10 Best Bowling Balls For Beginners

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You’re a bowling enthusiast. You love watching professional bowlers compete against each other. But, you’re yet to play this game and are probably wondering, where do I start? You guessed it right – the bowling ball. With the right ball, you can quickly learn the game and, at the same time, have some fun. 

Notably, intermediate and beginner bowlers have special needs when it comes to bowling balls. In simple words, beginner and intermediate bowling balls aren’t the same as the ones used by expert bowlers. If you’re a beginner, consider buying any of the following bowling balls.

10 Best Bowling Balls for Beginners Ranked

RankBeginner Bowling Ball Type
#1Storm Proton Physix
#2Ebonite Maxim Bowling Ball
#3Hammer Black Widow
#4Strikeforce Bowling NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Undrilled
#5Storm Axiom Pearl Bowling Ball
#6Storm Tropical Surge Pink/Purple 10lb
#7OnTheBallBowling Spongebob Face
#8Motiv Fatal Venom 12lb
#9Brunswick Rhino
#10Brunswick Bowling Twist Reactive Ball

Storm Proton Physix

Think of it as the ultimate beginner’s bowling ball. It impresses as far as grip, aesthetics, composition, and pricing are concerned.  It is simply a fast yet agile monster on the lanes. The ball’s main highlight is its built-in nano-technology which is where the future of bowling is currently headed.

 Be sure to have ample lubrication on the lanes. Too dry, and the bowling lane will undoubtedly go up in flames. It is also important to note that Storm Proton Physix is ideal for flat, voluminous patterns and heavy oil tournaments. 

Storm Proton Physix is, in all fairness, intricately designed with an aesthetic appeal you’ll fall in love with at first sight. The ball will also enthrall you with its near-perfect straight-line control, easy grip, and hitting solid power. Release it on the lane, and it almost looks like it’s remote-controlled to run in a straight line. 

Pros

  • Ideal for beginners
  • Firm Grip
  • Impressive design

Cons

  • Somewhat pricey

Ebonite Maxim Bowling Ball

The Ebonite Maxim Bowling Ball is a power pearl in motion. Designed with a unique ability to flow aggressively on oil, it retains energy long enough to run all the way. The fact that it hits with a punch is a huge plus for beginners. 

The ball is powerful in the mid-lane, where it picks up energy as it gains momentum to hit the target. That explains why amateur bowlers always fall in love with it. It simply makes one feel like they were born to bowl.

Ebonite Maxim’s grip is yet another highlight worth noting. Hold it once, and it just doesn’t let go until you release it. It is, for that reason, one of the best bowling balls in the market for beginners. It is especially ideal for medium to heavy oil conditions. 

Pros

  • Ideal for medium to heavy oil conditions
  • Strong backend
  • Durable

Cons

  • Very few still left in the market

Hammer Black Widow

The Hammer Black Widow was the first-ever bowling ball in its line to use a hybrid cover stock. It’s designed not just to impress but also to deliver a punch. It’s polished yet aggressive enough to retain momentum to the pins. 

Its all-time prevalent Gas Mask core guarantees impressive movement on the backend, making it easy for the ball to run to the target. 

It is also worth noting that the ball is perfect for medium to heavy oil conditions. The fact that it comes with a 3-year warranty is all the proof a bowler needs to know this ball guarantees value for money. Have it as your first-ever bowling ball, and it indeed makes you feel like you’re already a pro. 

Pros

  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Speed Radius Gyration of 2.50
  • 3-year manufacturer’s guarantee

Cons

  • Slightly expensive

Strikeforce Bowling NFL Pittsburgh Steelers Undrilled

You may be a beginner, but the NFL licensed logos on this ball will make you play with the confidence of a pro. The Pittsburgh Steelers bowling ball is made of polyester, which has the least friction, making it the perfect ball for delivering straight shots.

This bowling ball is USBC-approved, which tells you its quality is superior enough to let it be used in bowling tournaments. The ball comes in varying weights, including 6lb, 8lb, 10lb, 12lb, 14lb, 15lb, and 15lb. So you can choose a ball whose weight is 10% yours. This variety helps because we’ve got different preferences.

Pros

  • USBC-approved
  • Made of polyester to make winning easy
  • CIt comes in varying weights

Cons

  • It’s undrilled, so you have to drill holes

Storm Axiom Pearl Bowling Ball

It runs like a storm on the lane, which is why it was aptly named after it. Unapologetically robust and tenacious to guarantee a punch on the pins, Storm bowling balls never fail to impress. They not only impress on the lane but also in style. The fresh styling and vibrant colors on the ball make it beautiful to behold as it rolls in the lane. 

As far as performance is concerned, the Storm Axiom bowling ball quickly ticks off all boxes from grip and speed to agility and precision. 

Pros

  • Easy handling
  • Impressive design
  • Ideal for beginners

Cons

  • Not so durable

Storm Tropical Surge Pink/Purple 10lb

The much-beloved Tropical line evolved for the umpteenth time. The most recent evolution came along with the all-new Surge Core, complete with a boosted differential coupled with the brand’s reliable reactor formula. The result is a bowling ball that guarantees the curve every bowler dreams of. 

Take into account six enchanting fragrances and colors the ball comes along with, and you have no choice but to fall in love with the Storm Tropical Surge bowling ball. The ball also looks so good you’ll hate drilling holes through it.

Pros

  • Smooth on the lane
  • Very affordable
  • Impressive backend

Cons

  • It comes only in 10lb weights

OnTheBallBowling Spongebob Face 

It is an officially licensed bowling ball, so you already know what that means – you can use the ball as a beginner in your quest to become a pro. The perks don’t end there, though. The ball looks excellent with Spongebob inside, and it reacts just as well. It doesn’t demand much in terms of oil, so it’s smooth and powerful on the lane. It is an ideal match for both beginners and experts. 

Pros

  • Easy throw
  • Boosted precision 
  • Impressive backend

Cons

  • Slightly expensive

Motiv Fatal Venom 12lb

Aesthetically speaking, Motiv Fatal Venom 12lb is easy on the eyes. Beginners fall in love with the ball immediately they see it. That’s not the real deal, though. The ball guarantees real fun for both beginners and their intermediate counterparts. Its smooth design, coupled with its high-performance features like its firm grip and backend features, make it ideal for pro-wannabes. 

Many experts describe Motiv Fatal Venom 12lb as a deadly combo of precision and length and an angular strike on light to medium conditions. Additionally, the bowling ball features striking and the latest MOTIV bowling ball technology. Beginner bowlers will also love the ball’s outstanding original gear core designed from Venom Shock.

Pros

  • Aesthetically appealing
  • Great backend
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Not so durable

 

Brunswick Rhino

Brunswick Rhino bowling balls have one thing in common – precision. But it doesn’t end there. The ball can easily be described as the perfect blend of power and control. This is especially the case for first-time bowlers. 

Rhino guarantees enhanced performance as one of the best bowling balls for beginners, so you already feel like you’ve been bowling for ages. It gets even better with the fact that the ball comes in a variety of color options, so you get to choose what’s pleasing to your eyes. 

It gets better. Brunswick Rhino’s performance index is even more impressive. You’ll quickly notice impeccable performance with lower hook potential. This means the ball is perfect for drier conditions. For newbie bowlers looking for great value on a simple yet effective bowling ball, this is it! Versatile in motion with a continuous yet intense arching movement. 

Pros

  • Medium weight
  • Versatile in motion
  • Ideal for first-time bowlers

Cons

  • It doesn’t come pre-drilled

Brunswick Bowling Twist Reactive Ball

The ball blends pink, snow, and sky blue colors to end up with a charming pearl that impresses easily. Weighing just 8lb, the ball guarantees an easy time for novice bowlers. It takes to the middle of the bowling lane with impressive balance and agility to hit the target off a straight line. It glides with confidence before launching into a strong breakpoint reaction. This ups its hitting power to knock off pins with a punch.

Notably, Brunswick Twist Reactive Ball resulted when the ball’s manufacturers combined their proven gear will-16 with a new diff core to create manageable length with a solid yet controllable backend reaction, especially in dry lane conditions. 

Pros

  • Excellent at dry lane conditions
  • Recommended by expert bowlers
  • Affordable

Cons

  • It comes only in 8lb

Final Thoughts

There’s much more to bowling than just throwing the bowling ball to hit the pins. If you intend to pick up the game as a hobby or with the hopes of going professional, then, by all means, the ball you go for matters a lot. You have no choice but to be keen on the ball you go for. Be particularly keen on the brand and material. You may also want to go for the best bowling balls for beginners that come along with at least a 1-year warranty. 

Picture of Shmulik Dorinbaum

Shmulik Dorinbaum

I play bowling almost daily, and on the days I'm not? I'm writing about my day and what I need to do to improve myself as a better bowling player.