Besides the money you'll save by bringing your own gear, ball and shoes with you, why would you necessarily want to own a bowling ball? The reason is that having a ball of your own is the same thing as choosing the right bat when you're playing baseball, or finding your own racket when playing tennis. These things aren't going to make up for lack of skill, of course, but if you know your equipment inside and out you'll be able to up your bowling average at least by a fraction. Let's take a look at some of the different kinds of bowling balls and discuss the particular makeup of each ball.

There are four kinds of bowling ball, each having its own distinctive characteristics. Every bowler should know what they are if they want to play the game right.

Plastic or Polyester Bowling Balls
These were probably the first bowling ball after the now-ancient wood or stone balls fell out of use. These plastic or polyester balls are pretty basic in their design. No tricks involved here. If you throw them straight, they'll go in a straight line. At the same time, if you throw a hook, they'll also probably go straight. People new to the sport will be pleased with these ones as they are pretty manageable, aren't tricky, and don't cost much. As well, people who have trouble with hooks can get some benefit from them.

Urethane Bowling Balls
These bowling balls first came on the scene with the AMF Angle during the early 1980s. They're able to hook more than their plastic counterparts, giving them a somewhat more manageable disposition. They're the next best thing for beginners and should be used once they start looking for a ball that's more advanced.

Reactive Bowling Balls
Reactive bowling balls were first seen in 1990. They've got even better traction than do the urethane ones, and have got a more pronounced hook. After the skid effect, the hook will be apparent with these ones. You can easily identify these balls by their cover texture: it's slick and smooth.

Particle Bowling Balls
Here's some of the newest technology in bowling balls. These particle balls have a unique kind of texture: they're a little lumpy. This allows them to catch the surface of the lane, which is oily. This ball is the most sensitive to lane conditions, and it will minimize the more extreme effects of them (e.g. lots of oil or very dry conditions).

Hopefully, this review of the various types of bowling balls has provided you with a bit of insight on all the different kinds of ball. Pick out the best one for you and the way you play. Alternately, use a different kind for different situations. You'll learn that certain balls can be really useful when used at the right time.