Bowling Ball Projection

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 11/11/2014; Updated: 8/7/2022

The term bowling ball projection refers to the length of the skid distance on the front end of your lane a ball takes based upon your delivery style, the bowling ball itself, and the angle you play.

Normally, when we hear someone say to project the ball down the lane, we learn that the bowler wants to increase skid distance by using one of many adjustments which can affect the overall length of skid.

Ball skid (projection) typically refers to the distance your bowling ball will skid on the front end of the lane before changing directions at or near the mid-lane.

On competitive or very challenging lane conditions, changing delivery angles laterally may serve only to increase the overreaction you seek to avoid. If a small projection picking up skid distance does the trick and helps you continue to hit the pocket, then you can use one of several options available to you as follows:

1. Use less hand action than your normal delivery style by reducing the amount of finger rotation thereby reducing the amount of rotation and tilt your ball displays rolling down the lane.

2. Allow your thumb to remain in the ball slightly longer than your natural delivery provides by tilting back your wrist and letting the ball flow smoothly off of your hand with a lesser degree of finger action.

3. Use increased ball speed to accelerate your ball beyond the normal range and, in turn, increase your skid distance.

4. Vary your loft distance to avoid your ball getting into a strong rolling motion before reaching the mid-lane.


5. Sight slightly further down the lane at your target to extend your skid distance.

6. Change angles of delivery to use the build up of lane oil on the front portion of the lane.

Of course, you can change the length you project your ball by changing bowling balls and using a coverstock which provides a longer skid distance than your usual ball provides.

The options are yours to choose from based on how much projection you feel you need based on your ball reaction.

With some experimentation, you can easily project the ball further down the lane when your senses tell you it is wise to do so.