Do this to find your correct ball weight for you.....

[Hammer]

Kneel down on one knee and with a ball in your hand let your arm go straight with the ball touching the floor. Have your palm face forward. With your fingers in the ball lift the ball off the floor and try to straighten your wrist. If it is hard to straighten your wrist or if you can straighten it and your hand is shaking trying to hold that position for at least 5 to 10 seconds the ball is too heavy for you. This can be a blow to your pride if you find that you cannot use that 16 pound ball you have and you have to go to a 15 pound or even 14 pound ball. Look at it this way, you will have a ball you can control better. There will be less stress on your wrist and fingers. A ball that is too heavy for you can make your wrist break back as you go into your forward swing. And you sure don't want that unless you don't mind losing revs. I use to use 16 pound equipment until I got older(soon to be 67). I use 14 pound balls now. I also use a wrist support because my wrist strength isn't that great. So if you have to get a lighter ball and you will probably enjoy the game more and have better scores.

[Mudpuppy]

You know why I use a 16? Because they don't make a 17.

To build up wrist / arm strength try this: http://powerballs.com/?

[Aslan]

Wait…you want to just lift the ball off the floor with your ball between the hand and the floor? Or are you talking about holding the ball out in front of you with a straight wrist (as if you're carrying a plate of food)?

Because I can hold it at my side with my wrist straight…no problem. But holding it out in front of you one handed?? Nobody would use a ball more than 8lbs.

According to Earl Anthony, "use the highest weight ball you can control."

[e-tank]

Wait…you want to just lift the ball off the floor with your ball between the hand and the floor? Or are you talking about holding the ball out in front of you with a straight wrist (as if you're carrying a plate of food)?

Because I can hold it at my side with my wrist straight…no problem. But holding it out in front of you one handed?? Nobody would use a ball more than 8lbs.

According to Earl Anthony, "use the highest weight ball you can control."

lolwut

[Hampe]

Aslan, he means curling your wrist at a 90 degree angle. Hold the ball normally and let your arm hang freely. Then curl your wrist up.....if you can't hold the ball like that for 5-10 seconds, it's too heavy.

[bowl1820]

Okay here we go again, First kneeling isn't necessary.

The test is from Ron Clifton's article "WHAT WEIGHT BALL? COULD 14 LBS BE YOUR "SWEET WEIGHT"?
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/tip14.htm


Ron Clifton:
"The first thing I check when trying to pick a ball weight is the persons wrist strength. I have them hold the ball down by their side with their wrist relaxed. Then I ask them to cup their wrist forward. They should be able to hold that position for a slow count to 10 or the ball is too heavy."

[bowl1820]

Wait…you want to just lift the ball off the floor with your ball between the hand and the floor? Or are you talking about holding the ball out in front of you with a straight wrist (as if you're carrying a plate of food)?

Because I can hold it at my side with my wrist straight…no problem. But holding it out in front of you one handed?? Nobody would use a ball more than 8lbs."

Hammer is referring the Ron Clifton test I posted above.

But as there is a test similar to "Carrying a plate of food" it's from the bronze coaching manual.

One method is to have your athlete use the balls on the storage racks. The athlete needs to place the palm of the bowling hand facing the ceiling at about waist high. The forearm of the bowling arm is in a position that is 90 degrees from the torso of the body.
When placing a ball in the palm of the hand, look for a ball that will slightly push the hand downward. If the athlete has no problem holding a ball, it is too light. Conversely if the athlete has difficulty maintaining the hand and forearm at the 90 degree position it is too heavy. The ball that seems slightly heavy in most cases will feel fine once the ball has been drilled with the proper fit.

Aslan, he means curling your wrist at a 90 degree angle. Hold the ball normally and let your arm hang freely. Then curl your wrist up.....if you can't hold the ball like that for 5-10 seconds, it's too heavy.

So No holding the ball out in front of you, No 90 degree angle.

Just hold the ball for about 10 sec. in this position. if you can do that your basically good to go.


Remember None of the methods are totally accurate, they just give a person starting out a starting point for ball weight.

[vdubtx]

Because I can hold it at my side with my wrist straight…no problem. But holding it out in front of you one handed?? Nobody would use a ball more than 8lbs.

lolwut

[Hampe]

So No holding the ball out in front of you, No 90 degree angle.

Just hold the ball for about 10 sec. in this position. if you can do that your basically good to go.

Sorry....should have been more specific. When I said hold the ball normally I meant with your fingers in the ball with your arm hanging freely at your side. And yea, I suppose 90 degrees is a bit too much

[Aslan]

Actually, it's sorta difficult with my 15lb ball. I mean, I counted to 5 and my wrist wasn't shaking or anything...but it did feel heavy.

Not that this will deter me from using the 5 16lb balls I have undrilled in my closet...but I now am certainly more worried that 16 might be too heavy. Thanks ALOT HAMMER!! *$&^! I actually have decent size, build, biceps, and forearms as well as larger than average hands. But I have fairly tiny wrists. I think once I get "settled" into my mechanics and what type of ball I desire...I think 15lbs is probably gonna be the weight I'll stick with. If I ever get my next dream ball, the Brunswick Mystic Aura...I actually want to get it at 14lbs just because I want to see if I notice a difference in pin carry/control/etc...