What Changes My Bowling Ball Reaction?

If you ask what changes my bowling ball reaction, you will find reasons ranging from the pro shop to your physical game skills.

Here are a few factors which influence your ball reaction:

1. Release Technique - you can vary your ball reaction by making slight adjustments to your release. You can change your bowling ball rev rate, the number of revs per minute your ball rotate while it travels the distance of the lane. Adjustments to the amount your finger rotation and your wrist tilt at the point of release affect your ball reaction.

2. Ball Speed - your ball reaction is definitely influenced by how fast you deliver the ball. 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. Conversely, you can increase your skid distance and the amount of force imparted on the pins by increasing your ball speed.

3. Bowling Ball 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.

4. Altering the Ball Surface - after drilling your ball, you can alter the surface texture by using Abralon grit pads and either extend or reduce the skid length of the ball in the front end and in the mid-lane. When extending the skid by using a fine grit pad, your ball stores energy and tends to hook slightly more decisively on the back end of the lane. The opposite holds for gaining more friction by texturing the coverstock with lower grit pads.

5. Drilling Layout - controlling the ball reaction also depends on the given layout you choose coupled with the ball design 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.



When getting to the decision phase in your ball selection process, make certain you consult your coach and/or your pro shop professional so your chances of choosing a ball which will best match with local lane conditions improve.

There are many manufacturers today providing top grade bowling balls that it is easy to become confused when choosing a new ball.

Visualize the type of ball reaction you want for the lane conditions you are targeting and then communicate that picture with your pro shop professional.

The pro shop pro or your coach can compare your desired ball reaction to the existing reaction you get with your current equipment and help you arrive at a sensible conclusion when you add another ball to your equipment arsenal.