What does RG mean in bowling?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 08, 2026
The USBC defines RG (radius of gyration) as: Measured in inches, radius of gyration is the distance from the axis of rotation at which the total mass of a body might be concentrated without changing its moment of inertia. Simply put, RG is when your ball begins to rev up.
What is RG and diff in bowling?
In short, the RG of a bowling ball is an account of the location of that mass inside the given bowling ball. Differential of RG is the difference between the maximum and minimum Radius of Gyration. RG-differential indicates the bowling ball's track flare potential.
What is the RG value?
The Rg represents the root mean square distance of the molecule's components from the mass center of the molecule. The single Rh and Rg numbers generated by a GPC/SEC analysis are the weight average values obtained from compiling the calculated values at each data slice.
What does low RNG mean in bowling?
Low RG numbers indicate that the balls mass is distributed more towards the center (center heavy) which promotes an earlier roll through the front part of the lane. Medium RG describes sufficient bowling ball skid length to reach the mid-lane before transitioning into the hook phase of overall motion.
What does the differential mean in bowling balls?
Differential is an indicator of a bowling ball's track flare potential. Bowling balls with lower differentials are more stable, therefore generating less track flare potential. Bowling balls with higher differentials are unstable, therefore generating a much larger track flare potential.
36 related questions foundWhat is high RG?
High RG means the exact opposite: the higher the number, the more length the ball will create. When we see the RG number advertised on a ball box, they provide the low RG plane number. This is industry standard across the board for all balls. RG ranges from 2.460” – 2.800”
What are 5 strikes in a row called?
BAGGER (SUCH AS FIVE BAGGER)
A string of strikes; i.e., five bagger is five in a row.
What is the lowest RG bowling ball?
According to the USBC rules, RG in bowling cannot be shorter than 2.460 inches and longer than 2.800 inches. Just like a football, a bowling ball has an axis of rotation. For example, if you throw a football as a spiral, it will have a smaller radius than a football spinning end over end.
What bowling ball should I use?
Find your ideal ball weight.
Some say your ball should be approximately 10 percent of your body weight, up to the maximum 16 pounds. Most pro bowlers use 16-pound balls, although more than you think use 15-pounders. Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use.
What is flare in bowling?
Flare: To expand or open outward in shape.
At that point it simply rolls end over end. The easiest way to visualize this is when you throw the ball. The rings of oil draw the flare for you. Every time the balls has one complete roll it will shift to another axis, creating a new oil ring.
How do you read a bowling ball stats?
The circumference of a bowling ball 13 lbs. or greater is 26.7" minimum, 27.002" maximum. The diameter of a bowling ball 13 lbs. or greater is a minimum of 8.5" and a maximum of 8.595". The Radius of Gyration of a 13 lb. ball or greater is a minimum of 2.46" and a maximum of 2.8".
What does PSA mean in bowling?
The preferred spin axis (PSA) on an asymmetrical ball is one of the most misunderstood topics surrounding bowling ball technology in today's game. A majority of bowlers don't realize how important it is and how much more the ball reaction can be fine-tuned when drilling an asymmetrical ball.
What are the numbers on bowling balls?
Bowling balls have a RG (Radius of Gyration) converted to a scale of 1-10. RG numbers range from 2.460 to 2.800, but some companies have converted them to a 1-10 scale to help give the consumer a better frame of reference. Mass distribution numbers describe the distribution of mass in the bowling ball.
Are heavier bowling balls better?
In general, the heavier the bowling ball will be, the better as a heavy ball will be more impactful, carry more power, and will have more chances of hooking than a lightweight bowling ball. The heavier ball will be able to knock down more pins when two bowling balls are thrown at the same speed.
What are the 4 basic shots in bowling?
There are basically four different types of shot, or deliver in Lawn Bowling:
- The Draw. A drawing Shot is the most common and it is really what the game is all about. ...
- The Yard On. ...
- The Running Shot or Ditch Length Shot. ...
- The Drive.
What bowling shot does not curve?
The straight shot is exactly what its name implies except that it is rolled down the alley slightly off center in order to hit the first pin at an advantageous angle. The hook shot consistently beats other shots in producing strikes.
What does top pin mean on a bowling ball?
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:44 pm. Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:51 pm. Posts: 490. The pin is a colored dot on the ball that signifies the position of the top of the core in the ball. With today's high-tech bowling balls, the ball driller must know where the core is in the ball.
What is rev rate in bowling?
Rev rate is a calculation of the amount of revolutions a bowler imparts on a ball. Now, with these basics, we can determine how to calculate a bowler's revolutions in a common unit, Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). RPM is a frequency of rotation: the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis.
What is a 300 game in bowling called?
In bowling, a perfect game (in 10 pin at least) is 300 points – strikes in each of the first nine frames, and three in the tenth.
Why is 3 strikes called a turkey?
During the late 1700s and into the early years of the 1800s, bowling tournaments were a popular diversion for all, from the working class to the aristocracy. The prizes typically awarded at these tournaments were gift baskets of food, often containing coveted items like a large ham or, you guessed it, a turkey!
What is the rule of 31 in bowling?
The rule of 31 in bowling is a simple equation that takes the pattern length, subtracts it by the number 31 and leaves you with where the bowling ball should exit the pattern. For example, a house shot that is put out for most leagues is 40 feet long.
Do all bowling balls have cores?
Most modern “two-piece” bowling balls have, at minimum, a coverstock, a core, and a spherical outer core.
What does 300 mean on a bowling ball?
In bowling games that use 10 pins, such as ten-pin bowling, candlepin bowling, and duckpin bowling, the highest possible score is 300, achieved by bowling 12 strikes in a row in a traditional single game: one strike in each of the first nine frames, and three more in the tenth frame.
Where should the pin be on a bowling ball?
As we know, the pin is the designation for the x-axis on the surface of the ball. It is the very top of the core. Approximately 6 3/4″ away from the x-axis is the y-axis.
What is pin buffer?
The distance of the pin to the bowler's initial PAP controls the amount of total flare. The PSA to PAP distance dictates how quickly the ball loses axis rotation (side roll). The pin to VAL distance, also known as the pin buffer, controls the shape of the hooking motion at the breakpoint.