In your search for the best bowling ball for synthetic lanes, there are a ton of different factors you need to consider. From synthetic lanes’ propensity for muting a ball’s hook potential to the fact that synthetic lanes are simply harder and less forgiving than wooden bowling lanes, there are a ton of nuances to take into account when searching for the best bowling balls for use on synthetic lanes.
To help you in your quest, we’ve compiled a detailed overview of the top six bowling balls for use on synthetic lanes. We’ll give you an exhaustive look at these synthetic lane gems, while also getting you up to speed on everything you need to know about bowling on synthetic bowling lanes.
Top 6 Bowling Balls for Synthetic Lanes in 2021
1) Ebonite Game Breaker 3 Pearl
No products found.
The Ebonite Game Breaker 3 Pearl pushes the limits of what a mid-performance bowling ball should and can do. With the strongest pearlized cover Ebonite has ever offered at such a budget-conscious price point, the Ebonite Game Breaker 3 Pearl offers impressive traction capabilities and overall firepower which will help any intermediate or expert bowler make the most out of medium oil patterns on synthetic lanes.
Specs
Color: Purple, Red
Core: Enhanced V2 (Symmetrical)
Coverstock: GB 12.7 Pearl (Reactive Pearl)
Finish: 500 / 1000 Abralon / Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish
RG: 2.48
Differential: 0.048
Flare potential: Minimal
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
Pros
The Ebonite Game Breaker 3 is built to offer peak continuation late in your shot thanks to its impressive energy-storing capacity. Expect late action and powerful pin carry when you slot this ball into the pocket.
Lane length is not an issue with the Ebonite Game Breaker 3. In fact, it’s one of its strengths and shows itself when this ball clears fresher fronts with ease.
The ball’s GB 12.7 Pearl coverstock grips well in slicker conditions, upping the friction coefficient and giving you angularity and power when you need it most.
Cons
Not a ball built for the extremes of oil conditions. It won’t portend the same lane length on dry lanes and it will become submerged and muted on the heaviest and longest of oil patterns.
The pearlized coverstock is aggressive for what it is, but it’s not going to offer the same array of entry angles that a softer reactive resin coverstock will.
2) Motiv Venom Shock Pearl
No products found.
The Motiv Venom Shock Pearl is all about impressive lane length and a whopping back-end reaction, especially when confronted with dry or medium oil patterns. This ball eases through the fronts with no difficulty, storing up ample energy in the middle of the lane before hitting a distinct breakpoint reaction. From there, you’ll fall in love with its hitting power and ability to keep firing through the pins.
Specs
Color: Purple Pearl
Core: Top Gear (Symmetrical)
Coverstock: Hexion MFP Pearl (Reactive Pearl)
Finish: 5500 Grit LSP
RG: 2.47
Differential: 0.035
Flare potential: Minimal to Moderate
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium, Dry
Pros
This ball’s low RG symmetrical core design and powerful pearlized coverstock portends ample hitting power and some amazing leverage. Your pin carry will skyrocket when this ball hits the detonation point of the pin pocket.
This ball needs very little oil and still brings a fiery back-end reaction which sets the pins alight from some interesting entry angles.
If you’re struggling getting your hook to stay long and strong, you’re going to have a friend in the Motiv Venom Shock Pearl. That’s what it’s built to do whether conditions are a little fresher or more depleted.
Cons
This ball’s coverstock is not built for heavier oil densities or longer, more complex oil patterns. Its overall firepower at the back end will be muted considerably if this ball is gummed up in heavy oil.
The pearlized coverstock and constitution of this ball isn’t made for bowlers who are looking for early action which carries through into intense angularity. This ball is too smooth for that.
3) Hammer Black Widow Pink
No products found.
If you’re looking to make big moves in medium oil patterns on synthetic lanes, there’s not much better out there for you than the Hammer Black Widow Pink bowling ball. The ball’s Aggression Pearl CFI coverstock is the strongest used on a Black Widow release to date. That means you’re going to get a very distinct and impressive breakpoint reaction leading to some undeniable fireworks on the back end.
Specs
Color: Pink Pearl
Core: Gas Mask (Asymmetrical)
Coverstock: Aggression Pearl CFI (Reactive Pearl)
Finish: 500 / 1000 Abralon / Powerhouse Factory Finish Polish
RG: 2.50
Differential: 0.058
Flare potential: Moderate
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
Pros
This ball’s Gas Mask asymmetrical core and reactive pearl coverstock combination work together to create perhaps the most powerful back-end reaction on this list. It’s a marvel to watch.
While this ball is best suited for medium oil patterns, it can actually hold its own extremely well when conditions are at their slickest and longest. That’s extremely impressive for a pearlized coverstock.
The hitting power provided by the dense Gas Mask asymmetrical core will make itself apparent as soon as you hit the pin pocket. This ball hits hard and lofts pins everywhere!
Cons
This ball will burn up energy inefficiently on dry and medium-dry lanes, leading to poor lane length and a lack of trademark hitting power. Keep this ball bagged in those conditions.
The asymmetrical core design can take a little bit of getting used to. It will be unwieldy and not intuitive for those used to a more stabilized symmetrical core design.
4) Brunswick Rhino
No products found.
The Brunswick Rhino is the ideal change-of-pace bowling ball when oil patterns start to deplete on synthetic lanes. This ball does a heck of a lot for one tagged as an entry level performance bowling ball, showcasing impressive hitting power and sturdy lane length which lanes are at their driest. It’s not a hook monster, but it’s got enough angularity and plenty of straight-line power to keep most bowlers happy.
Specs
Color: Red, Black, Gold Pearl / Black, Blue, Silver Pearl / Purple, Pink, White Pearl / Green, Silver Pearl / Black Pearl
Core: Light Bulb (Symmetrical)
Coverstock: R-16 Reactive (Reactive Pearl)
Finish: 500 SiaAir / Royal Compound / Royal Shine
RG: 2.524
Differential: 0.030
Flare potential: Minimal
Recommended Lane Condition: Dry
Pros
While this ball doesn’t offer a ton of overall hook creativity, there’s a sharp burst of hook on the back end which leads to some powerful pin carry when you get the ball slotted into the pocket.
This ball is ideal for shorter oil patterns and its sensitivity in heavier oil densities can be used to a bowler’s advantage for added firepower and angularity.
This is a great graduation ball for beginners who are starting to find their way with their hook shots. It offers a great balance of control and power which will help them get their feet wet with more reactive bowling balls.
Cons
This ball loses its way quickly on longer and deeper oil patterns. It gets oversensitive in these conditions and tends to veer off the lane in unwieldy fashion.
This is an entry level ball so there’s a distinct limit to what advanced bowlers can get out of it. It can hook but not to the creative, multifaceted degree of better performance bowling balls on this list.
5) Storm Hy-Road Pearl
No products found.
The Storm Hy-Road Pearl will surprise you with how much total hook it offers, especially when faced with average length oil patterns and medium oil densities. The Storm Hy-Road Pearl offers everything bowlers have loved about the successful Storm Hy-Road line over the past decade, but gives it a synthetic lane durability boost thanks to the insanely strong pearlized coverstock.
Specs
Color: Blue, Purple
Core: Unnamed (Symmetrical)
Coverstock: R2S Pearl Reactive (Reactive Pearl)
Finish: 1500 Grit Polished
RG: 2.57
Differential: 0.046
Flare potential: Minimal
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium
Pros
The hook potential and hitting power of this ball are undeniable when faced with ideal oil conditions. This ball gets extremely angular off the breakpoint and fires through the pins with purpose.
The durability of the pearlized coverstock will keep this ball from taking a beating from the hardness of synthetic lanes. That durability also comes with fantastic gripping capabilities which offer unique traction possibilities.
The ball’s new inverted weight block gives this ball a distinct array of late juts and added entry angles into the pins. You’ll see a pin carry boost when you find your mark.
Cons
This ball tends to overreact and lose its lane length when oil conditions are extremely dry or have been depleted over the course of several games.
This ball is made for lower-rev players who want added oomph. It can be a bit redundant and muted for higher-rev bowlers.
6) Brunswick Quantum Bias
No products found.
Need hook and lots of it? Faced with a ton of oil on fresher or extremely dense patterns? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you’re going to fall in love with the Brunswick Quantum Bias. This ball is easily the most hook-heavy fireball in the Brunswick oeuvre. The more oil you give this ball, the more damage it does with its confident motion and back-end burst.
Specs
Color: White Solid
Core: Quantum Mushroom High RG Asymmetric (Asymmetrical)
Coverstock: ECA-XR (Reactive Solid)
Finish: 500 / 1000 SiaAir
RG: 2.563
Differential: 0.052
Flare potential: Moderate to Significant
Recommended Lane Condition: Heavy
Pros
The hook potential of the Brunswick Quantum Bias is off the charts. Even on synthetic lanes where a ball’s hook propensity is usually decreased, the Brunswick Quantum Bias is aggressive and angular.
The reinforced ECA-XR reactive solid coverstock keeps this ball alive and well when faced with unforgiving synthetic lanes. You get peak reactivity without having to worry about it taking a massive beating.
The ball’s high-RG core will give lower-rev bowlers an eye-popping power and reactivity boost which they won’t see with other balls on this list. It’s got so much innate power and needs so little to get it started.
Cons
Do not use this ball on dry lanes or depleted oil patterns. It will basically become an unreliable liability and there could be some issues with burning out the coverstock.
The aggression of the Brunswick Quantum Bias cannot be understated. This ball isn’t for those bowlers who want a smoother ride down the lane. It’s all angles and firepower and that can be very tricky for the uninitiated.
FAQs
What are synthetic bowling lanes made of?
While synthetic bowling lanes look like wooden lanes at first glance, they’re actually made of a reinforced synthetic composite which is finished to mimic wooden lanes in appearance. Synthetic lanes are composed of fine particles of resistant aluminum oxide which are spread out into a hardened melamine resin compound. The melamine resin compound is laid out in a fiber-reinforced matrix to increase durability and decrease risk of damage.
Are all bowling lanes synthetic?
Synthetic lanes are starting to become the norm in bowling alleys around the country due to their cost-effective nature over a long span of time. While there are still many bowling alleys out there with wooden lanes or wooden lanes with overlays of synthetic material, synthetic lanes are gaining a major foothold on the bowling landscape.
Are there advantages to synthetic bowling lanes?
There are major advantages to synthetic bowling lanes for bowling alley owners when it comes to cost of maintenance. Because synthetic lanes are built to withstand much more repeated punishment than wooden lanes, they require less upkeep and less monetary investment over the long term.
As for the advantages for bowlers, there’s a distinct advantage for those bowlers who are less hook-heavy in their approach. Balls tend to hook less on synthetic lanes which reward accuracy and straight-line power over angularity and violence. This comes in handy when you’re trying to throw a pinpoint straight-line spare shot.
What other types of bowling lanes are there?
As stated before, there are three major types of bowling lanes currently in use at bowling alleys around the globe – synthetic lanes, wooden lanes, and wooden-based lanes topped off with a durable synthetic material.
Each of these lane types have their own particular nuances. Wooden lanes tend to favor more hook-heavy bowlers while synthetic lanes are a much better bet for those with straighter shots in their arsenal.
Closing Thoughts
Finding the best bowling ball for synthetic lanes is all about identifying your own strengths as a bowler first and foremost. Once you have that down, you can find a durable synthetic-friendly bowling ball which can take what synthetic lanes give it and turn into peak pin carry and powerful continuation.
The six bowling balls on our list above offer a wide assortment of potential synthetic lane strike balls which will suit bowlers of all different styles and quirks. With one of these balls in your bag, you’re going to dominate your neighborhood synthetic lanes and see noted increases in your overall scores.
