Buying my first ball

[Hammer]

I am 5'6" tall and weigh 152lbs. I have a 15lb and 14lb ball. The 14lb seems to be easier to control as far as keeping the wrist straight and the hand behind the ball through the release. For dry lanes I have a 14lb Hammer Blue Hammer urethane ball with a fingertip grip. I think a 14lb ball for you would be a good fit. If you get a ball too heavy for you you will get turned off and find it hard to get better or as good as you want to get.

[ArtVandelay]

If you haven't already: Buy shoes first!!! hahahahahaha. The shoes are what costs you money. House balls are free. Take your time, do some research, and make your purchase when you're comfortable! If i had it to do over again, I would have gone to my pro shop to talk to someone about my first ball. I look back at my very first ball, and I remember getting tired head just looking online at the options. I had an idea in my head that buying from a proshop is a total rip off, but places like Sports Authority and Academy might offer two balls to choose from if I was lucky. So I got online, and the choices and options and everything else completely overwhelmed me until I just picked one.

Now I understand you're paying for the expertise. I wish I had done that for my first ball. But I'm sure the people on here are making great suggestions. I consider myself an okay bowler, but bowling balls STILL give me tired head, to this day...

The rough percentage to use is 10% of your body weight. So Thumbhole you probably want to try 14lbs, which is probably the most used weight by bowlers these days.

Any idea where I can find a 22 pound ball? hahaha. I better diet some more...

[billf]

After paying for the ball, drilling, grips and a thumb slug the internet and pro shop are usually within $10 of each other. This comes from many threads on various forums and several phone calls to shops across the country.

[scottymoney]

Art your 22lb ball is next to my 27lb ball!

The 10% is all just a guideline for those "small" people, and mostly followed for kids and seniors. I would venture to guess most guys over 160lbs, don't use 16lb balls. Hell I use them just because I am still throwing 18mph with a 16lbs. ball. I have a 15lb ball i retired. I will take it with me next time I practice and see what speed I throw it at.

[ThumbHole]

Thanks guys, that's heavier than I thought. I went bowling last night and I use the 10lb house balls cause all the heavier ones the hole span is too big for my hand. They feel a lot heavier, though as I've been reading that was probably cause I couldn't really grip them.

I'm on the south coast of England and there are a few pro shops a short train ride away, annoyingly they aren't all open on the same day to check them out on one day with a single ticket. Will get along to one of them at some point.

I see some of them also sell second hand balls plugged and ready for drilling. I guess the selection isn't going to be as great but could be a chance to get a bargain for a first ball until I know more about what I'd like going forward?

[scottymoney]

a 2nd hand ball could be a good investment for you. As it will allow you to get into a performance ball but at a lower price to see what you would like to do in the future. I would say go 14 and see how it feels, then for your next brand new ball you can gauge weight form there.

[HughScot]

I was in your postion a couple of years ago and based on that I'd seek out a pro shop and buy a relatively inexpensive ball like Hammer's Nail or Ebonite's Cyclone and let the pro shop do the drilling. So much will change for you over the next few months that you'll probably be ready for a totally new ball based on how good you want to get, etc. I'd go with a 14 lb ball based on your weight/height. A properly fitted ball will feel lighter than any house ball. As to hook or straight I'd go with hook as you have a far better chance to strike and it really feels better. One other thing.....get fingertip inserts. I would never buy a ball off the internet, no way it will be properly drilled. I pay the same for balls from my pro as I can get it for off the internet. Go luck and don't get into too many details as this point. Have fun.

[ThumbHole]

If you haven't already: Buy shoes first!!! hahahahahaha. The shoes are what costs you money. House balls are free.

Really?

I can't see as great as an improvement from having my own shoes and using a house ball compared to using the house shoes and my own ball?

[scottymoney]

Thumbhole the shoes are totally a financial investment, plus comfort. Add up shoe rental each time you go bowling. Guessing it is about $2 each time you go. A pair of bowling shoes will cost you $30-$40 and will last a few years. When you do the math it is a good investment. Plus wearing your own bowling shoes is so much more comfortable!

[ThumbHole]

Maybe it is different in the US, everywhere I've gone bowling here in the UK the shoe hire is included in the standard price. There is one chain that lets you wear your own (non bowling) shoes (provided they are flat bottomed) but there is no discount for doing do.