Engineered Lanes

Did you know that the true art of bowling is to hit a one-inch-wide pocket that is sixty feet away? Did you know that engineers have figured out how to increase the size of that pocket 2-4 times by designing a ball that has a built in hook to it? Engineers use various software programs to design the core and shell of the ball to significantly increase performance. The task of a bowling ball engineer is to alter the shape and density of the core so that it spins on its axis at just the right time along the lane so that when it naturally hooks it is aimed directly at the sweet spot of the kingpin. This is not a simple engineering task because every lane is different; they have different surfaces, oils, and temperature, humidity, and air flows, making each shot unique. In fact, when a ball is released the friction caused by the ball skidding over the oil surface creates so much heat that it reaches 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, making microscopic trails in the oil, which of course alter future shots. As the ball is released it skids down the lane, spinning rapidly on its axis, floating on the oil surface until it approaches the pins. Just before the pins the lane is "oil free" allowing the ball surface to "bite," transferring the spin into a directional change right into the sweet spot. On the surface bowling is simple but dig a little deeper and it takes an engineer to make more strikes.