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

[Aslan]

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.

[e-tank]

i dont really notice a difference. I have a 16lb older true urethane, modern resin, 15lb resins and urethane, as well as a 14lb og resin. If youre going by anecdotal evidence, youll find that people favor one over the other but as far as i know, there is no hard evidence that once is actually better than the other. Youll find many people have bowled 300's with all weights, its about fitting your game. If you think 16lb carrys better then go for it

[Stormed1]

As far as sales go 15# is #1, 14# is #2 and 16# is #3. It has gotten a lot harder to sell 16# equipment. As far as carry goes there is very little difference in the 3 weights. As for you Asian the reason the 16# seems to work better for you is being heavier you have a much more difficult time throwing the vall through the break point and therefore leaving the washout. You need to decide on what weight you are going to throw and stick with it. Changing back and forth will do nothing but screw you up. Years ago do to a wrist injury I had to drop down to 15# for 3 months. It took me a couple weeks to adjust my delivery so I didn't throw it through the breakpoint. Once I adjusted I averaged the same with 15 as I did with 16 (228 in 1990)

[Hampe]

I've noticed a huge increase in pin carry since switching from 14 to 15 lbs (my average is up 25-30 pins this season), BUT those balls are also drilled differently than my old equipment. They are drilled more for length/snap than my old equipment was. But I have been getting a lot more strikes this year on non-solid pocket hits than I used to.

When I play with my 14# equipment now it feels weird.....like the ball is made of styrofoam or something. I don't regret starting out with it though....it made it easier to get my form/technique down, and now I have no problems playing with 15# equipment.

[Aslan]

I don't know. After last night, my teammates feel that I was getting FAR more carry with my 15lb than my 16lb. They are drilled relatively the same and both symmetric cores, but the new 16lber has a higher hook rating/potential. But for some reason...throwing that 15lber sort of straight at the headpin...if I came close to that headpin...EXPLOSION!! Noticeable...by my teammates and opponents (ask Bunny, she's a teammate). But with the 16lber...slightly less speed...and just not getting that "explosion". Proabably 1mph slower in speed...

We'll see. I'm commited to using the new ball on the heavier oiled synthetic lanes. We only have 1-3 more weeks of that league anyways.

[Hammer]

From an article I read in Bowling This Month magazine you can get good carry with a 14#, 15# or 16# because of the cores that they put in balls these days. In the old days with the rubber balls and pancake weights in them the 16# was the better weight to use because the heavier weight gave better carry with the technique used then. I have a 14# Blue Hammer and a 15# Raw Hammer Anger ball and the Blue will hit just as hard as the 15# Anger ball. They both have 2000 Abralon surface but the Blue is urethane and the Anger is reactive resin. The Blue has the pin above my ring finger and the Anger has the pin below my ring finger. When the Anger gets to hard to adjust for pocket hits I use the Blue for both strike shots and spare shots. My thought is that I use the weight that I feel comfortable
with and that I have no trouble controlling.

[Aslan]

I'm starting to think I might be getting more carry out of my 15lber than my 16lber due to rotation/revolutions. Because the 15lber is lighter...I can get it spinning easier...put more revs on it...so even though it doesn't hook as much...it's hitting the pins with more energy. Where as the 16lber I wasn't reving as much...it started rolling out sooner. It's just a theory at this point...but I noticed when I started reving up the 16lber a bit more....it seemed to get more of an explosion.

[MICHAEL]

In my case,,, I have experimented with a 14lb freight train, a number of 15lb balls, and two 16lbers! Monday I pulled the beatdown 16lb off the shelf, and had a 668, even with a few bad mistakes on my part! It gave me many strikes, and carried real well except for maybe 4 times! That's the ball with the Tri Grip system! IT felt starnge at first, but now I like the grip very much, and I am thinking about getting some of my balls converted! Would cost about 50 bucks including the vise system! I almost think that all 3 of the weights mention can work GREAT! It doesn't seem to bother Me personally changing between them! I have had great games with all 3!

Maybe its my white natural hair color.... who knows, but my stylist!! Or does she/he?? Or do I even have a barber/stylist? Is it White, or maybe GRAY...... yes the whole subject is a GRAY area!! Not Black or White!!

[MICHAEL]

As far as sales go 15# is #1, 14# is #2 and 16# is #3. It has gotten a lot harder to sell 16# equipment. As far as carry goes there is very little difference in the 3 weights. As for you Asian the reason the 16# seems to work better for you is being heavier you have a much more difficult time throwing the vall through the break point and therefore leaving the washout. You need to decide on what weight you are going to throw and stick with it. Changing back and forth will do nothing but screw you up. Years ago do to a wrist injury I had to drop down to 15# for 3 months. It took me a couple weeks to adjust my delivery so I didn't throw it through the breakpoint. Once I adjusted I averaged the same with 15 as I did with 16 (228 in 1990)

I KNOW where your coming from, and I am sure most coach's would totally agree, but I disagree and for these reasons.

1. Just like how you drill your ball has a huge impact on the performance, so does the weight.

2. If you have the strength, and feel comfortable with a 16lb ball, it can be a great weapon, just like a 14, and 15lb ball.

If you drill lets say 3 balls, (say the IQ pearl), all the same way, only difference being weight, you will find that they all
all react differently! (NOW THIS IS WITH THE GIVEN THAT YOU CAN THROW THE 16 POUND BALL WITHOUT ANY PAIN
OR PROBLEMS)!

3. On a given oil pattern you can, it has been my observation see that, weight has a an impact on balls movement due
inertia! A ball fighting inertia while going down the lane is effected by weight, speed, and revolutions! I believe its '
break point is effected by weight among other things, (along with the things mentioned above)

conclusion: Could it be that a bowler might have an advantage having different weight balls, just like different levels of
performance! It doesn't seem to bother me at all going from one weight to another! Some times when is '
very dry that 14lber gets down the lane further before the break, is that because its lighter, and I throw it
harder, sure, but also because it has less weight pushing down on the lane, and thus maybe less friction
because friction is effected by weight. Like when you put sand in the back of your truck for traction! I
think bowling balls are effected the same. Hey I am not a spring chick, and my body adjusts easily between the different
weights, without destroying my rhythm,, or delivery.

I bring a combination of different weight balls to league with me, and I choose according what performance level, and in SOME CASES weight that works for THAT unique oil pattern that night/day! Weight can be an enemy, or your best friend, when it comes to bowling balls!

[CaptainXeroid]

I remember an ABC PBA telecast in which a certain pro whose name escapes me was using a 15lb ball while everyone else was using 16. After he left a few left side spares while his opponent carried a similar light hit, announcer Nelson Burton Jr 'chastised' him for "paying the penalty of not using a full weight ball." I understand and kinda' agreed with the point, but I had to roll my eyes at the way he overdramatized it...especially when later in the match that player tripped a 4 on a heavy pocket hit that the 'full weight' ball might not have.

Other things being equal, a heavier ball will impart more force to the pins than a lighter ball. Captain...I can't change the laws of physics! ;-) Whether that translates into increased pin fall isn't something that can always be measured.

Like surfaces, weight blocks, and ball speed, what's most important is that you find what works best for your style and lane conditions. Personally, I use 16lb because when I throw any lighter my back swing and ball speed get too high. When I miss the pocket, it doesn't matter a lot what kind of ball I threw.

IMHO...the move towards lighter balls has more to do with bowlers wanting to throw the ball harder with more revs. If that's your game and it works for you, go for it.