Shopping by composition
Polyester and plastic ball
- Recommended for beginners and entry-level players
- Rolls straight with almost no hook
- Great for spare shooting
- Ideal if you roll a straight ball and just want a ball that fits the same every time
Urethane balls (Performance: Low)
- Recommended for bowlers looking to improve their game
- Rolls with a smoother arching reaction
- Great for seniors or younger bowlers that want to hook the ball but don't have much ball speed
- Urethane will go through the pins much better than plastic, i.e., ball must hit the 1,3,5,9 in order to strike. Plastic will deflect more leaving the 5 pin more often.
- Can easily be sanded or polished depending on ball speed and lane conditions
Resin, Reactive, and Particle balls (Performance: Medium-High)
- Yield similar benefits as urethane balls, but offer a sharper hook with more carrying power
- Allows bowler to achieve a sharper entry angle
- Offer greatest strike potential of any bowling ball type
- 100% of professional bowlers use this type of bowling ball. Note: 94% use a plastic ball for shooting spares.