Like most other popular leisure sports like golf or tennis, bowling also needs several equipment in order for you to play it properly. The equipment are usually inexpensive and should be affordable by normal or casual players, but the serious and hardcore ones usually spend a large amount of money getting the best and the newest ones. For the casual players, though, all equipment can be rented at the bowling center.

Both players and the bowling center operators have different equipment for the game.

Bowling balls - A round ball made from rubber, urethane, plastic, reactive resin, or a combination of these materials. Ten-pin bowling balls have three drilled holes in them - one for the ring and middle finger, and one for the thumb.

The equipment used by the players include:

Bowling balls - The bowling ball is usually made of rubber, plastic, urethane, or polyester, as well as some other materials. The ball (especially those used during ten-pin matches) have three holes in them: one for the middle finger, one for the ring finger, and the last for the thumb. The balls come in different sizes.

Bowling shoes - Bowling shoes are not the same as your casual rubber shoes or sports shoes. They are usually very narrow with a smooth sole.

Bowling bag - while not really a necessity for most players, for the hardcore ones, this is a must as this is where they keep their custom-built and personal bowling balls.

Bowling clothes - While casual attire can be worn, it is recommended that your bowling clothes be as comfortable as possible so your movements will not be restricted when bowling.

Bowling equipment used by the bowling center operators

On the other hand, the equipment used by the bowling center operators include:

Bowling lane - this is where you roll the ball to hit the pins. Bowling lanes are made of long wooden boards joined together to form a lane that is 70 feet long and 3.5 feet wide. The lane is smooth and is kept smooth by daily cleaning and maintenance.

Bowling machine - The bowling machine places and rearranges the pins that are knocked down in between rounds.

Bowling ball retriever - A device that retrieves the ball after every shot, and returns it, via a tunnel, to the player at the other end of the alley.

Player's area - The player's area is where the ball usually goes after being sent back by the retriever. It is composed of a ball-sorting mechanism and may also have a hand blower or dryer.