Understanding Bowling Ball Motion

Understanding bowling ball motion will help you make a good decision in purchasing your next bowling ball. This article is addressed to the advanced and highly skilled bowlers but has relevant information for everyone interested in the science of bowling ball motion. Understanding Bowling ball motion is simply derived by examining the overall path a bowling ball takes while traveling down the lane derived from research and development by manufacturers and amplified by field studies performed by the United State Bowling Congress (USBC).

The USBC, combined with the ball manufacturers, did graphical analysis using the Computer Aided Tracking System (CATS) to accurately measure the resulting ball motion when a drilled ball was thrown by an automatic ball throwing machine to simulate a bowler delivering a bowling ball on a lane with a 53 foot flat oil pattern. That graphical analysis showed the three phases of ball motion for each ball tested.

When a bowler delivers a ball, the bowler imparts four forces to the ball:

1. initial ball speed

2. initial rev rate

3. initial ball axis tilt

4. initial axis rotation

These factors, plus the location of the Positive Axis Point, describe a bowler’s delivery during ball motion testing. As the ball travels down the lane, it passes through three phases and two transitions. This motion happens as follows:

1. the skid phase (the first transition from skid to hook)

2. the hook phase (the second transition from hook to roll)

3. the roll phase

During the skid phase, the force from the ball speed exceeds the force from the rev rate. As the ball travels down the lane, the friction between the ball and the lane reduces the ball’s speed and increases the ball’s rev rate. When the forces from the ball speed and the rev rate become equal, the ball transitions (first transition) into the hook phase.

In the hook phase, the force from the ball’s rev rate exceeds the force from the ball’s speed. During the skid and hook phases, the ball’s axis rotation always exceeds the ball’s axis tilt. The ball will lose its’ axis rotation faster than it loses its’ axis tilt during the skid and hook phases.

When the ball’s axis rotation and axis tilt become equal, the ball will transition (second transition) into the roll phase. Once the ball enters the roll phase the ball will no longer hook and the ball’s axis rotation will always equal the ball’s axis tilt. The axis rotation and axis tilt will decrease slowly as the ball travels down the lane during the roll phase. The bowling ball will reach its’ maximum rev rate at the second transition. The ball’s rev rate will always be less in the skid and hook phases than it is in the roll phase.

The bowling ball always hits harder after it stops hooking (the roll phase), rather than while it’s still hooking (the hook phase). Once the ball reaches its’ entry angle at the second transition, the entry angle will remain the same until the ball hits the pins. This is a scientifically accurate description of bowling ball motion.

There’s one more fact that must be mentioned which affects the shape of the drilled ball’s motion, and we are only concerned with drilled bowling balls. It has been proven that all drilled bowling balls are asymmetrical, whether they are symmetrical or asymmetrical before drilling. To be considered asymmetrical, a bowling ball must have a measurable intermediate differential and a Preferred Spin Axis (PSA). And, all drilled bowling balls have both those measurable properties.

All this information was verified during the Ball Motion Study, which was conducted by the Ball Motion Task Force. The Ball Motion Task Force consisted of the USBC Equipment and Specifications Department and the ball manufacturers.

A key to ball motion is intermediate differential which is the measure of a bowling ball’s degree of asymmetry. Differential ratio is simply defined as the intermediate differential divided by the total differential. Differential ratio is expressed as a decimal valuation. The larger the differential ratio, the more asymmetrical the bowling ball. Conversely, the smaller the differential ratio, the less asymmetrical the ball.

According to the Ball Motion Study, ball motion is affected by:

1. coverstock - The study proved that the most important factor in determining ball motion is the ball’s coverstock.

2. mass properties (ball dynamics)

3. static weight balance.

Next in importance is the mass properties of the ball provided by the core density and core shape. The net effect is that the coverstock aggressiveness (chemistry plus surface texture), RG (Radius of Gyrations) and total differential have similar effects on a drilled ball’s motion. These factors affect the location of the first transition on the lane and they determine how soon a ball starts up on a given lane condition.

After choosing a given bowling ball with the given coverstock, the static weight balance dynamic shifts in accordance with the drilling layout pattern, final factor important in achieving the desired reaction. The drilling technique consists of the layout and the balance hole location and size (if a balance hole is desired).

Symmetrical balls yield drilled balls with smaller differential ratios. Small differential ratios will produce a drilled ball with a smoother, more controllable motion when compare to an undrilled asymmetrical ball.

Varying degrees of longer transitioning (longer h

ook zone) ball motion can be obtained by choosing to drill an asymmetrical ball. Asymmetrical balls after drilling show a defined, angular motion. These balls can create more area at the break point and will respond to friction faster at the break point than symmetrical balls.

We hope this scientific approach to sharing information helps you in understanding bowling ball motion. We recommend you consult your local pro shop professional when selecting a new bowling ball and a drilling layout to obtain the targeted ball motion you seek.

The Study of Bowling Ball Motion

The study of bowling ball motion are something that most bowlers know nothing about. In brief, there are three basic stages, or zones, a bowling ball must go through. These stages give the ball the proper reaction on a bowling lane. This has been the principal in bowling for the thirty years I’ve been in the game. Most bowlers don’t realize that a bowling ball goes through these stages.

The bowling ball motion are as follows:

1. Slide – A bowling ball will first slide for a certain length of a bowling lane after it is released by the bowler. This is known as the head portion of the lane.

2. Hook – After the slide zone of the ball motion it will then transition into a hook zone.

3. Roll – Following the hook zone a ball will go into a roll stage.

In summary – The stages of bowling ball motion are slide, hook, and roll.

You could Picture this like a rocket taking off from the earth to the outer space.

1. You must have a take off part so the rocket can get off the ground. = The slide.

2. After the rocket is off the ground it must transition to get out of the atmosphere. = The transition and hook.

3. Then transition again to adjust to the outer space itself. = The roll.

This is the same kind of concept involved in the study of bowling ball motion.
Which is also true in bowling lane conditioning. The bowling lane conditions and the bowling ball motion must match for the best reaction.

If a ball slides, hooks, or rolls too early you will get roll out. If roll out is too early the ball stops and goes straight. If a ball slides, hooks, or rolls too late it will never grab the lane and could skid out. A bowler should study a ball rolling down the lane and realize that these stages happen. The study of Bowling ball motion is essential.

Fall Leagues Now Forming

League bowling is one of the most popular recreational sports in the United States. If you're not a league bowler, chances are you know one, even if you don't think you do. League bowling has given many hours of joy (and frustration) to people since the inception of the sport, and continues to do so.

There are leagues available for all types of bowlers. If you're one of the best bowlers in the area, there's a league for you. If you don't care about winning at all, there's a league for you. If you and your significant other want an activity you can do together, there are couples leagues for you. On top of all the leagues bowling alleys administer, you can usually set up your own league at your own center. Bowl the way you want with the people you want.

 

For more league information please feel free to contact us at 585-427-7250 or email us at bowlarol@rochester.rr.com.

 

 https://youtu.be/uIfOZFWDlVc

 

How Bowling Balls Are Made

    How Bowling Balls Are Made

For anyone wishing to understand a little about how bowling balls are made, it is useful to focus attention on the two key components of all bowling balls, the core and the coverstock. Since the core is the first principal component of a bowling ball assembled at any given manufacturer's factory, we should first address the core component as an initial step in discussing how bowling balls are made.
It all begins with which type of ball motion a given manufacturer visualizes or plans as the next bowling ball to be introduced into the market. Over time, manufacturer's typically develop strategies to offer performance and diversification in each line of bowling balls for each brand manufactured. It is important to note than each manufacturer will use their own procedures making bowling balls. 
The core design process is the first step in planning a bowling ball to fit into the given product line. For example. if a given company wishes to introduce a very aggressive ball to combat heavy oil and fit into a certain line of bowling balls, then the first step is to design the core with an intent to achieve a pre-planned, low RG rating so the ball will "rev" quickly and respond on the front end of the lane. By means of a Computer Animated Designs (CAD's), ball designers generate special computer programs to design and develop a very stable reacting inner-core concept, known as a symmetrical core, which encourages a strong ball reaction on the front end of the lane for the heavy oil condition.
Of course, the engineers will design a less stable core if the intent is to produce a ball with a medium or high RG for use on medium or medium dry lane conditions. These types of core designs are known as an asymmetrical cores and they typically create a longer skid and greater flare potential than symmetrical cores as the bowling ball clears through the front ends before reacting in the mid-lane.
Manufacturers will design inner-cores made of urethane and polymer based products in varying density ranges, shapes, and number of pieces to also vary the mass density of the core and achieve an end result which will influence the overall ball motion predictably. Cores with the most mass density placed closest to the center of the bowling ball will tend to roll soonest and skid less than cores with the mass placed furthest from the center of the bowling ball and closer to the coverstock location. In our heavy oil example, ball core designs which includes a shape which places mass in specific areas near the center of the ball and also places mass to the top of the ball by means of an additional weight block component and by means of a special shape to the principal inner-core will promote early roll to combat front-end excessive oil coupled with a strong back-end reaction (high differential and flare potential) from the break point to the pocket.

Other core designs will produce somewhat different results in ball reaction capabilities based upon the core design principles planned by the engineers. Varying shapes, numbers of pieces in the core designs, and mass distribution in multiple core locations will enable the manufacturer to produce pre-planned ball reactions.

The cores come through the core room assembly conveyor after being molded and shaped into the size and mass density forms predetermined by CAD designs. Once the cores are finished off into their final form, they are placed into the injection molds and supported with a urethane stem, known as the pin, positioned in the weight block to hold the core in place as the coverstock is poured into the ball mold during the injection process. The pin represents the top part of the weight block and is usually identified by a colored dot on the ball surface. There are certain optional procedures which may be used to wrap an outer-core around between the inner-core and the urethane material injected into the ball mold.

It is helpful to know that the industry refers to coverstock urethane blends in the following way: plastic, urethane, reactive resin, hybrid reactive, and particle materials. Each of these coverstock material variations yields to the performance range capabilities intended for the given bowling ball. Since there are no tolerances provided for coverstock texture, the manufacturers offer a variety of textured coverstocks to match with varying oil lane conditions. Coverstock materials vary chemically and use a variety of additives merged in the mixture of basic urethane liquid compounds. These additives are used to produce a solid, pliable coverstock or a stiff, pearl coverstock, all of which will be versatile and will allow the factory finish to be altered after drilling as needed for ball reaction capabilities. Multiple dyes are used to create the desired color effect planned for the bowling ball.
Often times mixtures of urethane compounds are used to vary the molecular fiber make-up of the final mixture of material. The specific mass density of the urethane material is also calculated to ensure the overall ball weight will be achieved. Added particles may be introduced into the mixture to reinforce the material as the urethane hardens and is cured into its final state and surface appearance.
Once the injection process is completed and has cooled, the bowling ball is removed from the molds and is placed on a conveyor assembly for the purpose of honing the shape and size of the ball into acceptable tolerances by use of lathe-like devices which remove rough and bumpy materials from the ball surface. Sanding and screening procedures will then be applied to the ball surface so the ball begins to take a uniform shape within acceptable USBC tolerance ranges.

After the screening procedure is complete, the ball will be cured and polished to achieve the desired level of surface texture by means of high-speed screening devices and by use of Abralon-type pads which ultimately finish the coverstock to the intended surface texture. When the bowling ball surface is complete, then the process of spinning the ball to determine the preferred spin axis and identifying the bowling ball center of gravity are completed.


The ball will then be marked pinpointing the location of the CG and mass bias on the ball surface. The bowling ball will be stamped with the company logo and brand labels and with serial numbers indicating the ball is U.S.B.C. approved for use. The final step is placing the ball into the ball box accompanied with any given literature. The ball box is labeled with the bowling ball weight information and manufacturing information as deemed appropriate by the manufacturer.




Bowling Balls Being Made

Fall Bowling Leagues Now Forming

Fall leagues forming at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes

Bowling season is just around the corner and it is time to begin thinking about one of our Fun Filled Fall Bowling Leagues.



http://www.bowl-a-roll.com/Leagues

How To Strike

Bowling Ball Angle Of Entry




Simply stated, the angle of entry for a bowling ball traveling down the lane is the direction the ball travels when going into the 1-3 pocket from the break point for right handed bowlers and the 1-2 pocket for left handed bowlers.

The USBC (United States Bowling Congress - the governing body for the rules and regulations for the sport of bowling) has publicized that a pocket strike occurs at board 17 to 18 with an entry angle of 4 to 6 degrees.

A very strong or steep angle of entry, perhaps a 6 degree angle of entry or greater, risks reducing optimum pin carry. A weaker angle of entry also produces reduced pin carry, perhaps a 4 degree angle of entry. Equating pin carry to angle of entry is not a precise science and varies from bowler to bowler.
For the best energy transfer, a ball needs to be rolling into the pocket, not merely hooking into it.

The three phases of bowling ball motion are the skid phase in the front end, the hook phase in the mid-lane, and the roll phase on the back-end of the lane.
Between 4 and 6 degrees angle of entry will be ideal for optimum pin carry on a given night, on a given lane condition. A 5 degree angle of entry might just be the perfect angle of entry on most house conditions to gain optimum pin carry.

How does this equate to your delivery technique?
“Power players” who hook the ball the most because of their strong rev-rate and relatively high axis tilt will achieve about a 6 degree angle of entry into the pocket and will likely produce very good pin carry but run the risk of leaving frequent back row pins on solid pocket hits such as the 7 and 10 pins or 8 and 9 pins.

“Tweener players” achieve about a 5 degree angle of entry and the pin carry is certainly very good with the nearest to optimum levels of carry as any angle of entry yields.

“Stroker players” will achieve about a 4 degree angle of entry and will also get good pin carry but perhaps not the maximum carry potential as a player with a higher rev-rate and a greater measure of axis tilt.

With 4 to 5 degree entry angles you generally only worry about corner pins or a 4 pin (6 pin for left handed bowlers) if the ball contacts the pocket a little high.
Angles of entry at 6 degrees or higher run a risk of leaving any of the back row pins as well as the occasional big split. These leaves occur more frequently with big hook angles of entry as opposed to the more modest angles of entry.

In the final examination of angle of entry, the lane conditions coupled with the bowler’s delivery technique are going to determine what the best entry angle is at any moment.
You can slightly alter your entry angle by altering your delivery technique but not so much as to lose accuracy. Increasing axis tilt and rev-rate might help you achieve a bit more entry angle and pin carry correspondingly but that is something to be determined by you and/or your coach.

Altering the drilling layout and changing ball coverstock surface textures will also influence entry angle slightly. However, the chief concern here is making sure you get the most consistent ball reaction and hit the pocket at the highest degree of efficiency as possible. You shouldn't only be concerned with pin carry.

Bowling Ball Balance Holes Increase or Decrease Ball Reaction

A balance hole is an extra hole (balance hole or weight hole) in a ball which is used to establish static balance as per the guidelines of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) specifications. A balance hole can increase or strengthen the ball reaction or decrease or weaken the ball reaction. Working with an experienced pro shop professional is your best bet when making a decision on drilling a balance hole in a new bowling ball or adding one to an existing ball.

The effect of static weights is extremely minimal but the non-gripping balance hole does alter a ball's dynamics; those forces affecting the ball when it is in motion. Adding a balance hole is an effective way to alter a ball’s reaction while in motion. Using a balance hole on a new drilling is another way to control the ball motion based on the layout selected and the bowler’s delivery technique.

A balance hole can create a stronger ball reaction or a weaker one depending on the drilling layout and the ball construction. The location of a balance hole with regard to the distance from the pin and the bowler’s Positive Axis Point (PAP) in a bowling ball is the primary tool the pro shop professionals use for altering the bowling ball core dynamics.

Factors to consider when planning the use of a balance hole are the size of the hole, the depth it is drilled into the bowling ball, and the placement of the hole. All of these determine how the ball dynamics can be altered to produce a specific ball reaction.

The United States s Bowling Congress (USBC) states that a bowling ball may have no more than one (1) ounce of side weight after the holes are drilled, among other specifications. You need a DoDo scale to weigh the ball for "side weight".

If you are over one (1) ounce (we recommend using 3/4 ounce) then the ball driller must refer to a ball weight removal chart which will help determine what size drill bit is needed, and how deep to drill the hole. By the way, the maximum allowable diameter of a balance hole is 1-1/4" for USBC sanctioned play.

Often times experienced bowlers will drill a ball and then add a weight hole to alter the dynamics of the ball while it is in motion. Ball motion control is the objective of any bowler looking to create consistent ball reaction. Use of the balance hole is one tool to help achieve bowling ball motion control.

Basic Types of Bowling Ball Layouts

The Early Rolling Layout. - This layout is used on oily lanes, long oil patterns, or carry down. It’s used when the bowler wants to play the lanes from 7 boards out or when lane conditions dictate it. The type of bowling ball is usually a solid reactive resin or particle ball. This layout can also be used to break down a shot on a sport pattern. I like to use the term break open rather than break down because that’s what you are trying to do. The layout pin under the ring finger or 4.5 inches away from your pap. The mass or the cg is angled 35 to 65 degrees. The angle is determined by the amount of early roll you want. I prefer mine at about 35 degrees which is about 2 inches off the thumb. (45 degrees = 3 inches and 35 degrees = 2 inches) Another rule of thumb is “the closer the mass is to the pap the earlier the roll.” Average once or twice a week bowlers will rarely ever need this layout, unless the bowling center has slick lane conditions and the shot is more outside.  

5 Steps To Rolling a Curve and How to Develop a Killer Hook in Bowling

How to throw a Hook with your bowling ball

You have the straight ball down so it is now time to roll the ball like a pro. Discovering how to roll a curve ball in bowling takes a great deal of practice as well as time, however the extra initiative will pays off with the newly found self-confidence you will certainly have after understanding this ability as well as enhancing your bowling skill.

5 Steps To Rolling a Curve

1. Begin with the appropriate grip and stance position.

2. Concentrate on the area on the lane that you wish to hit.

3. Begin your technique like you would certainly a straight ball.

4. Let go of the ball at the end of your swing, releasing your thumb out prior to your fingers
5. Revolve your fingers up along the exterior of the ball as you let it go, monitoring the bowling ball's spin with your fingers.




   

Bowl For Your Buddies

What:  Bowling for Buddies

Why:  Emergency Care Fund

When: June 12, 2016 @ 2:00 pm

Where:  Bowl-A-Roll, Jefferson Rd., Rochester, NY

Cost:  $20.00 includes 2 games of bowling, shoe rental, and pizza

Additional details:  Chinese Auction, 50/50 raffle

Thank you for supporting our efforts to help them

Please email bkellar@rochester.rr.com by June 8^th if interested in attending

www.operationbuddyrescue.org

Relay For Life Bowling Fundraiser

Looking for a fun afternoon the whole family can enjoy? Look no further—the 2nd Annual Relay For Life Bowling Tournament organized by Luanne Schell is the perfect solution. Benefiting the American Cancer Society, the event offers participants the opportunity to give back to the community while spending quality time with family and friends.
The annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life celebrates survivors, funds research and cancer education, inspires the public to become involved in the American Cancer Society's advocacy efforts, and makes important services available for patients and their families. It represents the hope that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

Whether you join as an individual, challenge your co-workers, or make the tournament a group outing among friends, you are bound to have a great time. Work up your appetite, because there will be pizza and refreshments for everyone to enjoy!
The fundraiser takes place at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes on Sunday,
June 5th. Bowling will take place from 2:00 PM–4:00 PM and awards shortly after thea competition. Tickets are $25 per person and $80 per team. You can register for tickets here. For more information about the event please contact Bowl-A-Roll Lanes at 585-427-7250.
Talent is not required for this event, just individuals who want to have a fun afternoon!