- 50products scored
- 14brands compared
- 4gear categories
- 2019founded by league bowlers
Spare and Strike was founded in 2019 by a pair of league bowlers who got tired of choosing gear based on hype and glossy marketing photos instead of real performance data. What started as a shared spreadsheet comparing hook potential, pin counts, and ball reaction on different lane conditions grew into a full-fledged review site that now helps thousands of bowlers every month find the right ball, shoes, bag, and accessories for their game.
Our Founding Story
It began in a small bowling alley in Dayton, Ohio, where co-founder Mike Dalton was coaching a youth league team and realized how little honest information existed for bowlers trying to upgrade their equipment. Most reviews online were either paid placements or vague marketing copy recycled from manufacturer press releases. Mike teamed up with his longtime bowling partner and data-obsessed friend, Renee Kowalski, a former collegiate bowler with a background in mechanical engineering, to start testing equipment themselves, ball by ball, lane by lane.
What began as a hobby project quickly turned into something bowlers across the country relied on. Readers started sending in requests, league directors asked us to test house balls for recommendations, and pro shop owners began referencing our reviews when helping customers pick their next purchase. Today, Spare and Strike is run by a small team of current and former competitive bowlers, pro shop technicians, and equipment nerds who still believe the best review is one backed by actual throws, not assumptions.
How We Review and Pick Products
Every product featured on Spare and Strike goes through a structured, hands-on evaluation process before it earns a spot in our recommendations. We don't accept pay-for-placement reviews, and we clearly label any affiliate relationships so readers always know how we make money.
- Real lane testing: Every bowling ball is drilled, thrown, and evaluated across multiple lane conditions, including house shots, sport patterns, and fresh oil, typically over a minimum of 50 games per ball.
- Multiple testers, multiple styles: We test with bowlers of different hand speeds, rev rates, and axis tilts so our reviews reflect how a product performs for a range of playing styles, not just one person's throw.
- Objective scoring criteria: We rate equipment on hook potential, length, backend reaction, durability, grip comfort, and value for money, using a consistent scoring rubric so comparisons between products are fair and useful.
- Long-term durability checks: Shoes, bags, and accessories are used over several months of regular league and tournament play before we finalize a verdict, because first impressions don't always hold up over time.
- Community feedback: We cross-reference our in-house results with input from pro shop partners and verified reader submissions to catch issues our testing alone might miss.
What Makes Spare and Strike Trustworthy
We buy the vast majority of products we review with our own money. When a manufacturer does send us a sample for testing, we disclose it clearly at the top of the review, and it has no bearing on the score or recommendation the product receives. Our team has no financial relationship with any ball manufacturer that influences our ratings, and we turn down sponsorship offers that come with strings attached to positive coverage.
We also believe transparency means showing our work. Our reviews include the specific drilling layouts used, the lane conditions tested, and the bowlers who did the testing, so readers can judge for themselves how relevant a review is to their own game. When we get something wrong, we update the review and note the change rather than quietly editing the page.
Who's Behind the Reviews
Our current team includes certified pro shop technicians, USBC-certified coaches, and bowlers with experience ranging from weekend house leagues to regional PBA50 and PWBA events. Everyone who writes or contributes to a review actively bowls on a regular basis, because we think it's impossible to give honest advice about equipment you don't use yourself.
Whether you're a casual bowler looking for your first real ball or a competitive league player chasing a better backend reaction, Spare and Strike exists to make sure your next purchase is backed by real testing, honest opinions, and a team that genuinely loves this sport.