Ball Weights; 15lb vs. 16lb vs. 14lb

[Aslan]

GGravy-

Thats sort of the point that was being made. Obviously you can get different advantages depending on what the weight is. Going from a 16lb to a 15lb may lose momentum and pin carry, but increase revolutions and deflection. Just as an example.

In the old days, they said to throw the heaviest bowl you could handle…most every pro threw a 16lb ball. But as the game became more hook and rev dominant..bowlers seem to have trended towards 15lbs…most likely because you can get more revs with it with only a minimal loss in momentum/pin carry. There may even be a pro using 14lb equipment. I bowled with a male bowler that used 14lb because he bowled thumbless and relied on a high amount of revolutions.

[RobLV1]

I can't think of one good reason to throw a 16 lb. modern bowling ball, but I can think of many reasons why you shouldn't. At the top of the list is the fact that proshops don't stock 16 lb. balls because noone uses them. Personally, when I decide to buy a new ball, I WANT IT NOW! If you don't mind waiting, and you choose to ignore the fact that a great, great majority of the world's top pros throw 15 lb. balls, then stick with 16. Whatever you decide, DON'T SWITCH BETWEEN WEIGHTS. This is probably the only thing that virtually every coach and ball driller agrees on.

[Aslan]

Well…ONE good thing about 16lb balls is you can usually get them at a discounted price since the 15lbers sell quickly and the 16lbers go on clearance.

And….because Earl Anthony told me too…

But you're right about switching weights. Muscle memory…timing…all negatively affected by switching weights. Fortunately for me;

1) I don't usually switch balls on league night. Playing on wood lanes almost exclusively right now and not using a "spare ball", I tend to just throw a 15lb ball for every shot.

Now…on synthetic lanes…if it's a rare time I find myself playing on synthetics…then my 15lb ball becomes my spare ball (I call it "back-up ball" because I only use it on a few spare leaves and for most splits) and I have to deal with those "issues".

2) The good news is…in 30-130 games I plan to retire the 15lb ball and will be throwing ONLY 16lb equipment for the foreseeable future.

I "personally" like throwing 16lb because it keeps me from "over-throwing" it…which has been a big problem for me early on. The heavier ball keeps my back swing lower and my release closer to the lane (less loft). But…thats just me. I'm also a lower rev (275-300rpm) player…most people are not. So I think, like the pro circuit generally throwing 15lb, most modern bowlers would prefer 13-15lb over 16lb.

And like I said, I totally agree that a bowler should only throw one weight. One pound doesn't seem like much…but it can really throw your timing off.

[YODA]

With today's balls with their cores and the many ways to drill them I think weight doesn't play nowhere near a factor as much as it possibly use to. I personally throw a 15 pound balls, I think I have one 16 pound ball but I rarely ever use it. Their are also factors that come into play with your throw, the balls arch, revs etc... Today advanced balls have made the impact of weight not to matter as much as technique which I think is a good thing

[Mudpuppy]

This toipc has bounced in and out of various threads so I thought I'd start a new one for discussion.

The old addage (if thats an actual word) was that you should throw the heaviest ball you can comfortably handle (per Earl Anthony, the greatest bowler that ever lived). As one of users (either e-tank, mudpuppy, or Xmax) said, "I throw a 16lb because they don't make a 17lb." In a Bill Spigner article from April 1985 Bowling Digest, Bill mentioned that there were only a few pro bowlers using 15lb balls (Soutar, Hutchinson, Aulby) and only 1 that used a 14lb ball (Dave Davis). He accredited the move to heavier balls in part to the increase in ABC pin weight that occurred around that time.

However, it's been a trend for some time towards 15lb bowling balls, especially for the typical house bowler. I'd be willing to bet that the most popular weight being sold internationally right now...is 15lb and articles on bowlingball.com confirm this assumption. Most pro shop owners recommend 15lb.

And now, more recently, I've heard rumblings of a trend towards 14lb balls. It used to be that you wanted a 16lb ball for more pin carry and less deflection. Some are now saying that you might be better off having more deflection. Most discussion on this is just community banter, but there have been limited articles on the trend toward 14lbs (or lighter). According to what I've read, bowling ball technology has mad it easier to carry more pins with a lower weight...and since many players are tending towards high rev/cranker styles...it may be harder to get those revs with heavier equipment. I don't know that the pros are throwing now, but I've heard many have moved to 15lb and even 14lb.

Now; me personally. I started out throwing a 14lb ball...and I actually noticed that it did deflect a little too much. HOWEVER...it's important to note it was a URETHANE ball. Would a reactive resin 14lb have carried more and deflected less?? Probably. I then went to a 15lb ball...and noticed significantly more carry although it was noticeably harder to control than the 14lber. Recently I've moved up to 16lbs and after one series, it seems like the lack of control moving from 15-16 is minimal...but the pin carry is improved. I got a couple strikes I had no business getting. But...the jury is still out as I get more experience with the 16lber.

Pin carry is a big part of my game. Most people that watch me bowl comment on how "when his ball hits the pins, they explode". Well, I'm throwing very hard/fast...a 15lb ball...thats what happens. Now with the move to 16lb...I may have to slow it down a little...not on purpose...but purely because I simply can't throw it as hard/fast at that increased weight. Just getting me to slow the ball down may actually help my scores.

For example, yesterday I was bowling very well with both the 15lb Frantic and the 16lb Rhythm...but with the Frantic I tended to leave (more than 3 times in a series) the 1-2-4-7-10. The ball would go too fast, too high...and just barrel through the middle of the right side. When I switched to the 16lb Rhythm...not only was the ball speed slower and the ball more able to hook (higher overall hooking ball) just due to it's own characteristics...but even when I hit high...more pins fell down. So I was left with less 1-2-4-7-10 (I think I had one) and more makeable spares like single 7-pin, single 10-pin, 6-10, 1-2-5.

Yes it was me that said because they don't make a 17.

Speed kills Aslan - you should slow down a bit no matter what lb ball you throw. I know it makes you a chick magnet flexing your muscles throwing a 20mph ball but really no one is impressed. They just think you are compensating for something else and then confirm it when they see your 85 chevy truck on 40" tires in the parking lot.

[Aslan]

Today advanced balls have made the impact of weight not to matter as much as technique which I think is a good thing

I'd argue today's balls have emphasized one technique (cranking) over another technique (accuracy). 16lb used to be more desired because you had a slim margin for error when entering the pocket. Now balls are revving so fast that they carry alot of energy with them down the lane and come in more of a side angle than in the past.

I'd say the old way emphasized technique and accuracy...because the balls were relatively the same. Nowadays the ball is doing a lot more of the work and it's surface and core are determining much more than what balls used to determine.

So....I think for tradtional/stroker style bowlers...the old addage holds true...that you throw the heaviest ball you can control. But for modern/cranker bowlers...I think you go with a 13-15lb ball that you can impart a great deal of revolutions on. I think weight used to be more of a factor in the momentum and eventual force and pin carry than it is now. Now (modern bowling) it's the energy from the revs that is a great contributor to eventual speed/momentum/force and eventual pin carry.

Like the older lady in my friday league. She throws a really light ball...traditional bowling style...HORRIBLE pin carry. She doesn't have the physical ability to impart more revs on the ball...and her ball is too light to help with pin carry. Because of her advanced age (about 70), she's kinda stuck because she can't "rev it up" but also can't throw a heavier ball. She has to be VERY precise when she hits the pocket....because she's getting NO help.

I used to throw a 14lb ball for the longest time. And WOW did I notice a difference going up 1lb. I mean, what used to cause my ball to sort of deflect to the side...suddenly those pins were getting mowed down and a LOT more pin action. I haven't noticed an increase as much going from 15lb to 16lb. BUT...if I was a high rev player (rev dominant)...I'd NEVER want to throw a 16lb ball. Too much effort to rev it up...and it's going to have extra momentum into the break point due to it's weight...so it won't make the turn I want it to...partially because of it's weight..partially because of aforementioned rev issue.

So...cliff notes version: I think 16lb sales are down because there are more rev dominant players than there used to be. I think the "modern" approach fits a 14lb ball more than a 16lb ball.

[Aslan]

Yes it was me that said because they don't make a 17.

Speed kills Aslan - you should slow down a bit no matter what lb ball you throw. I know it makes you a chick magnet flexing your muscles throwing a 20mph ball but really no one is impressed. They just think you are compensating for something else and then confirm it when they see your 85 chevy truck on 40" tires in the parking lot.

I've slowed down a LOT.

Of matter of fact....theres a new bowler in my league...and this guy could be the poster child for "speed dominant". But he's a HORRIBLE bowler. He fires that think like he's trying to set a land speed record....and usually misses signifcantly. Sometimes he'll catch the headpin and the pin action will get him a strike...but I have to admit I've been SO tempted to take him aside and say, "Okay...seriously...you need to stop doing that." I mean, this kid is going to need should surgery by the end of next season. And he "thinks" he looks cool...you can tell after he throws...he "thinks" everyone is watching and thinking "wow! He can throw so hard!" But they're not. The experienced bowlers aren't thinking ANYTHING about it because he's such a minor, minor threat to score more than 130...that nobody cares.

Never owned a Chevy. The only GM IO ever owned was a 1987 Fiero GT. Owned a Volkswagon. Drove a Geo for awhile (which i guess was also GM). Then I owned a couple Fords. Now a Chrysler. So...no Chevys. Sorry.

[Mudpuppy]

I've slowed down a LOT.

Of matter of fact....theres a new bowler in my league...and this guy could be the poster child for "speed dominant". But he's a HORRIBLE bowler. He fires that think like he's trying to set a land speed record....and usually misses signifcantly. Sometimes he'll catch the headpin and the pin action will get him a strike...but I have to admit I've been SO tempted to take him aside and say, "Okay...seriously...you need to stop doing that." I mean, this kid is going to need should surgery by the end of next season. And he "thinks" he looks cool...you can tell after he throws...he "thinks" everyone is watching and thinking "wow! He can throw so hard!" But they're not. The experienced bowlers aren't thinking ANYTHING about it because he's such a minor, minor threat to score more than 130...that nobody cares.

Never owned a Chevy. The only GM IO ever owned was a 1987 Fiero GT. Owned a Volkswagon. Drove a Geo for awhile (which i guess was also GM). Then I owned a couple Fords. Now a Chrysler. So...no Chevys. Sorry.

I saw your recent scores. Definitely shows you have slowed down. You have to go slow to go fast. No one really cares who can throw the ball the fastest - at least no one relevant. And it's not a fireworks show - it's bowling. The score speaks higher than 1 or 2 fantastic strikes where the pins blow up.

And it's ok we won't tell anyone about your jacked up pickup truck. Although would be a big selling point with some of the women Iceman has been finding for you.

[Aslan]

And it's ok we won't tell anyone about your jacked up pickup truck. Although would be a big selling point with some of the women Iceman has been finding for you.

You have to remember, he's from Missouri...so unless I have a meth lab, a trailer, or an RV...I'm really not gonna have much luck. Girls there don't tend to fall for the "intelectual types"

or as they refer to them, "Ooooo...a guy that can read! Ain't you fancy!"

[MICHAEL]

You have to remember, he's from Missouri...so unless I have a meth lab, a trailer, or an RV...I'm really not gonna have much luck. Girls there don't tend to fall for the "intelectual types"

or as they refer to them, "Ooooo...a guy that can read! Ain't you fancy!"

hummm I have lived in both places for a number of years, and believe me Aslan MODESTO CA, was ranked number ONE for mobile meth labs and meth in general! The valley girls in CA,,, all talk like they are on Meth!

Don't you PICK on Farm breed, whole, wholesome Missouri Women! I doubt you have even ever meth one!! LOL

Yeeeeeeee, Haaaaaaa!!!