Custom Ball

[Causality]

So I am going to be bowling with some friends on a somewhat regular basis over the next year or two.  I'd like a custom ball for this part time hobby.  I'd like it to be a bright silver metallic finish, something that is as bright as a disco ball ideally.  

I'd also like it to give me an advantage.  We are all beginner bowlers.  None of us aspire to be in a league.  The average score for us is around 100 to 130.  156 is the highest score we've seen so far.  So I figure if I used a SD-73 that would help.  I'd even be fine with a ball that came in at under 72 on the Durometer/hardness scale.  I couldn't care less if the ball is approved by the USBC or PBA or anyone, just so long as I'm not laughed out of my local bowling alley.  

I am 6'1" tall, 220lbs, and can throw a 16 pound ball as easily as I can a rugby ball (I use to be a rugby athlete).  I usually bowl around 120 to 130, maybe I get over 150 on a good day.  I use to bowl infrequently when I was in high school (twenty years ago) and back then I could regularly bowl around 150 and got near 200 once.  I figure a bit of practice and with a great ball I should be able to start chasing 200 again in short order.  

I wouldn't balk at spending $200 on a ball, maybe $300 if it was as bright a silver as I'm hoping for.

So where do I start?  I'm open to any and all advice.  I've read the wiki entry, and several articles online.  I'm aware of the differences between rubber, urethane and plastic.  I also realize that this is probably going to require a custom order, and I'm fine with that.  I actually prefer it, knowing my ball would be unique.  I'm also fine with giving away some points on the Perfect Scale to have a unique ball.

Thanks to any and all.

Causality

[Dimension21]

Im not exactly sure if there is a place you can have a custom ball made. Especially not a reactive resin or urethane ball.

Im no expert but i think this is the closest you'll get: http://ontheballbowling.com/shop/0/

[Locke]

Not custom but I think this is as close as you will get to what you are looking for if you are throwing straight. You won't get a ball with more shine than this. Its not custom and honestly something like a single color is not very flashy.

http://www.bowlingball.com/columbia-300-blue-dot-bowling-ball.html
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[charlest]

Besides the above 2 options, there are a bunch of very colorful balls now available as resin balls. Look at Ballreviews' home page for just a sampling.
http://www.ballreviews.com/ (The Mutant is as colorful a ball as I have ever seen.)

A manufacturer called Lane#1 has this very colorful ball called the Starburst. It is plastic and is for spares and very dry lanes.
Here's their web page for it:
http://lane1bowling.com/balls/xxxl_starburst.html
And here's another picture.
http://www.ballreviews.com/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ManufacterID=7&BallID=876
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[Causality]

That surprises me.  I suppose I'd be willing to go another hundred or so higher if need be.  I'll have to call a couple manufacturers next week to see if they'd take a one-off order.  I know a bit about urethanes from painting cars, so I don't see how adding a bunch of silver flakes to the mix would matter much, especially if the top coat is what has their secret ingredients that give it the kick.  

Thanks for the other links.  If the custom order falls through, I'll definitely follow up with one of them.

- C.

[Juggernaut]

The only way that I know of to have a unique bowling ball is to peruse the internet for closeout, discontinued old stock equipment. You can, many times, come across rare and hard to find stuff that nobody else could just readily go and purchase.

 As for the bright, shiny "disco ball" appearance.  I''m unaware of ANYTHING that was ever manufactured to those standards, except for a rare plastic ball made by A.M.F. 30-40 years ago called AMFLITE GOLD SPARKLE.  

 Good luck in your search.


 P.S. Ebonite did make a ball a few years back that had actual lights in it that lit up as it traveled down the lane. It WAS NOT approved for competition, but was produced purely for the recreational bowler. It isn''t a shiny metallic finish, but it was unique. It was called Quasar I believe.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ebonite-Quasar-15lbs-Bowling-Ball-New-in-box-Lights-Up_W0QQitemZ290377053636QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBowling?hash=item439bd235c4

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ebonite-Quasar-16%23-(Lights-up)_W0QQitemZ270504653097QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20091222?IMSfp=TL091222164009r1797

( May have to copy&paste that last link )


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Edited on 12/27/2009 7:39 AM