This part of our guide focuses on bowling equipment and supplies.
Besides the traditional ten-pin bowling, there are other variations of the game, including nine-pin bowling, five-pin bowling, duckpin bowling, and candlepin bowling.
Besides these variations of pin bowling, there is also target bowling, usually played outdoors on a lawn. In pin bowling, the objective is to knock over pins on a long playing surface known as a lane. In target bowling, the aim is to get the ball as close to a mark as possible.
Played worldwide, bowling includes a variety of styles and variations, from the classic ten-pin bowling to less common variations, each with its own set of rules and equipment.
Essential equipment used in bowling includes the bowling balls, of course.
Balls used in ten-pin bowling, the most widely recognized form, have three finger holes and are typically made of polyester, urethane, reactive resin, or particle, and vary in weight from six to sixteen pounds.
The balls used in nine-pin bowling are similar but slightly smaller, with no finger holes, while those used in five-pin bowling are smaller yet, weighing about 3.5 pounds. Duckpin bowling uses an even smaller ball, about 4.75 inches in diameter, also without finger holes, and candlepin bowling features the smallest and lightest balls, about 2.5 pounds and 4.5 inches in diameter.
Target bowling, like Bocce, is part of a collective group of lawn bowling games known as boules, in which the objective is to throw or roll heavy balls as closely as possible to a small target ball, called the jack. Boules-type games are traditional in several European countries and parts of Africa and Asia, where they were introduced during French colonization.
Boules games use biased or spherical balls of various types and dimensions. Bocce balls, for example, are typically made from wood, plastic, or resin. They are pretty hefty, weighing around two pounds each, and are about four to five inches in diameter.
As might be expected, pin bowling uses pins. Standard ten-pins are 15 inches tall and weigh about 3.5 pounds. Nine-pins are similar in size but often made of harder wood or plastic. Five-pins are smaller, 12 inches tall, and lighter than ten-pins. The pins used in duckpin bowling are shorter and squatter than ten-pin, standing 9.4 inches tall and weighing about 1.5 pounds, while candlepins are tall and slender, 15.75 inches high and weighing just under 2 pounds.
In alley bowling, special bowling shoes are essential for safety, performance, and proper maintenance of the lanes. They feature a slippery sole on the non-sliding foot and a rubber sole on the sliding foot. This design helps players maintain balance and control during their approach.
Accessories and supplies may include ball polish and cleaners, which are used to support the performance and longevity of the ball. Bowling towels are used to keep the ball clean and dry. Bowlers may use gloves or wrist guards for wrist support and positioning.
Ten-pin bowling is the most popular form, with variations like league bowling and cosmic bowling. Nine-pin bowling, common in Europe, particularly Germany, features nine pins arranged in a diamond. Five-pin bowling is a Canadian specialty, where pins have different point values. Duckpin bowling is common in the Northeastern United States and uses smaller pins and balls. Played mainly in New England and parts of Canada, candlepin bowling features a unique pin and ball design.
Prominent manufacturers and retailers include Brunswick, Storm Bowling, Ebonite, AMF Bowling, and Motiv.
Products, manufacturers, and retailers specializing in bowling equipment, accessories, and supplies are the focus of this category.
Recommended Resources
The Canadian company specializes in 5-pin bowling equipment, including a wide range of bowling balls, bags, and other equipment. The company carries five-pin balls of several designs, including Cobra Pro Rubber, Graphic Ball Designs, Paramount Marbelized, Starline Galaxy Designs, and Urethane Pro-Line. The company also carries several types of ball bags, bowling ball polish, bowling tee shirts, caps, and other apparel. Gift cards are available, and an online product catalog is featured.
https://allstarbowlingsales.com/
In business for over twenty-five years, the company has built and maintained over a hundred bocce courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company also creates custom scoreboards, ball holders, and storage boxes. Its products include bocce ball holders and bocce ball sets of various types and designs, bocce courts, drag brooms and rakes, bocce court clocks, line markers handrails, and other products, which are featured on its website, along with contacts and information.
https://boccesupplies.com/
Based in Versailles, Ohio, the retailer ships from ten distribution facilities throughout the country. Its pro shop location and hours are posted on the website, which includes an online catalog of products, which includes ten-pin, candlepin, and duck-pin bowling products. Bowling balls are sorted into high-performance, entry-performance, value-performance, clear bowling balls, custom balls, plastic bowling balls, kids bowling balls, pre-drilled balls, and its drilling services.
https://www.bowlerstore.com/
The online retailer stocks a wide range of bowling balls, bags, shoes, and accessories from brands like Brunswick, Hammer, and Storm. Besides high-quality bowling balls, its online catalog includes bowling ball maintenance equipment, bowling shoes, gloves, shirts, and accessories. Shoppers seeking bowling balls may browse by manufacturer, performance, rare overseas balls, or top sellers. Buyers may also pre-order balls or view bundles and sale items. Gift cards and a blog are also included.
https://www.bowlersparadise.com/
Bowling balls, bags, shoes, apparel, books, videos, cleaning supplies, and other bowling merchandise are available through this online retailer, categorized by product. Shoppers may pre-order balls, view new releases, international overseas balls, discounted balls, by brand, or by performance. Shoes are sorted by brand, size, sex, age, width, right-hand, left-hand, universal, high-performance, or rental shoes. Sale items, ball drilling services, and gift cards are available.
https://www.discountbowlingsupply.com/
Also known as E. Parella Company, EPCO is a family-owned business established in 1952. The company specializes in a range of products, including bowling balls and bocce sets. EPCO is a leading manufacturer of candlepin, duckpin, and 5-pin bowling balls. With more than sixty years of experience, research, and development, EPCO's manufacturing expertise enables the company to custom manufacture bowling balls to client specifications. Its products are featured on its website.
https://epcomfg.com/bowling/
Headquartered in Spring Lake, Michigan, the American company manufactures and sells bowling balls. The company began as Wilbur Products in the 1990s when it engineered cores for other high-performance bowling ball brands. When its largest customer (Brunswick) moved its manufacturing from Michigan to Mexico, the company launched the MOTIV brand in 2009, producing high-performance balls, which are featured and made available for purchase here, along with a ball guide.
https://www.motivbowling.com/
Pen-Y-Coed is a supplier of equipment for the sport of Pétanque. This boules sport involves players or teams throwing hollow metal balls, known as boules, towards a small target ball called the cochonnet or jack, the objective being to get the boules as close as possible. Based in Suffolk, England, its online catalog includes semi-soft, soft steel, semi-soft steel, semi-soft stainless steel, soft stainless steel, and other types of boules. Orders may be placed by phone or at the store.
https://www.pycpetanque.com/