BOWLING EQUIPMENT
Bowling equipment includes the ball, shoes and any device, which is usually designed for the wrist or hand to be worn during the bowling process. The value of proper equipment in bowling cannot be too heavily stressed, especially with respect to the ball and shoes. After years of observation, I am convinced that MOST BOWLERS ARE STILL PLAYING THE GAME WITH POORLY FITTED BOWLING BALLS AND INADEQUATE FOOTWEAR.
You maybe interested for further investigations on a list of approved equipments from “Professional Bowlers Association (PBA)“.
- BOWLING BALLS
Thirty years ago, all bowling balls were rubber and basically identical. Though some shells differed slightly in hardness, the materials used to mold them were much the same. This is no longer true. Today, most bowling balls are now made from plastic, urethane, reactive resin or particle material. The page “Basic Types of Bowling Balls” is meant for better understanding of the surface materials used on bowling balls.
Even more with our advanced technology, most of today’s bowling balls contain much softer and more abrasive surfaces in order to produce better “lane gripping stability”. Besides, the technology of the bowling ball’s “core-block” design, enable more of a bowler’s hook potential on the bowling ball. Also, some manufacturers have developed balls that are opportunistically better balanced while others even claim their bowling balls are slightly larger in circumference. These progressive and accelerating changes in the characteristics of the bowling ball have generated a major controversy.
The importance of the ball to a bowler is unlike similar relationships in other games. In no sport is there so much variety in the design, composition and performance characteristics of a ball as is found in bowling ball. That is some kind of additional fun while competing. It’s advised to use thumb-slug/thumb-solid and finger-grips for the bowling ball’s holes, to give smoother delivery and less gripping efforts.
Bowling Tips : The 4 considerations that a player must take into account when purchasing a bowling ball are :
- Grip
- Total weight
- Surface characteristics (hardness and porosity)
- Tolerance of the ball balance
-BOWLING SHOES
Concerning footwear, a careful inspection of shoes in use today is as important as choosing bowling balls. The sole of the sliding shoe is usually found to be a composition substitute for leather. This affects much on the bowler’s sliding and stance balancing. On the other side, the rubber sole is usually found to strongly grips and thus affording more stability to a bowler’s approach and delivery.
When buying bowling shoes, look for the characteristics as below :
- Genuine leather on the sliding sole
- Soft but sturdy rubber on the non-sliding sole
- Shoes that fit comfortably without the feet having too much stress
Bowling Tips : Higher heels of the shoes will tend to slide more excessively while lower heels will give less sliding during approach and delivery.
- BOWLING HAND-GLOVES & BOWLING HAND-GUARDS
With regard to wrist aids, bowling gloves, hand positioners, etc., there are many on the market, all are professing to do one thing or another to help a bowler execute a better shot. Whatever your preference, the decision to use a bowling aid should be based on the assurance that it will improve a specific aspect of your game. Bowling aids are principally a matter of personal preference in terms of comfort and appearance.
Bowling Tips : It’s not a necessity item.
