball is fitted to you and the better your game can be.

When looking to buy a ball, there are different factors to consider. Are you looking to throw a straight ball or a hook ball? Some people end up having two balls. One is for throwing a hook ball and another just so that they can throw a straight ball. No one ball is made the same way. There are at least a few different types of balls. They are plastic, urethane and reactive resin.

If you are new to bowling, usually you will start out with a plastic ball. They are usually the best for new bowlers, but you won't be able to throw a hook ball with this one. You want to learn how to bowl the right way before trying to bowl with a hook ball. You have to start somewhere after all.

Both urethane and reactive resin have potential to being able to hook a ball with. Some have a higher hook potential than others. Just because you have these types of balls, does not mean that it will hook. These are probably the type of ball to look for if you have been bowling for a while and that you are looking to improve your game.

Weight is another factor to decide on when it comes to bowling balls. The smallest possible bowling ball would weigh around six pounds which typically, a kid would bowl with. The max is about sixteen pounds. Most adults typically bowl with around twelve to sixteen pounds.

Lane conditions are another factor to determine what type of bowling ball you are looking for. Some are rather dry and yet others are medium to oily. Certain balls perform better in certain conditions than others. If you plan on just bowling in open bowling, more than likely it is dry. If you are bowling on bowling leagues and/or tournaments, more than likely it will be on the oily side of things. If you are person that bowls just on open bowling, you should look for a ball that is good for dry lanes and if you are a person that bowls on leagues or tournaments, you should really look into a ball that works on oily lanes.

Some balls are more expensive than others, but that is not the only cost that goes with the ball. You more than likely also will have to pay for the drilling and the bowling bag. You really can't forget the bag. How are you going to get it to the bowling alley anyways? It is best to have a bowling bag when carrying it to the bowling alley. In most cases, you can put other things in your bag like bowling shoe and towel to wipe down you ball. No matter what you choose, there are choices when you look into buying the right ball. The best thing of all is that it will be customized just for you.

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