Last updated on August 23rd, 2021
Bowling, just like any other sport, requires skills, practice, along with proper training and bowling equipment to master. Out of all the bowling equipment, the bowling ball plays the primary role, irrespective of your rev rate.
You should select a bowling ball depending on your rev rate and if you want to modify your rev rate. While most companies manufacture bowling balls for high-rev bowlers, we are willing to help you select the best bowling ball for low rev players.
However, before we go through some of the best bowling balls for low rev bowlers, let us first understand what rev rate is, its types, and how you can identify if you’re a low rev player.
What Is Rev Rate?
Rev Rate is also known as Revolution Per Minute (rpm). It refers to how many rotations your bowling ball would complete within a single minute, keeping in mind various factors such as the ball’s speed and time to hit the bowling pins.
According to the rev rates, a bowler can either be a low rev, medium rev, or high rev player.
- Low Rev Players have a rev rate of 200 rpm or below.
- Medium Rev Players have a rev rate ranging between 200 rpm and 500 rpm.
- High Rev Players have a rev rate of 500 rpm or above.
Meanwhile, people who like to play bowling as a casual sport to relax are known as low rev players.
How To Identify That You’re A Low Rev Player?
Low rev players are also known as rev challenged players as they cannot create a considerable amount of friction between the bowling ball and the bowling lane, which often results in a lower hook.
If you have a rev rate of around 200 rpmn you can consider yourself a low rev player. However, being a low rev bowler is not bad, as a low-rev rating is deemed appropriate for casual bowling games.
Moreover, being a low rev player, you might also play in the down or subordinate position. It would allow you to detect the hook potential of your bowling ball with ease.
Let us now look at the various factors that you should keep in mind while buying the best bowling ball for yourself if you’re a low rev player.
Things To Look For While Selecting The Best Bowling Ball For Low Rev Players
The following are some of the factors you should keep in mind while buying the best bowling ball for low rev players. These factors would help you separate the best bowling balls for low rev players from the various mediocre bowling balls.
Type
There are four different types of bowling balls available in the market, depending on their core and cover. Plastic and urethane are the different types of bowling balls based on the cover, whereas symmetrical and asymmetrical bowling balls have another core.
If you’re a low rev player, you might want to opt for either a plastic bowling ball as they are also known as spare Balls. Plastic bowling balls travel in a straight direction, without any rotation, making them suitable for beginners.
Different core types might want to opt for a symmetrical bowling ball as it is suitable for every player. On the other hand, asymmetrical bowling balls are prominent to high rev players and are expensive.
Weight And Size
While selecting any bowling ball, you should check its weight and if you’re able to hold it comfortably or not. Buying a bowling ball that doesn’t fit in your hand or feels comfortable is similar to wasting your money as you won’t be able to play to your strengths.
Therefore, try choosing a bowling ball that is slightly lighter than the one you can pick conveniently. Selecting a more lightweight bowling ball would allow you to continue playing more games without getting tired.
Drilled Or Undrilled
Before you buy any bowling ball, you should check if it’s drilled or not. You might want to buy an undrilled bowling ball as it would allow you to get it drilled as per your size and comfort. However, it’ll cost you an additional sum of money.
There are bowling balls that are also drilled available in the market, but there are chances that you won’t be able to use them because of the discomfort provided by them.
Price and Quality
The price and quality play an important role in determining whether the bowling ball or any product is worth buying. In terms of core, symmetrical bowling balls cost less when compared to asymmetrical bowling balls.
However, it’s common for popular companies to have a higher cost price for other companies’ bowling quality balls.
Therefore, it’s suggested not to rely solely on the bowling ball’s brand name and cost to determine its quality.
Symmetrical Bowling Balls vs. Asymmetrical Bowling Balls
Before we get to the part where we discuss the different types of bowling balls for low rev players and the various features provided by them, it’s essential to know how symmetrical and asymmetrical bowling balls work and affect your rev rate.
Symmetrical Bowling Balls
Symmetrical bowling balls are prominent among players with low rev or lower-medium rev as the bowling balls allow them to control the bowling ball’s motion.
They have a small differential ratio of less than 5%, meaning that the ball’s core is equal proportions from top to bottom.
The uniformly structured core provides the bowling ball with smooth motion. In addition to it, the blocks used in it have a shape similar to that of a light bulb, which allows the bowling ball to have a low hook potential and allowing the player to play on medium to dry lanes.
Asymmetrical Bowling Balls
Asymmetrical bowling balls are also known as aggressive bowling balls and are used mainly by upper-medium rev and high rev players as they provide a high hook motion. They have a significant differential ratio of more than 5%, implying that the ball’s core is not equally distributed.
Therefore, the shape of the core is irregular and broad. In addition to it, the weight of the block inside the ball is focusing on a particular position. The focused weight provides the ball with an angular motion that allows the ball to have less or more friction and perform well on oil lanes.
Now that you’re aware of the different types of bowling ball roles, let us look at some of the best bowling balls for low rev players that will help you enhance your game.
Best 5 Bowling Balls For Low Rev Players
Most of the bowling ball production companies manufacture bowling balls for primarily high-rev and medium rev players. Finding a bowling ball for low rev players can be a difficult task.
So, to help you select the best bowling ball for slow rev players, we have conducted extensive research and short-listed some of the best bowling balls that would make bowling a more fun and comfortable sport for low rev players.
1 Brunswick Rhino Reactive Bowling Ball
The bowling balls by Brunswick are pretty famous among people as they are available in various sizes and weights, so people can easily select the one as per their comfort level. If you’re in search of a resin bowling ball, then the Brunswick Rhino reactive bowling ball is the one for you.
It weighs almost 10 pounds and has a symmetrical core in the shape of a light bulb. The core would help you in delivering a constant roll every time. You might also want to try this bowling ball as it can roll pretty well in dry and other companies’ light to medium oil lane conditions.
In addition to it, the core of the bowling ball comprises of R-16 reactive cover stock that would provide you with control and power over it. The modern cover stock also provides it with a backend hook potential that allows the bowling ball to cover a considerable distance with ease.
Most importantly, the Brunswick Rhino reactive bowling ball makes use of lightweight bowling ball engineering that allows it to perform consistently, irrespective of its weight and size.
Also, the bowling ball is available in both pre-drilled and undrilled forms. However, if you buy a pre-drilled bowling ball, you can’t return or exchange it. Also, the undrilled bowling ball is easy to drill with the help of any standard drilling technique for symmetrical bowling balls.
Pros
- Available in various sizes
- Symmetrical core
- It rolls well in every lane
- Modern R-16 cover stock
- Lightweight ball engineering
- Available in different colors
- It comes in drilled and undrilled forms
Cons
- A pre-drilled bowling ball can’t be exchanged or returned.
2 Pyramid Path Bowling Ball
The Pyramid brand of bowling balls was founded in 2011 and had been leading the bowling industry ever since as they provide durable and long-lasting bowling balls at an affordable price.
Pyramid’s Path bowling bowl comprises polyester or plastic, and every type of rev player, especially low-rev players, uses it. You might want to give this bowling ball a try as it has zero hook potential and differential ratio, making it a symmetrical bowling ball.
The symmetrical bowling ball by Pyramid Path comes with a factory finish polish that allows it to roll even on dry lanes in a straight line. It is because it doesn’t have any difference in its top and bottom core or mass.
If you’re a low rev player and want to increase your rev rate, you can try using this bowling ball as it weighs nine pounds and has perfect dimensions of 9 inches x 9 inches x 9 inches. It will provide you complete control over the ball and its rotation.
Moreover, the bowling ball is available in sixteen different colors: aqua/silver, black/orange, purple/black/white, etc. However, the bowling ball is available in an undrilled manner and would require you to pay an extra amount for its drilling.
Pros
- Available in various sizes
- Made up of polyester
- Durable and symmetrical
- Zero differential ratio and hook potential
- Available in different colors
- Rolls on a dry lane with ease
Cons
- Not light in weight
- Need to pay extra for drilling finger holes
3 Storm Tropical Surge Bowling Balls
The Storm Tropical company is known for its unique surge core specially made for bowlers who have just started bowling or low rev players.
The surge core refers to the core where there is more difference between the top and bottom of the block. The more significant difference in the block or the bowling ball’s differential rate results in the ball having a higher hook potential.
However, a reactor formula covers the higher hook potential of the bowling ball. The reactor pearl, along with a smooth finish, would allow you to curve the ball as it would slide through the lane’s front and curve towards the end.
Therefore, the bowling ball by Storm Tropical would allow you to curve the ball and try different bowling styles even if you have a low rev rate and want to maintain it.
In addition to it, the bowling ball is available in six different colors and fragrances, such as birthday cake. However, like most bowling balls, the Storm Tropical surge bowling ball comes in an undrilled form, and you would need to get it drilled as per your size.
Pros
- Unique surge core
- Pearl reactor
- Rolls smoothly
- Available in various sizes
- Allows you to curve the ball
- Available in different colors and fragrances
Cons
- High differential ratio
- High hook potential
- Available in an undrilled form
4 Brunswick Tzone Bowling Ball
Brunswick is one of the top brands known for manufacturing bowling balls for every type of rev player. The Tzone bowling ball by Brunswick has a plastic or polyester cover, making it suitable for low rev players to play and for medium and high rev players for practice.
You might want to try this bowling ball as it offers a low hook potential of 25. The low hook potential provided by the spare bowling ball would allow you to roll the bowling ball in a straight direction.
The Brunswick Tzone bowling ball weighs only six pounds, making it highly suitable for low rev players that don’t feel comfortable using bowling balls that weigh more and require more strength to roll.
In addition to all the fantastic features mentioned above, the bowling ball has a gloss finish, giving it a royal look. Moreover, the bowling ball is available in colors such as Blue, Arctic Blast, Gold Envy, Indigo, Green, and Scarlet Shadow.
However, the bowling ball comes in an undrilled form, and you’ll be required to get it drilled from your nearest bowling club that will cost an additional charge.
Pros
- Affordable price range
- Light in weight
- Low hook potential
- Available in various sizes
- Available in different colors
Cons
- Needs separate drilling of finger holes
- Not durable
5 Moxy Exothermic Burst Bowling Ball
The Moxy Exothermic Burst bowling ball is a part of their High-Performance Bowling Ball line. It constitutes a symmetrical core as it has 9 inches x 9 inches x 9 inches but weighs 14 considerably heavy pounds.
Low rev players who want to end the game within the given time limit can use the burst bowling ball’s symmetrical core. It is possible because of the Exo Flipcover stock of the bowling ball that allows it to roll on wet and medium-to-heavy oil lanes.
Since the bowling ball has a symmetrical core, it has a minimal differential ratio.
In addition to it, the Moxy Exothermic Burst bowling ball has backend motion that adds flexibility to the bowling ball and allows it to roll consistently. The bowling ball’s backend motion is due to its sheet core, allowing it to cover more distance.
Moreover, the bowling ball by Moxy is available in various colors such as red, purple, and silver. However, you would need to get the bowling ball drilled as per your finger size at an additional cost.
Pros
- Symmetrical core
- Available in various sizes
- Rolls on wet and oily lanes
- Consistency
- Available in different colors
Cons
- Heavy
- It needs a drill to the fingerholes
Final Verdict
The Brunswick Rhino Reactive bowling ball is the best bowling ball for low rev players out of all the bowling balls mentioned. The bowling ball constitutes all the essential features, keeping in mind if a low rev player would use it comfortably.
The bowling ball has a symmetrical core that allows it to roll in a straight direction and every lane, unlike other bowling balls that work great only in specific lanes. In addition to it, the bowling ball is available in various sizes and weights, allowing you to choose the most comfortable one.
Also, the Brunswick Rhino Reactive bowling ball is available in pre-drilled as well as undrilled forms. Therefore, if you feel like the pre-drilled bowling ball won’t fit you perfectly, you can easily order its undrilled form.
Most importantly, despite Brunswick being a top brand, the Brunswick Rhino Reactive bowling ball is available within an affordable price range.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After going through the multiple types of rev rates and bowling balls for low rev players, there might be some questions that you would like to ask before you buy any bowling ball as per your requirement.
The following are some of the FAQs that would help you understand the critical relations between rev rate, hook, and the different types of bowling balls to clear your doubts.
What Is Hook Potential In Bowling?
Hook Potential is also known as the ‘curving’ potential of any bowling ball. It refers to the amount a bowling ball would cover once it has gone past its skid stage. In the skid stage, the bowling ball travels in a straight line. After that, the bowling ball starts to curve as per its hook potential.
How Is My Rev Rate Related To My Bowling Speed?
Your rev rate depends directly on your bowling speed, as rev rate refers to the revolutions completed by the bowling ball in a single minute.
If you have an incredible bowling speed, the bowling ball would complete a greater distance in less time and hence, have a high rev rate.
However, if you have a lower bowling speed, the bowling ball’s revolutions would decrease and further result in a lower rev rate.
Therefore, if you wish to increase your rev rate, you should try growing your bowling speed through a lot of practice or trying a different, lighter bowling ball.
Is Symmetrical Bowling Ball Better Than Asymmetrical Bowling Ball?
It depends on your rev rate and whether you want or modify it or not. In terms of a low rev player, symmetrical bowling balls are more comfortable to use in bowling. However, asymmetrical bowling balls roll faster and are preferred if you want to end the game in a shorter period.
Which Is The Best Bowling Ball Brand?
Brunswick is one of the best bowling brands as it provides bowling balls for every type of rev player in various sizes and weights. In addition to it, the brand also keeps itself updated with the latest technology used in the making process of bowling balls.