Back into the game, need lighter balls

[Scojoy]

Hi all, haven't bowled regularly (I'm 44) in 20 years and my old 16 lb angle is just too heavy for me, I'm rolling in the high 10mph. Looking at a DV8 marauder , but was thinking about a 14 lb ball. Any idea what kind of speed I'd get on a 14 lb ball if I throw a 16 at 11mph? Is there any optimal speed for a specific ball? Thanks

[Ball99999]

Don't know about speed, I don't think it'll be helped by weight if you are swinging correctly/using gravity. 14lb is good though

[J Anderson]

Hi all, haven't bowled regularly (I'm 44) in 20 years and my old 16 lb angle is just too heavy for me, I'm rolling in the high 10mph. Looking at a DV8 marauder , but was thinking about a 14 lb ball. Any idea what kind of speed I'd get on a 14 lb ball if I throw a 16 at 11mph? Is there any optimal speed for a specific ball? Thanks

The following link is to a Ron Clifton article on correct ball weight. Toward the end he describes how he determines the correct weight for his customers.
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip14.htm

I would guess, given the low ball speed, that you used to be able to muscle the ball at a pretty good clip and now you can't. Don't worry, you don't have to become a gym rat to get that speed back. There are a number of article available on the web on developing a free arm swing that uses gravity to accelerate the ball. You may also have slowed down the pace of your steps. Again there are a number of references for foot work and coordinating your feet and the timing of your swing. Some one else may post a few links for you on these but I'll let you do the rest of your research on your own lest your brain start to atrophy as well.

[Zothen]

You might get maybe 1-2mph at best or you may not see any change depending on your health.

Zothen

[AZBowla]

Something to remember these days also is that today's 14lb ball hits just as hard as the 16lb balls did 10 years ago. Bowling balls have really changed over the last ten years. You'll probably do just fine using a lighter ball with today's technology.

[Scojoy]

Something to remember these days also is that today's 14lb ball hits just as hard as the 16lb balls did 10 years ago. Bowling balls have really changed over the last ten years. You'll probably do just fine using a lighter ball with today's technology.

I've been hearing that about the 14's hitting just as hard. I think that with whatever increase in speed I'd get along with the light years of ball technology and better control I'd have, I'd be much better off with the lighter ball, I might be able to do a 15 and hope to be able to try a 14 and 15 out before I buy.

[billf]

14 pound would be fine but I suggest following John's advice and visiting http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip14.htm to read Ron Clifton's article on selecting ball weight.