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Do all PBA bowlers use 16 pound balls?

Author

William Rodriguez

Published Jan 20, 2026

Most pro bowlers use 16-pound balls, although more than you think use 15-pounders. Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use. A heavier ball drilled specifically to your hand will seem to weigh about the same as a house ball two pounds lighter.

Should I use a 15 or 16 lb bowling ball?

Today, most pros and pro shop operators prefer and recommend 15 pound equipment. The decreased weight and dynamic strength of the modern-day equipment work more effectively together to increase carry.

What size bowling ball do pros use?

According to most reports, about 70% of professional bowlers on men's tours around the world throw a 15-pound bowling ball. A smattering of professional bowlers use 14-pound balls, but the majority of the rest of the field do still throw the maximum weight 16-pound bowling ball.

What is the best weight bowling ball to use?

A bowling ball should weigh 10 percent of your body weight (up to 16 pounds), which means you really shouldn't be grabbing, say, an 8-pound ball if you weigh 150 pounds. You want some weight to the ball, but it shouldn't be so heavy that it's uncomfortable.

What pound bowling ball does Norm Duke use?

In a recent PBA tournament, both Chris Barnes and Norm Duke were using 16 pound equipment. Norm was asked by announcer Randy Pederson why he had chosen 16 pound equipment and Norm stated that the weight would work best on that condition to drive out the 5 pin to carry pocket hits.

37 related questions found

What weight ball do PBA players use?

Most pro bowlers use 16-pound balls, although more than you think use 15-pounders. Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use. A heavier ball drilled specifically to your hand will seem to weigh about the same as a house ball two pounds lighter. .

What weight does Pete Weber use?

Preloved Storm PDW (Pete Weber) Bowling Ball. Weight : 15lbs Type : Reactive ball Still in very good condition.

Does bowling ball weight matter?

In general, the heavier the bowling ball will be, the better as a heavy ball will be more impactful, carry more power, and will have more chances of hooking than a lightweight bowling ball. The heavier ball will be able to knock down more pins when two bowling balls are thrown at the same speed.

Is a 14 lb bowling ball too light?

The only point here is that the lighter the object at the end of that pendulum, the more potential you have to “muscle” it. In time, this will settle down. If it doesn't then the ball is likely too light for you, period. There is potential for 14 pound to hook more than 15 pounds.

Does a heavier bowling ball hook more?

The heavier the ball the more hitting power and driving power, and the more pin action. The lighter the ball, the more concern bowlers had about deflection. It shouldn't come as a surprise then that in the '80s and '90s, bowling ball companies were said to be producing three 16-pound balls for every one 15-pound ball.

Is 220 a good bowling average?

Let's talk about averaging 220. For many people, this benchmark represents where the elite league bowlers live. If you are a 160 average bowler, 220 can feel like a whole different planet, but for those bowlers in the 205 average range, it can somehow simultaneously feel both attainable and out of reach.

How fast do PBA bowlers throw?

Most Pro Bowlers will release the ball anywhere from 20-22 mph at the release point and will impact the pins at 17 or 18 mph. By delivering the ball faster than this speed range, the Pro Bowler is in danger of less than optimum pin carry. The same is true with a ball speed less than 16 mph at impact with the pins.

What is a good bowling ball for an intermediate?

Brunswick Tzone – Best Overall

As a spare bowling ball option for intermediate and expert bowlers, Brunswick T Zone balls are a great straight-shot second ball to finish frames off. The ball's symmetrical core and low hook potential provide excellent lane length and ease in finding your spare shot mark consistently.

Is a 16 pound bowling ball to heavy?

There's no universal, one-weight-fits-all answer

The maximum legal weight of a bowling ball is 16 pounds (or 7.27 kilograms). For that reason, a lot of bowlers use 16-pound bowling balls, whether they should or not. If a 17-pound ball was allowed, plenty of those who currently use 16-pounders would move up to 17.

What is an illegal bowling ball?

Related: The Storm Spectre bowling ball, which the USBC banned from all USBC certified competition, is not allowed in any level of PBA competition. Purple Hammer bowling balls manufactured in 2016 and 2017 were banned from USBC certified competition, and are not allowed in any level of PBA competition.

What is the heaviest bowling ball ever?

His writings feature on various websites, such as Pinterest. The heaviest legal bowling ball weighs 16 pounds.

Do any pro bowlers use conventional grip?

Look at the people who have been successful: Jason Belmonte and Osku Palermo both have conventional grips. However, some two-handed bowlers have fingertip grip, like Kyle Troup.

How much weight is removed when drilling a bowling ball?

Drilling will typically remove 1 to 2 ounces of top weight. It is important to have the pro shop check your ball after drilling to make sure it is legal. After that, don't concern yourself with the amount of top weight in your bowling ball.

What is a speed dominant bowler?

WHAT IS SPEED? Bowlers with high ball speeds and without the revs to match can be considered “speed dominant.” They will typically favor more aggressive surfaces and layouts to help their ball pick up sooner on the lane.

Should your spare ball be lighter?

The ball's design is to try and reduce the amount of friction (hook) and dynamics (core) so the ball goes where you throw it. Because of the ball's design, it wouldn't make sense to make it lighter since going back and forth from 15 pounds to 14 pounds and back can lead to inconsistencies in your release.

How do you know if your bowling ball is too heavy?

You'll know the bowling ball is too heavy if you're unable to fully extend your arm or you do so strained. As another general rule, if you've already determined the weight of ball that works best for you by using alley balls you'll likely want to add a pound when buying your own ball.

Why do bowlers use two balls?

There's a particular reason that bowlers carry more than one ball. Most bowlers roll their first shot with a hook, and a spare ball is used for a more precise second throw that won't hook away from the pin(s) that remain.

Is the bowler Pete Weber still married?

"He keeps me calm." Weber's marriage soon ended in divorce. His second wife, Tracy, brought a son into the marriage. Weber continued to rub his rivals—and some fans—the wrong way.

Who is the richest Pro bowler?

(born October 6, 1959) is an American professional bowler and competitive horseshoes pitcher. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles (47) and total PBA earnings (over $4.9 million through 2019).