Abstract: The essence of the invention resides in the positioning of a micro-switch on a cushion rod or its equivalent which reacts to the impact of a bowled ball against the cushion even when the ball impacts against the cushion very lightly. The light impact urges the closing of contacts in the micro-switch to energize a control circuit which commences the operation of a time delay means via a switch circuit so that a three second time delay is positively initiated before the cycling of the pinsetting machine takes place. The three second time delay occurs through an RC time constant in a electronic circuit and continues uninterrupted even if the bowled ball vibrates against the cushion.