Spare ball -- same weight or lighter?

[LyalC52]

TL;DR version:
For those of you who do use plastic or urethane spare balls; is your ball the same weight as your other equipment, or do you go with something lighter?

The long version:
My first ball ever was a 15 pound Columbia White Dot, full grip drill. My first two resin balls were 15 pound balls too, then I moved up to 16 pound equipment (all resin). Somewhere along the line, I took the White Dot in to a Pro Shop and had it plugged and re-drilled for a spare ball. I was kinda surprised when I put it on a scale and found it was 14 pounds 14 ounces. All my resin balls were within 2 ounces of the 16 pound max.

I always drug that White Dot along, but it was never a dedicated spare ball. I only used it on blown out lanes or on heavy lanes where I would have grabbed a different ball for spares anyway. And often times on heavy lanes I threw one of my polished resin balls instead.

What I did like about it being light, was I could throw it much faster. I didn't muscle it faster, just faster approach and a little higher back swing.
I often though about getting a 16 pound spare ball, but ever time I went to buy one, there was always a resin ball that talked me out of it haha.

All the above was back in the 90's. Flash forward to this year. I picked up a Storm HyRoad back in February, and just ordered a Pyramid Dark Path Hybrid. Both I'm comfortable throwing at spares with. As I build my arsenal, I think I will add a plastic ball. I'm not sure if I should get a 16 pound ball or something lighter.

When I throw straight at spares I do throw the ball faster in most cases. So I'm waffling back and forth on the weight.

Would like to hear about what you throw and why you do it that way.

[vdubtx]

I wouldn't vary weight of any of your bowling balls. Ideally they should be the same. Can really mess with timing going either direction.

[Aslan]

All the same weight for timing reasons.

I also don't prescribe to the theory that you have to throw harder/faster at spares. The pros generally tend to do that...and they would have more reason to do so given their releases and rpms are going to be significant and could affect the spare ball trajectory at least slightly. But I see too many people miss spares because they are 'trying' to fire the ball at the corner pins like the pros do. The whole point of using plastic/urethane for corner spares is that it'll go straight regardless of your release. You shouldn't (at least at the amateur level) NEED to "fire" it to keep it going straight. IMO.

[bowl1820]

You should use the same weight in all your balls for the reasons stated already.

Also use the same grip in all balls, don't mix conventional and fingertip grips.

[Mike White]

Using different weights doesn't effect timing, it effects balance.

Length of the pendulum determines the swing rate, not the weight.

[Aslan]

Using different weights doesn't effect timing, it effects balance.

Length of the pendulum determines the swing rate, not the weight.

Not to get into a nerd debate about physics...but the weight absolutely affects the speed of the ball as it goes up AND as it goes down due to the mass of the ball and effect of gravity. So a ball pushed out...dropped...if there is no muscling (which is rare)...will go back to a point limited by mass/gravity/pendulum (arm) length. It will then accelerate down using those same principles.

In a truly effortless system...the timing issue will be minimized because the lighter ball and heavier ball will reach about the same point...because the mass helps it in the downswing then limits it in the upswing. But despite everyone yelping about how muscling is bad and the swing should be effortless...I've seen virtually NOBODY with an effortless swing...at any level of bowling. So the risk you run with a lighter ball is...the ball 'should' reach a higher point in the backswing...then be later to get to the line...just slightly if it's an effortless swing. But instead...the person will likely (if they're used to 16 or mixing weights) abbreviate the backswing or try to muscle it down to get it to match their footwork. And because it feels lighter than the 16lb they just threw...they'll likely have the ball at the release point too early.

It's not impossible. I used to mix 15 and 16. But I'd say it'd take me about 3 frames to get the timing back into sync with the different weight.

[Mike White]

Not to get into a nerd debate about physics...but the weight absolutely affects the speed of the ball as it goes up AND as it goes down due to the mass of the ball and effect of gravity.

You need to refresh your nerdism when it comes to physics.

Take two balls, 16 lb, and 12 lb. Push them both out to the same position, and let them swing freely.

They will stay in sync with each other.

If one of the pivot points is moved relative to the other, they can get out of sync.

So like I said, weight effects balance (the ability to keep the pivot point consistent) not the speed of the ball.


It's the same concept as dropping a 16 lb ball, and a 12 lb ball off a building.

Both hit the ground at the same time.

[RobLV1]

Physics not withstanding, from my own observations of bowlers who try to use balls of different weights, it does affect timing. I don't pretend to know why, and I can't prove it with any math, but I have seen it, over and over again.

[LyalC52]

thanks for the replies
its great to here others views

since I throw my resin balls at spares, I've developed a second timing for spares. When I had a plastic ball, I threw it using my resin ball spare timing, open straight wrist, with a quicker approach pace.
Even with a 14 year layoff, it all came back, and I'm firing at spares with my HyRoad with good success. For the upcoming summer leagues I'm confident I'm ok not having a plastic spare ball. But my goal is to get back on the local ABT, and bowl other tourneys by the end of the year. And for those I do see a definite need for plastic.

[Aslan]

You need to refresh your nerdism when it comes to physics.

Take two balls, 16 lb, and 12 lb. Push them both out to the same position, and let them swing freely.

They will stay in sync with each other.

It's the same concept as dropping a 16 lb ball, and a 12 lb ball off a building.

Both hit the ground at the same time.

Thats actually true. It doesn't make sense...but you're essentially comparing 2 free falling objects...even though they aren't totally free falling and assuming marginal wind resistance.

Physics aside...the bio-mechanics would be the true problem. You can't be holding the ball in a swing and say it's "free falling" not to mention NOBODY has a free falling swing. If you TRY to have a free falling swing...by definition you won't. And as soon as that millisecond occurs...where you ever so lightly grip, hold, hesitate, flex, move, etc....it's no longer a free falling object.

But...none of that matters. Like Rob said...and I agree having actually tried it for the 1st part of a season...it isn't easy to switch weights. Some people won't even have varying grips. Others go to the extreme to make sure all their balls have slugs and the exact same inserts so the feel is identical. And I'm not "that" picky...but recently the differences between one grip and another HAVE given me some reason to re-think that.

Simpler, less relevant experiment/question:

Have you ever went to pick up your ball off the rack and you grabbed the wrong one? Ever grab one thats way lighter....like a lady is using it and you picked it up by mistake? Ya know...that weird feeling where it kinda startles you because the ball isn't the weight you expected?

THATs the true problem. Our muscles and nervous system have a system of responding to things like that. If you KNEW...the ball you were picking up was lighter....not such an odd feeling. Bowlers often talk about "muscle memory"...same general concept. Your body gets used to what the ball feels like and it's weight and how heavy it is to pick up and how far it goes back and how fast it comes down...and if you do it right (unlike me)...thats all on auto pilot. You don't think about it; it just happens. Until you change the weight.

My problem going to a lighter ball was my backswing. Since the ball was lighter...again, not a free-fall scenario...I'd end up with the ball way above my head in my backswing. After 3-4 frames it'd level off...but I can't take 3-4 frames off getting used to a weight change. I only strike 1 out of 4 frames...what if one of those 3-4 frames was supposed to be my strike? That would be a bummer.

[RobLV1]

thanks for the replies
its great to here others views

since I throw my resin balls at spares, I've developed a second timing for spares. When I had a plastic ball, I threw it using my resin ball spare timing, open straight wrist, with a quicker approach pace.
Even with a 14 year layoff, it all came back, and I'm firing at spares with my HyRoad with good success. For the upcoming summer leagues I'm confident I'm ok not having a plastic spare ball. But my goal is to get back on the local ABT, and bowl other tourneys by the end of the year. And for those I do see a definite need for plastic.

99.99% of the top bowlers in the world use plastic spare balls. They do it for a reason, and it's not because they just want to lug around another bowling ball. Bowling on a house shot, with its built in friction on the outside makes a spare ball just as important as it is on a tournament shot.

[SRB57]

I use the same weight plastic spare ball. I used to use the same ball for spares but is much easier with plastic and don't need to speed the ball up on corner spares. I hit the ball pretty hard and had to flatten my wrist out on spares and now with the plastic spare ball don't need to. I would keep the same weight ball for spares. Steve

[foreverincamo]

I never had an issue switching from 16 to 15 pounds. But going from 16 to 14 pounds wouldn't be a good idea, timing wise. Using a plastic ball or urethane of the same weight will work as a spare ball.

[jab5325]

I tried using my old Xxcel after switching to a 15 pound Bad Intentions and couldn't do it. Ended up giving away the Xxcel to a friend since it was going to be a paperweight.

[Amyers]

There is no point in adding additional variables to your game use the same weight equipment for everything. Some people are more aware of differences than others but in my opinion even if you think it doesn't effect you it probably does.