Required disclosure

In compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) guidelines on endorsements, ExpertBowler discloses that we participate in affiliate marketing programs. This means that some of the product links on our site are affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and make a qualifying purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

This disclosure is meant to be transparent about how we earn revenue and to clarify that our editorial picks are made independently of those commissions.

How affiliate links work

Affiliate marketing is a way for content sites like ours to earn revenue without charging readers. Here's how it works:

• When you click a product link in one of our articles, you're often directed to a retailer (like Amazon) or manufacturer.
• If you make a purchase within a certain time window after clicking, the retailer pays us a small commission — usually 1% to 8% of the sale.
• You pay the same price whether you use our affiliate link or not. The commission comes out of the retailer's pocket, not yours.

This commission helps us keep ExpertBowler ad-light, paywall-free, and editorially independent.

The promise that defines our editorial

If a product with zero affiliate program is the right answer for our readers, we recommend it anyway. If a product with high commissions doesn't perform, we don't recommend it — and we'll tell you why.

This is the difference between an editorial site and a sales funnel. We're an editorial site.

Our editorial process

Every product we recommend is researched against four primary sources:

• Manufacturer spec sheets — coverstock formulation, core type, RG, differential, weight specs, materials
• USBC research — equipment specifications, lane condition standards, ratification data
• Pro shop feedback — drilling perspectives, real-world durability, fit considerations
• Tournament & PBA results — how products perform under competition pressure

We don't run paid placements. We don't take "sponsored" content briefs that influence our picks. We don't accept review samples in exchange for positive coverage.

Read more about our editorial standards on our About page.

Programs we participate in

We currently participate in the following affiliate programs. This list may evolve as new programs become relevant or existing ones change terms:

• Amazon Associates — the most common destination for our product links. ExpertBowler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
• Bowling retailer affiliate programs — including BowlersMart, BowlingBall.com, and similar specialist retailers when relevant.
• Manufacturer affiliate programs — from time to time, manufacturer-direct affiliate programs (Storm, Hammer, Brunswick, etc.) when reviewing first-party products.

Each network has its own privacy policy and tracking practices. See our Privacy Policy for more on how affiliate tracking cookies work.

Our trust promise to you

If you've read this far, here's what we want you to walk away with:

• You don't pay extra when you use our affiliate links — the price is the same whether you click ours or go direct.
• We name watch-outs and downsides on every product we cover. If a ball, shoe, bag, or accessory has weaknesses, we say so. Honest reviews build longer trust than hyped reviews.
• We rank by performance, not commission rate. A "Best Overall" pick is the best overall, period — regardless of whether it earns us $1 or $10 per sale.
• We update our content as new products release and older models age. Our reviews aren't static set-and-forget pages.

If you ever feel we've crossed a line into commercial territory at the cost of editorial honesty, tell us. That feedback shapes how we work.

Our complete revenue mix

Affiliate commissions are our primary revenue source, but we operate a multi-stream editorial business. Here's the full picture:

• Affiliate commissions — the bulk of our revenue. Earned when readers purchase via our affiliate links. Editorial picks are made independently of commission rates.
• Display advertising — standard ad networks. We keep ad density low and avoid intrusive formats (no popups, no autoplay video, no aggressive interstitials).
• Sponsored content — we accept sponsored articles from bowling brands, manufacturers, and retailers. Every sponsored article is clearly labeled as such (e.g., "Sponsored by Storm" or "Brand Partner Content"). Sponsored content lives separately from our editorial reviews and never appears in our "Best Of" rankings.
• Brand partnerships — we accept review samples, technical data sheets, drilling sessions, and exclusive product info from manufacturers. Receiving a sample never guarantees positive coverage. If a sampled product underperforms, we say so.
• Guest contributors — we publish guest posts from qualified experts (professional bowlers, certified coaches, pro shop operators, manufacturer technical staff). Contributors may receive an honorarium. All contributor articles include a clear by-line and bio so readers know who's writing.
• Future digital products — we may eventually publish our own guides, courses, or tools.

We will update this disclosure whenever our revenue mix changes.

Commercial relationships we welcome

Building an editorial bowling brand requires industry relationships. We're explicit about which ones are healthy and which compromise reader trust. Here's what we welcome:

• Sponsored deep-dive articles — technical content sponsored by a brand (e.g., a Storm-sponsored article on coverstock chemistry). Clearly labeled. Editorial team approves topic and reviews drafts.
• Sponsored brand showcases — brand-funded "look at this product" features. Clearly labeled, separated from editorial rankings.
• Guest expert contributions — pro bowlers, certified coaches, pro shop owners, and manufacturer technical staff publishing under their own by-line. Editorial quality standards apply.
• Manufacturer review samples — we accept samples for testing. Receiving a sample does not influence our review verdict.
• Drilling sessions and pro shop access — for product research and coverstock prep documentation.
• Exclusive product data and pre-release access — manufacturers sharing technical specs ahead of public launch.
• Display advertising — standard programmatic ad placements in non-disruptive formats.
• Affiliate program participation — ongoing commission relationships with retailers and manufacturers.

The lines we don't cross

Specifically, we will never:

• Accept payment for ranking placement — not for "Best Overall," "Best for Beginners," or any other editorial category. Picks are picks.
• Sell editorial coverage as advertising — sponsored content is sponsored content. It doesn't masquerade as editorial.
• Publish sponsored content disguised as editorial — every paid placement is clearly labeled per FTC guidelines.
• Accept "guest posts" that are SEO link-trade outreach — we don't publish generic content from non-experts to game search rankings.
• Promote crypto, NFT, gambling, or unrelated affiliate programs — these don't fit our editorial focus and dilute trust.
• Trade positive coverage for samples — if a sampled product is mediocre, we say so.
• Hide commercial relationships — if money or value changed hands for a piece of content, you'll know.

Changes to this disclosure

We may update this Affiliate Disclosure as our affiliate programs change or as regulations evolve. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the site after changes means you accept the updated disclosure.