What is the best speed for a bowling ball?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 12, 2026
The facts are that the ideal bowling ball speed is about 17 miles per hour (mph) measured at impact with the pins and about 21 mph when the ball is released onto the lane, plus or minus one mph tolerance.
What is a good ball speed for bowling?
For the average person playing competitively, the ideal bowling ball speed should be about 20 to 21 miles per hour when the ball is released onto the land and 16 to 17 miles per hour when the ball hits the pins.
Is it better to throw a bowling ball fast or slow?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Fast and Slow Speeds
In particular, a faster shot will give you more pin action, but it will have less of a chance to react to the lane, which results in less hook. On the other hand, a slower shot will hook more, but at the expense of some pin action.
How fast does the average person bowl?
It is unlikely that you'll see anybody get anywhere near such velocity at an amateur level. A very good amateur player might be able to reach speeds of 80mph. However, the average fast bowler at this level will be looking to hit speeds in the region of 60-70mph.
What speed do pro bowlers bowl at?
Typically, a bowling ball takes about 2.5 seconds elapsed time, plus or minus 0.15 seconds, to contact the pins at an instantaneous velocity of 16.7 mph, a recommended time by USBC and by ball manufacturers. This is very near 18 mph average velocity.
37 related questions foundHow can I bowl faster?
Tips on How to Bowl Faster in Cricket
- Tip 1 – Fix your Starting Point of the Run-up. ...
- Tip 2 – Perfect your Routine before Winding Up to Deliver the Ball. ...
- Tip 4 – Pay Special attention to Front Foot Landing. ...
- Tip 4 – Practice your Run-up. ...
- Tip 5 – Make Use of your Front Arm Too. ...
- Tip 7 – Focus on Hip and Shoulder Separation.
How can I speed up my bowling ball?
By raising the ball and not changing the footwork, the arm swing has to pull the ball down from the top of the backswing to accelerate. You're simply lengthening the distance the ball travels and not adjusting the footwork to match. A bowler gets out of time when this happens.
What weight do pro bowlers use?
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. A heavier ball drilled specifically to your hand will seem to weigh about the same as a house ball two pounds lighter.
Is it better to bowl with a heavier ball?
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.
Why is my bowling ball speed so low?
Due to gravity leading to friction, your ball speed is decreasing as soon as it hits the lane. Specifically, to achieve good ball reaction, you want your ball to lose between 2.5 and 3 miles per hour.
What does oil do to a bowling ball?
Today oil patterns affect the balls reaction as it goes down the lane. Oil is extremely important to the game. Originally oil was put on the lane to protect the lane surface. Without oil, your bowling ball would hit the lane, begin sparking, leave a burn mark and explode in the gutter.
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 a speed dominant bowler?
WHAT IS SPEED? Bowlers with high ball speeds and without the revs to match can be considered “speed dominant.” They will typically favor more aggressive surfaces and layouts to help their ball pick up sooner on the lane.
Should I use a 15 or 16 pound bowling ball?
In general, the best ball weight for you is the heaviest ball you can comfortably throw for an extended period of time. A ball you can throw with ease for only one game doesn't do you much good if you have two more games to bowl. For most adults, this ranges from 14 to 16 pounds.
Is a 14 lb bowling ball too light?
The only point here is that the lighter the object at the end of that pendulum, the more potential you have to “muscle” it. In time, this will settle down. If it doesn't then the ball is likely too light for you, period. There is potential for 14 pound to hook more than 15 pounds.
Is a 10 pound bowling ball too light?
Bowling balls range from 6 lbs to 16 lbs. In other words, you cannot have a bowling ball lighter than six pounds, and you cannot have one heavier than sixteen pounds. So the maximum bowling ball weight is 16 lbs or 7.27 kilograms. The minimum bowling ball weight is 6 lbs or 2.72 kilograms.
What is an illegal bowling ball?
Related: The Storm Spectre bowling ball, which the USBC banned from all USBC certified competition, is not allowed in any level of PBA competition. Purple Hammer bowling balls manufactured in 2016 and 2017 were banned from USBC certified competition, and are not allowed in any level of PBA competition.
Is 175 a good bowling score?
For a league bowler, if you get 175 points in a game, that's a good bowling average score. If you are a beginner playing a 175 point game, that's an amazing bowling score average. A recreational bowler who plays the game a few times a year getting 70 to 100 points has a good bowling average.
What is the heaviest bowling ball ever?
His writings feature on various websites, such as Pinterest. The heaviest legal bowling ball weighs 16 pounds.
How do I get a strike every time in bowling?
12 Ways To Get A Strike In Bowling Every Time You Throw
- 1) Zero In On The Pin Pocket. ...
- 2) Straighten Out Your Bowling Arm. ...
- 3) Right Foot, Left Foot, Power Step. ...
- 4) Lighter Balls Save Scores. ...
- 5) Release The Ball Low.
- 6) When The Ball Curves, You Win. ...
- 7) A Balanced Approach Is Critical. ...
- 8) Stop Looking At The Pins.
What is considered medium ball speed in bowling?
The information compiled from field studies shows that an effective bowling ball speed is about 16-17 miles per hour (mph) measured at impact with the pins and about 20-21 mph when the ball is released onto the lane, plus or minus one mph tolerance, and about 18 mph overall average speed.
What is considered a high rev rate in bowling?
Most competitive bowlers fall into the 300-350 rpm range or just slightly higher or lower.
When should I release my bowling ball?
The best time to do this is about 12 inches before you release the ball. Push rather than throw: A lot of people think about throwing the bowling ball down the lane, and this leads to many novice bowlers seeing the ball bounce its way toward the pins. Try to think of the release as pushing the ball out to the lane.
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.
What does ABC stand for in bowling?
Moses Bensinger was influential in setting up the American Bowling Congress (A.B.C.) in 1895.
