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What weight bowling ball should I use?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 15, 2026

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 it better to use a lighter or heavier bowling ball?

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.

What weight bowling ball do most pros 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. .

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 12 pound bowling ball too light?

A 12 lb ball will deflect more than a heavier ball so it doesn't have the driving forward "force" that a heavier ball would have. You would definitely notice a difference even if you throw the 16 lb ball slower, it will hold its line and drive forward rather than deflect much less than a lighter 12 lb ball.

29 related questions found

How do you know if a 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.

Is a 10 pound 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.

Is a 14lb bowling ball good?

Once I adjusted either the cover or my actual speed, everything was just fine. Most companies have their dynamic weight blocks in 14-16 pounds. Some even go down to 12lbs. As long as you have the correct entry angle into the pocket, it doesn't really matter throwing 14 or 15.

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.

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.

What size ball should I use for bowling?

First, all bowling balls used in the game of ten pins around the world are manufactured the same 8.5 inches diameter size with a very minute degree of diameter tolerance. The size of a ball is universal but the weight varies between 6 lbs and up to a maximum of 16 pounds.

Should I use a 15 or 16 pound bowling ball?

In general, the best ball weight for you is the heaviest ball you can comfortably throw for an extended period of time. A ball you can throw with ease for only one game doesn't do you much good if you have two more games to bowl. For most adults, this ranges from 14 to 16 pounds.

What is the lightest bowling ball weight?

The heaviest legal bowling ball weighs 16 pounds. The lightest weight you can usually find at most bowling alleys is six pounds. That's a significant 10-pound range, and you can choose a ball anywhere within its limits.

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.

Why is a bowling ball heavy?

As stated in one of the comments, a heavier ball is superiour on the first point, because a slight swing of the wrist has a larger influence on the lighter ball. Of course, the ball can't be that heavy that you struggle to swing your arm, because then, the accuracy gets worse instead of better.

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 all my bowling balls be the same weight?

You should use the same weight of ball for both your spare ball and your strike ball. This will help it feel familiar while you're gripping it, and you won't have to change up the speed of your release.

Is 180 a good bowling score?

An expert bowler should shoot for an average bowling score of 180-205 per game. An average of 200 a game is a sign that you might be able to hang with professional bowlers in regional and legit PBA Tour tournaments. Averaging 180-205 per game takes a lot of skill, even more work, and a healthy dose of luck.

How do I choose a spare ball?

A spare ball should contain proper weight; it should not feel too light or too heavy; a pound less than the normal bowling ball ideally is great. Though a spare ball doesn't need the thumb to be drilled, it should go with your hands while ensuring maximum comfort.

Is a 15 pound bowling ball good?

This means that the slight decrease in weight allows the ball to deflect more, which in the modern game is needed. Remember, this is relative to the current reactive equipment which simply drives much harder than older equipment. Today, most pros and pro shop operators prefer and recommend 15 pound equipment.

How much weight does bowling ball lose after drilling?

Re: Drilling and how much weight lost? If you take out 4.0 ounces TOTAL and that includes a weight hole, that's a lot. I base that on the fact that I use thumb and finger inserts and I remove 2.25 - 2.5 ounces total. A weight hole that removes another whole ounce is a BIG weight hole.

Is a 10lb bowling ball good?

Bowling ball weights range from 6-16 lbs. Children generally use lighter bowling balls, and no bowler should use a heavier weight than they can comfortably deploy. Consider the following as a basic guideline: Children: 6-10 lbs.

At what distance are the arrows on the lane?

The arrows on the lane are located 15 feet from the foul line, and you use these arrows to help to target where you want to throw the ball. Some bowlers concentrate on the pins, others have learned to focus on a specific arrow, as an aid in getting the ball going in the right direction.

What is a perfect score in bowling?

In bowling, a perfect game (in 10 pin at least) is 300 points – strikes in each of the first nine frames, and three in the tenth. If you're bowling way below that, you may feel like you have a lot of practice before you see a higher bowling score.

How much do 10 pin bowling balls weigh?

Ten-pin bowling is regulated by the USBC in the States and World Bowling internationally. The USBC specifications require that a ten-pin ball weigh less than 16 pounds and have a diameter of 8.500 to 8.595 inches, or 21.59 to 21.83 centimeters.