Understanding Factors Affecting Your Bowling Ball Reaction
By: bowlingball.com,
Originally Posted: 3/30/16; Updated: 1/25/2024If you are averaging between 165 and 185 and have been working to improve your game, it helps understanding factors affecting your bowling ball reaction.
Here are a few factors which influence your ball reaction:
*Your Release Technique - your method of releasing your bowling ball is the number one factor affecting the ball motion you see as your ball travels down the lane.
You can effectively vary your ball reaction by making slight adjustments to your release. As example, reducing the amount of your finger rotation at the point of release where your thumb quickly exits the ball will tame your ball reaction.
Couple this with a lesser amount of forward wrist tilt (less of a cupped wrist position) at the point of release will stabilize your ball reaction creating a controllable arcing ball motion.
*Ball Speed - your launch speed definitely influences your front end skid distance. You can get your ball to react sooner and reduce your skid distance by delivering your ball at a slightly slower than normal ball speed, but not too slowly where your ball hooks unpredictably.
Conversely, you can increase your skid distance and the amount of force your ball imparts on the pins by increasing your ball speed.
*Bowling Ball Core & Coverstock - the surface texture of your bowling ball determines the degree of friction your ball generates when in contact with the lane surface. The higher the amount of friction, the quicker your ball reacts on the lane.
The core design by the manufacturer determines the the general shape of your ball reaction by providing varying amounts of track flare.
*Altering the Ball Surface Texture - after drilling your ball, you can alter the surface texture by using Abralon grit pads which, depending on the grit rating of a given pad, either extend or reduce the skid length of the ball in the front end of the lane.
*Drilling Layout - controlling the ball reaction also depends on the given layout you choose packaged with the ball you select.
Using various layouts can move weight toward or away from your Positive Axis Point and affect your ball reaction in the mid-lane and on the back end.
It helps to know which of these factors are directly related to what you can control and which are related to the bowling ball and the lane surface.
Visualize the type of ball reaction you want for the lane conditions you face most often and then use your resources to develop your game and bowling ball arsenal to control your ball reaction.
An experienced pro shop professional or bowling instructor can help you gain more insight into what it takes to create and maintain a controllable ball reaction so you can remain on the path to improvement.
