Asymmetrical Bowling Ball History

While the sport of bowling has origins dating back to the times of Ancient Rome, the basic design of the bowling ball has advanced slowly over the centuries. Mostly, advancements have occurred in the past century dealing with the surface of the bowling ball. However, in recent times, bowling ball manufacturers have concentrated on the inner core of the bowling ball and its weight distribution. This new type of core design is an asymmetrical bowling ball.

  1. Early Designs

    • English settlers first introduced bowling in the United States in the 1800s. Early bowling balls were made from a hard wood called Lignum vitae. Then, in 1905, a bowling ball made of rubber was manufactured, called the “Evertrue.” In 1914, The Brunswick company began to market a bowling ball made of a rubber compound called Mineralite. These balls were the standard for many years until the 1970s and 80s, when balls made of polyester and urethane came about. Then, in the 1990s, manufacturers began to experiment with the design of the ball's inner core.

    Asymmetrical Cores

    • Before this time, the inner core of the bowling ball had featured a symmetrical design. In an asymmetrical bowling ball, the inner core is uneven, causing the weight to distribute differently. On these balls, this creates a mass bias point that indicates the area where the majority of the weight shifts.

    Identification

    • A mass bias indicator placed on the outer shell of the ball identifies asymmetrical bowling balls. Most bowlers have the holes drilled to line up with this point on the bowling ball. Different ball manufacturers used various ways to indicate the mass index. Some stamp it with numbers and letters, while others use symbols. Symmetrical bowling balls do not have such markings.

    Advantages

    • The main purpose of asymmetrical bowling balls is to help enhance a bowler's game. The spin on the ball increases and decreases, depending on the degree of the added weight. Drilling the ball to the bowler’s specifications can create more hook when throwing the ball. These balls can also help control the bowler's curve, allowing it to occur earlier or later in the ball's path.

    Controversy

    • Many older professional bowlers disagree with asymmetrical bowling balls, as they feel they remove the skill from the game. They believe the advancements simply eliminate the bowler's weak points and give them an unfair advantage. While the United States Bowling Congress does not disapprove of asymmetrical bowling balls, they adopted specific requirements for the degree of weight distribution, design of cores, and the types of balls and allowed manufacturers.