Bowling ball brands compared: who makes what

Browse the brands

• 

  Storm

  Storm's lines from Tropical Surge to Premier, scented covers, and 2026 RM prices at Malaysian VIP pro shops.

• 

  Brunswick

  Brunswick's lines from TZone to Strategy, its brand family, and 2026 RM prices from X Proshop.

• 

  Roto Grip

  How Roto Grip's HP ladder works, how it differs from Storm, and RM prices in Malaysia.

• 

  Hammer

  Hammer's urethane roots, the Black Widow line, the Purple Hammer ruling and RM prices in Malaysia.

• 

  Motiv

  Motiv's oil-based lineup, its technology, and the honest picture on buying one in Malaysia.

• 

  900 Global

  The 900 Global story from Texas to Utah, its numbered lines and what you can buy in Malaysia.

• 

  Ebonite

  Ebonite's Game Breaker and Turbo lines, the Maxim spare ball, and where the value lies in Malaysia.

Two parent companies, many logos

The ball industry has shrunk to a handful of factories. So the logo on your ball tells you less than you might think about who made it. Here's how the groups fit together in 2026.

Storm Products Inc

Bill and Barbara Chrisman started Storm in 1985 in Utah, and it began making balls in 1991. Later it bought Roto Grip in 1997. It also invested in 900 Global in 2014, then took full ownership in September 2020. All three brands now come out of the Brigham City factory. Storm also patented scented balls in 2000, which is why many Storm covers smell of fruit or dessert.

Brunswick Bowling Products

Brunswick dates back to 1845 and has made bowling gear since the 1880s. Its bowling business has been owned by BlueArc Capital Management since 2015. Then, in November 2019, it bought the assets and patents of Ebonite International. That deal brought in Ebonite, Hammer, Track and Columbia 300. DV8 and Radical are also part of the Brunswick family. Brunswick retired the Columbia 300 brand in 2026, so only old stock remains.

Motiv and the independents

Motiv launched in 2006–07 in Michigan and still makes its high-performance balls in Muskegon. It has no parent company listed on its site. However, it has some of the biggest names on the PBA Tour, led by EJ Tackett. Other independent bowling ball brands exist, such as KR Strikeforce, but we found no Malaysian stockist for them.

Bowling ball brands at a glance

This table sums up each brand covered on this site. The Malaysian prices come from the two local web stores we checked on 16 October 2026, so treat them as a guide only.

Who sells which brand in Malaysia

In Malaysia, availability follows the distributor, not the shop's taste. That's the most useful thing to know before you shop.

• Storm group. Sunway Megalanes runs the Storm VIP Proshop directory, which lists 27 outlets across 11 states and federal territories. These shops sell Storm, Roto Grip and 900 Global. We saw no page that calls Sunway the official distributor, though, so treat that as likely rather than confirmed.
• Brunswick group. In June 2024, Brunswick named JNJ Distribution Sdn Bhd its exclusive consumer products distributor for Southeast Asia. JNJ trades as X Proshop from Subang Jaya and sells Brunswick, Hammer, Ebonite, Track, DV8 and Radical.
• Motiv. We found no confirmed Malaysian channel in October 2026. Some bowlers import one, but shipping a 7 kg ball adds real cost.

Our guide to bowling shops in Malaysia lists pro shops state by state, so you can see which group your local counter belongs to.

What different bowling ball brands cost here

Prices overlap a lot across brands. In fact, the tier of the ball matters far more than the name on it. Here's what the two Malaysian web stores listed on 16 October 2026:

• Plastic and spare balls: RM360 to RM470, for example the Brunswick TZone, Ebonite Maxim and Storm Ice.
• Entry reactive: RM620 to RM710, such as the Storm Tropical Surge, Raw Hammer and Roto Grip Hustle.
• Mid-range: RM800 to RM990, including the Storm Monsoon, Hammer Bubblegum Vibe and Ebonite Turbo X.
• High-end: RM1,030 to RM1,120, like the Storm IQ Tour Edition, Hammer Zero Mercy and Roto Grip Transformer.

Most pro shops drill for free when you buy the ball from them. Still, inserts cost extra, so ask first.

How to choose between brands

Pick the ball first and the brand second. Every big maker sells a full ladder from polyester to high-end reactive. So a Storm and a Hammer at the same price often roll in a similar way. These points matter more than the logo:

1. Your local shop. A driller who sees you bowl every week can tweak the fit. That follow-up beats a slightly better ball from far away.
2. The lane condition. Malaysian house shots tend to suit mid-range balls. Heavy-oil tournament patterns call for stronger covers. Read our oil patterns guide to learn more.
3. Your level. A first ball should be forgiving. Our beginner ball guide and the overview of ball types explain why.
4. Approval. For MTBC or other sanctioned events, check the USBC approved ball list, which updates weekly.
5. Arsenal fit. If you already own a strong asymmetric ball, a weaker symmetric one adds more than a second strong ball would.

Brand loyalty: does it pay off?

Many league bowlers stick to one family of bowling ball brands for years. There are good reasons. For example, each maker uses its own naming for flare, cover and core strength. Once you learn one system, you can guess how a new release will fit in your bag. In addition, staying with one shop network can mean better trade-in or upgrade deals, although that varies by shop.

Even so, don't be shy about crossing over. A Brunswick-group ball and a Storm-group ball can sit happily in the same bag. Finally, remember that new models arrive every few months, so last season's ball at a discount is often the smartest buy. Read more about building a set in our bowling balls guide.