While most of the headlines in the bowling world are reserved for reactive bowling balls with massive hook potential, clear balls offer a welcome (and breathtaking) change of pace. Professional bowlers usually stay away from plastic offerings unless they need a specific touch from a spare ball. But, not every bowling ball purchase needs to be made with a PBA tournament in mind!
Sometimes, a beautiful ball that rolls perfectly straight in most lane conditions is more than enough. After all, bowling is a game and games should be fun! And when you purchase the right transparent bowling ball, you can still hit the pins with hammer force while gawking at some of the coolest graphics to ever grace the bowling industry.
If you want more information on the brands and manufacturers that make the best clear bowling balls in the game right now, you’re in the right place! We’ve separated the awesome from the mundane for you, giving you a one-stop shop for high-quality transparent bowling balls.
So, get ready to fill your online shopping cart with picture-perfect clear balls thanks to our definitive list of the Top 6 Transparent Bowling Balls To Purchase In 2022.
The 6 Best Clear Bowling Balls For Sale In 2022
6) Bowlerstore Plasma Bowling Ball
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A perfect storm of kitschy nostalgia, the Bowlerstore Plasma Bowling Ball revels in its position as a novelty bowling ball. If you’ve ever rubbed your hands on a real plasma ball, you’ve likely smiled big watching the lightning follow your fingers and palms around. While this ball doesn’t do that, it’s a really cool representation of one of our all-time favorite room decorations.
Specs
Colors: Black, Purple, Pink, White
Coverstock: Polyester
Box Finish: Normal Polish
Pros
- The stark black background and pink/purple lightning bolts play well off each other.
- It’s a great first ball for kids and imaginative adults alike.
- The nostalgia factor of this clear bowling ball is a real plus.
Cons
- The design is a little muted compared to the stock photo.
- The coverstock isn’t the most durable on this list.
5) Brunswick Butterflies Glow Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball
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Ever wanted to hold a butterfly in the palm of your hand? You can let multiple butterflies loose into the bowling alley wild thanks to the Brunswick Butterflies Glow Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball. With multiple size options and a high-quality plastic coverstock that does solid damage to pins on contact, this is a fantastic balance of sparkly aesthetics and bowling utility. We finally get to play with a ball that looks like a Lisa Frank folder or pencil case. What more could we ask for?
Specs
Colors: Purple, Green, Pink, Blue, Yellow, Black
Coverstock: Plastic
Box Finish: High Gloss Polish
Pros
- This ball hits pretty dang hard for a sugary, butterfly bouquet.
- The high gloss polish box finish really brings out the imagery.
- We love the purple background and the colors of the leaves.
Cons
- The daintiness of this design won’t be for everyone.
- We’d prefer more butterflies. Who wouldn’t?
4) Bowlerstore Products Einstein Bowling Ball
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Are you ready to become one of the smartest bowlers in the country, let alone your local bowling alley? Show off your brains and your brawn with the Bowlerstore Products Einstein Bowling Ball! While it rolls long and goes strong, the real highlight of this clear bowling ball is the jaw-dropping Einstein portrait. It’s a really cool piece of artwork that looks ripped from the pages of your favorite coffee table book. The image shown is cool enough, but wait until you see it in person!
Specs
Colors: Black, Gray, Blue, Yellow, White
Coverstock: Plastic
Box Finish: High Gloss Polish
Pros
- For fine art lovers, this is a really cool treat.
- The high gloss polish finish makes this ball look like a million bucks out of the box.
- The added bits of equations and text tie the entire ball design together.
Cons
- In low light, the Einstein portrait is a little muddy and hard to see.
- We’d love some other pops of color, like neon green or pink.
3) Brunswick Shark Glow Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball
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If you want a bowling ball that gnashes and thrashes the competition before coming back for seconds, you can’t go wrong with the Brunswick Shark Glow Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball. While Brunswick is mostly known for its high-performance balls and its work with venerable bowling equipment companies like Ebonite, they’re also a go-to brand for clear bowling ball fun! And by all rights, this fearsome shark ball makes gobbling up strikes a real joy!
Specs
Colors: Black, Blue, White, Gray
Coverstock: Plastic
Box Finish: Single Buff Rubbing and Finishing Compound
Pros
- This is a perfectly menacing spare ball for shark lovers.
- Brunswick balls are in a league of their own, whether they’re high-performance or plastic.
- The stark blacks of the eyes and mouth add weight and gravitas to the image.
Cons
- When this ball gets scratched, the design gets marred pretty badly.
- We’d prefer a more vivid and varied color palette.
2) Bowlerstore Skull Clear Bowling Ball
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Specs
If you’ve yet to receive your degree in archeology, the Bowlerstore Skull Clear Bowling Ball is a welcome alternative! There are a few transparent bowling balls available for sale right now with a skull core design. Yet, we’re real fans of the detail and unabashed skeleton glee of this particular model. When this baby comes up on the ball return, you’re definitely going to be the talk of your next bowling night. And, isn’t that why we do it?
Colors: White, Gray, Yellow, Black
Coverstock: Plastic
Box Finish: High Gloss Polish
Pros
- This ball perfectly blends novelty and wow factor.
- This is a natural fit for your bowling ball arsenal if you’re a bone and skull collector.
- The high gloss finish gives the skull an added jolt of realism.
Cons
- Scuffs and scratches will distort your view of the skull.
- We’d prefer if the eye holes were completely cut out and stark black.
1) KR Strikeforce Clear Red Rose Bowling Ball
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In full bloom, the KR Strikeforce Clear Red Rose Bowling Ball is a true marvel. The design of the rose core piece is a stunning exercise in craftsmanship and restraint. There are no sparkles. There are no added design elements that distract or detract from the rose itself. The clear and off-white tones of the ball frame the rose in an otherworldly light. It’s a real beauty and a spare ball that’s an absolute pleasure to pull from any bowling bag.
Specs
Colors: Red, Off-White, Clear
Coverstock: Plastic
Box Finish: High Gloss Polish
Pros
- The rose is so dang cool. Once it pops up on the ball return, you’re going to get plenty of compliments from fellow bowlers.
- In dry and depleted lane conditions, this ball cuts a straight path to the pocket.
- This ball doesn’t try to do too much. It’s a simple, effective design that plays to its strengths.
Cons
- The off-white tones look less brilliant when the coverstock is scuffed.
- The coverstock is not the picture of durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are transparent bowling ball coverstocks made of?
Manufacturing transparent bowling balls is about making the prettiest (or wildest) pieces of bowling equipment possible. Clear bowling ball manufacturers use plastics and polyesters for their ball coverstocks to highlight and emphasize the color choices and kooky core designs they use. Plastic and polyesters are the best material to display these nuances without a true sense of clarity. Don’t buy a clear ball looking for any sort of reactive resin oomph. When you buy a transparent bowling ball from your website of choice, find the right weight for you and get ready to have a blast. That’s what it’s all about.
Can I hook a clear bowling ball?
To be honest, the market for clear bowling balls is less about hooks and more about aesthetics. The design detail of a transparent bowling ball is the selling point. Because clear bowling balls have plastic/polyester coverstocks that emphasize the embedded image or images, they have little to no oil reactivity. You can still throw strikes with a clear bowling ball. But, you’ll have to do it with a smart release and powerful straight-line shot.
Closing Thoughts
When you ship a transparent bowling ball to your house, you’re in for a real treat. Most clear bowling balls choose to emphasize looks over performance. A transparent bowling ball is designed to bring your joy without breaking your bank with high-tech materials that necessitate a higher price. Your tastes may vary when it comes to the stock on this page. But, you’re bound to find the drop-dead gorgeous answer to your spare ball or straight-throw prayers in one of the items we’ve profiled on the countdown above.
