MJ was obsessed with winning. Everyone knows about the six rings, the Flu Game, and the gambling debts on the golf course. But honestly, people tend to forget that Michael Jordan’s competitive streak didn't just stay on the hardwood or the greens. It bled into the bowling alley. Specifically, it manifested in the Michael Jordan bowling ball, a piece of sports memorabilia that feels like a glitch in the Matrix when you first see it.
It’s weird.
Think about it. You have the greatest basketball player of all time, a man whose silhouette is synonymous with flight, and he’s branded onto a heavy polyester sphere designed to roll on the floor. It's the literal opposite of "Air." Yet, for a brief window in the 1990s, especially around his first retirement and the Space Jam era, the Jordan bowling ball became a legitimate thing.
The Origin Story of the MJ Bowling Ball
The most famous version of this equipment is the Viz-A-Ball. If you aren't a bowling nerd, Viz-A-Ball is basically the industry leader in "image" balls. They use a process where graphics are printed onto a shell and then encased in clear plastic. In the late 90s, Brunswick released a limited edition Michael Jordan line.
One version features a giant image of Jordan's face. Another shows him in a classic Chicago Bulls home jersey, mid-dunk. It looks surreal. Imagine staring down a lane at the 7-10 split, holding Michael Jordan's head in your palm, and then hurling him toward a bunch of wooden pins. It’s peak 90s consumerism.
Jordan actually bowled. This wasn't just a random licensing deal where he signed a paper and walked away. During the 1992 Olympics with the Dream Team in Barcelona, stories emerged about the guys finding a bowling alley. While others were out enjoying the city, Jordan was reportedly trying to destroy his teammates at ten-pin. He reportedly had a custom ball even back then. He approached it with the same terrifying intensity he used to shut down shooting guards.
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Why Collectors Are Scrambling for Them Now
If you try to find a Michael Jordan bowling ball on eBay today, you're going to see some wild price swings. It’s not like a pair of Jordan 1s where there are millions of pairs floating around. These were niche products. Most people who bought them actually used them.
That's the problem for collectors.
Bowling balls are meant to be hit against heavy objects at 20 miles per hour. They chip. They crack. The "bridge"—that tiny space between the finger holes—is notorious for snapping under pressure. Finding an "undrilled" Michael Jordan bowling ball is like finding a holographic Charizard in a garage sale. It almost never happens. An undrilled ball means it hasn't been customized for a specific person's fingers, which keeps its resale value sky-high for serious sports memorabilia collectors.
Prices for a pristine, undrilled 12lb or 14lb Brunswick Viz-A-Ball can easily clear $500 to $800, depending on the day and the desperation of the buyer. Even the used ones, scuffed and oily from years of league play, fetch a couple of hundred bucks just because they look so cool on a shelf in a man cave.
The Technical Side of the Ball (It’s Not Just for Show)
Let's get technical for a second. If you’re a serious bowler, you know that polyester (or plastic) balls aren't exactly high-performance. They don't "hook" like the modern reactive resin balls that the pros use on the PBA tour.
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- Material: Most Michael Jordan bowling balls are polyester.
- Purpose: These are "spare balls" or "straight balls."
- Weight: They usually ranged from 6lbs (for kids) up to 16lbs (for adults).
If you’re trying to curve the ball from the gutter to the pocket, the MJ ball is going to disappoint you. It’s designed to go dead straight. In a way, it’s the perfect metaphor for Jordan’s personality: direct, unrelenting, and aimed right at the target.
But there’s a catch. Because of the 360-degree graphics, these balls are actually quite difficult to manufacture without a visible seam. The Brunswick versions were high-quality, but over time, the "skin" can delaminate if they aren't stored in a climate-controlled environment. If you have one in your garage right now, go get it. The heat will kill it.
The Cultural Oddity of "Space Jam" Memorabilia
We can't talk about this ball without mentioning Space Jam. The mid-90s was a period of "Peak Jordan." He was a global deity. Warner Bros. and Nike were slapping his name on everything from cologne to breakfast cereal. The bowling ball was part of this massive lifestyle ecosystem.
It represents a time when we wanted to be Mike in every facet of life. If we couldn't dunk like him—and let’s be honest, 99.9% of us couldn't—maybe we could at least pick up a spare like him. It gave the average person a way to interact with the Jordan brand in a sport that was accessible. You don't need a 40-inch vertical to bowl a 150.
Spotting a Fake vs. a Real Brunswick
Interestingly, because these are so rare, you’ll occasionally see "custom" Jordan balls that aren't official. Here’s how you tell the difference:
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- The Logo: Authentic balls will usually have the Brunswick or Viz-A-Ball branding near the serial number.
- The Serial Number: Every official ball has a unique ID engraved into the surface. No ID? It’s a cheap knockoff or a custom wrap.
- The Image Quality: The official Jordan balls used high-resolution (for the time) transfers. If the image looks pixelated or "muddy," it’s likely a fake.
I’ve seen people try to pass off standard black balls with Jumpman stickers as "rare prototypes." Don't fall for that. The real deal is a full-wrap graphic ball.
How to Value Your Jordan Ball
If you happen to stumble upon one of these at a thrift store or in your uncle's attic, don't just throw it in the trunk of your car.
First, check the holes. Are they drilled? If not, you’ve hit the jackpot. Second, look for "crazing." Those are the tiny spider-web cracks that appear on the surface of old bowling balls. If the ball has crazing, the value drops significantly because it’s basically a ticking time bomb—it could shatter at any moment.
Third, check the weight. 14lb and 15lb balls are the most "playable" for adults, but for collectors, the weight doesn't matter as much as the condition of the graphic. A 6lb kid's ball with a perfect face of MJ is worth more than a 16lb ball that’s been beaten to death by a Sunday morning league.
Actionable Steps for Owners and Buyers
If you’re looking to get into this specific niche of Jordan collecting, here is what you need to do:
- Proper Storage: Keep the ball in a padded bowling bag, inside a room with a consistent temperature. Never leave it on a flat surface for years, or it will develop a "flat spot" or crack. Use a plastic ball cup to distribute the weight.
- Cleaning: Use a dedicated bowling ball cleaner. Do not use household Windex or harsh chemicals, as these can eat away at the clear coat and ruin the Michael Jordan graphic underneath.
- Verification: If buying online, always ask for a photo of the serial number and a shot of the "bridge" between the finger holes to check for cracks.
- Display: If you’re displaying it, keep it out of direct sunlight. UV rays will fade the red of the Bulls jersey into a sad, muted pink over time.
Owning a Michael Jordan bowling ball isn't about being the best bowler in the world. It’s about owning a piece of the era when one man’s brand was so large it literally couldn't be contained by a single sport. It’s a conversation starter, a weird relic, and a testament to the fact that whatever Mike did, people wanted to do it too—even if it involved a heavy plastic ball and some rented shoes.