Power bowling is a style of bowling where participants throw the ball harder with the intention of throwing above 20 miles per hour.
In regular professional bowling, 14 to 16 pound balls are generally chosen to throw with. They are thrown at speeds between 16 and 18 miles per hour.
For power bowling, typically 6 to 10 pounds balls are used. Anything above 20 miles per hour is considered power bowling, and throws can even exceed 26 miles per hour.
Throwing at high speeds is generally considered impractical as it impairs stability and consistency. However, high speed with decent consistency looks super badass. Power bowlers aim to demonstrate consistency despite the handicap of greater speed.
While most professional bowlers apply spin to their ball on release, power bowlers tend to be straight shooters. At high speed, there’s not sufficient time for a spin to correct towards the center of lane. Angled, linear shots attempt to overcome this angle of approach disadvantage.
Throwing with a lighter weighted ball is advantageous when it comes to fatigue. It is common for a power bowler to play more games in series without resting. Chance of injury is also reduced with a lighter ball. However, power bowlers do exert more force in their throws and this can cause blisters on the fingers if the ball is not well-fitting.
The beginning stance is generally the same for both power and professional bowlers. Amateur bowlers can take note of how far back these bowlers stand. This is allow the entire body to participate in bringing control and stability to the throw and release of the ball. Transfer of momentum is essential to throwing at high speeds.
Power bowling as a style attempts to balance routinely high scoring games with the flashiness of high speeds. The choice of ball and throwing style differ from regular competitive play, but power bowling is still bowling. It uses the same scoring system and the same beginning stance. The main difference is the awe on people’s faces as you’re whaling that thing.