Is an adult allowed to use a 6 lb ball on league?

[morgothaod]

I tried to Google the answer and I read that an adult bowling with a 6 lb ball can damage the pins. Is that true? Also, would I have to worry about the bowling ball possibly splitting in half? I want to use a 6 lb ball because I have bad wrist pain when I bowl (I use a wrist guard and fingertip inserts). My plan was to have a 6 lb ball drilled conventionally, so I can hopefully be pain free. However, I don't want to do it if it would be an issue on league or outside of league.

[Tony]

I would not worry about using a 6lb ball it will not cause a problem.

[bubba809]

If 6 Lb balls are available on the rack then you can use a 6 Lb ball.

[J Anderson]

I tried to Google the answer and I read that an adult bowling with a 6 lb ball can damage the pins. Is that true? Also, would I have to worry about the bowling ball possibly splitting in half? I want to use a 6 lb ball because I have bad wrist pain when I bowl (I use a wrist guard and fingertip inserts). My plan was to have a 6 lb ball drilled conventionally, so I can hopefully be pain free. However, I don't want to do it if it would be an issue on league or outside of league.

I doubt that a 6 pound ball is going to break an almost 4lb pin. I think the main concern is having someone throw one into the ceiling or bounce onto another lane.

[John Anderson]

I think you should be talking to a doctor about this pain you are having if you have to drop all the way down to a 6lb ball. I'm not a big guy and even 8lb feels extremely light to me.

There is no rule against using a 6lb ball unless the bowling alley staff walk up to you and tell you to stop using it. Any league should allow it as it really is a disadvantage to use such a light ball.

[Amyers]

I know a lot of the houses here probably wouldn't like it much as most of the 6lbs. equipment is kept behind the desks at my local houses to keep adults from using them. The reasons I have been told is that the ball returns have a hard time picking the 6 lbs. balls up and they are afraid one of local college kids will hurt someone pitching the balls at 30 mph. I would talk to the owner where you bowl and see if they have an issue with it. My guess if it's because of an injury they would be ok with it but I agree with John if it's so serious you need to drop all the way to 6lbs. you need to see a doctor asap.

[morgothaod]

The pain isn't bad enough where I can't bowl with a heavier ball. I use a 13 lb now and can bowl pretty much pain free after practice (The first 5 shots always hurt me). However after I'm done bowling, my wrist is a bit sore/hurts and the top of my hand experiences discomfort as well. The going down to 6 lb is more of a preventative measure. The goal would be just to bowl to socialize and establish a new average. I hope too that it would eventually allow my wrist and hand to heal. I tried taking 2-3 months off of bowling but it never improved. I'm thinking that if I switch from fingertip to conventional grip, that would lessen or eliminate any pain in my hand since I have a better grip on the ball. Also not cupping my wrist to hook the ball, would make it feel better along with a much lighter weight. Not sure what to do... wish doctors weren't so expensive heh.

[jab5325]

If you have to go all the way down to 6lbs, it's time to give up the game for a bit and go see a doctor.

If the doctor clears you, invest in lessons to get your release (i.e. wrist) in the right position to put less stress on your body. At that point, go to a reputable proshop and get a ball drilled to better specs.

At 6lbs, you won't be establishing much of an average.

[J Anderson]

The pain isn't bad enough where I can't bowl with a heavier ball. I use a 13 lb now and can bowl pretty much pain free after practice (The first 5 shots always hurt me). However after I'm done bowling, my wrist is a bit sore/hurts and the top of my hand experiences discomfort as well. The going down to 6 lb is more of a preventative measure. The goal would be just to bowl to socialize and establish a new average. I hope too that it would eventually allow my wrist and hand to heal. I tried taking 2-3 months off of bowling but it never improved. I'm thinking that if I switch from fingertip to conventional grip, that would lessen or eliminate any pain in my hand since I have a better grip on the ball. Also not cupping my wrist to hook the ball, would make it feel better along with a much lighter weight. Not sure what to do... wish doctors weren't so expensive heh.

Pain is your body's subtle way of letting your brain know that something's wrong.

If 2-3 months of not bowling did not cause the wrist to improve, I doubt that dropping the weight by half is going to fix it. You really do need to have a professional look at your hand and wrist.

A ball that is properly fitted with a fingertip grip is not harder to hold onto than a conventional grip ball.

[Aslan]

if you have to go all the way down to 6lbs, it's time to give up the game for a bit and go see a doctor.

If the doctor clears you, invest in lessons to get your release (i.e. Wrist) in the right position to put less stress on your body. At that point, go to a reputable proshop and get a ball drilled to better specs.

At 6lbs, you won't be establishing much of an average.

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