16# Vs 15#

[LyalC52]

Which do you throw and why?

When I got back in to bowling a few months ago I order a 16# HyRoad and have been averaging over 200 lately.
I still have the mentality form the 90's that max weight for max effect on the pins.
I have a tweener style, and can pipe the outside when needed.

Most of the guys 30 and up are throwing 16# balls. I see a lot of younger guys with 15# and 14#, but they are also trying start fires with their rev rates.

[bubba809]

I responded to you in another thread about the same issue. I came down from 15# to 14# and my average came up 13 points. I am not trying to "start fires" or anything. I found a lot more control any accuracy at this weight. I initially did this due to carpal tunnel surgery and was worried about the weight of the ball. After my surgery (a couple months after), I decided to throw my 15 Lb to see if I could handle it. I had no pain or any changes in my release. I threw the same and averaged the same. But I decided to go and stick with my newly drilled 14# ball. Sure I might of gained a little bit of speed, but that is not why I bought it. Again, the control and accuracy that i gained from dropping to a 14 Lb ball was noticeably better. I have an increased entry angle and convert way more spares.

[fortheloveofbowling]

I have thrown 16 lb equipment for 35 years and will until it creates issues with my physical game. I still think if you can throw 16lb equipment and not suffer from the physical side of the game you are better off results wise. The biggest reason why you see most league players using 15lb because it has trickled down from the pba. But, the main reason those guys went down in weight is trying to create more deflection by using the lighter equipment. Still, there are many out there that use 16lb including chris barnes and norm duke. Chris barnes has some definite thoughts about ball roll differences. It just dumfounds me to see some guys with low-medium rev rates using lighter weights than they can and obviously losing carry.

[LyalC52]

I would never fault anyone for dropping down for physical reasons.
Bowling should be fun, beating up your body is not fun.

[Amyers]

The differences here are mostly in peoples heads. In all reality most 16 lbs. balls aren't really 16 lbs. after drilling most 15 lbs. balls aren't really 15 after drilling. I've bowled with both 16 and 15. my 16's usually ended up 15lbs 12-14 ounces my 15lbs ended up 15lbs 2-4 ounces so we really are talking about 10 ounces in general here. You figure in the differences in speed and angle of entry the differences either way are most likely less than a strike vs. a 9 count once every 10 games or so. The average bowler would gain more from 1 lesson or an hour of practice time then they ever would from the differences in ball weight. Throw what your comfortable with. Leave the rest of it to the math department and practice.

[vdubtx]

About 7 years ago I switched to 15lb from 16. I found that not because of age or anything, but I was able to control the 15lb'er better and that switch got my average headed in the upward direction that it is at today. When I got back into bowling I was 179, the following year and following the switch I was up to 197, and then a big jump into the 2-teens at 217. Stayed at about 217 for 2 years until last year when I started to take it a bit more serious and got my composite up to 225, high average in one league of 231. This year is a repeat and should be right at 224 as a composite. Both of my leagues I am right at 224.

Long winded response to basically say that controlability has been my main reason for dropping weight.

[fortheloveofbowling]

The differences here are mostly in peoples heads. In all reality most 16 lbs. balls aren't really 16 lbs. after drilling most 15 lbs. balls aren't really 15 after drilling. I've bowled with both 16 and 15. my 16's usually ended up 15lbs 12-14 ounces my 15lbs ended up 15lbs 2-4 ounces so we really are talking about 10 ounces in general here. You figure in the differences in speed and angle of entry the differences either way are most likely less than a strike vs. a 9 count once every 10 games or so. The average bowler would gain more from 1 lesson or an hour of practice time then they ever would from the differences in ball weight. Throw what your comfortable with. Leave the rest of it to the math department and practice.

The voices in my head do tell me to bowl. I'm not sure if they tell me to throw 16 lb though. I will have to listen closer.

[Amyers]

The voices in my head do tell me to bowl. I'm not sure if they tell me to throw 16 lb though. I will have to listen closer.

I was referring to people having it in their heads that there is a noticeable carry difference between 16 and 15 one way or the other not that the voices in your head will tell you which weight to pick. I think we are lucky that the voices in your head only tell you to go bowl though

[fortheloveofbowling]

About 7 years ago I switched to 15lb from 16. I found that not because of age or anything, but I was able to control the 15lb'er better and that switch got my average headed in the upward direction that it is at today. When I got back into bowling I was 179, the following year and following the switch I was up to 197, and then a big jump into the 2-teens at 217. Stayed at about 217 for 2 years until last year when I started to take it a bit more serious and got my composite up to 225, high average in one league of 231. This year is a repeat and should be right at 224 as a composite. Both of my leagues I am right at 224.

Long winded response to basically say that controlability has been my main reason for dropping weight.

I have heard a few really good bowlers talk about control for the change but mostly it is a carry issue and they are looking for extra deflection. From my standpoint i rarely say i had a bad carry night because there is a reason why i leave 7 pins, 9 pins, flat 10s, ring 10's. There is also a reason for good carry and for me and my game, i know that a lesser weight would result in a less effective roll through the pin deck. This would obviously lead to a hell of a lot more 9 counts than an extra 1 in 10 games.

[ellisr63]

I am not sure where i should be on ball weight... I used to use a semi fingertip 16lb Piranac, with a 14lb Hammer Grenade for a spare ball. I am just starting bowling again after 20+ years and I only have the Hammer 14lb. I am thinking of getting a better ball and moving to a 15lb or 16lb, but i am retired and really can't afford to buy multiple valls to figure it out. How do you decide what weight ball to get drilled?