The modern sport of bowling requires so much more than just the physical game; it needs skill, talent, and practice. One of the most common problems faced by beginners is that the ball slows down on the way to knock the pins down.
This might lead you to wonder what’s the reason behind its slowing down and why do bowling bowls decelerate?
The Bowling ball decelerates to knock down the pins because it is heavy, and the players expect less energy to make the strike. Moreover, throwing the ball at the wrong angle also makes it slow down. The players need to practice and enhance their skills to prevent the ball from decelerating.
In order to make things easy for you, I have researched the most common reasons that you need to avoid when striking the bowling ball. And by the time you have finished reading, you will know as much (or more) about bowling balls as the great majority of the world’s top bowlers, coaches, and pro shop employees.
Reasons for Deceleration of Bowling
Here are all the reasons for the slowing down of bowling balls that you might find interesting:
Heavy Weight
Bowling balls are heavier in weight, making it hard for them to be in a line and speed as they move towards the pins. Mostly, beginners are unaware of it, and the audience of the game finds it awkward that the ball is slowing down.
Wrong Angle
Bowling needs a particular angle of throwing the ball toward the pins for striking them down. If your angle is wrong, then no matter how much effort you apply, your ball will be decelerated, resulting in losing the game.
Less Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy is the force needed to take an object from a reference point to the final one. In bowling, it is very important that the players have the knowledge, and they should be efficient in calculating its requirement.
Sometimes, they put more energy than is needed, but most of the time, the bowling ball is given less kinetic energy than it requires to make the strike. As a result, it slows down on its way and loses all the force to hit the pins and knock them down.
Loss of Momentum
The bowling balls are heavier in weight, and in order to get their effective collision with bowling pins, it is very important that they must go at a high pace to reach and keep the momentum that is required to knock the pins down.
Most of the time, the players are unaware of it, especially the ones who play for fun on weekends. Their ignore makes them throw the ball without any skill and enough force, which makes it slow down after it covers a small part of the lane towards the pins.
Oily Bowling Lanes
Almost every bowling lane has an oily surface to lubricate it at some part and increase the motion of your ball and takes it smoothly. The problem arises when it loses all its kinetic energy here as they are oily in the start-up to 40 feet, and after that, when the surface is a little dry, the balls slow down.
Why are Bowling Balls made Heavy?
Bowling balls are made heavier because they need to strike the pins and knock them down. The pins need the strength to stand still and for this reason, they are also heavy in weight, so only the players get to knock the balls down.
It feels a little unusual at the start when you introduce yourself to the world of bowling because balls are always conceived as light. This makes the sport different and more enjoyable than other games.
Its mastery is a little difficult and takes time, but almost every other professional advises the players to learn the techniques and strategy of throwing the ball. The more strategic you are in this game, the more you will win.
Why Should The Ball Go Fast Through The Lane?
The lanes in bowling are quite long and the balls are heavier. It is very usual that they get to slow down as they reach the middle for many reasons. A ball that is thrown with a right angle and efficient energy reaches the final point and makes a strike by knocking down all the balls.
It must go fast because this way, it doesn’t deviate from the path and hit the pins straight. So, all the professionals keep this target that their ball must go in high speed and strike the pins directly without deviating on the lane.
Is there any Advantage to the Deceleration of the Bowling Ball?
Although most of the time, when the ball slows down in the lane, there are fewer chances to make the strike. At the same time, it gets to have a better hook which is a very popular technique in striking all the pins down.
So, if your angle is right, then even a slower ball on the lane can help you win. You only have to focus on your technique while you throw the ball during your gameplay, as it’s near impossible to take control of the speed.
Curve Ball as the Best Technique
The best technique in bowling is to throw the ball with a spin as it helps to make a strike and knock down all the pins. It is easy once you get plenty of practice over managing its angle as you make the throw.
It keeps the ball on the lane and reaches the pins at the right place to knock them down, resulting in a strike. It seems to be a little difficult for beginners at the start, but almost every bowling professional around the globe is a master of the curveball.
Final Verdict
Bowling is a modern sport, and it needs a lot of learning to understand the game and be a good player. The ball decelerates on its way while you make the strike for many reasons, that includes its heavyweight, oily lanes, loss of momentum, low kinetic energy, and wrong angle.
You must focus on the techniques while you throw the ball rather than applying a lot of effort with the wrong angle and the wrong direction.
Wish you luck with your next bowling game and hope that you make a strike.
