This week I wanted to get back to some of the questions I get asked when customers come in to buy a bowling ball. One I hear a lot is; “What is that big dot on the bowling ball?”  Hopefully I can help answer that question and give you some tips on what you might need for your next bowling ball drill layout.  

The big dot is called the locator pin. This marking is added in during the molding process of the bowling ball to show where the top of the inner core, or weight block is located.  It also helps to stabilize the bowling ball during that process. This is a major reference point for the Pro shop operator to help in the decision of how to layout your bowling ball.  Now if you think that’s all that it’s for then your not seeing the true scientific reason for it. Where you place this in relation to a Bowler’s Positive Axis Point, or P.A.P. determines how and when the bowling ball will start to react.  

To determine where the pin should be placed, in reference to your P.A.P., you need to understand the three phases of bowling ball motion.  A bowling ball will go through Skid, Hook and Roll.  Drilling can determine how long or short you can control these three phases.  Bowling ball surface plays a major role in ball motion, but so does drilling layouts. Placing locator pins closer to a bowler’s positive axis point will result in a bowling ball that will rev or hook, sooner and the end result is a less aggressive back end reaction and an earlier rolling overall ball reaction. In essence you have shortened the skid section of your bowling balls reaction and increased its roll section.  

Placing pins further from your P.A.P. will result in a longer skid section, thereby creating a delayed hook and roll section.  This second layout is the layout where bowlers see that skid/snap kind of reaction on the lane.  Now if you’re a newer bowler and do not have a bowling ball that the pro shop can look at, then they can not determine where your axis point is and will have no reference on how to drill your next bowling ball.  Remember last week’s tip where I mentioned to make sure you bring in your bowling ball?  This is where it comes in to play.  

So let’s recap. Placing pins further from your P.A.P. will create more length and more delayed hook.  Placing locator pins closer will start the hook sooner and smooth out the back end reaction.  So look in the bag, and tell me what you see with your equipment?  Do you have the same layouts? I sure hope not.  Always make sure that you have different layouts for different types of bowling ball reaction.  If you need to learn more about what you have, or what you need, email me.  Until next time, good luck this upcoming bowling season. 

T.J. Yeip is the Manager of GLC Bowling and the Lead Technical Advisor. He is an IBPSIA Advanced Certified Member and former PBA member. You can email your questions to him personally at thomas.yeip@glcbowling.com