How heavy of a ball do you use?

[SPS]

In 9 pin bowling I usually use a 12 pound ball, but I find it hard to swing sometimes. If I am going for a spare I will always use a 14-15 pound ball because it follows a more direct path then using a lighter ball I find. What kind of weight do you use?

[Ticker]

I actually usually use a 16 pound ball. It keeps the momentum going and gives it more ball speed after the initial start up ;). I think the more weight to it actually helps you hit more pins and get a strike ;)

[winzeses3]

i use a 14 pound ball. its supposed to be 10% of your body weight so i should be useing a 13 which would be so nice. but all mine are 14 it gets so tiring after even 10 games i just wish i could switch to 13 pound ones i think it'd give me more control and bowl better. also too big puts strain on you and your body and could leave you prone to injury.

[kev3inp]

Personally, I use 16. As does Missy Belinder, who I'd be very surprised if she was 160 lbs. If the fit is correct, and the armswing truly generated by gravity rather than muscle, why would it be so tiring? And where does one bowl 9 pin?

[onefrombills]

I use 15.....15 is the new 16

[liowkc]

I usually use the 16 pound balls, but sometimes when I feel a strain in my shoulders or muscles, I will drop 1or 2 pounds. As balls ranges from 6 to 16 pound in 1-pound increment, it is always a good idea to drop 1 lb if you are feeling tired or strained.

[Duke Harding]

I've dropped from 15 to 14 to 13#...
Bicep tendon tear, and some rotator cuff damage.

I still carry fairly well...Haven't shot an honor score with the lighter weight yet.

I find a difference in 13# light to 13# medium, in carry.
I now try to get 13-8, 13-10#, before drilling.
Hopefully, I will be able to get back up to 15#, or at least 14#.

At least,I can still bowl, without pain...
I'd have a hard time not bowling.

[winzeses3]

do heavier weights carry better?

[onefrombills]

do heavier weights carry better?

well it depends on what weights your talking about but 15 hits harder than a 16

[kev3inp]

well it depends on what weights your talking about but 15 hits harder than a 16

Define harder. If the ball speed is the same simple physics says that a heavier ball will hit the pins with more force, therefore your statement doesn't ring true. Now if you're throwing the 15 faster, I suppose there would be a rate of speed that would exceed that force amount, but there go the apples and oranges comparison again. How many variables are we changing? I'll bet an 11 pound ball in the hand of Robert Smith would hit harder than any 15 or 16 lb ball either of us could throw.

[onefrombills]

What I meant is the weight block size/weight is the same in a 15 & 16 pound ball so a 16 pound ball has a pound more weight. That will make a 15 pounder w/ a pound less weight and the same size/weight weight block hit "harder"

[Duke Harding]

Define harder. If the ball speed is the same simple physics says that a heavier ball will hit the pins with more force, therefore your statement doesn't ring true. Now if you're throwing the 15 faster, I suppose there would be a rate of speed that would exceed that force amount, but there go the apples and oranges comparison again. How many variables are we changing? I'll bet an 11 pound ball in the hand of Robert Smith would hit harder than any 15 or 16 lb ball either of us could throw.

Actually, it evens out...I find that 13# or 14# will carry heavy hits, better, as there is more deflection....Instead of leaving a 4 pin, you trip it....But light hits, can result in 4-5s.
I think you should roll the weight you can handle...It's hard not to want to overhit lighter balls...since they feel so light.
I guess it all depends upon the bowler.:D

[kev3inp]

What I meant is the weight block size/weight is the same in a 15 & 16 pound ball so a 16 pound ball has a pound more weight. That will make a 15 pounder w/ a pound less weight and the same size/weight weight block hit "harder"

If you say so, though I think you're confusing carry with "harder." Doesn't force equal mass times velocity?

[NoTapNorm]

Been using 16 for years, started using Track "the rising" about 2 months ago in a 15. I've only had 2 sub-200 games since.

[Joachim]

i have been using 15 for a couple of years, it has served me well

[Sylar1255]

I personally throw a Columbia 300 Cuda/c Pearl. It weights 15 pounds and when it hits pocket, it gets great reaction.

i also throw a Planet X ball that weights 14 pounds for spares.

[jaws1945]

I switched to 15# about 5 years ago. It helped my ball speed without extra effort.

[Iceman]

Isn't there a spec for your weight of body to determine proper weight of ball? I think I heard this tossed around, but never looked into it. I feel comfortable with 14 and 15, but I do get more hitting power with 15 like mentioned above. It doesn't take more effort to get speed.

[The Bowling Guru]

I started out bowling with 15 lb. equipment, and am still using 15lbs. to this day. I feel that 15 lbs. is a much more universal weight being used now-a-days.

[ArtVandelay]

i use a 14 pound ball. its supposed to be 10% of your body weight.....

Oh crap. So THAT'S been my problem all this time.

Anyone know where I can find a 26 pound bowling ball? I couldn't find one on amazon....

[TJSieling]

Can they compact 26 lbs into a bowling ball? (sorry, not to offend, it was a serious question)

I use a 14 pound Ebonite, but that's because I didn't have the money for anything fancy like the Orange Crush, Tornado, Black Widow, Hammer, etc. etc.

But if it's supposed to be 10% then I need to find a 17 pound ball...

[The Bowling Guru]

Bowling balls only come in weights up to 16 lbs.

The rule of thumb is that a ball is light enough if you can pick it up and swing it freely, but heavy enough that will not allow you to manhandle it, or be able to lose control during your swing. Basically the ball's weight should be heavy enough to keep your swing in line, rather than having it veer to the left or right on a consistent basis.

[Brunswick Finatic]

I use 15's i found that 1 pound makes a big diffrence.i used to use 16 but why kill my self when i dont have to lol.Plus i can get more speed under it which i definetly need..:cool:

[TJSieling]

I use 15's i found that 1 pound makes a big diffrence.i used to use 16 but why kill my self when i dont have to lol.Plus i can get more speed under it which i definetly need..:cool:

Speed is always helpful when you're trying for that first throw of the frame, but so is a heavy enough ball to get through all the pins.

I stuck with a 14 because it was comfortable, I got the spin I wanted, and I could really powerhouse it down the lane.

[JerseyJim]

Except for the year where I was recovering from a broken middle finger, I've always used 16lb equipment. I have a tendency to throw lighter balls a bit too hard. Then again, that was during the time that polyester balls ruled. I haven't tried going lighter with the reactive equipment yet.

[ArtVandelay]

Can they compact 26 lbs into a bowling ball? (sorry, not to offend, it was a serious question)

I use a 14 pound Ebonite, but that's because I didn't have the money for anything fancy like the Orange Crush, Tornado, Black Widow, Hammer, etc. etc.

But if it's supposed to be 10% then I need to find a 17 pound ball...

Oh, I was just making a joke about my weight. hahahaha. I wouldn't be surprised of someone out there, somewhere, has made a ball that weighs more than 16 pounds, but there's no way it's USBC certified. The heaviest legal ball allowed is 16 pounds.

[xXFuzzysDaughterXx]

I use a 13 pound ball and probably about to go up one. 13 is about 10% of my weight so it's a pretty good fit and i think i have good control over it :)

[ThongPrincess]

I used 16# for about 5-6 years and in '03 went back down to 15#. My coach at the time suggested going to 15# saying it would put less stress on the body over time. I was bowling a PBA ProAM at the Castaways and with our $125 entry fee we got a Storm Football and PDW so I decided to order them in 15#.

My only concern was I went to 16# because I had too much speed and went right through the break point. I found I was able to control the speed and have used 15# ever since.

[Jord_84]

I use 15.....15 is the new 16

agreed, I started using 15 lbs 10 years ago...going heavier is pointless, and going lighter just gives so much less pin action.

[onefrombills]

well it says 15 but sometimes it hits like a 20 pounder and other days ....well lets not go there ;)

[11 in a row]

for me i,ll use a 15lb ball ..