Ball weight: 16# vs 15#, and mix-n-match...

[Monte]

What weight ball do you use, and why? Since I could handle it, I've generally reasoned that a 16# ball was the way to go, simply because it has more momentum and hits harder into the pocket.

However, a couple of years back, I actually read an article that said that the newer high-performance balls at 16# may actually hit too hard, and actually cost strikes occasionally. Of course, a heavier ball would carry more energy to the pins, and therefore reduce deflection, so I'm curious.

I've also even heard of folks who would use a 16# as their "strike" ball, and a 15# as their spare. But that seems like it would throw me off.

Thoughts?

[epiepenburg]

The article you read would be accurate. 15 seems to be closer to the norm now. Many pros feel that the 16lb balls drive through the pins too hard and don't deflect enough.

I throw 15lb, but my spare ball is 14lb. I feel with the lower weight spare ball that the added speed I get, the more accurate I can be. It probably started as a youth bowler, my first ball I learned to throw finger grip style was a 14lb ball, a few years later I got a second ball at 15lbs, the 14lb ball became my spare ball. The pattern has stuck some 20 years later.

[J Anderson]

What weight ball do you use, and why? Since I could handle it, I've generally reasoned that a 16# ball was the way to go, simply because it has more momentum and hits harder into the pocket.

However, a couple of years back, I actually read an article that said that the newer high-performance balls at 16# may actually hit too hard, and actually cost strikes occasionally. Of course, a heavier ball would carry more energy to the pins, and therefore reduce deflection, so I'm curious.

I've also even heard of folks who would use a 16# as their "strike" ball, and a 15# as their spare. But that seems like it would throw me off.

Thoughts?

Some bowlers seem to be able to throw a variety of weights without the change messing up their timing. If you think that it might affect you, I would say there's a 99% chance that it will.

I suspect that bowlers who don't have much in the way of axis rotation or rev rate may have better pin carry with a 16# ball. The fact that most pro shops no longer keep 16# balls in stock, is good evidence that most of us don't need that extra pound.

[Perrin]

I throw 15#. I changed a few years ago when I started having shoulder issues. I had a night that I bowled 2 leagues (7 games) and when I used 16 my shoulder would be tired ans sore after and continue to ache the next day. I luckily happened to have a 15 and and lanes were dry enough 1 night I was able to throw and my should was fine after the 7 games and no issues the next day.... from then on I have only bought/gotten 15# equipment

I also left a LOT of 9 pins and 4-9 splits. I don't see the 9 nearly as often anymore.

[Mark O]

I feel that I'm a bit out of the ordinary in that fact that I use all 14# equipment but I honestly don't feel as if it has affected my carry all that much from when I was using 15# equipment. In fact, due to the added speed and revolutions as well as the added control over the lighter equipment, I feel my carry percentage has actually improved. You don't want to drop too much in weight and I wouldn't go under 14# but I feel throwing a weight you can control as opposed to one you can't would be more beneficial to your game than an added pound would be. I also would not vary the weight between pieces of equipment as I feel that can do more harm than good. Ideally, each ball you use should weight the same and feel the same in your hand,to the point where you couldn't really tell the difference between equipment if you closed your eyes. One of the biggest keys in bowling is consistency...how can you be consistent if your equipment is inconsistent?

[hddon]

I have used 14lb equipment but when my favorite best performing ball an original Radical Reax began to show signs of cracking I looked for a replacement. since it is no longer in production I could not find one. then I found a 15lb Radical Reax on EBay and purchaesd it. I had it drilled the same as my 14lber. immediately there was an increase in pin carry and I now string strikes together frequently. yesterday in practice i bowled my first 300 with the 15lber. needless to say I love this ball even more than my first Reax!

[epiepenburg]

I have used 14lb equipment but when my favorite best performing ball an original Radical Reax began to show signs of cracking I looked for a replacement. since it is no longer in production I could not find one. then I found a 15lb Radical Reax on EBay and purchaesd it. I had it drilled the same as my 14lber. immediately there was an increase in pin carry and I now string strikes together frequently. yesterday in practice i bowled my first 300 with the 15lber. needless to say I love this ball even more than my first Reax!

Congrats on your first 300!

[bubba809]

14 Lb. is the way to go (for me). I go back to my old 15 Lb equipment and do not get the same entry angle and revs on the ball.

[fortheloveofbowling]

I have used 14lb equipment but when my favorite best performing ball an original Radical Reax began to show signs of cracking I looked for a replacement. since it is no longer in production I could not find one. then I found a 15lb Radical Reax on EBay and purchaesd it. I had it drilled the same as my 14lber. immediately there was an increase in pin carry and I now string strikes together frequently. yesterday in practice i bowled my first 300 with the 15lber. needless to say I love this ball even more than my first Reax!

Congrats on the 300!