Bowling Ball Performance Levels
updated: December, 2025
Bowling balls come in a number of different performance levels. Different sellers classify them differently. So it can be confusing at times to understand the exact difference between an entry level or mid performance ball. At Bowling.com, we break our ball selection down into 5 main categories of performance. Sure, price range is one thing we look at. But more importantly, we consider ball attributes like hook potential and coverstock in making our determination, as those are the primary things that affect the way the ball performs (no matter the price). So take a few minutes with us, and you can learn about what Bowling.com ball performance levels are most suitable to your game, your skill, and the lane conditions on which you bowl.
Plastic Balls
Plastic (or polyester) balls are the base level, entry point for bowling balls. If you’ve ever bowled with a Brunswick TZone, Storm Ice, or Hammer Axe, you’ve bowled with plastic. At Bowling.com, we carry hundreds of plastic balls. If you can think of a design or color, you can probably find it one of our plastic bowling balls. The smooth, non-porous coverstock of a plastic ball gives you the least amount of friction possible with the lane, so you get very low (or even no) hook potential. They go straight, which means they’re not just good for beginners, but also for seasoned pros when they want to pick up a spare.
Attributes of a Plastic Ball
- Hook Potential: Lowest Possible (Goes Straight)
- Coverstock: Typically polyester (Doesn’t Grip the Lanes)
- Lane Conditions: Works on all lanes
- Very Durable
- Very Affordable
Why Choose a Plastic Ball?
New bowlers usually choose plastic balls because they’re so much easier to control and they’re forgiving while they learn the game. More experienced bowlers use them for spare shots, especially when they have just one pin to pick up. Why would you complicate a simple spare shot with a high-hooking ball? They’re also a great option for more casual bowlers (or anyone on a budget) as they’re a low-cost option that does the same thing every time (so no need to learn any advanced techniques). If it’s your first time to bowl, or if you’re a PBA champion looking for a reliable spare ball, a polyester option like the TZone is a really good choice.
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Entry Performance (Entry Level) Balls
The first step up from a plastic ball at Bowling.com is an entry performance ball. If you want a slight hook potential so you can start experimenting with ball movement, or adding spin to your throw, this is where you want to look first. Some good examples are the Brunswick Rhino line or the Motiv Max Thrill. For not a lot more money, you can move to a ball that both looks better, and performs better than polyester.
Attributes of an Entry Performance Ball
- Hook Potential: Moderate (around 2 out of 10)
- Coverstock: Urethane / Basic Reactive Resin (More Grip Than Plastic)
- Lane Conditions: Light to Medium Oil
- Core: Often Symmetrical (Creates Smooth Controllable Roll)
- Balances Affordability with Improved Performance
Why Choose an Entry Performance Ball?
If you're a beginner or intermediate bowler, you’ve gotten comfortable with a plastic ball, and you’re ready to start hooking the ball but not ready for the complexity of some higher end offerings, this is the level you want to choose. Be patient with yourself as a bowler. Take your time to progress from one performance level to the next. If you get too complex of a ball too quickly it’s only going to hurt your game. If you buy the right level for your game your scores will improve, and that’s the goal right? An entry performance urethane or reactive resin ball is reliable, easy to use, and is perfect for bowlers that want to develop their game without the complication or price of a high-end ball.
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Mid Performance Balls
Ok. So you’ve mastered the straight roll with plastic. And you’ve got a little hook in your game now. You’re definitely not a beginner anymore. You’ve jumped to the intermediate level. Congrats! You’re probably ready to broaden your game with a mid performance bowling ball, like the Hammer Vibe line or the tried and true Storm Hy-Road. These are designed with bowlers like you in mind. You’ve mastered basic techniques, and now you want more hook and versatility from your equipment.
Attributes of a Mid Performance Ball
- Hook Potential: Medium (around 4-6 out of 10)
- Coverstock: Reactive Resin / Hybrid (More Grip Than Plastic or Entry Performance)
- Lane Conditions: Medium Oil (Balance Between Skid and Hook)
- Core: Symmetrical or Slightly Asymmetrical (Creates Controlled but Stronger Arc)
- Improved Performance Brings a Bit Higher Price Point
Why Choose a Mid Performance Ball?
If you’re an intermediate bowler and you’ve got medium oil with typical house patterns, mid performance bowling balls offer enough hook to navigate these conditions. But they’re also manageable enough for someone still working to improve their release. Mid performance is simply the most versatile performance level for most bowlers.
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Upper Mid Performance Balls
By now you may be noticing a pattern. You really won’t benefit from stepping up your performance level until you master the previous level. If you’ve been bowling a while, you feel comfortable with your mid performance ball, and maybe you’ve seen your score level off, perhaps it’s time for that next jump. At Bowling.com we know there are bowling balls that have most of the performance of a high performance ball, but lack just a smidge of the aggression of the highest performance lines. This means a big hook from a ball like the Storm Phaze II or the Hammer Black Widow 2.0 Hybrid, but not the max hook you might see from a Brunwick Intense Mindset or Storm Ion Max. So we broke about 50 products into an upper mid performance group.
Attributes of an Upper Mid Performance Ball
- Hook Potential: High (around 6-8 out of 10)
- Coverstock: Reactive Resin / Hybrid (With Higher Friction Ratings than Mid Performance)
- Lane Conditions: Medium to Heavy Oil (Versatility Across Various Patterns)
- Core: Usually Asymmetrical (Enhances Backend Motion and Flare)
- Near Pro Performance that Adapts to Changing Oil Patterns
Why Choose an Upper Mid Performance Ball?
If you’re fairly advanced, and especially if you’re in a competitive league, you probably want to be going with an upper mid performance bowling ball. It takes time to get your game to this level. That’s fine! Again, take your time. Be patient. Keep up the hard work and you’ll eventually be in the Upper Mid Performance territory with your game. Upper mid performance balls handle the kind of changing oil patterns you see during a session. And especially with the deals we offer you can get that near-professional performance level with a slightly less premium price.
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High Performance Balls
Congratulations! If you’ve made it this far, perhaps you’re ready for the big time, the absolute pinnacle of bowling ball technology. High Performance balls are similar to upper mid performance, but they’re a bit more aggressive. They take things not just to a high level, but really to the max of what a bowling ball can do. At Bowling.com we usually have 50 or 60 balls that rise into this elite class of equipment, with really good options from all the big players, Storm, Hammer, Brunswick, Motiv, Roto Grip and more. If you demand hook and precision, if you know what you’re doing and you’re ready to really compete, step up to high performance.
Attributes of a High Performance Ball
- Hook Potential: Max Hook (around 8-10 out of 10)
- Coverstock: Aggressive Reactive Resin (Strong Traction)
- Lane Conditions: Heavy Oil (Versatility Across Various Patterns)
- Core: Complex Asymmetrical (Gives You the Angular Motion You Need)
- Pro Performance Ideal for Top Competition
Why Choose a High Performance Ball?
Well… if you’re a PBA bowler this is a no-brainer. But that’s not most of us (except in our dreams!). Still, if you’re competing strongly at any level, leagues, tournaments, or on tour, you want the absolute best of the best. These are the bowling balls that maximize hook potential and pin action. And they handle the toughest of lane conditions. If you’ve got the cash, you’ve learned to handle the more predictable bowling balls already, and you’ve got your throwing motion really honed in, take the final step and move into the high performance category. With Bowling.com’s prices, and great weekly sales, you can usually find a high performance ball for the price of a medium performance on any given week.
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Final Thoughts
To be clear, there is some overlap from one ball performance level to the next. And you can tweak a ball by sanding or polishing, or by different drilling patterns to get more or less performance out of it. So the classifications aren’t perfect. But overall, this is a clear, simple guide to point you in the right direction. So whether you’re buying your first ball, or your fifty-first we think you should know where to start now. If you still have questions let our customer service reps know. They’d love to help you out!
