What Pound Bowling Ball to Use

The first thing you need to consider when choosing a bowling ball is the weight of the ball. Many inexperienced bowlers unintentionally use a bowl that is either too heavy or too light. This can cause you to lose control of the ball and may even lead to an injury. Once you are bowling with the correct ball, you will notice an improvement in scores and less pain in your throwing arm.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by doing the math. The old adage when choosing a bowling ball weight is that you should use a ball that is 10 percent of your body weight. In other words, if you weigh 150 pounds, you would use a 15 pound bowling ball. This equation is a good starting point when choosing bowling ball weight.

    • 2

      Know what type of ball you throw. If you are a bowler who rolls a straight ball, you should consider using a ball that is a pound or two heavier so that you'll get more pin action. Somebody who throws a curve would benefit from a lighter bowling ball. This makes hooking the ball an easier task.

    • 3

      Pay attention to the ball as you release it. If the ball falls off your fingers and palm too early, that's a sign that you're using a ball that is too heavy. When your bowling ball hangs in the air before making it's decent towards the pins, that means you're using too light a ball.

    • 4

      Notice any discomfort or pain you experience when bowling. If your wrist, elbow or forearm is very sore after bowling a round, you may be using a ball that is too heavy for you. Pain in your shoulder can be caused by overthrowing an overly light bowling ball or putting too much strain on the shoulder by using too heavy a ball.

    • 5

      Practice with several different bowling ball weights until you find the one that is perfect for you. Doing this is the only way that you will know the exact weight you should use. If you've done the math from Step 1 and concluded that you should start off with a 14 pound ball, practice with balls weighing 12 to 16 pounds. Chances are that one of those will be the most comfortable and useful for you while bowling.