Ball Motion: Burn Out or Burn Up

Burn Up

If the bowling ball is hooking too early and hits the pins flat or deflects, the energy of the bowling ball is burning up.

Changing to a weaker bowling ball will provide more skid down lane, delaying the hook phase allowing for good roll into the pocket.

Burn Out

If the bowling ball is skidding too far down the lane and hooks too late, the energy of the bowling ball is burning out.

Changing to a stronger bowling ball will provide less skid down lanem initiating the hook phase earlier resulting in good end over end roll into the pocket.

Lane Conditions

Every time a bowling ball touches the lane’s surface, the oil pattern is affected. Between who’s bowling on it, topography, climate, and lane surface, no two lanes will ever play the same.

Staying ahead of lane transition requires a trained eye. Observing your ball motion and making adjustments based off of those observations will help you stay ahead of lane transition.

Holding your finishing position until the bowling ball leaves the pin deck does two things for your game:

1. Provides balance and stability resulting in good leverage and your best release.
2. Repeatedly staying in this position until the bowling ball falls off the pin deck ensures your ability to observe all three phases of ball motion.

Check out “Lane Surface: Wood, Synthetic and Ball Choice” and “Breakpoint: How To Get Lined Up in Bowling” for more lane play lessons.