Match the ballto the lane,then the bowler.
Buying guides for bowling balls, shoes, bags and accessories, starting with your rev rate, your speed and the oil you bowl on. From a first plastic spare ball to a league arsenal.
Find gear by part of your game
Balls, shoes, bags, care and the pro shop. Each section starts with what you bowl on and how you throw.
Bowling balls
Reactive, urethane, plastic and spare balls
Bowling shoes
Performance, interchangeable and casual
Bags & transport
Totes, rollers and multi-ball bags
Grips & accessories
Inserts, tape, wrist supports and towels
Ball care
Cleaners, surface pads and resurfacing
Drilling & pro shop
Layouts, fitting and lane conditions
Other formats & home
Duckpin, candlepin, five-pin and home lanes
Beginners & league
First ball, first league and technique
Understand the equipment
Choose a bowling tote or roller by ball count, shoe storage and transport. See how 2-ball totes and multi-ball rollers differ, with maker examples.
Understand pin-to-PAP, PSA-to-PAP and pin buffer measurements in bowling ball layouts, and what to bring to a pro shop before drilling.
What radius of gyration and differential mean on a bowling ball spec sheet, the USBC limits, and how to use them when planning your next ball.
- 04
Bowling Ball Finger Inserts and Thumb Slugs Explained
Grip and fit
- 05
Bowling Shoes: Slide Soles, Braking Heels and Fit
Bowling shoes
- 06
How to Choose a Plastic Bowling Spare Ball
Straighter spare shots
- 07
Bowling Wrist Supports and Positioners: How to Choose
Wrist support guide
- 08
Duckpin vs Candlepin vs Five-Pin Bowling Explained
Small-ball bowling
- 09
What Bowling Equipment to Buy First: A Beginner's Order
Getting started
Bowling Equipment questions, answered
How many bowling balls fit in a tote?
Totes vary: Storm lists both one-ball and two-ball tote styles. Use the specific model's capacity rather than the word tote to decide.
Read: Bowling Bag →What does PAP mean in bowling?
PAP is a point on the ball's surface on the bowler's initial axis of rotation. A pro shop measures it from the bowler's release rather than choosing a generic value for everyone.
Read: Bowling Ball Pin-to-PAP Layouts Explained →Is low RG or high RG better?
Neither. Low RG suits heavier oil and bowlers who need the ball to rev early; high RG suits lighter oil and bowlers who want length.
Read: Bowling Ball RG and Differential Explained →What do bowling ball finger inserts do?
They provide a replaceable contact surface in the finger holes. The pro shop selects the insert size and fit for the bowler's fingers and release.
Read: Bowling Ball Finger Inserts and Thumb Slugs Explained →Which foot slides in bowling?
The foot opposite your bowling hand. Right-handed bowlers slide on the left foot; left-handed bowlers slide on the right.
Read: Bowling Shoes →Is polyester the best material for a bowling spare ball?
Polyester is a common choice for a straighter spare line. Check the exact ball's coverstock and ask a pro shop how it fits your release and target.
Read: How to Choose a Plastic Bowling Spare Ball →Built around how you bowl
We compare coverstock, core shape, RG, differential and surface, not colorways and launch slogans.
Each guide says who the ball suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The bowling equipment index
- 01Bowling ballsBowling balls by coverstock and core: plastic spare balls, urethane, solid, pearl and hybrid reactive, with weight and arsenal planning.5 pages
- 02Bowling shoesBowling shoes for league and casual bowlers: interchangeable soles and heels, wide fits and left- or right-handed models.1 page
- 03Bags & transportSingle-ball totes, double and triple rollers, backpacks and tournament bags.1 page
- 04Grips & accessoriesFinger inserts and thumb slugs, bowler's tape, wrist positioners, gloves, rosin and towels.2 pages
- 05Ball careBall cleaners, microfiber towels, Abralon-type pads, oil extraction and resurfacing schedules.1 page
- 06Drilling & pro shopBall layouts and drilling, span and pitch, plugging, lane oil patterns and what to ask a pro shop.2 pages
- 07Other formats & homeSmaller-ball games, home and backyard bowling sets, kids' bowling and bowling for adaptive players.2 pages
- 08Beginners & leagueWhat to buy first, joining a league, averages and handicaps, and the equipment questions newer bowlers ask.2 pages