8-13lbs
GiftCurious participates in affiliate marketing programs, including Amazon Associates. See our disclosures.
Beyond the spare: Unique gift ideas for a bowler
Strike the perfect gift with these bowling gift ideas.
Ali Y.
Editor-in-chief
An estimated 45 million people bowl at least once a year in the United States. Even though the number of bowlers has declined since the early 2000s, it feels like bowling alleys are full at all hours of the day. If your loved one enjoys bowling, there are many great gift options at all price points to help them celebrate, enjoy and improve their game.
Finding a unique gift for anyone can be hard. Finding something specifically for a bowler can be even harder. Bowlers have vastly different skill levels and preferences. When cooking up gift ideas for a bowler, consider their skill level—whether they’re a new bowling enthusiast or a lifelong lane junkie.
Jump Ahead
Consider the skill level of your bowler
Novice, intermediate or seasoned pro?
- BEGINNERS: For those taking their first steps onto the glossy lanes, bowling is about fun and getting a feel for the game. A thoughtful gift for novices might be a bowling ball with a weight that matches their comfort level. This not only offers them a sense of ownership, but also encourages them to improve their technique. Another great choice is a quality pair of bowling shoes that provide comfort and stability. As beginners, they often use house balls and shoes, so having their own gear can be a confidence-booster.
- INTERMEDIATE: For those bowlers who have honed their skills and are ready to dive deeper into the game, consider a bowling bag that holds multiple balls and accessories. This allows them to experiment with different ball types and weights, adding versatility to their game. Bowling gloves and wrist supports can provide the comfort and control needed to take their game to the next level. Rosin bags can help keep hands dry and improve their grip.
- PRO: Seasoned bowlers have mastered the fundamentals and now seek refinement on their game. Most players at this level will want to personally pick out their balls and shoes. A gift certificate to a reputable store selling bowling items is a great bet. A personalized bowling towel or shirt with their name and achievements can also add a sentimental touch to their gear. Lastly, professional coaching sessions or entry fees for high-level tournaments can be invaluable for their ongoing development.
Best bowling equipment gifts
Bowling ball
A bowling ball can be the perfect gift for a bowler. Before making a final decision, check out this advice on quality, weight, and coverstock. For all bowlers, it may feel important to personally choose their ball. For this reason, giving a gift card to a store that sells bowling items may be a good bet.
For novice bowlers, it’s best to select a ball that matches their current comfort level. Opt for a ball with moderate weight, which will allow the player time to build their skills gradually. Common weights for beginners range from 10 to 14 pounds.For coverstock (the outer shell or surface of the ball), choose a material like plastic/polyester. These tend to be durable and offer a straight-line trajectory—ideal for shooting spares but lacking the hook potential for more advanced shots. Bowling balls with pancake or symmetrical cores are forgiving and help less experienced bowlers maintain a consistent hook and roll.
Intermediate bowlers often have their preferences dialed in. If you can, note what bowling ball they already have and go higher on the quality. Intermediate players often use balls weighing between 14 and 15 pounds. As far as coverstock, urethane provides more friction with the lane surface than plastic, allowing for better control and a gentle hook. They are favored by many intermediate bowlers for their versatility. Intermediate bowlers may experiment with high RG cores to fine-tune their game for a more controlled and consistent roll.
Experienced bowlers will appreciate a high-performance ball and it’s important to note they might have their heart set on a specific brand. Advanced bowlers also often have multiple balls with different coverstocks to adapt to changing scenarios. When in doubt, choose a reactive resin coverstock. These bowling balls provide the bowler with added power and precision. Experienced bowlers frequently opt for asymmetrical or low RG cores to maximize their hook potential and adapt to challenging oil patterns. They typically use heavier balls–often in the range of 15 to 16 pounds or even more–that generate more inertia and hook potential. Keep in mind they likely have a selection of bowling balls with different weights to adapt to various lane conditions and oil patterns.
8-13lbs
10-16lbs
12-16lbs
12-16lbs
Bowling bag
Owning a bowling bag is a prerequisite for any serious bowler. Odds are, they have to carry their bowling shoes and multiple bowling balls—at least one for the strike shot and one for the spare, while pros can go up to five or more. That’s why bowling bags make some of the best gifts for bowlers.
Bowling bags are categorized by their carrying capacity. Beyond bowling ball capacity, make sure there are special compartments for accessories like gloves, shirts, towels, wrist guards, etc. Finally, wheels. Can’t do without wheels.
Single Ball
Double Ball
Bowling shoes
Buying bowling shoes as a gift, just like buying shoes in general, requires quite a bit of knowledge of your recipient or a generous return policy! First, if you can’t ask them directly, try to find out their shoe size and width. Next, choose a type of shoe that matches their skill level. Bowling shoes are sometimes labeled as athletic (for beginners and casual bowlers) and performance (for advanced and competitive bowlers).
Finally, determine whether the gift recipient prefers more or less slide, which affects the traction they experience when they bowl. Some shoes offer adjustable slide features and that might help you cover your bases.
Bowling gloves and wrist supporters
Bowling gloves and wrist supports make great and affordable gifts. Sweaty palms can affect a bowler’s grip and hitting the lanes a little too often can result in strain injuries.
Bowling towels and rosin bags
If the whole idea of finding the right size shoe or picking the perfect bowling bag intimidates you, you’ll like this option. Bowling towels and shammys are essential for keeping hands and bowling balls clean and dry, while rosin bags aim to keep hands dry and improve grip. If you’re thinking a towel alone doesn’t feel like a substantial gift, consider gifting an accessory kit, a monogrammed bag, or pairing it with a rosin bag.
Full kit
Funny gift ideas for a bowler
Funny gifts with clean humor
There is no shortage of gift ideas a bowler might find funny, but let’s face it, most come with varying levels of adult humor. But there is a way to buy bowling gifts and keep it clean. You can always find a pair of socks that say, “I’d rather be bowling.” My tip: Go with something that uses a bowling pun. Here are some ideas that are sure to get laughs during family gift unwrapping:
- Oh, spare me.
- This is how I roll.
- This is my spare shirt.
You get the idea.
Funny gifts with adult humor
So you couldn’t resist. OK, let’s get the balls rolling, or, ehm… you know what I mean. Compared to clean jokes, there is an absolute abundance of bowling humor that have made it to gifts for bowlers. Socks, tshirts, bowling towels, and the list goes. Here are some of the funniest bowling humor you can go with:
- I use this towel to shine my balls.
- Grab your balls, we’re going bowling.
- That’s some bowlshit.
- Split happens.
Bowling gifts about The Big Lebowski
Got some good ones for you. Your mind might automatically go to the Dude on the toilet, but we can do better than that. After all, ‘The Jesus’ shining his bowling ball is an image worth etching in everyone’s memory for years to come. Or a Hollywood Star Lanes from the Los Angeles bowling alley featured in the film. If none of these fit the bill, here are some of our favorite Big Lebowski quotes that would look amazing on a t-shirt:
- “That rug really tied the room together.”
- “Nobody f***s with The Jesus.”
- “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.”
- “The Dude abides.”
Christmas gifts for bowlers
You’ve combed through our bowling equipment gifting guide and checked out the list of funny bowling gifts. But you still find yourself wondering what to get a bowler for Christmas. Rest assured, there are other Christmas gifts for bowlers, from books, games, and magazines to bowling themed gift baskets.
Bowling-themed Christmas gifts
Bowling books
Have you ever met a bowler who isn’t interested in upping their average? While some of the more hardcore players might find it patronizing to receive a bowling book as a gift, most bowlers out there recognize they are a long ways from mastering their craft. They will appreciate a good book that could help them improve their technique or master the psychology of the game.
Bowling puzzle or game
Bowling themes jigsaw puzzles make for fun bowling gifts. Main downside is you rarely get to put together a puzzle more than one time. But it’s the thought that counts.
Subscription to bowling magazine
I can hear you thinking “a magazine?”. Bear with me for a second. Picture your prospective giftee reading the May issue of Bowlers Journal International cover to cover. There are countless places for literature like that around the house, from coffee table to… the bathroom.
Bowling gift basket ideas for Christmas
Bowling accessories gift basket
Include a collection of essentials like wrist supports, finger inserts, grip tape, and rosin bags to improve grip and performance when a bowler hits the lands.
Personalized bowling gift basket
You can pack in all sorts of personalized items, from a bowling towel carrying their initials to an engraved bowling trophy or custom bowling ball bag. If it has to do with bowling, it can be personalized.
Bowling ball maintenance kit
For a practical yet won’t-break-the-bank option, assemble a maintenance kit. Include a ball cleaner, polish, and a rejuvenator to help them keep their equipment in top condition.
Christmas-themed bowling gifts
Nothing says Christmas like a Christmas-themed gift. These presents are sure to bring a smile to your bowler’s face.
The wrap up
And there you have it! From useful to funny to raunchy or Christmas-themed, I hope this article helps you strike the perfect gift for the bowling-lover in your life.
