How a Reactive Bowling Ball Works

Different types of bowling balls react on different types of lanes, and getting acquainted to these technical specifications is critical for anyone who wants to play bowling seriously. Bowling balls are made of plastic, urethane, particle and reactive resin. Advanced and professional bowlers often prefer using reactive resin balls because of its advantages over other types.

  1. Origin and features

    • Bowling ball manufacturers started adding resin particles to urethane cover stocks in the early 90's to create reactive resin balls. The layer of resin is stickier than urethane, thus increasing the ball's hook potential. Because of this, bowlers gain more control over the ball's movement regardless of what type of lane, making it the preferred choice of professional bowlers.

    Back End

    • Back end refers to hooking power of a bowling ball once it reaches the last 15 to 20 feet of the lane, where the lane is no longer oiled. A reactive bowling ball has a strong back-end capability; it skids on the oily part of the lane, and with speed, aggressively hooks as it approaches the pocket. The tackiness of the resin particles allows the ball to have better grip on the lane; increasing the strike potential and having a better entry angle. The movement is also facilitated by the heavy core of a reactive resin ball, as well as the core's position relative to the finger holes.

    Approach, Setup and Release

    • Since a reactive ball skids on the initial part of the lane, a right-handed bowler should position at the left side of the lane, while a left-hander does the opposite. The player's palm should be positioned under the ball before release, ensuring that the thumb releases the ball first before the other fingers. This releasing technique allows the player to create a lift, giving the ball more power as it lands.

    Spare Ball for Spare Shots

    • While reactive resin ball has a lot of hook potential and power to make a strike, it is not a reliable spare ball that can skid and go straight to a targeted pin. This is the reason why pro bowlers have a "strike ball" and another one as a "spare ball." A plastic bowling ball usually plays the role of a spare ball instead of a reactive bowling ball, since it can travel in a straight line better than a reactive bowling ball.