Best Spare Balls for Bowling

Bowling is a game of precision, and consistently knocking down all ten pins is crucial for success. While striking every frame would be ideal, it’s not feasible for most bowlers. It is where parts come into play. A spare is an opportunity to compensate for a missed strike and maintain a high score. A dedicated spare ball can help you optimize your spare conversion, improving overall performance.

According to a recent survey, 1 in 5 bowlers carries a backup ball. This statistic proves how many bowlers recognize the importance of having a spare ball in their arsenal. Why? A spare ball can significantly impact a bowler’s overall performance, offering an alternative solution when their primary ball is not providing the desired results.

As a team of expert bowling coaches, we’ve seen countless bowlers need help to pick up spares, often due to a lack of understanding about the importance of having a spare bowling ball in their arsenal. In this article, we will delve into why a spare bowling ball is necessary and how it can significantly improve your overall performance. Our team thoroughly researched the top 5 spare bowling balls that can enhance your game.

Top Products:

Best Spare Balls for Bowling Reviews!


Best Pick
(Image credit: Amazon)

Storm Ice Storm Spare Bowling Ball

Best Control Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

Perfect Spare Ball

Suitable For Any Lane Condition

Excellent Grip For Control

Pearlized Polyester Coverstock Perfect For A Straight Shot

REASONS TO AVOID

Don’t have too many hooks

As a team of enthusiastic bowlers, we have tested several models and confidently state that the Storm Ice Storm Spare Bowling Ball provides numerous advantages for bowlers of any skill level. We have found that the ball’s 3-Piece Pancake Core and Pearlized Polyester coverstock allow for excellent precision when making straight shots on different types of bowling lanes, based on our personal experience. The stability and predictability provided by the pancake core have dramatically improved my game, ensuring a consistently smooth and controlled roll that has led to countless spares and strikes.

The Storm Ice Storm Spare Bowling Ball is widely recognized for its remarkable versatility. It can be used on any lane condition, making it suitable for various bowling alleys and competitions. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or an experienced bowler looking for a reliable spare ball, the Ice Storm delivers consistent performance.

The Storm Ice Storm Spare Bowling Ball is also designed to fit comfortably in any hand, providing an excellent grip for increased power and control. The durable construction ensures that this ball will last for many games, making it a smart investment for any serious bowler. Overall, the Storm Ice Storm Spare Bowling Ball is a reliable and versatile choice that provides a smooth roll, predictability, and durability, making it an excellent addition to any bowler’s arsenal.

Our team has put the Ice Storm bowling ball through its paces, and we’re thrilled to report that it’s an excellent choice for bowlers who prefer a straight shot. Its sturdy construction and responsive feel make it a joy to handle on the lanes. While there may be better options for bowlers looking to add a significant hook to their shots, the Ice Storm’s reliability and precision make it an excellent choice for spare shots. If you want to improve your accuracy and take your game to the next level, the Ice Storm bowling ball is a must-have in your arsenal.

Staff Pick
(Image credit: Amazon)

DV8 Zombie Spare Bowling Ball

Best smooth Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

Polyester Cover Stock For Smooth Roll

Suitable For All Kinds Of Oil Lanes

High Graphics And Eye-Catching Look

Perfect For All Skill Levels

REASONS TO AVOID

Curve Bowlers May Find It Difficult

If you’re looking for a reliable and effective spare ball for your bowling game, the DV8 Zombie Spare Bowling Ball could be just what you need. With its polyester cover stock and bullet core, this ball is designed to provide a smooth and straight glide through all kinds of oil conditions. It means that you can count on it to consistently hit your spare shots, even on tricky lane conditions. And it’s not just about performance, either – the high gloss polish on this ball also gives it an eye-catching look that’s sure to turn heads at the alley.

One of the standout features of the DV8 Zombie Spare Bowling Ball is its high-quality graphics, making it visually appealing and eye-catching, especially under black light. The left-handed design caters to the needs of left-handed bowlers, offering them a unique and specialized option. Additionally, the affordability of this bowling ball makes it an excellent choice for recreational and straight bowlers looking to improve their game without breaking the bank.

The DV8 Zombie Spare Bowling Ball is an excellent spare ball option that delivers on its promises. Its smooth and straight performance, high gloss polish, and polyester cover stock make it a reliable choice for bowlers of all skill levels. The unique graphics and left-handed design add to its appeal, making it a stylish choice on the lanes. Whether you’re a recreational bowler or a serious competitor, the DV8 Zombie Spare Bowling Ball is a high-quality and affordable option to help you up your bowling game.

Budget Pick
Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball
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Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball

Best Powerful Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

Era 139 Symmetric Core Provides Different Drilling Options

Pearl Reactive Coverstock For Benchmark Motion

Powerful Backend Motion

Durable At An Affordable Price

REASONS TO AVOID

Graphics Are a Little Lower than Shown in The Image on Amazon

The Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players looking to improve their bowling skills. It features a New Era 139 Symmetric Core that provides a versatile drilling option for different bowling styles, making it suitable for many players. The Path Pearl Reactive Coverstock offers a benchmark motion on medium lanes, giving a consistent and reliable performance.

The Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball boasts exceptional hook potential, making it a standout choice for bowlers seeking enhanced performance on the lanes. The Path Pearl Reactive Coverstock generates a good hook, allowing players to achieve powerful backend motion for increased pin carry and better scoring opportunities. It is ideal for players looking to enhance their hooking techniques and achieve more strikes.

In addition to its performance, the Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball is also durable, ensuring it will last through many games without losing effectiveness. Its affordable price point makes it accessible for players on a budget, making it a cost-effective option for those looking for a high-quality bowling ball without breaking the bank.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Brunswick Products Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball

Best Affordable Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

 Excellent As A Spare Ball

Specially Designed For Fry Lanes

Durable As Well As Affordable

High-Quality Manufacturing

REASONS TO AVOID

Not Pree-Drilled

The Brunswick Products Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball is a perfect choice for recreational bowlers who want to add a fun and exciting element to their bowling experience. This bowling ball features a unique glow-in-the-dark feature that adds a cool visual effect when used under black lights. The Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball is perfect for bowling alleys with black-light bowling nights or glow-in-the-dark-themed events, making it a great addition to any bowling enthusiast’s collection.

Made with high-quality polyester material, the Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball is durable and built to last. Its Bullet Core design ensures a straight trajectory, making it ideal for targeting spares with precision. This bowling ball is specifically designed for dry lane conditions, allowing for improved game performance. With its affordable price point, the Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball offers excellent value for money, providing recreational bowlers with a high-quality bowling ball that delivers striking results on the lanes.

The Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball also boasts a visually appealing design that looks exactly like the photo. One of the standout features of this ball is its unique glow-in-the-dark effect. It adds excitement and fun to the game, making it perfect for bowlers who want to add a touch of pizzazz to their game. Not only does it look amazing, but it also performs exceptionally well on the lanes. This ball is also highly durable and affordable, making it an excellent investment for recreational and serious bowlers. You can rely on its excellent performance and long-lasting durability for years.

The Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball and the Brunswick Products Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball offer distinct features that cater to different bowling preferences. Both bowling balls are durable and affordable, providing good value for money. However, the Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball focuses more on performance, while the Brunswick Products Lizard Glow Viz-A Bowling Ball emphasizes visual appeal and fun. Choosing these two bowling balls ultimately depends on individual preferences, skill level, and bowling lane conditions.

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Pyramid Clear Skull Bowling Ball

Best Coverstock Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

Polished High-Quality Coverstock

Balanced And Perfectly Weighted For Control

Perfect For Improving The Game

Starter To Intermediate Players

REASONS TO AVOID

Design Is Not Suitable for Some People

The Pyramid Clear Skull Bowling Ball is a visually striking piece of bowling equipment that will turn heads on the lanes. The unique skull design core is a standout feature, providing aesthetics and functionality. The ball is well-balanced and perfectly weighted, making it easy to handle and control during throws. With clearly marked pilot hole placement, it’s a breeze to line up shots for spares, helping bowlers improve their accuracy and consistency.

The coverstock formulation of the Pyramid Clear Skull Bowling Ball is of high quality, resulting in a finely polished surface that glides smoothly down the lane. It allows for a straight and consistent trajectory, enhancing overall performance. The ball is well-suited for dry lane conditions, providing optimal results in these environments. The clear color of the ball adds an element of fun and excitement to the game, setting it apart from traditional colored bowling balls and making it a conversation starter on the lanes.

The Pyramid Clear Skull Bowling Ball offers excellent value for money with its combination of performance, aesthetics, and durability. The unique skull design core and well-balanced construction make it a reliable choice for serious bowlers looking to improve their game. Additionally, the ball’s high-quality coverstock formulation and finely polished surface ensure that it will last for many games to come. Whether you’re a seasoned bowler or just looking for a fun and distinctive bowling ball, the Pyramid Clear Skull Bowling Ball is a top choice that delivers on its promises.

(Image credit: Amazon)

ELITE Pre-Drilled Star Bowling Balls

Best Balanced Bowling Balls


REASONS TO BUY

uitable For All Skill Levels

Available In Different Colors And Drilling Options

High-Quality Manufacturing At An Affordable Price

REASONS TO AVOID

No Extra Differences in All Sizes of Drillings

The ELITE Pre-Drilled Star Bowling Ball also offers excellent performance on the lane thanks to its expert design and construction. This ball has been carefully engineered to ensure a smooth and consistent roll, making hitting those strikes and spares easier. With its impressive performance, you can feel confident that this ball will help you improve your game and reach new levels of success.

One of the standout features of this ball is the ELITE Armour Poly coverstock. This material is known for its durability and longevity, so you can rely on this ball to last through many games and strikes. It makes it an excellent investment for avid bowlers who want a ball that can keep up with their high level of play. Whether you are a straight or hook bowler, this bowling ball caters to your specific needs. The different color options also add a touch of customization to suit your style.

The finger holes of the ELITE Pre-Drilled Star Bowling Balls are pre-drilled to perfection, making them ideal for any level bowler. The size of the holes is just right, providing a comfortable grip and allowing for a smooth release. It results in a more controlled roll, making achieving the desired hook or straight shot easier.

In terms of performance, the ELITE Pre-Drilled Star Bowling Balls deliver impressive results. The ball rolls nicely down the lane for an enjoyable bowling experience. The quality of the ball is top-notch, ensuring that it will last for many games to come. Plus, the affordability of this bowling ball makes it an excellent value for the price.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot Bowling Ball

Best Durable Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

Perfect Spare Ball

Asymmetric Core Design For Strong Ball Motion

Durable Polyester Coverstock For Dry Lanes

More Hooking

REASONS TO AVOID

No Color Option

The Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot Bowling Ball is an exceptional bowling ball with many impressive features. Its asymmetric core design ensures a strong ball motion, making it ideal for players who want a hooking ball that delivers impressive results on the lanes. The durable construction of this bowling ball ensures that it will last for a long time, making it a great investment for avid bowlers.

The Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot Bowling Ball is a fantastic choice for bowlers seeking a versatile and reliable spare ball that performs exceptionally well on various lane conditions. Its straight motion provides accuracy and reliability, making it an excellent choice for picking up those hard-to-reach corner pins. Its dependable performance makes you feel confident and focused on your shot, allowing you to concentrate on your game.

In addition to its accuracy, this ball’s durable polyester coverstock performs consistently even in drier lane conditions. It means you can use it confidently, knowing that it will perform exceptionally well regardless of the lane conditions you’re facing. Another notable aspect of the Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot Bowling Ball is its affordable price. Despite its impressive features and performance, this bowling ball is reasonably priced, making it accessible to many players. The striking silver color of the ball adds to its overall appeal and gives it a sleek look on the lanes.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Hammer Black Widow 2.0 Bowling Ball

Best Hooking Bowling Ball


REASONS TO BUY

Gas Mask Core For Durability

Aggression Solid Coverstock For Control

Perfect For Hooking And Spares

Excellent Backend Reaction

REASONS TO AVOID

More Suitable for Advanced Players

Hammer Black Widow 2.0 Bowling Ball is an exceptional piece of equipment that our testing team was thoroughly impressed with. Its features are designed to provide a powerful and effective performance to help bowlers achieve their best game. This ball is ideal for bowling on medium to heavy oil lanes due to its improved hook potential. Its improved traction also helps with control, allowing bowlers to achieve the accuracy they need for optimal performance. Additionally, its fantastic backend reaction ensures it delivers a powerful strike impacting the lane.

The Gas Mask core and Aggression Solid coverstock combination provide the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 Bowling Ball with a durable and aggressive design. This combination enhances the ball’s performance and ensures its longevity, making it a reliable investment for bowlers looking for a long-lasting and high-performing ball. The backend reaction of this ball is truly remarkable, with the ball aggressively snapping into the pocket and creating a powerful strike.

The Hammer Black Widow 2.0 Bowling Ball is a top-notch choice for bowlers seeking a powerful and effective ball. Its increased hook potential, improved traction, and fantastic backend reaction make it perfect for medium to heavy oil lanes. The Gas Mask core and Aggression Solid coverstock combination also provide a durable and aggressive ball that delivers exceptional hook and control. With its impressive features, this ball will help you achieve your best game and reach new levels of success on the lanes.

Mastering Spare Pick-Ups with Spare bowling Ball

The Importance of Spare Pick-Ups Spare pick-ups is crucial for improving your overall bowling performance and maintaining a consistent score. Picking up spares is an essential skill distinguishing average bowlers from advanced ones. You can enhance your bowling game and boost your average score by focusing on various techniques to increase your spare pick-ups.

Footwork Fundamentals

Your footwork plays a significant role in successfully picking up spares. Establish a stable and balanced stance at the beginning of your approach. It will ensure proper weight distribution throughout your delivery. Keep your steps consistent and avoid rushing to maintain control of your swing, resulting in more accurate spare pick-ups.

Fine-Tuning

Your Backswing Experiment with the height of your backswing to determine the best position for optimal control and accuracy. A lower backswing can offer more control, while a higher backswing might provide additional power. When attempting spare pick-ups, prioritize accuracy and control over power to increase your chances of success.

Ball Position and Grip

Holding the ball higher or lower can affect how it rolls down the lane. Experiment with different ball positions to find the best starting point for you. Similarly, adjusting your grip on the ball can improve your delivery and spare pick-up accuracy. Ensure your grip is firm yet relaxed, avoiding unnecessary tension that may impact your throw.

Visualization Techniques

Visualizing the ball’s trajectory can significantly enhance your spare pick-up success. Picture the ball’s path from your hand to the pins, focusing on the angle and speed necessary to knock down the remaining pins. This mental exercise can improve your focus and confidence when attempting spare pick-ups.

Lane Targeting Strategies

Develop an effective targeting strategy by identifying key points down the lane. These points, often called “breakpoints,” can help guide your ball toward the pins more precisely. Focusing on these targets allows you to align your body and swing to achieve more consistent spare pick-ups.

Practice and Patience

As with any skill, practice, and patience are vital for improving spare pick-ups. Dedicate time to work on each technique, and track your progress over time. With consistent effort and applying these tips, you’ll see a noticeable improvement in your spare pick-up success and overall bowling performance.

Final Thoughts

After choosing the right spare bowling ball, you’ll experience improved accuracy and control during spare attempts. The ball’s consistent roll will increase your spare pick-up rate, leading to higher scores and enhanced overall performance in your bowling games.

We consider the compatibility of the ball lane, surface finish and strength of the ball, potential for pin carry, reaction time on medium and light oil patterns, and the total hook potential on heavy oil conditions. We hope that our analysis assists you in selecting the most suitable spare bowling ball for your needs.

Brad Finnearty
Brad Finnearty is a passionate bowler and a retired senior who has devoted his life to the sport he loves. With decades of experience, Brad is a well-respected authority within the bowling community. He is a member of several bowling leagues, has competed in numerous tournaments, and has even won a few championships along the way.