Bowling Ball Speed | With Chart and Perfect Calculation!

If you’re a bowler, you understand how critical it is to understand the speed at which you’re throwing the ball. This is especially true as you improve! However, how can you measure this?

Because bowling balls come in various cores, coverstocks, and weights, it’s hard to precisely determine an individual’s throwing speed unless you have a slew of high-tech training gear.

A bowling ball’s speed is critical to the game. If your speed is too slow, you will be unable to knock any pins down. However, if you shoot too quickly, you will miss your target and wind up with a gutterball.

What Is the Perfect Bowling Ball Speed?

According to field research, an efficient bowling ball speed is around 16-17 miles per hour (mph) upon impact with the pins and approximately 20-21 mph when the ball is launched into the lane, with a plus or minus one mph tolerance, and an overall average speed of roughly 18 mph.

You may calculate the total time required to toss a bowling ball by considering that the average speed of an object thrown horizontally is 16.7 mph and adding 0.15 seconds to 2.5 seconds for elapsed time, as recommended by the USBC, or you will be pretty close to the mark most of the time.

The USBC’s Best Bowling Ball Speed Guidelines

For those unfamiliar, the USBC has established standards for bowling ball speed. These figures were determined by testing several hundred bowls for several years. According to their studies, the best bowling ball speed is 21 miles per hour at the release point and 17 miles per hour when striking the pins. There is a slight variation between the various brands of bowling balls. They do, however, recommend that you use a ball that rolls slower than 21mph to improve your shot control.

Read More: How Many Games of Bowling in an Hour

5 Factors that Determine a Bowling Ball’s Speed

Your speed will vary over time because of the several variables that determine your bowling ball speed. They truly are.

1. The sort of oil that is used to lubricate the lanes.

2. The quantity of oil put to each lane

3. How heavy is the bowling ball

4. The lanes’ condition

5. The number of hooks on a bowling ball in the lane.

Read More: What is a Stroker in Bowling

The Bowling Ball Speed Chart

TIME	MPH
3.0 sec.	13.9 mph.
2.9 sec.	14.4 mph.
2.8 sec.	14.9 mph.
2.7 sec.	15.4 mph.
2.6 sec.	16.0 mph.
2.5 sec.	16.7 mph.
2.4 sec.	16.7 mph.
2.3 sec.	18.1 mph.
2.2 sec.	19.0 mph.
2.1 sec.	19.9 mph.
2.0 sec.	20.8 mph.

Should You Worry About the Speed of the Bowling Ball?

No, it would help if you did not worry about your bowling speed unless it affects your natural game adversely. It is more vital to acquire good swing and release skills and consistent ball speed than it is to concern yourself with the amount of speed you carry down the bowling lanes.

A somewhat faster than average ball speed is preferable over either slow or highly rapid rates.

Today, there are many coverstocks, and surface texture approaches for bowling balls that you can generally match a ball to the lane circumstances where you bowl.

Developing a solid swing and release is a critical component of effective bowling. If your technique is sound, delivering your ball at a speed that is neither too sluggish nor too quick will assist you in gaining a solid ball reaction.

Read More: How to Roll a Bowling Ball – 5 Pro Tips!

How to Calculate Bowling Ball Speed?

Calculating ball speed is as simple as timing the time it takes for the ball to travel the length of the lane. The lane is 60 feet (18.3 meters) long from the foul line to pins (see lane dimensions).

It would help if you timed the time from ball release to pin strike using a timer. Calculate the ball speed by dividing the distance by the time.

If the time interval is three seconds, the average speed is 60/3 = 20 feet per second (6.1 meters per second).

Naturally, this is the average ball speed; the ball’s speed would be more significant at the moment of release. Due to friction, the ball’s speed would decrease as it travelled down the path.

Read More: How to Grip a Bowling Ball?

How Do You Increase the Speed of Your Bowling Ball?

Bowlers frequently make weak throws and miss pins. Many people attempt to overpower the ball when the lane is dry, and the pin is in a corner. If you are a less experienced bowler who tries to throw the ball too hard, you risk losing accuracy.

Accelerating the ball is critical for developing your game, but it is not always easy. When you reach a point where you cannot maintain a high ball speed, you should pick for the highest ball speed that you can easily preserve while remaining balanced on the lanes. Professional bowlers seldom deliver at more than 85-90 percent of maximum power to avoid injury.

Consider how high you hold the ball if you want to increase the pace you strike it. The ball will travel faster if you keep it higher.

Typically, individuals begin with a setup posture in which they hold the ball at waist level. By keeping your ball at shoulder level, you can boost your pace. If you usually keep it at knee level, consider raising it to waist level.

Begin your approach with a slow, arc-shaped rolling motion. Slowly extend your arm until it is fully stretched to generate more momentum during the downswing and backswing. Avoid opening your arm too far forward since this may cause your shoulder posture to shift.

 Simply maintaining a neutral position for your shoulder and using the natural extension of your arm as a lever will provide you with the necessary momentum when swinging the ball.

Allow the ball to swing freely at the top of your backswing and again through the top of your forward swing. As your swing becomes faster, move your feet in sync with it to maintain a solid tempo.

How to Control Your Bowling Speed?

Controlling the ball’s speed is critical for deciding how far the ball will skid. You may have heard these tips previously, but they remain useful:

As you approach the foul line, your walking speed should remain consistent.

Your spine angle should remain constant when you release the ball throughout your approach and delivery motion.

A few additional critical variables could help you enhance your game: minimize bowling arm, neck, and shoulder stress.

Keep your bowling hand stable and minimize finger rotation when releasing the ball.

Advantages and Disadvantages Fast Speed in Bowling

Advantages of a fast speed in bowling:

1. You can get more strikes.

2. You can get more spares.

3. You can finish the game faster.

4. You can score more points.

5. You can make more shots.

Disadvantages of a fast speed in bowling:

1. You can lose control of the ball.

2. You can bowl a gutter ball.

3. You can miss the pins altogether.

4. You can bowl a split.

5. You can lose accuracy.

The Effects of Lane Conditions and Rev Rates on Bowling Ball Speed:

When considering ball speed, two critical factors are lane conditions and your rpm rate. To achieve a faster ball, you must adjust your entrance angle so that the ball does not skid too far and miss the pocket.

Read More: How to Increase Rev Rate in Bowling

For lighter greasy lanes, a fastball may not remain on the lane as well, causing it to miss the pocket. Therefore, if you’re playing on a particularly dry lane, you should slow your ball down slightly. Pocketing balls that do not slip too much and miss the pocket will be easy.

The lane conditions significantly impact how quickly a bowler can send their ball down the alley. The faster you roll your ball, the more strikes you’re likely to get on any particular shot.

If you’re having difficulty getting strikes with your current setup, increase your trolling speed until you find one that works for you. Additionally, you may like to explore utilizing various balls based on the sort of lanes you play on.