How to Measure Finger Weight for Bowling Balls

A dynamically weighted bowling ball makes it easier to hook your shot like the pros. Finger weight is a term used to describe the weight imbalance toward the half of the ball with the two finger holes. With a slight turn of the wrist you can get the ball spinning like a weighted top. Many in the bowling community look down on the use of finger weighted balls and many leagues restrict their use

Things You'll Need

  • Bowling ball scale
  • Ruler
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the ball on your lap with all three finger holes facing up, making the semblance of eyes and a nose. Use chalk or a pencil to draw a straight line between the center of the two eyes. Use a ruler to find the center of this line, then draw a straight line down to the center of the thumb hole. Turn the ruler and mark the center of this line.

    • 2

      Place the bowling ball into the hoop of the bowling ball scale and stand over the scale closest to the balance beam. The ball should be placed face up with your center mark in the approximate middle. The thumb hole should point straight to your left with the finger holes aligning to the right, down the center of the two beams.

    • 3

      Slide the poise on the balance beam to zero. Move the weight measure on the weight beam until the scale is balanced.

    • 4

      Spin the ball 180 degrees in the scale so the thumb hole points straight right, down the center of the beams. If you must move the poise on the front balance beam to the right, then the ball is finger weighted in the amount you must move it. If you move it 2 pounds to the right, then the finger side of the ball is 2 pounds heavier than the thumb side.