When the lights go down on a bowling lane and the disco balls start flashing, bowling alley customers shell out plenty of money to flip the script on their normal bowling experiences. Glow bowling, also known as cosmic bowling in some circles, always garners ecstatic reviews from the general bowling public. Usually facilitated at local bowling centers on the weekend, the devil is in the bright details when it comes to glow-in-the-dark bowling.
What is glow bowling exactly?
At a bowling alley, cosmic bowling uses special bowling balls that glow when placed under direct light for short periods of time. While several brands have made glow-in-the-dark balls for use during cosmic bowling, Brunswick currently has the market cornered on glowing bowling balls.
Bowling pins are often lit up with side lighting or doused in glow-in-the-dark paint for added effect. Poppy, high-energy music is also routinely played creating an environment that leads to lots of posting on Instagram and Tik Tok.
And if you don’t have the money to roll on over to your local bowling center and make a night of cosmic bowling happen, you can create your glow-in-the-dark bowling set on the cheap for plenty of homemade fun!
We’ll get into that later, but let’s first look at the top Brunswick glow-in-the-dark bowling balls for your next cosmic bowling excursion.
5 Glow-In-The-Dark Brunswick Bowling Balls Worth Buying In 2021
1) Brunswick Snake Glow Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball
No products found.
You don’t have to slither on your underside to poison the pins with this glow-in-the-dark bowling ball bombshell. We love the menace in the snake’s eyes on this ball’s coverstock and how the entire design pops when rolling down a cosmic bowling lane. Brunswick customers looking for a bit of edge from their glowing bowling ball should consider this as their best option.
2) Brunswick Spiral Glow Viz-A-Ball Bowling Ball
No products found.
The simplicity of the glowing spiral design on this bowling ball is belied by its bright colors and resonance in the dark. When this ball starts getting a bit of momentum, blue and yellow start to blur together to a dizzying effect. It’s an absolute pleasure to through this polyester beauty and it’s even more fun to watch rolling down the lane.
3) Brunswick Shark Glow Bowling Ball
No products found.
If you prefer the movie Jaws over Snakes on a Plane, this bloodthirsty glow-in-the-dark shark bowling ball is just for you. The artwork on this particular bowling ball is extremely impressive and will definitely raise some eyebrows hanging out on the ball return. Circle the waters of your local bowling alley with the most feared creature in the bowling ball ocean.
4) Brunswick Butterflies Viz-A-Ball Glow-In-The-Dark Bowling Ball
No products found.
For those with more delicate tastes, the sparkles and color scheme of this imaginative glow-in-the-dark ball are real treats. This ball looks like a Lisa Frank sticker pack come to life, and we mean that in the best of ways. There’s nothing that isn’t fantastical about this ball, and the way it floats towards the pin is simply ethereal.
5) Brunswick Hearts Glowing Bowling Ball
No products found.
Another Brunswick ball that dials up the cutesy meter to eleven, this is the perfect glow-in-the-dark offering for wearing your heart(s) on your sleeve. If you want to bring a bit of love and magic to your local bowling center, grab this ball from your favorite online marketplace. It will give everyone around a case of warm fuzzies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is glow-in-the-dark bowling called?
Millions of people fill bowling alleys for glow-in-the-dark bowling in a given year, popping their thumb and forefingers into the finger holes of glowing bowling balls for an exhilarating experience. Glow-in-the-dark bowling has a double identity, though. You’ve probably heard glow bowling referred to as cosmic bowling on many occasions. They’re the same thing! If you have a friend or family member who loves to bowl, consider giving them the gift of cosmic bowling for their birthday weekend. They’ll love it.
How can I create my own DIY glow-in-the-dark bowling balls?
You can make glowing bowling pins and glow-in-the-dark bowling balls in a variety of different ways. To create bright bowling balls for home play, you can score some transparent plastic balls and shove glow sticks inside of them for effect. If you don’t want to go this route, there are three different ways you can create your own version of a DIY glowing bowling ball.
Glowing Spray Paint and Empty Glass Jars
You can create a really cool set of glowing bowling balls by spray painting tennis balls with glow-in-the-dark spray paint! Spend just a few dollars on some new tennis balls and find some empty glass jars in your recycling bin or cupboard. Use the jars to prop up the balls as you spray them, placing them on a tarp or plastic bag so you don’t drop paint everywhere. Let them dry and you’ll be ready to bowl at night in your backyard or party room! If you can find paint that is reactive under a black light, even better! Grab some lighting fixtures to create a fun game atmosphere that beginners and expert bowlers will both love.
Neon Acrylic Glow Paint
Search for neon acrylic paint at your local craft store and get all your black lights and other party lights in order. You don’t need a pro shop or all the answers to make this happen! Just find some plastic balls, douse them in neon glow paint, let them dry, and you’re good to go. You’ll be knocking down homemade glowing pins in no time! (More on that in a minute.)
Fluorescent Glow Paint
Fluorescent glow-in-the-dark spray paint is fun for young kids and old partiers alike! It’s a great DIY answer for creating glowing bowling balls and will work on tennis balls, plastic balls, or other bowling ball stand-ins. While they might not be the same as glowing bowling balls found at local bowling centers, they’re quite cool to play with regardless!
How do I make glowing bowling pins?
Making glow-in-the-dark bowling pins is easy if you’ve got a little time (and ingenuity on your hands. Go straight for the plastic water bottles. If you have ten bottles lying around or can grab them from your local supermarket, all you need to do is to place glow sticks in each one and set them up like normal bowling pins. You can add some weight with sand or rocks, and create your own version of bowling lanes in your driveway or family room. With a fresh supply of glow sticks and water bottles at the ready in case things get damaged, you can spend ages playing glow-in-the-dark bowling with friends and family and never get tired of it!
Closing Thoughts
Whether you go the bottle-and-paint route or head over to the bowling alley for a night of cosmic craziness, glow-in-the-dark bowling is one of the most popular forms of the sport for a reason. Your fingers will get a workout, but it’s the ambiance of glow bowling that makes and secures memories for a lifetime. You can either ship a glowing bowling ball to your home from the list above, use a house option, or make your own glow-in-the-dark bowling set-up. Regardless of which option you choose, you can blow the lid off your preconceptions for a universally loved trip into bowling outer space.
