Top 20 PBA Bowlers 2023: #7 - Jesper Svensson

Jesper Svensson demonstrating his 2 handed shovel style. Photo Credit: PBA Tour

To get a nickname like “the Iceman”, you have to be a bad man on the lanes. That is exactly what Jesper Svensson is, one of the most dominant bowlers of this generation, and a guy certain to perform at the highest level every single season.

Jesper Svensson is physically one of the most imposing bowlers on the PBA Tour. He stands 6’4, and has a long wingspan. Despite being so intimidating, he keeps a quiet and composed demeanor when competing with his peers. You never see too dramatic a reaction from Svensson after a bad shot, likely because he knows he is going to rectify it with a string of powerful strikes.

There are many iconic pairings that compete every year at the Roth/Holman Doubles, but Jesper Svensson and Kyle Troup have to be the most fun to watch every year. They came home with the title for the first time at Bayside Bowl in 2017, establishing themselves as crowd favourites at that venue. They obtained their second doubles title in 2020, which was an especially emotional victory following a recent tragedy in the Troup family.

In 2022, the pair of Troup/Svensson had one of their worst finishes at the doubles event, placing 35th. This disappointing placement feels like a precursor for a dominant run for the duo at the 2023 Roth/Holman event, as they look for their third title at what has become their tournament.

Jesper Svensson’s season could be viewed by some as a bit of a disappointment. He *only* ranked 14th in tour point rankings, and didn’t make any major stepladders. While it is true that Svensson’s name was not heard as frequently at televised tour events as we have become accustomed to, he did achieve something most bowlers did not in 2022: winning a title.

The Storm Cup was a 2022 stretch of four events with a total points list and prize fund for the bowler who performed best over these tournaments. The first stop on the Storm Cup loop was David Small’s Best of the Best Tournament. Svensson qualified as the first seed, and won the title match in a head to head against another two-handed urethane loving lefty, Packy Hanrahan. After missing the Players’ Championship and having a difficult US Open, the Best of the Best competition was certainly a great way to start Svensson’s 2022 campaign. 

Jesper Svensson also qualified for the stepladder at the Lubbock Sports Open. In the opening match, he went head to head against Jason Belmonte, losing in an incredibly tight game. At the end of the four Storm Cup matches, Svensson placed third in the rankings, earning him an extra three thousand dollars.

Something that has made Jesper Svensson such a standout on tour is his sheer power. FOX’s Strike-track has been an excellent tool for understanding just how good the professional bowlers on tour are, as it showcases the speed and rev-rates of each shot. Svensson is one of the only bowlers in the modern PBA who exceeds 600rpm consistently, an eye-catching number that is certainly no fluke.

Ranking a player who was 14th in tour points at seven going into the next season may seem a little aggressive, but said player is Jesper Svensson. At age 27, he is already hall of fame eligible, and he looks to continue to solidify his case as being one of the best to ever bowl on the tour. There is no doubt that Svensson will be a major factor on the tour this season, and that we will be ranking him as a top 10 bowler this time next year.

2022 Stats:

Titles: 1 (11 career)

Highest Finish: 1st (David Small’s Best of the Best Tournament)

Tour Points: 12,385

Earnings: $66,900

Average: 217.50