A bowling towel is one of the most important necessities for professional bowlers. Apart from serving its basic purpose of cleaning the bowling ball, it also helps you keep your hands clean. Having a proper bowling towel is even more important if you are playing in heavy oil lane conditions. In these conditions, your bowling ball will absorb more oil and will skid on the surface. If not cleaned properly, the ball will lose direction and go awry on the lane.
Furthermore, excess oil absorption can add significant weight to your bowling ball. The increase in the weight of the bowling ball may seriously hamper your performance as you may tend to lose control of your shots. A good quality bowling towel allows you to keep your balls in perfect shape all through the game and keep you in control of your shots on any lane conditions.
Here are the top 9 best bowling towels that will keep your bowling balls as shiny as new. Go through the reviews and select your favorite one among the best bowling towels.
Top 9 Best Bowling Towels Reviewed
- Brunswick Microfiber EZ Grip Towels
- Storm Bowling Shammy Bowling Ball Cleaning Pad
- Hammer Shammy Black/Orange
- Storm Microfiber Towel
- Brunswick Microfiber See Saw (Black/Navy)
- Genesis Pure Pad Buffalo Leather Ball Wipe Black
- Storm Bowling Products Woven Towel- Grey/Black
- Pyramid Leather Shammy Bowling Pad
- Ebonite Bowling Products Shammy- Royal
#1. Brunswick Microfiber EZ Grip Towel
Specifications
- Color: Assorted Backing Colors
- Material: Microfiber
- Dimension:10″ x 7.7″
The Brunswick Microfiber EZ Grip Towel is one of the most sought after bowling towels to remove stubborn grease and grime from your bowling ball. The bowling towel offers a strong grip to easily handle the ball while cleaning. This is one of the best features of the towel that allows bowlers to hold the ball in bowling hand for cleaning and also allows spinning it with another hand.
A strong grip ensures that the bowling ball does not skid from your hands while cleaning. Thanks to the dots on the edges of the towel that provide this towel extraordinary grip. Besides, the towel also has excellent oil absorption ability that helps in quick removal of the oil and grease from the ball.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very good oil absorption ability | Grip side prone to early wear and tear |
| Strong grip for easy cleaning | |
| Perfect fit in your hands | |
| Good value for money | |
#2. Storm Bowling Shammy Bowling Ball Cleaning Pad
Specifications
- Color: Black/ Blue/ Pink
- Material: Leather
- Dimension: 8”x7”
The Storm Shammy Bowling Ball cleaning pad is the ideal bowling towel to remove the stickiest of oil and dirt layers from the ball. It is a perfect cleaning cloth to bring back the original shine of the ball and allow you to release your favorite shots in the alley.
The towel is suitable for all types of the ball with polyester, urethane, or reactive resin cover stock. It is pretty small and will take very little space in your bowling bag. The highly effective bowling towel cleans the ball pretty quickly in one or two passes. You can clean the ball even after every throw. The cleaning cloth doesn’t get dirty easily thus allow you to use the same cloth for a long time.
You can very easily wash the towel by hand using mild detergent and lukewarm water. The towel dries down pretty quickly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Effective for heavy oil lanes | More rubbing makes the ball tackier |
| High oil absorption ability | A shade pricey |
| Suitable for all ball types | |
| Occupies less space | |
#3. Hammer Shammy Black/Orange
Specifications
- Color: Black/Orange
- Material: Leather on both sides
- Dimension:8″ x 7.5″
The Hammer Shammy Pad is the perfect cleaning solution to the sticky and stubborn bowling ball dirt and grime. It brings back the original tackiness to the bowling ball and ensures that you get the most powerful backhand motion in the alley.
Both the sides of the towel have different colors. The front side is black while the back part is orange. It gives the towel a highly appealing appearance. The towel comes with a storage plastic bag. So, you can store it separately without occupying the space in the bowling bag.
The towel has a perfect dimension to allow for easy and quick cleaning of the ball. Besides, high-quality leather makes it durable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Removes oil without spreading | It loses orange color on washing |
| Quick and effective cleaning | |
| Impressive appearance | |
| Separate storage bag | |
#4. Storm Microfiber Towel
Specifications
- Color: Teal
- Material: Microfiber
- Dimension: 6.9″ x 5.7″ x 0.1″
The Storm Microfiber Towel is one of the most effective bowling towels available in the market. The towel is made of microfiber and offers extremely gentle cleaning to the ball. Moreover, the cleaning cloth can remove any type of dirt and filth and restores the tackiness of the ball. The bowling ball looks as good as new every time you clean it with the Storm Microfiber.
The towel is extremely soft and pulls out the dirt without scratching the cover stock of the ball. Besides, the towel has the ability to absorb seven times more moisture than its weight. You can use it to clean any type of bowling ball.
The bowling towel is machine washable. However, for high durability, the company recommends not to use fabric softener for washing.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Seven times moisture absorption capacity | More expensive compared to other towels |
| Very effective cleaning | |
| Machine washable | |
| Gentle cleaning | |
#5. Brunswick Microfiber See Saw (Black/Navy)
- Color: Black/Navy
- Material: Cotton
- Dimension: 9.6 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
If you are looking for a bowling towel that locks the grime and moisture very effectively, the Brunswick Microfiber See Saw is the perfect choice for you. It has the capacity to hold seven times more moisture than its weight. So, the towel can remove all the dirt and filth from the ball without getting dirty for a long time.
Moreover, the towel offers very effective cleaning and brings back the tackiness of the ball after every throw preserving its shine for a long time. You can continue playing your favorite shots consistently on any lane conditions without worrying about the cleaning of your strike and spare balls.
For the best results, you have to move the towel in the sea-saw motion over the surface to clean the bowling ball. The cloth is highly durable and does not wear off easily.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deep and intense cleaning | Not very easy to grip and spin for cleaning |
| High absorption capacity | |
| Machine washable | |
| High durability | |
#6. Genesis Pure Pad Buffalo Leather Ball Wipe Black
Specifications
- Color: Black
- Material: Buffalo Leather
- Dimension: 7″ X 6″
Made from buffalo leather, the Genesis Pure Pad offers excellent cleaning to your most special bowling balls. The genuine buffalo leather makes it highly durable and imparts very high absorption ability to the cleaning cloth.
The towel removes even the most stubborn dirt from the ball in a quick time and maintains its original shine for long. Besides, it facilitates you to play your favorite shots on the lane. The towel is made to fit perfectly in your palms to facilitate easy gripping, spinning, and eventually convenient cleaning without skidding from your hand. The ball is very easy to wash and it also dries pretty quickly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ideal for all types of bowling balls | Expensive |
| Excellent absorption ability | |
| Unique buffalo leather | |
| Extremely durable | |
#7. Storm Bowling Products Woven Towel- Grey/Black
Specification
- Color: Grey/Black
- Material: Cotton
- Dimension: 25″ x 15″
If you want to have a consistent hook on your bowling ball, the Storm Bowling Products Woven Towel will be a great choice for you. Made of cotton they are unique in many ways. The cleaning cloth not only removes oil and dirt from your bowling balls but also keeps itself looking clean.
The bowling towel is extremely safe on your balls and cleans them without scratching. The cleaning towel is perfect for the slick lanes.
The towel is pretty thick and offers very effective cleaning to the bowling ball. Besides, the cloth is woven so perfectly that the threads of the towel don’t come out even on harsh use. Moreover, the logo of the towel is also secured properly and does not come out even on frequent use.
Thanks to the size of the towel, you do not need to wash it frequently. After cleaning the ball from one portion of the towel, you can use the other portion to clean the ball.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Made of soft cotton material | Extraordinarily oversized |
| Doesn’t display grime | |
| Perfect thickness | |
| Highly durable | |
#8. Pyramid Leather Shammy Bowling Pad
Specifications
- Color: Black
- Material: Leather
- Dimension: 7 3/4″x 8 5/8″
The Pyramid Leather Shammy Bowling Pad is a perfect cleaning cloth to bring back the super-shine of all your bowling balls. The leather made towel offers very effective cleaning to the ball even in the heaviest oil lane conditions.
The high absorption capacity of the cleaning cloth makes it very easy for the towel to clean the bowling ball in a quick time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Suitable for all ball types | Needs time to break-in |
| Effective cleaning | |
| Perfect size | |
| Durable | |
#9. Ebonite Bowling Products Shammy- Royal
Specifications
- Color: Blue
- Material: Leather
- Dimension: 8″ X 7.5″
The Ebonite Shammy offers one of the most effective bowling towels that can clean any type of bowling surface. The towel is very gentle on the cover stock and does not leave any scratches after the cleaning.
The ball has leather surfaces on both sides. So, if one of the surfaces loses its ability to clean the ball effectively, you can use the other surface to have the original effectiveness of the cleaning cloth.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Both sides made of leather | A shade expensive |
| Suitable for all surfaces | |
| 3 color variants | |
| No scratching | |
Factors to Consider before Buying Bowling Towels
To get a fair idea of the factors to be considered when buying a bowling towel is just the right step after studying the reviews. So, we recommend you to read through the detailed buyer’s guide before making the final buying decision;
Absorption Ability
This is one of the most vital factors to consider when buying a bowling towel. High oil absorption ability will allow you to remove grease and grime from your bowling ball with much ease. You can quickly get back to the lane to make your next bowling shot.
Lint free and Nonabrasive
The basic purpose of a bowling towel is to keep your ball neat and clean. How about having a towel, that makes your bowling ball dirtier than before. Yes, a towel with the lint can actually add fibers to your ball surface and cause it to stick with the grime on the ball. So, ensure that the towel you use is lint-free. Besides, also confirm that the towel is nonabrasive. An abrasive towel can irreparably damage the cover stock of your bowling ball.
Size
While cleaning the bowling ball, it is important for you to avoid touching the ball, or else your hands may get messed up with the oil and dirt sticking over the bowling ball. A larger size towel is thus very effective as it can cover the entire periphery of the ball without exposing ball surface to come in contact with your bowling hand.
Besides, a large towel allows you to clean the ball more effectively as you have enough cloth to clean it all around its surface. On top of that, it takes less time in cleaning the bowling ball with a large towel compared to a smaller size towel.
Durability
How often will you want to shop for the bowling towels? Obviously, not too frequently. So, go for the towel that is durable. For instance, a towel made with shammy offers high durability. On the other hand materials like micro-fiber have excellent oil absorption ability but are not as long-lasting as shammy.
Also, look for the change in properties of the towel after a few washes. Some towels tend to become rough and hard and can have abrasive properties that can damage the bowling ball.
Easy Grip
The right grip of the towel is very important in cleaning the bowling ball with ease. If you are not able to grip the ball properly, you will struggle to clean the ball and will be forced to leave it dirty. It not only will force you to play with the messy and sticky bowling ball but will also frustrate you and distract you from the game.
Aesthetics
You can have your personal preferences for this factor. If you are particular about the good aesthetics of your towel, select your favorite color and design. This will give you confidence in the alley. However, if you do not give any importance to the looks, you may still have a unique color or design to be able to differentiate with other towels. You can also select colors that can disguise marks of grease and grime and don’t look dirty.
Washing
Some towels strictly require hand-washing while others are machine washable. If you can’t do hand-washing, go for towels that can be washed on the machine. Some towels offer great ball cleaning performance but require special procedures or detergent for washing to avoid damage to the cloth. You can weigh the high-performance with the difficulty of washing and select accordingly.
Price
If having a low price bowling towel is your priority, you should compare only the most essential features of the towel and buy the one that best suits your cleaning requirement at the lowest price. You should not go for the features that do not add any value to their basic performance. However, you should not compromise with the quality of the bowling towel just to buy a cheaper cleaner cloth. Because an inferior quality towel can damage your bowling ball and you may end up paying more in repairing the ball or buying a new one. It can even cost your performance in the game. You should also give due consideration to the durability of the towel to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the towel.
Conclusion
Bowling towel is the best companion of your high-performing bowling ball. Even the best bowling ball will not be able to perform to its capacity, if not cleaned properly. Moreover, an inferior bowling towel can spoil the whole game for you and can also cause irreparable damage to your bowling ball.
We hope that the bowling towels reviewed here helped you in identifying the suitable bowling towels to fulfill your needs. We further hope that with the help of the buyer’s guide, you will be able to finalize the best towel for your purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the use of a bowling towel?
A: A bowling towel is used to remove grease, grime, oil, and dirt accumulated on the bowling ball during the game. An unclean ball tends to lose grip on the surface and does not hook as desired. Besides, the sticky oil and dirt also add weight to the ball making it difficult to control over the lane. Bowling towel cleans the ball and keeps it look as new and also does not allow it to gain weight. You can also use the bowling towel to wipe down your sweaty hands. This allows you to have a proper grip over the ball and, in turn, better control during release.
Q: What are bowling towels made of?
A: There are a variety of fabrics used in making the bowling ball. You should always choose the lint-free cloth to avoid transferring lint on the cover stock of the ball. Towels made of microfiber have high oil absorption ability; however, they are not as durable as the towels made of shammy material. Leather towels have both oil absorption ability and high durability.
Q: How to clean or wash a bowling ball towel?
A: Towel washing is an important activity that requires a lot of care. Unless specified, you should wash your towel by hand using a mild detergent in little quantity in warm water. There are special detergents available to wash different cloth types. You can buy a suitable one according to your towel and use it to wash your towel. Many sellers provide washing instructions along with the towel. It is best to follow those instructions for effective results.
Q: Does it matter what bowling towel to use?
A: There is no rule that restricts using any type of bowling towel in the leagues. So, legally you can use any towel for cleaning your bowling ball. That said, choosing the appropriate towel is extremely important from the performance point of view. An inferior bowling towel, instead of cleaning the ball, will mess up and smear the dirt all over the bowling surface and make the ball even more dirty and sticky. A bad towel can even cause scratches over the cover stock of the bowling ball.
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