If you go bowling at Bowlmor or Bowl America on a regular basis, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of bowlers bring their own bowling balls instead of using the ones in the alley. Let’s examine the pros and cons of owning one to help you decide if you should buy your own ball.
Advantages of Owning a Bowling Ball
These are among the most common reasons people decide to purchase a bowling ball:
1. Owning a bowling ball can help improve your game.
When it comes to bowling, it’s all about consistency. So if you use a ball with a specific composition and weight, and it’s drilled precisely for your fingers, you can focus more on your technique instead of trying to adapt your style and hand to fit the ball.
2. It’s yours.
When you have your own ball, you don’t have to waste time looking for the perfect ball in the racks. Other bowlers won’t get your ball by mistake. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about exposing yourself to germs, bacteria and viruses from the bowling ball.
3. You can get it customized.
When you have your own bowling ball, the finger holes can be drilled specifically for your grip. You can choose the materials for your ball as well as the color, design and weight.
Disadvantages of Owning a Bowling Ball
There’s really no downside to owning a bowling ball, except perhaps if you’re still not 100% sure you’re going to bowl for a long time. You’ll only end up spending a good amount of money for something that will just gather dust in your basement.
If this is the case, then you’re better off using bowling alley balls. They’re convenient, you don’t have to carry them from your home/office to the alley, and you’re not wasting money.
If you’re not ready to make the commitment to buying your own bowling ball, that’s OK too! It’s totally reasonable that you might want to keep using the bowling alley balls for a while.
Buying a Bowling Ball Online
Purchasing a bowling ball online may not seem like a common thing to do unless you’re very sure of what it is you’re looking for. But it does have its share of benefits.
The key advantage of buying a ball online is that you’re likely to find one at a bargain, compared to prices in your local pro shop. There are also more options online – you can choose specific designs and colors. Plus you can have it customized with your name on the ball.
Before you buy online however, there are a few things you must know in. First off, you should know the weight of the bowling ball you want to get.
You’ll also want to know what type of core, what type of coverstock, and the drilling layout you want. If you’re unsure about the last part, don’t worry, you can just take your new ball to a local shop and they will drill it for you.
Check this video for tips on how to choose a bowling ball:
