Bowling Balls

Good one!

Who knows how many years I would have spent puzzling over that one?

I wish I could say that I was joking.

I've watched this episode as well.

The assymmetry of the core is necessary to allow the ball to spin on its axis as it rolls down the smooth lane. Rolling friction is at play here. Otherwise the ball would simply roll true without any curvature on its path.

I suppose the wrist movement and the perfect roundness of the ball makes this counter-intuitive.

The ball does roll straight unless you do something to induce spin. I've been bowling every week for 20 years & have never managed to get the ball to curve reliably.

My bowling score has gone up a bunch since I discovered those bumpers.

Between those and your senior citizen handicap, you can't lose.

Do you wear a helmet?

Don't need it.

Knee pads and wrist guards are enough.

When's your birthday?

I've got some Lyn-Door bowling shoes with wheels on the bottom.

There is also another aspect as to the ball rolling true and the hook. The lanes are oiled with a mineral oil almost like a polish on the floor. Depending on who oil's the floor as to how far out from the foul line and where they they stop in front of the pins determines where the ball will hook. Get the wrong guy or gal doing the floor and you will never hook a ball or they all end up in the gutter with too much bite early on in the floor. It takes a lot of experience to know where to begin and where to stop. Most tournaments have professional floor guys to take care of the floors during the large tournaments. Duke

The lane material plays a part as well. Our local bowling centre has just closed & that had wooden lanes, we've moved to another centre which has synthetic lanes & the action is completely different.

I went out to the lanes a while ago and they had hired a new guy to do the oil on the lanes. Normally, I've got a pretty good hook, but it was sliding way more than usual. The guy ended up only putting a little, if any oil on any of the lanes.

Couldn't even throw a straight ball using two hands "granny style".

I also watched that episode. They mention that cores are made in different shapes.

I Googled "bowling ball cores" and found a clip from the show. One type of core is shown being made, then another shape of core is shown being prepped for over-molding.

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/science-channel/36440-how-its-made-bowling-ball-cores-video.htm

Like most other sports the equipment is always being improved.

Golf balls with titanium cores, maple and aluminum baseball bats ,ect.

Its all about sales.

oilcan13

There is a person in the QC department whos job it is to break up the balls that do not pass final inspection. The ball buster of course.

I am sorry I missed this segment and do not know if they mentioned this. However, there are other considerations in relation to the BB Core. Bowlers use this offset geometry to effect how and when the ball will "Hook" on the lane. By drilling with more/less "Top", "Side", "Back", and "Finger" weight, you can dramatically affect where and how much a ball will react to the lane and conditions.

And this is where bowling balls go when they retire

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Barbees-Bowling-Ball-Yard-Art/275889064406

www.bowlingballyardart.com