Viz-A-Balls: Brunswick's Unique Spin

Viz-A-Ball manufactures plastic bowling balls with images on both sides. These unique balls contain a variety of different themes, including sports teams, animals, and patterns. The balls are designed for recreational bowlers, children, and those looking for an affordable option. While there may be slight variations in colour, there do not appear to be significant differences between the different Brunswick Viz-A-Ball models.

Viz-A-Ball bowling ball designs

Viz-A-Ball manufactures plastic bowling balls with images on both sides. These balls are designed for recreational bowlers, children, and those who want to shoot spares. They have very low hook potential and slower ball speeds.

There are a variety of different themes and styles to choose from, including:

• NFL and MLB designs
• Military Appreciation
• Holiday themes
• Animal print
• Solid colours
• Abstract designs
• Flowers
• Skulls
• Country and state flags
• Tie-dye
• Sun and moon
• Superheroes
• Smiley faces
• Hearts
• Stars and stripes
• Sunflowers
• Cartoons
• And many more!

You can also purchase pre-drilled Viz-A-Balls or get them customised with your own designs.

Bowling ball colours

Bowling balls come in a wide variety of colours and patterns. For example, the OnTheBallBowling website offers custom bowling balls in colours and patterns such as black marble, blue techno, purple leopard, and paint splatter. Similarly, the CheapBowlingBalls website offers a wide range of colours and patterns for their Brunswick Viz-A-Ball line, including butterflies, flaming skulls, hearts, sunflowers, and tie-dye bursts.

Bowling balls can also come in solid colours, such as the Brunswick TZone Indigo Swirl, Columbia 300 White Dot Blue/Black/Silver, and the Brunswick Rhino Cobalt/Aqua/Teal Pearl.

In addition to multicoloured and solid-coloured bowling balls, some balls are designed to glow under a black light, such as the Brunswick White Viz-A-Ball.

The colour of a bowling ball is not just an aesthetic choice, as different colours and patterns can also indicate the ball's performance level. For example, the Storm Mix series, which comes in various colours, is perfect for recreational bowlers or seasoned veterans who need a straighter option for spare shooting.

Customisable bowling balls

There are a variety of companies that offer customisable bowling balls, including BowlerX.com, OnTheBallBowling.com, and CustomBowlingBall.com. These companies allow you to choose from a range of designs, images, and themes to create a ball that reflects your unique style. You can also select the weight and core type of your ball to match your skill level and delivery style.

For example, OnTheBallBowling.com offers customisable bowling balls featuring MLB Baseball teams, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and SpongeBob SquarePants. CustomBowlingBall.com also provides custom bowling balls with MLB and NFL licensing, ensuring that you can support your favourite team in style.

If you're looking for a more personalised option, BowlerX.com is an excellent choice. They offer exceptional prices and free shipping on custom bowling balls, along with a wide range of bowling equipment for bowlers of all skill levels.

When designing your custom bowling ball, you can choose from various weight categories, typically ranging from 6 to 16 pounds. Lighter balls are generally designed for children, while heavier options are intended for adult males. The weight of the ball will impact its performance, so it's important to consider the bowler's age and strength when making your selection.

In addition to weight, you can also select the core type of your custom bowling ball. Symmetrical cores provide a more stable and consistent motion, while asymmetrical cores offer more aggressive performance and are suitable for challenging lane conditions.

With so many options available, customisable bowling balls are a great way to showcase your interests and improve your bowling game. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned bowler, designing your own ball adds a unique and exciting dimension to the sport.

Bowling ball weight

Bowling balls typically weigh between 6 and 16 pounds, with the lighter balls usually being used by children, and the heavier ones by adults. As a general rule, a bowling ball should weigh around 10% of your body weight, up to 16 pounds. So, if you weigh 200 pounds, a bowling ball weighing 8 pounds is likely to feel too light. If you're an adult male, you'll probably want a bowling ball weighing between 14 and 16 pounds. If you're an adult female, you'll likely prefer a ball weighing between 10 and 14 pounds.

There are exceptions to this rule, though. For instance, if you've recently had an arm or back injury, it's more important to choose a weight that feels comfortable than to stick rigidly to the 10% guideline.

One way to test if a bowling ball is too heavy for you is to bend your elbow and have someone place the ball in your hand. If it's too heavy, you won't be able to hold it still and will have to drop it.

The weight of a bowling ball can also affect its performance. A lighter ball thrown at a higher speed can hit harder than a heavier ball thrown at a slower speed. However, a heavier ball will generally give you more strikes, as it will knock down more pins.

Viz-A-Ball manufactures plastic bowling balls that feature images on both sides. These balls are available in a variety of themes and styles, but the weight of these balls is not mentioned.

Bowling ball materials

Bowling balls are made from a variety of materials, each with its own unique characteristics and performance qualities. The two main parts of a bowling ball are the coverstock and the weight block.

The coverstock is the outer shell of the ball, which comes into direct contact with the lane surface. There are four main types of coverstock materials: plastic, urethane, reactive resin, and particle (proactive). Each material offers a different level of friction and hook potential. Plastic coverstocks have a very smooth surface and offer the least friction and hook potential, making them a good choice for beginners. Urethane coverstocks are more durable than plastic and offer increased friction and hook potential. Reactive resin coverstocks provide even more friction and hook potential but are less durable and more sensitive to lane conditions. Particle coverstocks have a bumpy surface that creates the most friction, especially on heavily oiled lanes.

The weight block is found inside the ball beneath the coverstock. There are two main types of weight blocks: high mass and low mass. High-mass weight blocks are usually pancake-shaped and placed close to the shell of the ball, promoting more length down the lane. Low-mass weight blocks can vary in shape and density and are typically placed towards the center of the ball, allowing for a heavier roll and increased hook potential.

In addition to the materials used, the drilling of finger holes also affects the performance of the bowling ball. The holes can be drilled for a conventional grip, with fingers inserted to the second knuckle, or a fingertip grip, with fingers inserted only to the first knuckle to generate more torque.

The evolution of bowling ball materials has transformed the sport. In the past, bowling balls were made of hardwood, but in 1905, the first rubber bowling ball was introduced. Polyester balls were introduced in the 1950s, and by the 1970s, they dominated the market. Urethane bowling balls were introduced in the 1980s, and in the 1990s, reactive urethane coverstocks and innovative core designs revolutionized the sport, increasing the number of perfect games. Today, bowling ball manufacturers continue to develop new materials and designs to enhance performance and meet the needs of bowlers of all skill levels.

Frequently asked questions