Best Bowling Ball for Slow Speed

If you are a slow bowler, meaning that you don't throw the ball very hard down the lane, you may have some trouble getting strikes with the wrong ball.
go slow

To help you find the correct ball we have put together a review of about a half-dozen balls for slow speed.

Why Does This Matter?

A faster shot, for example, will offer more pin action but less reaction time, resulting in less hook. A slower shot, on the other hand, hooks with greater force but at the cost of some pin action.

If you have a slow ball speed, there are a couple of things you can do to gain hitting power while keeping hook potential in check. There are several entry-level performance ball choices that you can go for to help out.

While we love hook potential and want to earn pin carry from it, we don’t want it to occur to early. That’s why for our top pick we recommend Storm Ice.

Best Bowling Balls For Slow Speed

We hope this list helps you find a good ball for slow speed.

1. Storm Ice Storm Blue/White

Storm Ice Storm

If you are looking for a great ball at slow speeds then Storm Ice is your bowling ball. It is one of the best balls for slow speed in 2022. Whether bowling ball speed or continuous ball motion is what you are after, slower bowlers will love this ball.

Great Spare Ball

If you are also going to use this as your spare ball (for getting spare shots), then this storm bowling ball will give you the best of both worlds.

This Storm Ice Storm Blue/White ball will freeze your ball into place, and it is most definitely the right bowling ball for slower bowlers.

Maintains Energy

The right ball maintains energy while heading down-lane. Straight-line bowlers who bowl at a slow speed will need that extra pin carry to get those spare shots.

It has a 3-Piece Pancake Core, which makes it one of the best bowling balls on the planet. The Pearlized Polyester Coverstock will allow the ball to travel down the lane and hit wherever you direct it.

Storm boasts that this ball remains accurate when thrown down-lane. It is straight-shooting and durable and again one of the best bowling balls for slow speed even at a low ball weight.

  • Color: Blue/White
  • All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown
  • Core: Traditional 3-piece Core
  • Coverstock: Pearl Polyester
  • Finish: 3500-grit Polished
  • Recommended Lane Condition: Any
  • Bowling ball ships free in some conditions.

Our next choice is a ball that is great for slow speed as long as you have good control going into the pin pocket.

2. Brunswick Twist

Brunswick Twist

Low-speed bowlers will love this ball due to its long length and low hook potential. Get pinpoint control and explosive pin scatter when playing on light oil patterns or depleted oil patterns.

The Brunswick Twist is a good choice for someone looking for a ball that is better than a plastic/spare ball. This ball has the R-16 Reactive coverstock and the Twist Low Diff core.

More Control

The Twist line of bowling balls is easy to roll and gives you a strong and controllable reaction when you hit the pins. This combination is great for anyone, no matter how old or skilled they are.

  • Coverstock: R-16 Reactive
  • Core: Twist Low Diff (12-16#), Twist Foam (9-11#), Twist Light Foam (8#)
  • Finish: 500 Siaair/Crown Factory Compound/Crown Factory Polish
  • Reaction: Easy length with a strong and controllable backend
  • Recommended Lane Condition: Light Oil
  • RG: 2.591 (15# ball)
  • Differential: 0.018 (15# ball)
  • Hook Potential: Low
  • Length: Long

3. Columbia 300 Power Torq Pearl

columbia 300 power torq pearl

The Power Torq Pearl is the latest bowling ball from Columbia 300. This ball is designed for bowlers who loved the solid reactive version of the Power Torq, as well as for bowlers who are looking for a consistent ball motion with a strong breakpoint.

Agressive, but Consistent

This ball breaks a little more aggressively than the first 2 balls we mentioned in this lineup but the overall ball motion is very consistent. If you have a great straight-line throw or have started to work on your hook, this ball suits both bowling styles very well.

Dominate medium oil patterns at a low speed and gain ample lane length that slower bowlers love!

  • Core: Torq (16-14#)
  • Coverstock: ERT Pearl
  • Finish: 500, 1000, 1500 Siaair/Crown Factory Compound
  • Reaction: Length with strong backend
  • The Radius of Gyration (RG): 2.489 (15# ball)
  • Differential: 0.054 (15# ball)
  • Recommended Lane Condition: Medium Oil Conditions
  • Hook Potential: Medium
  • Length: Long

4. Pyramid Path Rising Bowling Ball

pyramid path rising bowling ball

Pyramid is excited to introduce its first Entry Performance bowling ball. The Pyramid Path Rising comes in four colors so you can choose the one that is right for you.

Pyramid Tech

Pyramid technology is the latest and most advanced bowling technology. It is based on research, observation, and analysis of how different factors (e.g., lane conditions, ball speed, rev rate) affect how a bowler performs.

This technology allows any bowler to achieve their best performance in medium to medium-dry conditions.

Versatile

Pyramid Bowling wanted to create a versatile ball motion at a lower price point so that more people could enjoy it on different types of lanes.

The New Era 139 core gives you a lot of options for how you want to bowl. You can either make the ball go further and hook it hard or make it roll more strongly and have a stronger backend.

The Path Reactive Pearl coverstock will help the ball move in the direction you want it to. This makes the ball versatile for all kinds of bowlers who want stronger pin carry.

Great for a strike ball or a spare ball on dry lanes or even the heaviest of oil patterns. A great bowling ball to add to the best bowling balls for slow speed list.

5. Storm Tropical Surge Pearl

Storm Tropical Surge

The Storm Surge bowling ball is a legacy ball that continues to be popular with entry-level and casual league bowlers. It has a bright fun color and unique fragrances that appeal to bowlers of all skill levels.

Each ball features the Reactor Pearl Reactive coverstock that glides through the front of the lane, reacts down-lane, and creates optimum pin carry. The Surge core has a higher differential which brings dependability and a little more hook at the backend.

  • Entry-level bowlers will love the bang for their buck
  • Surge Core breathes new life into the Tropical Line
  • Glides through the front of the lane, reacts down-lane, and creates optimum pin carry
  • Coverstock: Reactor Pearl Coverstock
  • Core: Surge (12#-16#)
  • Finish: 1500-grit Polished
  • Flare Potential: 2″-4″ (medium)
  • RG: 16#-2.57 15#-2.58 14#-2.60 13#-2.62 12#-2.64
  • Differential: 16#-.025 15#-.024 14#-.025 13#-.021 12#-.020

Warning – BAD Bowling Balls For Slow Speed!!!

Watch out for scammy sites out there that are just trying to sell bowling balls and equipment. Bowling balls for slow speed need to optimize pin carry by having a long length and a late backend reaction.

An aggressive ball will likely ruin those chances and you will be left with corner pins standing all day long.

Hammer Black Widow (Not Good For Slow Speed)

We see the Hammer Black Widow mentioned on some blogs out there as the best bowling ball for slow speed. This actually blows our minds. This ball would not be good for slow speed at all.

Hook Late, Stay Straight

Balls for slow speed hook late, and have a low to medium hook potential. So watch out for sites recommending the Hammer Black Widow or the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 as a good bowling ball for a bowler with a slow bowling speed. They are obviously just trying to get a sale which is sad.

  • Coverstock: Aggression Solid Reactive
  • Core: Gas Mask (16-14)
  • Finish: 500, 1000, 2000 Siaair Micro Pad
  • Reaction: Aggressive backend
  • RG: 2.50 (15# ball)
  • Differential: 0.058 (15# ball)
  • Hook Potential: High
  • Length: Early

Trust us, slower bowlers will hate the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 because this ball is so aggressive it starts to hook very early and will have you stomping out of the bowling alley.

That is why we aren’t even going to link to it in this article.

What is a Slow Bowling Speed?

The average speed at which professional bowlers release the ball is between 20-22 mph. If they release the ball faster than this, it can cause them to have less than optimum pin carry.

Optimum pin carry will decrease if they release the ball slower than 16 mph. There are very few slow bowlers in the PBA as the ideal bowling ball speed is needed for a perfect strike.

Optimum pin impact speeds are therefore anywhere between 18-22 mph. Be sure to practice your throwing speed if you are out of this range.

Modern Bowling Ball Technology

Most modern bowling balls have been designed to allow you to customize your bowling ball. When going for a strong hook a good bowling ball is going to be one that is made of reactive resin or urethane, has an asymmetrical core, and has good ball motion.

Overall Throwing Speed

If you have tried to increase your ball speed but lost balance, or accuracy, or were not able to do so because you don’t have the flexibility or strength, try using other options available to you so that you can stay in line with the pocket and adjust when the lane conditions change.

How can I Increase My Speed?

Arm swing plays a huge role in your roll. When you make your approach your swing forward must be worked on. If you have a loose swing that is ok. Various bowling styles contribute to the strength of your arm swing.

Don’t sacrifice Control

Bowling ball speed is determined on the strength of the bowler. But that doesn’t mean you should try to throw bowling balls as fast as possible. You also want to maintain control over the bowling ball while throwing the bowling ball harder.

Use Heavier Bowling Balls

One of the ways you can increase your bowling ball speed is by using a heavier bowling ball. If you use a 14-pound bowling ball, try using a 15 or 16-pound bowling ball instead. This will make it easier for you to put more power behind your throw without sacrificing control.

How Do oil Patterns Affect Slow-Speed Bowling Balls?

Oil isn’t spread evenly across the lane. Typically, there is much more oil in the middle of the lane than on the outside. This allows more “hook” from the outside part of the lane to the pocket.

But if you are a slow bowler then you either aren’t focused on hook or you are looking for late hook. So knowing your oil patterns can really change your game if you are a slow bowler. Knowing the best bowling balls for slow speeds helps even more.

How Can I Control my Bowling Speed?

You can increase ball speed by moving back one foot on the approach and adjusting the ball position six inches lower in your stance. To decrease ball speed, start one foot forward on the approach and position the ball six inches higher in your stance. There are different ways to control how fast the ball goes depending on how far you swing your bowling hand.

Peak Pin Carry

The ball’s surface can affect pin carry. A rougher surface will absorb more oil, which will in turn help the ball to create friction on the lane and produce more hook.

A smoother surface will slide more on the lane, making it easier for the ball to stay in the pocket and produce a better pin carry.

The type of core also affects pin carry. A symmetrical core will provide a smoother reaction on the lane, while an asymmetrical core will provide a more angular reaction.

Asymmetrical cores are typically used by bowlers who need more hook, while symmetrical cores are typically used by bowlers who need less hook.

Conclusion

Dry lanes, oily lanes, light oil house shots, hook, aggressiveness, pin impact speed, the ball’s coverstock and how hard you throw the ball all affect your shot.

We hope that in this article you now understand the best bowling ball for slow speeds is a ball that hooks late or not at all and creates a smooth arcing hook with a slow transition rather than a fast aggressive hook.

This is because your ball will take longer to get to where it is going. If you find your go to ball from our list, please share your experiences in the comments.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a little off the top to help me keep this website running. 

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