A bowling ball thrower includes a frame positionable adjacent to a bowling lane, a throwing arm pivotably attached to the frame, the throwing arm having a rest position and a pivoted position and including a ball-gripping mechanism for gripping a bowling ball, and a cocking arm pivotably attached to the frame, the cocking arm being selectively couplable to the throwing arm such that the cocking arm is pivotable with the throwing arm. A method for throwing a bowling ball includes holding the bowling ball with a ball thrower having a throwing arm and a cocking arm, and coupling the throwing arm to the cocking arm. The method also includes pivoting the throwing arm to a pivoted position to achieve a velocity, uncoupling the throwing arm from the cocking arm, and releasing the bowling ball such that the bowling ball moves at the velocity.