I'm new to bowling, but several of my friends and I have been going bowling pretty regularly and I got bowling shoes and want to buy a bowling ball. My throw is straight and does not curve. Would like to get a fairly nice bowling ball. Any suggestions?

I recommend three balls for beginners, Columbia Freeze (already mentioned), Ebonite Cyclone (my personal favorite), and Brunswick Strike King.  --  JohnP

I would recommend the Hammer True Blood.

Look, he says he throws a straight ball but we all know that will only last until he figures out how to make his new ball hook.  Unless he quits first and I hope that doesn't happen.  He needs reactive resin.  --  JohnP

Anything under $90 online fits his needs, no??

Although my wife has bowled on leagues, she does it mainly just for fun.  She recently entered and won a drawing for a $300 gift card good at the local pro shops, so she decided to get a new ball.  She throws straight, fairly hard and with a conventional grip.  So we talked to the pro shop operater and the first ball he recommended was the Cyclone.  His reasoning was that even though she throws straight, a reactive resin ball is just better than the plastic balls.  Better reaction, better pin action, etc....  And in the event that she starts bowling more seriously, it's a ball she can "grow into".  Made sense to me.  So we went to a big clearance sale the pro shops were having this past weekend and she left with a Stike King. 

So while I'm not as experienced a bowler as most here, FWIW, I'd say go with an entry level reactive resin ball. 


Good luck!!   

Failed to mention that my wife currently throws an old Columbia Galaxy.