How can you tell if a bowling ball is too heavy?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 18, 2026
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.
How heavy should a bowling ball feel?
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.
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.
Is a 16 lb bowling ball too 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.
Is a 10 lb bowling ball too light?
Bowling balls range from 6 lbs to 16 lbs. In other words, you cannot have a bowling ball lighter than six pounds, and you cannot have one heavier than sixteen pounds. So the maximum bowling ball weight is 16 lbs or 7.27 kilograms. The minimum bowling ball weight is 6 lbs or 2.72 kilograms.
35 related questions foundAre heavier bowling balls better?
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.
How heavy do pros use bowling ball?
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 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.
How fast should you throw a bowling ball?
The Ideal Ball Speed For Professional Bowlers
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.
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 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.
Why do bowlers tuck their pinky?
Tucking the pinky finger works best on a full fingertip grip as opposed to the conventional grip. Because your pinky finger is tucked, your bowling fingers are naturally propped toward the palm of your bowling hand which will encourage a pronounced finger action when the thumb exits the ball.
How do I know what weight bowling ball to get?
The Right Weight
As a general bowling rule, the best bowling ball should weigh around 10% of your body weight, up to 160 pounds. If you weigh 200 pounds, it won't make much sense for you to bowl with an 8-pound bowling wall because it might feel ridiculously light to you.
How much does an average bowling ball weigh?
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. As for women's pro bowlers, the average bowling ball weight usually thrown is around 14 pounds.
Should I use a 15 or 16 pound 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 do numbers on bowling balls mean?
As mentioned, these small numbers usually mean the serial numbers of the balls. These serial numbers are typically preceded by the code USBC. These numbers can help you identify crucial information about the ball. These include things like its manufacturing date, its type, and more.
What's the lightest bowling ball?
Answers. The lightest ball is a 6lb. ball. You can purchase them online, bowling alleys or even Sports Authority and other sports stores.
Are bowling balls balanced?
Bowlers still can have a bowling ball with a balance hole until Aug. 1, 2020, but any balls with a balance hole must stay within the current static weight specification of one ounce for finger, thumb or side weight, and three ounces for top or bottom weight.
Why am I leaving the 9 pin?
If your ball never fully reaches the roll phase (still in the hook phase when it enters the pocket and hooking past the nine), or goes too long and finishes with too sharp an entry angle (Going so sharply sideways that it goes rolling in front of the nine pin and into the eight pin), you can leave the solid nine pin.
Do two handed bowlers have a thumb hole?
A two-handed bowler is required to use the same dominant hand during their delivery on both their first and second shots (this refers to the hand in which the bowling ball rests). They also have the option of utilizing a thumb hole or not—both are acceptable. However, only one set of gripping holes is allowed.
What are 5 strikes in a row called?
BAGGER (SUCH AS FIVE BAGGER)
A string of strikes; i.e., five bagger is five in a row.
What is 12 strikes in a row called?
A perfect game or 12 strikes in a row is also colloquially referred to as the « Thanksgiving Turkey. »
Is 200 a good score in bowling?
Yes, bowlers are still considered pretty good if they average 200, but that isn't the major league level. Maybe double or triple A. Looking back to the 2006-07 season of the roughly 7,900 averages in the local Central Connecticut Bowling Association, 980 were over 200 and 156 topped 215.
Why is a bowling ball heavy?
Before the proliferation of reactive balls, most bowlers simply used the heaviest ball they could throw. 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.