FUNdamentals Instructor Introduction to Bowling Balls

FUNdamentals Instructor Module Objectives and Learnings At the end of this module you will understand the following; The evolution of bowling balls How a ball is made Bowling ball specifications What the different cores and coverstocks are The effects of different cores and coverstocks

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls Ancient bowling balls were made of stone due to availability and durability. The first bowling balls in the United States were made of hard wood, such as oak. Wood bowling balls gave way to hard rubber balls in the early 1900s. Rubber did not crack, chip, and warp like wood, and provided a more consistent performance.

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls It was not until the 1960s that plastic balls were produced. This type of coverstock is very smooth and has the least friction of today’s bowling balls. These balls have low hook potential and therefore provide a higher level of control – ideal for novices; and used by most bowlers for “sparing”. Balls provided by the bowling centre (house balls) are normally plastic.

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls Polyurethane (known as Urethane) balls were produced in the 1980’s. These balls were “rougher” than plastic and provided more friction and more hook potential. This type of ball also allowed for more variation in the surface from a polished surface to a sanded one. Original “Hammer” range Columbia’s popular Black and Wine U-dot

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls Urethane balls paved the way for Reactive Resin urethane balls in the early 1990’s. These bowling balls changed the sport forever as they provided vastly more friction and more hook potential than ever before. These balls led to Particle balls, also referred to as Proactive coverstocks which have glass particles mixed into the coverstock Particle Atomic microscope view of bowling ball surfaces

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls These images show the evolution of general hook potential and “shape” of shot the four different coverstocks create. You will learn that there are of course many other elements that determine the “shape” of a shot but the coverstock plays a big part.

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls A High Mass weight block is usually a pancake shaped weight block that is usually placed close to the shell of the ball (see picture). This type of weight block promotes a lot of length down the lane as it does not tend to allow the ball to get into a heavy roll. A Low Mass weight block can be a variety of shapes and densities and is usually placed more towards the centre or middle of the ball (see picture). This allows for a heavier roll which helps increase hook potential.

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls Inside a bowling ball is the core / weightblock. These can be of any shape and will be referred to as either pancake; asymmetrical; or symmetrical

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Balls Examples of LOW MASS bowling ball cores (also called the weightblock)

FUNdamentals Instructor Bowling Ball Specifications CIRCUMFERENCE is 27 inches (68.58 cm) WEIGHT is 6lb – 16lb (7.257kgs) DIAMETER is 8.6 inches (21.8cm)

FUNdamentals Instructor How Bowling Balls are made This excellent video was produced by The Discovery Channel and filmed at Ebonite about the process of making a bowling ball – it lasts about 14 minutes

FUNdamentals Instructor Check your understanding What are the two main parts of a ball? Core and Coverstock 2. What are the four main types of coverstock? Plastic; Urethane; Reactive; Particle 3. What is the minimum and maximum weight of a ball? 6lb to 16lb 4. Name the 3 types of core shape? Pancake; Asymmetrical; Symmetrical Length and later roll 5. What do High Mass cores encourage? Heavier roll and more hook 6. What do Low Mass cores encourage?