Watchly Safety Review

World's First Automatic Strike Bowling Ball

Mark Rober

5:50 · 66.0M views · November 14, 2019

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Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

1Minor Flag

5No Issues

This video is safe and genuinely entertaining for kids of most ages, combining a fun bowling prank with real engineering and physics concepts. Mark Rober walks viewers through the design process with clarity and enthusiasm, making STEM feel accessible and exciting. The only minor note is a brief plug for collaborator James Bruton's YouTube channel, which is a soft promotional mention rather than a hard sell.

Content Breakdown · 6 Categories

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

CrunchLabs is mentioned and promoted, but the host is transparent that he founded the company, making it a disclosed self-promotion rather than hidden advertising. James Bruton's channel and Mark's machine shop are also mentioned openly.

See evidence (3)

“I started a company called CrunchLabs... check out the current promotion where you get 2 FREE boxes”

“Go sub to James' channel here”

“My buddy Mark's machine shop”

Bullying, Cruelty & DiscriminationNot present

The only remotely negative comment is a child playfully saying 'You cheated again Mawk Rova' and a self-deprecating joke by the host ('I suck at bowling'), both of which are clearly lighthearted and not hostile.

See evidence (2)

“You cheated again Mawk Rova (child teasing, clearly playful)”

“I suck at bowling (self-deprecating humor)”

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationNot present

There is a standard subscription call-to-action for James Bruton's channel, but it is framed around genuine appreciation for his work rather than guilt-tripping or emotional coercion.

See evidence (1)

“So if you enjoy seeing awesome stuff like this, you really need to go check out his videos and subscribe to his channel”

Toxic Behavior ModelingNot present

The host uses a trick ball without initially disclosing it to bowling companions, which could be framed as mild deception, but it is presented as a harmless prank among friends and family who quickly find it amusing.

See evidence (1)

“what happens when you take it bowling but neglect to tell the people you're bowling with about your slight advantage”

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsNot present

The video includes a standard subscription request for a collaborator's channel, but it is framed around genuine merit ('if you enjoy seeing awesome stuff like this') rather than guilt-tripping, superstition, or coercive 'true fan' language.

See evidence (1)

“you really need to go check out his videos and subscribe to his channel”

Low-Quality, Extreme & Stunt ContentNot present

While the video has a stunt-adjacent premise (trick bowling ball), it is substantively educational — explaining physics, engineering principles, and mechanical design — rather than pure shock-value or disposable-item destruction.

See evidence (1)

“World's First Automatic Strike Bowling Ball (novelty premise)”

What Parents Need to Know

This is a high-quality, educational video in which Mark Rober builds a gyroscopically steered bowling ball using servos, an Arduino, and an inertial measurement unit. Kids will pick up real concepts in physics (center of gravity, normal force vectors, angles), electronics, and mechanical engineering without it ever feeling like a lesson. The 'prank' element is very mild — he bowls with friends and family without initially revealing his secret advantage, but the reveal is warm and the kids in the video quickly join in the fun. There is one mention directing viewers to subscribe to collaborator James Bruton's channel, which parents should be aware of as a soft channel promotion. Overall, this is exactly the kind of content that can spark a genuine interest in engineering and problem-solving in young viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About

1Why does the bowling ball curve when Mark leans to one side? Can you explain what 'center of gravity' means in your own words?
2Mark traveled to London to work with an expert named James. Why do you think it's important to ask for help from someone who knows more than you?
3Mark wasn't very good at bowling without his invention. How did he feel about that, and what did he do about it? What does that tell you about solving problems?
4If you could invent a gadget to help you get better at a sport or game you find difficult, what would it do and how might it work?

World's First Automatic Strike Bowling Ball

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

You don't need to be good at bowling if you're good at engineering. I made a bowling ball with James Bruton where it will steer left and right depending on how you lean. People lean anyways when the bowl to try and influence the direction so we just capitalized on that. It operates on the same principles of a BB8 ball. Go sub to James' channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/jamesbruton Join #TeamTrees at https://teamtrees.org/ My buddy Mark's machine shop. He is really great to work with and they can do really out of the box projects like this- www.BaumanMachine.Com I started a company called CrunchLabs where we build a toy together and then I teach you all the jucy physics for how it works. So if you want to learn to think like an engineer and have really fun time doing it, check out the current promotion where you get 2 FREE boxes at https://crunchlabs.com You should also go subscribe to the CrunchLabs YouTube channel cause we’ve got some great videos in the pipeline- https://www.youtube.com/crunchlabs Thanks to these folks for providing some of the music in the video: Ponder - https://youtube.com/@Pondermusic Laura Shigihara - @supershigi Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie Blue Wednesday - https://soundcloud.com/bluewednesday Thanks to Carlyle tools for giving my workbench tools a seriously needed upgrade! https://www.carlyletools.com/ MERCH (all proceeds go to NEXT for Autism): They are soft- https://teespring.com/stores/markrober

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

We recommend this video for children aged 7 and up. The engineering concepts are explained clearly enough for curious younger kids to enjoy, while older children and teens will appreciate the deeper technical detail about servos, Arduinos, and physics.

Is there anything inappropriate or unsafe in this video?

No. There is no bad language, violence, or inappropriate content of any kind. The prank element is very gentle — Mark bowls with friends and family without revealing his trick ball, but the mood is playful and everyone ends up laughing and joining in.

Is this video educational?

Yes, it's genuinely educational. The video covers real physics concepts like center of gravity and force vectors, as well as electronics components like Arduino microcontrollers, servo motors, and radio transmitters. It models curiosity, collaboration, and iterative problem-solving in an engaging way.

Does the video contain any advertising or sponsored content?

There is one soft promotional mention where Mark encourages viewers to check out and subscribe to his collaborator James Bruton's YouTube channel. This is disclosed openly and is not a paid advertisement, but parents should be aware their child may be directed to another creator's content.

Is the bowling 'prank' mean-spirited or a bad example for kids?

Not at all. The prank is very mild — Mark bowls a few frames without explaining his advantage, then reveals the secret to laughs and cheers from the group. The friends and family in the video react positively, and the kids quickly get to try it themselves, making it a fun shared moment rather than a humiliating trick.

Could this video inspire kids to try engineering or coding?

Absolutely — that's one of its greatest strengths. Seeing a real-world project built step by step, using accessible tools like Arduino and 3D-printed parts, can be a strong motivator for kids interested in making things. Parents could use this as a springboard to explore beginner robotics kits or coding projects together.