To Rent or Not To Rent, That is the Question.

Or maybe To Buy or Not To Buy.

Recently we asked on Facebook if you preferred to rent or buy your bowling gear, specifically balls and shoes.

The answers we got were a combo of both.

So what are the benefits of renting? Are there drawbacks to buying your own gear?

Renting

Pros

• Someone else keeps up with and stores everything!
• It's less expensive for the casual bowler; someone who bowls less than once a week or so.
• It's less expensive for parents of children with rapidly growing feet than buying a brand new pair of shoes every few months.
• You get a chance to try out different weight bowling balls
• If you don't get that strike, you can blame not using equipment personalized to your body and style

Cons

• Your equipment isn't personalized to your bowling style
• The constant cost of renting can add up over time
• Equipment does not have newer technology to enhance performance

Purchasing

Pros

• You can customize your equipment to your unique bowling style
• It pays for itself pretty quickly for frequent or serious bowlers
• You can modify your shoes to improve your game
• You can choose styles and colors that appeal to you
• The holes in the ball can be custom drilled for your hand

Cons

• There can be a rather significant upfront cost
• You have to drag all the equipment with you and take care of all cleaning and storage

So what do you think? Is it better to rent or buy? Are there any pros or cons that you would add to either list? And don't forget to "like" us on Facebook so you can get in on our conversations!