What Are The Boiled Down Factors Affecting Bowling Ball Motion?
bowlingball.com,
Originally Posted: 4/13/2015; Updated: 6/12/2022If you ask what are the boiled down factors affecting bowling ball motion, you probably have heard far more technical explanations than you care to discuss?
Let’s eliminate some confusion.
When you deliver your ball, your release style yields four chief factors relevant to ball motion:
1. initial axis of rotation - the direction your ball rotates based on your release technique
2. initial axis tilt - how much your rotating axis tilts as the ball travels down the lane
3. initial ball speed off of your hand
4. initial rev-rate - the number of complete ball revolutions from release to pin contact
These are factors you control.
Other factors you do not control are:
*lane oil pattern - the oiling procedure used by the bowling center
*the friction factor of the lane surface
*the type of bowling ball coverstock and core design you select
*the ball drilling layout - how the ball is drilled influences your ball reaction
*bowling ball surface texture
The net effect is that all of these factors including ones you do not directly control will produce the ball reaction you see when you deliver a shot down the lane.
If you wish to change factors you directly control, the services of an experienced bowling instructor and/or your pro shop professional will be very useful.
A coach can help improve your release technique and help you control your ball speed and loft distance.
Establishing a good working relationship with your pro shop professional will help you choose a bowling ball, how to drill the ball, and maintain the surface preparation to best match with local lane oiling conditions.
Keep things as simple as possible. There is no need for you to become a scientist to understand bowling balls.
