Bowling is an anticipated Sport that keeps a commendable Casual and Competitive presence globally. In this game, a player rolls a heavy ball down a lane to hit a set of white pins, intending to knock all in a single take.
You might be surprised to learn that bowling has a long history because archaeologists have discovered evidence that this sport is played with a similar concept to that of modern-era bowling but with different styles and rules sets.
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However, the most popular opinion cites that Germany is the Inventor of this Sport, as the artifacts of historical bowling found in Germany bear the most resemblance to the modern tenpin bowling we play today.
Over time, Bowling continued to develop in different regions of the world, reachings the most furnished form we love today. Presently, around 70 million people in over 70 countries play this sport, while worldwide TV Channels and Streaming Portals also provide Coverage of various International Bowling Tournaments.
Best Men’s Bowlers of all Times(Updated List 2023)
Even though Bowling looks like a simple sport that most people play recreationally, it demands a higher level of skills, exact concentration, and great precision to play professionally. Therefore, reaching professional Bowling Ranks and Tournaments is not inside your pocket.
In recent years, World has witnessed a few immensely talented Bowling Players who thrived to the Top Rankings of the sport after showcasing their astonished, finessed, and watchful skills. Here is the list of Best Men’s Bowlers of all time.
Sr.No | Athlete Name | Achievements |
1 | Peter Weber | 37 PBA Tour Titles |
2 | Jason Belmonte | 12 PBA Career Standard Titles |
3 | Earl Anthony | 43 PBA Tour Titles |
4 | Walter Ray Williams Jr | 47 PBA Tour Titles |
5 | Norm Duke | 37 PBA Tour Titles |
6 | Mark Roth | 34 PBA Tour Titles |
7 | Mike Aulby | 29 PBA Tour Titles |
Peter Weber
- Won 37 PBA Tour Titles
- Winner of 27 Standard Tournaments
- Champion of 10 Major PBA Titles
- Won Five US Open Titles
Pete Weber has been marked the Best Men’s Bowler for his determined personality and wild celebrations. Notably, his father, Dick Weber, who was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame, introduced him to this sport when he was young.
After practicing for years, Weber joined the PBA in 1979 at 17 and was named Rookie of the Year in 1980. Post two years after his international appearance, he won his pioneer title and continued winning ten more titles in the next seven years.
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In 1989, Weber achieved his first Triple Crown through three major title victories, including the 1988 US Open, the 1987 Tournament of Champions, and the 1989 PBS National Championship. Interestingly, he repeated the second similar Triple Crown run in 2013.
Jason Belmonte
- Won 12 PBA Career Standard Titles
- 14 PBA Career Major Titles
- Awarded GEICO Chris Schenkel Player of the Year Six Times
- Winner of Five George Young High Average Award
- Won Smith Point Leader Award in 2014
- Champion of Four-Time ESPY Winner
Jason Belmonte adopted the Bowling Field when he was too young, requiring him to utilize both hands to push the ball down the lane. Surprisingly, he used a similar Shovel technique till now, gaining a lot of attraction from fans and media.
It is pertinent to mention that Belmonte had his first-ever Bowling title at the age of four. By 17, he earned the title of the First Junior Australian to hit a score of 300 aboard and bagged five gold medals at the 2000 Junior National Championships.
During his professional PBA Career, Belmonte won 14 PBA Major Titles, Six Player of the Year Awards, and Four ESPY accolades. In 2008-09, he was named the PBA Rookie of the Year and Harry Smith Point Leader Award in 2014.
Earl Anthony
- Winner of Six PBA National Championships
- Two Times Firestone Tournament of Champions Winner
- Four Times Leading Money Winner
- Won 43 PBA Tour Titles
- Winner of 7 PBA Senior Titles
- Added into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1986
For most people, Earl Anthony is a character behind the insane popularity of Bowling and making it a televised sport in the United States during the 1970s. Notably, Anthony started his career as a Baseball player but didn’t pursue his career due to a fatal ankle injury.
Until 20 years of age, Anthony didn’t even know about Bowling; however, in 1963, he joined the PBA tour but quit hopelessly after not winning a single prize money of the seven tournaments.
After a gap of six years, Anthony again started practicing Bowling in Local Tournaments to participate in the PBA Tour and subsequently won his first PBA tournament in 1970. After that, he never looked back and continued winning one-after-one titles, including six PBA National Championships and two Firestone Tournaments.
Walter Ray Williams Jr
- Winner of 47 PBA Tour Titles
- Won Player of the Year Award Seven Times
- Elected President of the PBA Twice
- Inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1985
Walter Ray Williams Jr. is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time thanks to his incredible winning statistics and his staggering $4 million in career prizes, which makes him the first bowler to break this mark.
It is worth mentioning that Williams played his first-ever PBA Tournament in 1980, but they won any major title until 1986. However, he didn’t give up and decorated his accolades arena with 47 career PBA Titles, the most by any athlete in Bowling.
In acknowledgment of his outstanding performances, he was awarded Player of the Year seven times. In 2010, after winning the 47th PBA Title, he joined PBA50 Tour, a tournament authorized for senior players.
Norm Duke
- Won 37 PBA Tour Titles
- Winner of Three PBA World Championships
- Two Times PBA Player of the Year Awardee
- Inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame and PBA Hall of Fame
- Winner of PBA 50 Player of the Year Award
Norm Duke entered the PBA tour in 1982 and instantly dominated the arena due to his finesse skills and accuracy. Notably, he won his first major tournament within a year of his professional appearance and became the youngest player to win a PBA Tour event at 18.
However, Duke didn’t hold on to his good performances; hence, his lean patch started in which he didn’t win any title until 1991. The fortune changed for him in 1994, when he seized five tournament titles and was named PBA Player of the Year award.
In 2000, he was selected as the Player of the Year for the second time in his professional career. In 2002, he was added to the USBC Hall of fame, while the PBA organization decided to induct his name into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009.
Mark Roth
- Won 34 PBA Tour Titles
- Named PBA Player of the Year four times
- Five-Time George Young Memorial High Average Award Winner
- Member of the PBA Millionaire’s Community
- Added into the PBA Hall of Fame
With 34 PBA Tour titles, Mark Roth is considered one of the best Bowlers. Interestingly, he was famous among Bowling Community for his unique crank-styled bowling, a technique used by many modern-day players.
He won his pioneer PBA Title in 1975 at the King Louie Open and continued setting new milestones in upcoming years. During the patch from 1975 to 1979, he bagged 22 championships, including eight titles in a single year, 1978.
Mark Roth was named PBA Player of the Year in 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1984. While started pro-career in 1976, Roth averaged 215 plus points in 8000 games, the highest long-term pace in league history. In 1987, he was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame.
Mike Aulby
- Won 29 PBA Titles
- Two Times PBA Player of the Year
- Inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame
Mike Aulby is not just the best but also the elite and most prestigious Bowler for his unmatched career achievements. During pro-career, he seized 29 PBA Titles while named PBA Player of the Year two times in 1985 and 1989.
It is worth mentioning that Aulby was the first bowler to ever qualify for the Super Slam, an honor only given to those players who won all five major bowling tournaments during their professional careers.
In 1996, Mike Aulby was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame for his unmatched services for this sport. Notably, he also is an executive member of the USBC Hall of Fame, the highest degree Bowling Organization.
People also Ask
Q: Who has the record for the Most Men’s PBA Major Titles?
A: To your surprise, Jason Belmonte keeps the record for the most Men’s FBA Major Championships with 14 total. He is followed by Earl Anthony and Peter Weber, each with 10 PBA Major Titles. However, regarding the sum of Major and Minor titles, Williams Jr dominates the list with an impressive 47 Career Titles.
Q: Who has the Most 300s in Bowling?
A: Jeff Carter holds the USBC record for the highest sanctioned League average. During the 2000-2001 season, Carter averaged around 261.74, a record that still stands. Notably, he used Ebonite Vortex Bowling Balls for that league.
Q: Who is the Best PBA Bowler in 2023?
A: According to the latest PBA Bowlers Rankings for 2023, Jason Belmonte is on top after winning a single season at the end of 2022. Notably, it was the 14th major of his career at the PBA Players Championship, and he was also named the 2022 PBA Player of the Year.