For some bowling players, it may be easy to pick up any of the house balls available and just chuck it right down the lane regardless of the bowling ball weight. However, finding the right weight (or weight range) can up your game from casual performance to comfortably scoring professional-like numbers.
In this guide, we visit the often overlooked aspect of bowling balls - bowling ball weight. If you would like to know how bowling ball weight can impact your game, read on to find out!
How the Weight of Bowling Balls Can Impact Your Game
As much as it is about physical skill and technique, bowling is very much a game of intelligence. Most, if not all, professional bowlers are intelligent individuals who have devoted themselves to understanding the game of bowling.
Let us take a look at a few scientific and technical concepts that must be understood in order to understand why bowling ball weight is very important.
Force and Kinetic Energy
Studies have shown that lighter bowling balls have a significantly greater value, assuming of course that the throwing technique is identical.
Although this may be somewhat contradictory to our intuition, it actually makes sense when the calculations are put to paper. The important formulas to consider here are the formula for force and kinetic energy. But to keep things simpler, lighter bowling ball weights can actually increase their kinetic energy better if all other factors are held constant.
Imagine a sedan and a pick-up truck. A sedan definitely weighs lighter than a pick-up truck. If they both had the same engine, and the two vehicles were driven from point A to point B by flooring the gas pedal/accelerator, the sedan would be significantly faster than the truck, right? The same general principle applies to bowling ball weights.
However, speed and kinetic energy are not the only factors to consider when it comes to bowling balls. Let's now move on to ball deflection and pin penetration.
Ball Deflection and Pin Penetration
Ball deflection and pin penetration are opposites of the same coin. These concepts basically talk about how a bowling ball would react once it makes contact with the pins.
Imagine a game of billiards. Once the cue ball makes contact with any of the billiard balls, the cue ball bounces off in another direction rather than powering straight through. The same applies with bowling ball games, albeit at a less noticeable bounce-off or deflection.
Under the same force applied (and other relevant circumstances), lighter balls tend to have more ball deflection than heavier bowling balls. In other words, a 16-pound bowling ball would most likely be able to proceed through the pins, penetrating them straight through and through as opposed to a 14-pound bowling ball which might deflect off of the first couple of pins.
This is important because the goal should be for the bowling ball to penetrate and somewhat slice right through the set of bowling pins in order to not only reach the rear section of the pins but also generate the needed pin carry and scatter.
The more explosive the entry and exit of a bowling ball is, the greater the chance of securing a legal strike.
Alright, we now understand that smaller balls are faster, accelerate better, and apply more kinetic energy to the bowling pins. We also understand that a heavier bowling ball will generate the proper carry and scatter required to increase the likelihood of a strike. We now move on to the actual delivery of the ball from the bowler himself/herself.
Momentum, Intertia, and Arm Swing
Have you ever used a house ball, whether it be the 12-pound balls or the 14-pound balls, and every now and then get a strike? Would it be called beginner bowler's luck or a bowler's starting advantage? Perhaps. However, that would most likely be attributed to momentum, inertia, and arm swing. These three components comprise the factors required to generate enough force to make strikes in bowling games.
Momentum
Momentum is all about an object in motion. Take for example bicep curls. We hear gym instructors always preaching to be slow and deliberate with bicep curls to make sure that the physical effort is only localized to the target muscles, the biceps. However, when we are tired, lifting extremely heavy weights, we tend to get hurt and use the movement of our body, shoulders, back, legs, and whatever other limb to aid in lifting the dumbbells or barbell. Even professional weightlifters are guilty of this sometimes.
The added movement from other parts of the body contributes to the momentum of the dumbbells or barbell, making it easier to execute the bicep curl lift. While seeking ways to use other parts of the body for momentum is frowned upon in weightlifting, in the sport of bowling, body momentum is a big factor, whether it be from your fingers, forearms, legs, hips, you name it.
Inertia
Inertia, on the other hand, can be understood as the internal speed or energy within an object once it is set in motion. If you were in outer space and a fellow astronaut pushed you in a single direction, without forces to counteract the push that was made onto you and that you now carry, you will drift in that direction rather comfortably and endlessly, and this is essentially beyond your control. You could not shift directions in the void of outer space even if you wanted to.
In the field of bowling, a ball remains unchanged in its motion and direction unless other factors begin to resist or disrupt the ball. This is where oil lane conditions, friction, and the coverstock material of the house balls or personal balls come into play.
With momentum and inertia comes the energy that we can actually apply to the ball based on the weight. Sure, you can throw a 16-pound bowling ball but is 16 pounds the most ideal weight for you to consistently get strikes? How about a 6-pound bowling ball? Would it be heavy enough for you to be deliberate and calculated with your technique?
This is why finding the right weight bowling ball, whether it be two pounds smaller than average or two pounds bulkier, is most important when taking a look at momentum and inertia in terms of technique and consistency.
What are the Lightest and Heaviest Bowling Balls?
Lightest Bowling Ball: 6-Pound Ball
A 6-pound bowling ball is ideal for children/kids, adults recovering from injury, or a beginner bowler who does not have the required muscular endurance to lift around a 15-pound ball or a 16-pound ball.
Heaviest Bowling Ball: 16-Pound Ball
A 16-pound ball is the heaviest ball that professional bowlers typically stick to. 16 pounds is the maximum weight allowed in most regulated competitions and tournaments.
How to Choose the Right Bowling Ball Weight
Age (Young Players/Children vs Adult Players)
Young individuals should throw with a lighter ball to minimize the risk of injury or over-exhaustion.
Skill Level (Beginners vs Experienced)
Beginners should start to bowl with sizes they are accustomed to, which is typically within the 12 - 14 range.
Weight (Body Weight)
A general rule of thumb would be to go with 10 percent of your body weight. This rule may not apply to all, but it is a good reference point for kids and adults who are just beginning to throw themselves into bowling.
Grip
The grip strength required for an eight-pound ball vastly differs from a heavier ball, so make sure to try different balls out before you throw any of them regularly.
Injury
When you throw a ball, a lot of joints, ligaments, and muscles are affected. In cases where you have a sprain or are recovering from some form of injury (most especially when you are a bit up there in age and recovery is slower than normal), we would recommend using a lighter ball, with a maximum weight of 14 pounds with the combination of using a wrist support/brace and a knee brace.
Gender (Male vs Female)
Males tend to be able to naturally lift the bulkier balls while females may start out with smaller sizes, but this will develop and change over time.
Weight vs Speed Ratio
As discussed earlier, smaller balls may be faster and quicker, but bigger balls have better scatter.
Can Weight be Added to a Bowling Ball?
Technically, weight can be added or subtracted from balls, particularly the drilled bowling balls.
This does not apply to a house ball (of course) but if you order a personal ball, make sure that it is not pre-drilled, for starters.
Listed below are a few of the ways bowlers can alter the weight of their balls:
What Bowling Ball Weights Do the Pros Use?
A majority of professional bowlers bowl within a 14 to 16 ball weight range. In junior professional bowling, however, a bowler kid aged 17-year old or below may bowl with an eight to twelve ball weight range, with the maximum weight being the most commonly used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 14 lb bowling ball too light?
How heavy a bowling ball depends on the bowlers themselves, so a bowling ball with a ball weight of 14 pounds may be too light, too heavy, or just the perfect ball for throwing.
Should I use a 15 or 16-pound bowling ball?
We do not have any specific recommendations between the 15-pound and 16-pound bowling weight range. As long as you could control the ball effectively and consistently, then you should stick to that ball weight.
How much do bowling balls weigh?
Bowling balls can be anywhere from 6 pounds to 16 pounds. Some bowling ball products only offer 8 to 14 pounds, so check the product listing and description for more important details.
What weight bowling ball do most pros use?
Most adult professional bowlers use 16-pound balls but can go down to 14 pounds or 15 pounds if necessary.
Conclusion
The ideal bowling ball weight varies. Some bowlers are more accustomed to the larger ball weight ranges while others are better off starting with the lower ones. Regardless of which bowling ball weight you go with, make sure to set your ego aside and choose according to your skill level and capabilities to prevent injuries, pain, and inconsistencies.