Bowling Ball Axis Tilt And Axis Of Rotation

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 12/23/2014; Updated: 7/25/2022

Axis tilt and axis of rotation are two terms used to describe the rolling motion on a bowling ball imparted by the bowler.

First, axis tilt is a measure of the angle of the initial spin axis to a horizontal plane.

Examples are a full roller or high track delivery style. The initial spin axis would be parallel or close to parallel with the lane surface.

One rotation of the ball would cover the major diameter of the ball.

A spinning type delivery caused by excessive finger rotation by the player would have an initial spin axis tilted up from the lane.

The ball track would be far away from the thumb and finger holes. One rotation of the ball would cover a much smaller diameter than seen with higher track players.

The spinning style will get the ball further down the lane before it hooks compared to a low axis tilt technique.

The high tilt ball motion is caused by the bowler using excessive finger rotation through the release process.

Axis of rotation is a measure of the direction of the initial rotation on the ball with respect to the lane.

It is a measurement of the angle between the initial spin axis and the foul line running across the lane.

A zero degree axis of rotation (low axis tilt) is all forward roll.

The rotation on the ball is in the direction of the forward travel.

The rotation will help keep the ball in the initial direction. The ball will not hook very much. It will roll out early.

A 90-degree axis of rotation is most likely all side roll.

The rotation is perpendicular to the initial direction.

This rotation is trying to make the ball hook at a 90-degree angle to the initial direction giving the ball more potential to hook.

This style causes the ball to skid further down the lane and then hook more on the back end of the lane.



Most bowlers fall into the range of 10 degrees to 45 degrees axis of rotation but it is still important to understand how the range of axes of rotation effect ball motion.

Focus on what you can control best and most consistently.

You can slightly alter your delivery to increase or decrease axis tilt by varying the amount of finger rotation used at the moment you release your bowling ball, but care should be taken to avoid trying to go to any extreme release change or accuracy likely will suffer.