Should I use a heavier ball?

[snugbucco]

Sup all? just got done with my first night of league play :) and it was AWESOME! I had a great time and met some really nice people. Met this older gentlemen who knew a lot about bowling it seemed. The man and i were talking through the first two games and before third game he asked, "how big of a ball i was using?" because my ball was getting some bad bounces and not driving through the pins I replied, "14 pounds". So he went out to the parking lot and retrieved a 16 pound black widow venom, he said, "use this" so i did and after my first roll i was shocked on how the pins "blew up" felt like i drove an F-350 over em, my first 5 rolls in fact were strikes, i was shocked seeing how the ball wasn't spanned to my hand and it didn't have fingertips in it.... I thought revs drive the ball through the pins or is 16 pounds so much mass it can lack the revs to get to the back in ?

I'm asking all this because I want to get a new ball. But cant decide on what weight of ball I want to get. Like I said earlier, im using a 14 pound at the moment (quantum hook). I'm really thinking of a 15 pound frantic for my next ball... should I man up and get a 16 pounder? My type of play is tweener stroker .. any opinions ??

[JaMau24]

Do what you're comfortable with. If you can throw a 16 pound ball, and be comfortable with it, then yes, get a 16. Yes, it will plow through pins better. Since I've gone to a 16 pound DV8 Too Reckless, I've shot two 300's with it a 299 and 296 in just a couple months. I love the added punch the 16 gives me.

[edpup316]

What weight you use is really up to you. When i was a junior, from 14-17, I used a 16 lb ball threw it around 15 mph. I switched back to a 15 lb ball, after doing a lot of learning, because i throw it two mph faster with the same amount of effort, it was easier to adjust speeds if needed specifically faster on those drier conditions and it was easier to keep my desired wrist position. If I remember correctly throwing a 15lb ball a little faster, like a 1mph or less, then a 16lb ball there isn't much benefit(someone correct me if im wrong please). My suggestion would be if you can throw the 16 around the same speed, with the same amount of effort and most importantly if its comfortable then ya go for the 16lb.

[snugbucco]

cool. sounds good, I think I'm gonna step out to a 15 pounder for some more pin movement. I woke up this morning and my fingers are telling me 16 is a little too much haha. They are just a little sore today.

[The German Shepherd]

cool. sounds good, I think I'm gonna step out to a 15 pounder for some more pin movement. I woke up this morning and my fingers are telling me 16 is a little too much haha. They are just a little sore today.

I had used a 16 since I was 13 years old. As a matter of fact, when I got older and stronger, I was wishing for an 18 pound ball - but that was a couple of bowling tech generations ago. Now I am throwing reactive resin balls and find no need to throw 16. The new 15 pound reactive resin balls hit harder than any 16 pound ball from back in the 70s and 80s. When I began bowling again last year, someone gave me a used 16lb Hi-Road. I loved that ball - so much that I decided to take the leap and buy a new reactive and highly aggressive ball. My local pro suggested I try a 15 as it would help increase my ball speed and rev count. I took his advice and I want you to know I will never turn back. 15lb for me....

Jay

[snugbucco]

I had used a 16 since I was 13 years old. As a matter of fact, when I got older and stronger, I was wishing for an 18 pound ball - but that was a couple of bowling tech generations ago. Now I am throwing reactive resin balls and find no need to throw 16. The new 15 pound reactive resin balls hot harder than any 16 pound ball from back in the 70s and 80s. When I began bowling again last year, Someone gave me a used 16lb Hi-Road. I loved that ball - so much that I decided to take the leap and buy a new reactive and highly aggressive ball. My local pro suggested I thry a 15 s it would help increase my ball speed and rev count. I took his advice and I want you to know I will never turn back. 15lb for me....

Jay


Cool thanks a lot Jay. I will be pulling the trigger on the 15 pound bowling ball. If i cant get a hold of it ( which i doubt will happen) Ill just whip out my #14 quantum ball that should be in a museum somewhere lol. My pro shop guy smiles when he sees this quantum hook, I think it takes him back in time he always comments, "that's a good ball" lol. and it most definitely is. :)

[billf]

The 15lbs sounds like a good decision for you especially seeing as your fingers are sore with the 16lbs (although it wasn't drilled for your hand).

[Greenday]

I just did the math on it. A ball weighing 16lbs at 15mph hits with 163N (Newtons, which are standard unit of measurement for energy). A ball that weighs 15lbs at 16.5mph (my estimation of a fair speed increase that's realistic) hits with 185N.

So really, it's a mix of the two, but the drop in speed hurts a lot more than the the gain in weight.