Bowling Ball Motion

Ranking high among subjects that seem to be superfluous to a person's participation in the sport of bowling is "ball motion." I can see that thinking in a bowler if they merely want to raise his or her average by only twenty pins. If, however, you want to go beyond that point and get into the 210's and over, you need to feed your thirst for knowledge by learning about "Skid, Hook, and Roll."

These three phases of bowling ball motion are the foundation for the USBC, bowling ball manufacturers, and other organizations involved with the technical analysis and study of bowling balls. Your "working" knowledge of these terms and how it affects your ball as it makes it move down the lane will enhance your understanding of how to improve your ball selection and therefore, improve your game play. As the accepted standards for explaining bal motion on the lane, all explanations you read on the subject will use this terminology.

When you first release your ball onto the lane, it will hit, generally, the part that has the highest concentration of oil and continues down for anywhere from 15 to 30 feet. (I use the term, "generally," because oiling patterns will affect how long your ball stays in the skid phase.) This is the "SKID" phase. Among the bowling ball factors that affect this are the weight, surface area and weight block of your bowling ball; your ball speed; and your hand position at point of release. This is also where your ball speed is at its highest so you can probably tell that your revs are low and there is not much friction between your ball and the lane.

As your ball begins to decrease in speed because the friction between your ball and the lane starts to increase (due to the oil concentration being less), it enters into what is called the "HOOK" phase. This is where the axis rotation (side roll) begins taking over to help the ball change direction and makes its move to the pins. Your revs are increasing and the ball is slowing down. This phase is said to be (generally) occurring in the 25 to 45 feet portion of the lane.

For the 3rd and final phase of your ball motion, it is (generally) in the back 45 to 60 feet of the lane. This is the "ROLL" phase, where al the good stuff happens if you can hit it "just right." Your weight block stabilizes and is not wobbling anymore, so it is in the strongest position because it is rolling to the pocket on an even keel - it is driving forward and has less chance to deflect off the 3-1/2 pound pin it impacts. Your ball speed is at its lowest rate but your revs are at their highest, bowling ball and lane friction are at maximum, and your bowling ball is transferring the maximum energy to the pins which, of course, results in an increase in your ball's strike potential.

Now all you do is study these three phases during your coming practice times and learn when your ball is in each distinct phase. Believe it or not, you WILL be able to see them. When you do, you will make better adjustments when the lanes change and also, when you are selecting your next bowling ball.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)