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Top 5 Bowling Brands

Top 5 Bowling Brands

Bowling is a sport that is extremely popular worldwide, and several iconic brands have made names for themselves over the years. Read on to learn more about the top five bowling brands, including the year they were founded and their sponsored athletes.

  1. Storm
  2. Brunswick
  3. Ebonite
  4. Pyramid
  5. Motiv

1. Storm

The most popular bowling brand is the company Storm. Storm was founded back in 1985 The first product that the company produced was a cleaner for bowling balls, but the company has grown tremendously since then. Storm now sells a variety of bowling balls, and they have had a huge advantage over their competition since they began the production of their own bowling balls in 1991, six years after they were founded. In addition, they have gained recent popularity because of their wide range of products and affordable prices for overall great quality.

2. Brunswick

  • Year Established: 1845
  • Website: https://brunswickbowling.com/
  • Sponsored Players: Dom Barrett, Valerie Bercier, Parker Bohn III
  • Products: Balls, Shoes, Bags, Apparel, Accessories

Though it did not start as a bowling supplier, Brunswick is the oldest bowling brand and one of the most popular as well. Brunswick was founded back in 1845 and launched its first bowling ball into the market in the late 1800s. Brunswick’s long history and popularity are due to its brand loyalty, high-quality bowling products, and a wide range of other bowling necessities. Everyone in the bowling community knows this company’s legacy and the high performance that its products offer.

3. Ebonite

  • Year Established: 1905
  • Website: https://ebonite.com/
  • Sponsored Players: AJ Chapman, Dino Castillo, Jason Couch
  • Products: Balls, Bags, Apparel, Accessories

Like other popular bowling brands, Ebonite is known for its longevity and was founded back in 1905. In addition, this brand is renowned for its many brand partnerships. Ebonite owns two of the top bowling brands, Columbia 300 and Hammer, which are both well-known names in the bowling community. Despite their old age, Ebonite has kept up with over a century of technological advancements and made incisive decisions to stay relevant as a leading producer of bowling balls and accessories.

4. Pyramid

Pyramid is an extremely new but rising brand in the bowling industry, having opened in 2011. One main reason for their success throughout the bowling community is because of their vigorous marketing strategy. Also, the quality and performance of their products are very competitive.

In combination with affordability, this company has found a way to stand out in a packed market. Pyramid offers a wide variety of products in terms of skill level and price ranges, and they have seen a ton of customer satisfaction even though their balls cannot be used in PBA events.

5. Motiv

  • Year Established: 2008
  • Website: https://www.motivbowling.com/
  • Sponsored Players: Chris Loschetter, Erin McCarthy, Tom Smallwood, Andrew Anderson
  • Products: Balls, Shoes, Bags, Apparel, Accessories

Like Pyramid, Motiv is a relatively new brand trying to make its mark on the bowling industry. Though they do not have the brand loyalty of rival companies over a century old, this company was established in 2008 and has made their mark through very unique patented designs and graphics. In addition to their marketability, Motiv also makes a performatively competitive product and remains competitive despite their small size.

Honorable Mentions

Columbia 300

  • Year Established: 1960
  • Website: https://columbia300.com/
  • Sponsored Players: Jakob Butturff, Mitch Hupè, Osku Palermaa
  • Products: Balls, Bags, Apparel, Accessories

Since its inception in 1960, back when it was called Columbia Industries, Co, Columbia 300 has been a trusted and innovative bowling brand. In fact, they became famous for making the first bowling balls covered in polyester resin. Their flashy balls and large color selection quickly attracted a wide audience in the bowling community. Since then, Columbia 300 has grown into a national and international powerhouse, known especially for its high-quality polyester and polyurethane bowling balls.

Roto Grip

Roto Grip was started in the 1960s by the Yetito family and revolutionized ball design by producing pre-weighted balls that allowed for perfect balance with custom-drilled holes. Roto Grip balls were hugely popular in the 1970s and 80s, but they had begun to struggle with suppliers by the time the company was bought by Storm in 1998.

Storm continues to produce Roto Grip balls to their original specifications, notably the SD-73, as well as innovating new designs. Roto Grip is a popular choice among professionals, and the brand sponsors several PBA Tour bowlers.

Hammer

  • Year Established: 1981
  • Website: https://hammerbowling.com/
  • Sponsored Players: Bill O'Neill, Tom Daugherty, Shawn Maldonado, Mike Wolfe, Shannon O’Keefe, Shannon Pluhowsky
  • Products: Balls, Shoes, Bags, Apparel, Accessories

Hammer is one of the leading bowling ball brands on the PBA Tour. Founded by Johnny Wonders and Earl Widman of Faball Enterprises in 1981, Hammer was the second company to create a urethane ball for mass production. The Hammer brand has changed hands a few times since its inception, first being bought from Faball by Ebonite, and then from Ebonite by Brunswick. Evidently, the largest parent brands in the sport see Hammer as a valuable brand itself.

DV8

  • Year Established: 2011
  • Website: https://dv8bowling.com/
  • Sponsored Players: Ryan Ciminelli, Patricky Hanrahan, Jeff Johnson, Rafiq Ismail
  • Products: Bowling Balls, Bags, Athletic Apparel

DV8 is a newer bowling powerhouse owned by the Brunswick company. The company was founded by their parent company with a mission to create powerful designer bowling balls for a range of both amateur and professional bowlers. DV8 balls are perfect for any bowler who wants bowling equipment with extra flash and edge. The company also offers bags for carrying their balls as well as a range of clothing and accessories that sport the DV8 logo.

FAQ

What is the best bowling brand?

Storm is the best bowling brand. They are also one of the most popular brands among casual bowlers and professionals, and they sponsor numerous bowlers on the PBA and PWBA Tours. Based in Utah, Storm makes about half-a-million balls a year, which it sells around the world. Storm also produces balls for the 900 Global and Roto Grip Brands. Other excellent bowling brands are Brunswick, Ebonite, Pyramid, Motiv, and Columbia 300.

What are the best brands of bowling shoes?

The best brands of bowling shoes are Brunswick, Pyramid, KR Strikeforce, Dexter, BSI, and Bowlerstore. Brunswick and Pyramid are larger bowling brands, while the others are brands more focused on shoes. When shopping for bowling shoes, look for a pair with soft linings, breathable uppers, and a supportive midsole. It is also important to decide if you want sliding shoes or ones with traction soles and buy accordingly.

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