1. FUNdamentals Instructor Introduction to Bowling Balls

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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?