Alter Ball Starting Height - One of the simplest ways to adjust ball speed, is to alter the height of the starting position of the bowling ball. You may have heard raising the ball will increase speed, while lowering the ball will decrase speed. However, studies and experience are showing this is opposite of what really works. If you want to increase ball speed, try lowering the bowling ball a few inches and move back on the approach one step. Vice versa, if you want to decrease ball speed, try raising the bowling ball a few inches and moving up one step on the approach. The theory of raising the ball to increase speed, and lowering the ball to decrease speed, is related to a free armswing. If gravity did all the work, starting the ball higher would create a higher backswing and create more speed, and vice versa for decreasing the speed. The problem is, a completely free armswing is rare, and the change in speed from gravity is so slight, a positive impact is unlikely.

Instead, by lowering the ball to increase speed, your natural timing will come into play. By starting the ball lower, your feet will automatically speed up to keep in time. This faster tempo will generate more ball speed at release. When raising the ball, your footwork will be slower to keep you in time, thus your ball speed will go down.

Increase or Decrease Your Tempo - Another item to alter your ball speed is to simply try and increase or decrease your approach tempo. Increasing your tempo will create more ball speed, while decreasing your tempo will create a slower ball. You can test your tempo changes by using a stop watch from the beginning of your approach to your release.