Physics of Bowling

Learn the Physics of Bowling To Enhance Your Performance

Summary: The physics of bowling can help you improve your playing performance by learning to control your ball’s speed.

Physics of bowling is applied on the speed of ball, friction, etc. The maximum ball speed is at the point of release. As soon as the ball is released, it will begin to slow down because of the friction between the bowling ball and the bowling lane. A bowling ball will typically lose about 3 to 3 ½ miles per hour from the time it is released until the time it hits the pins.

The amount of oil onto the lane can affect the friction between the ball and lane. The greater the amount of oil on the lane, the lesser the friction, and the greater the ball speed. The kind and weight of the ball you are going to use also affect the amount of friction between the ball and the lane. These are the factors affecting the ball’s speed, according to the physics of bowling.

Logically, if your ball’s speed at release is less than 17 mph it is considered slow, 17 to 19 mph average, and above 19 mph is considered fast.

Friction resulted when a ball is thrown down the lane and slows down on its way. The scale of this force varies depending on the amount and type of oil onto the lane, and the weight of the ball.

To find the kinetic friction can be obtained through this equation: ìk=Fk/mg. ìk stands for the coefficient of kinetic friction and Fk stands for the Force due to the kinetic friction, m is the mass of the ball and g means gravity.

The physics of bowling sets in ball speed calculation. The simple way to calculate the ball speed is to time how long it takes for your ball to travel the length of the lane. The lane measures 60 ft. or 18.3 m from the foul line to the pins. Using your stopwatch, you need to time how long it takes from ball release up to pin strike. Calculate the speed by diving the distance by time. If it took the ball 3 seconds from release to strike the pins, the speed is: 60÷3=20 ft/sec. This is just the average speed of the ball. The speed of the ball at the time of release is greatest and the speed decreases along the way because of friction.

To calculate how many revolutions or spins your ball got after your release is like this; first you have to place a piece of white tape above your finger holes on the ball. Roll your normal shot down the lane, and then have another person watch and count how many times the tape rotates around the ball until it hits the pins. Or, if you have a video camera the calculation can be done more accurately. Record a few shots then watch your deliveries in slow motion.

It is important to know the physics of bowling if you want to compete in the sport of bowling. I’m pretty sure that the pros study the physics of bowling. For that matter, the study can be of help to bowlers, amateur and professionals alike.