Anyone who’s ever been to a bowling alley knows that bowling balls come in different weights, colors, and sizes.
Have you ever wondered how much the heaviest bowling balls weigh and what that weight means for your game?
In this article, we’ll answer your questions about what the heaviest bowling ball is and share everything else you’ll need to know about ball weights.
Contents1 What Is the Heaviest Bowling Ball?2 Is a Heavy Bowling Ball Better?3 Does Bowling Ball Weight Matter?
3.1 What Weight Bowling Ball Do Pros Use?4 How Do I Know if My Bowling Ball Is Too Heavy?4.1 You Can’t Lift It for an Extended Period4.2 Your Bowling Ball Is More Than 10% of Your Weight4.3 A Professional Said It’s Too Heavy4.4 You Can’t Roll Your Bowling Ball Accurately5 Pros and Cons of Using a Heavy Bowling Ball5.1 Pros5.2 Cons 5.3 Related Articles
Although it’s easy to assume that bowling balls are much heavier, the heaviest regulation bowling ball is only 16 pounds.
This is considered the legal limit for bowling balls, so you won’t see players using anything heavier during official games.
While you can still find bowling balls that are 17 pounds or more, they are extremely rare, and heavier bowling balls can’t be used for regulated games.
Is a Heavy Bowling Ball Better?
The lightest regulation bowling balls start at 6 pounds, while the heaviest weighing in at 16 pounds.
Typically, balls under 10 pounds (i.e., considered light bowling balls) are reserved for children, the elderly, or disabled players.
Adults bowlers usually use bowling balls that are between 12 to 16 pounds.
As you can see, the difference between the heaviest and lightest bowling ball is only 10 pounds.
Although this doesn’t seem like a lot of weight, it significantly impacts how you play.
The common consensus is that the heavier your bowling ball is, the better it is for your game.
Heavy balls can build up more momentum and crash into the pins with enough force to knock them down.
Does Bowling Ball Weight Matter?
Bowling ball weight matters because heavy balls are more likely to stay on trajectory and give you more control of your rolls.
On the other hand, lighter bowling balls aren’t able to generate as high of a velocity and are much more likely to deflect and bounce off of your pins instead of knocking them down.
The best bowling ball weight is 16 pounds, the heaviest bowling ball.
Even if you hit one pin, the weight and speed of a heavy bowling ball will help knock over the adjacent pins, leading to a higher percentage of strikes and spares.
What Weight Bowling Ball Do Pros Use?
Since the general rule is that heavier is better, most professional bowlers use the heaviest balls allowed.
Even though 16-pound bowling balls are traditionally used, some professional bowlers have recently switched to lighter 14 and 15-pound balls.
Another reason some professional bowlers are switching to lighter balls is that modern bowling balls are much more powerful than they were in the past.
Experienced bowlers can go down in weight without sacrificing playing ability.
Some are even able to bowl better with the lighter balls.
How Do I Know if My Bowling Ball Is Too Heavy?
Talk Bowling Episode 108 – Should I Use a Lighter Bowling Ball?Watch this video on YouTube
Choosing the right bowling ball weight can significantly impact your ability to bowl.
Before you decide on a bowling ball, hold your dominant arm tight against your body and extend your palm forward.
If your arm starts to shake, the bowling ball is too heavy for you, and you should try a ball that’s a pound or two lighter.
If you can hold the ball comfortably, you can repeat the process with a slightly heavier bowling ball.
Choose the heaviest ball that you can hold for a minute without straining.
When it comes to deciding which weight bowling ball to use, the general rule is to use a ball that is about 10% of your body weight.
Bowling balls only go up to 16 pounds, so both a 300-pound player and a 160-pound player would use a 16-pound ball.
A Professional Said It’s Too Heavy
If you’re a dedicated bowler, getting your bowling balls and shoes from a pro shop is one of the best things you can do for your game.
The experts at a professional bowling shop can walk you through the process of picking the perfect ball for your weight, frame, and ability.
They can also evaluate your current equipment and help you determine if it’s the correct size.
Many professional bowling shops also offer customization services, so they can alter the ball to suit your needs better.
The main purpose of picking a bowling ball of a particular weight is to help you play better.
Heavier balls tend to roll better than lighter ones, so use the heaviest ball you can retain total control over.
You need to both launch it with enough force to knock out your pins and control the ball’s trajectory.
Pros and Cons of Using a Heavy Bowling Ball
Although bowling with a heavier ball is typically recommended, it’s not right for everyone.
So, to help you decide, here are the pros and cons of using a heavy bowling ball instead of a lighter one.
Heavy bowling balls hit the pins with more force than lighter ones.
The heavier your bowling ball is, the more likely it is to knock down multiple pins.
Heavy bowling balls can improve your performance and make you look more experienced.
You’re more likely to injure yourself with a heavy bowling ball.
Heavy bowling balls require a lot of physical strength to roll.
Generating enough force to roll your ball is more difficult with a heavy bowling ball.
Aiming your shot can be more difficult with a heavy bowling ball than it would be with a lighter ball.
Heavy bowling balls create more wear and tear on your body and can cause bone and joint pain.
According to the PBA regulations, the heaviest bowling balls permitted are 16 pounds.
This weight gives bowlers more force and control and can help them maintain their competitive edge in competitions.
Although using a heavy bowling ball is better for your game, you should use whatever weight is best for you and your body.
To find out what works for you, take a trip to your local bowling alley and test out balls of different weights.
You’ll soon know what your ideal bowling ball weight is.Kira Byrd( CEO )Kira Byrd, who holds a B.S. in Accounting and operates as an Internal Auditor during the day, has been an enthusiastic bowler since she was a small kid.
Let us pose a quick scenario to you; you’ve just joined a hockey team, it’s the first practice, and as a beginner, you need ice skates in order to start.
Confused, you look around and see everyone forcing their feet into the same sized skate, regardless of their different needs and sizes.
Unfortunately, this is a common misconception that many beginner bowlers unknowingly fall into as they choose their bowling ball size and weight.
Many bowlers believe that one size of bowling ball does fit all and that this universal sizing is the heaviest ball you can possibly throw.
Now, we don’t know about you, but we certainly cringe at the thought of shoving our feet into skates that are three sizes too small and playing hockey in them.
So why should you force yourself to use a wrong-sized bowling ball to bowl?
The bowling ball is perhaps the most important piece of equipment you need to play bowling successfully, and having the right fit for sizing will do your game wonders.
As we mentioned before, there seems to be this false belief that you should be throwing with the heaviest ball, no matter what.
While throwing with a heavyweight can indeed be a goal, you need to make sure that you are using a weight that is comfortable for your body and working your way up to heavier weights, not just starting with them right off the bat.
Contents1 What Is the Heaviest Legal Bowling Ball Size for League Bowling?2 Why Does Bowling Ball Size Weight Matter?3 When Do You Know You Need to Change Your Bowling Ball Weight?4 How Heavy Should Your Bowling Ball Be?
How to Know Your Ball Is Too Heavy.4.1 Benefits and Drawbacks of Heavy Bowling Balls5 How to Know Your Ball Is Too Light5.1 Benefits and Drawbacks of Lightweight Bowling Balls6 Is There a Difference Between House Balls and Personally Drilled Balls?7 What Is Your Ideal Weight?8 Other Bowling Balls and Their Weight9 How do You Find Your Ideal Weight?9.1 How do you know what size bowling ball to get?9.2 How do you know if your ball is too heavy?9.3 How do I choose a bowling ball at the alley?9.4 Related Articles
What Is the Heaviest Legal Bowling Ball Size for League Bowling?
The heaviest legal ball you can use in bowling is a sixteen-pound ball, per USBC specifications and while some individuals may start off with this ball (which is great), others need to start with a ball that suits their body’s needs and work their way up to a heavier weight.
The more popular weights for adult bowlers tend to range between 10 to 15 pounds, with male averages coming in at 14 to 16 pounds and females averaging around 10 to 14 pounds.
Why Does Bowling Ball Size Weight Matter?
Having the right weight will allow you to throw consistent speeds that provide more pin action.
For example, if your ball is too heavy, you will slowly but surely lose speed as practice progresses, and your body is weighed down by the ball.
If your ball is too light, you will lose possible points from the lack of force you could be having with a heavier ball.
Having a heavier ball is always the goal since the impact of the ball is dependent on speed times mass.
You also want the weight that works best for you because of that speed factor.
If you can only throw high speeds at the beginning of practice with a heavier ball and then lose speed, you are better off switching to a lower weighted ball where you can keep your speeds consistent.
So if you can only throw a 16-pound ball at 10 mph as you practice (16×10=160), you would be better off with a 14-pound ball at 18 mph (14×18=252) for greater impact.
When Do You Know You Need to Change Your Bowling Ball Weight?
Knowing when you need to change your bowling ball weight is key to elevating your game and gaining consistent, predictable bowling.
Use a ball that is too light, and you decrease your pin impact and potential scores.
How Heavy Should Your Bowling Ball Be?
The biggest indicator that you are using a bowling ball that is too heavy for you is your own body.
Do you notice that the speed of your bowling ball drastically drops as you play more games, and your arm doesn’t have enough stamina to maintain consistent strong throws?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then chances are you are bowling with a ball that is too heavy for you.
Bowling with a heavy bowling ball can be great for your game, and working towards heavier weights is definitely a goal you want to strive for.
However, if you are injuring your body by using a heavy ball that you are not ready for, you are actually hurting your chances of getting to a point where you can use that ball comfortably.
The constant strain your muscles and joints undertake as they try to withstand a weight that they haven’t properly been prepared for can cause serious injury.
Listen to your body and work your way up the weights, keeping yourself at a comfortable level that doesn’t leave you sore and aching.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Heavy Bowling Balls
BenefitsDrawbacksA bowler has less control with heavy balls than with light bowling ballsThey tend to be more expensive than lightweight balls.They’re less forgiving if you don’t hit the pins dead-on.Heavyweight balls are more difficult to throw and can cause arm strain.It is easier to create a larger hook with a heavier bowling ball.You’re likely to get tired of bowling with heavy balls.Have less deflection as it goes through the pins.A bowler has less control with heavy balls than with light bowling ballsTable Showing Benefits and Drawbacks of Heavy Bowling Balls
If throwing your bowling ball feels consistently easy, then it might be time to move up a weight level.
Your goal should always be to (safely) move up in weight in bowling balls due to the force increase it provides you.
If your ball is feeling easily thrown or you find yourself maybe catching a lot of air as you throw it, then you have good indicators that you should try the next weight level up.
Try using a house ball with the next weight size up for a few practices and see how it changes your game.
If you are throwing well with minimal soreness, you should be good at looking for your own ball of that weight.
BenefitsDrawbacksAre made from softer materials like rubber making them light for both kids and adults.They’re not be as durable as heavier balls and may need to be replaced more frequentlyLess expensive compared to heavyweight balls.It’s challenging to achieve the perfect ball deflection.They’re not as durable as heavier balls and may need to be replaced more frequentlyRequires more speed and momentum to achieve the same results as a heavier ball.They’re more likely to hook or split if you don’t hit the pins perfectlyTable Showing Benefits and Drawbacks of Lightweight Bowling Balls
Is There a Difference Between House Balls and Personally Drilled Balls?
Ask any expert bowler, and they will tell you that using a house ball versus a ball drilled especially for you makes a huge difference.
When you use a ball tailored to fit your needs, it helps distribute the weight better, gives you a more solid grip, and helps you control the action of the ball better.
Many bowlers have claimed that they can use bowling balls up to two pounds heavier when comparing their custom-made grip bowling balls to house balls.
House bowling balls are drilled to fit varying finger sizes and grip types and are, therefore, more general in the support and grip they can offer you.
While house balls are great with preliminary tests to find the right weight for you, if you intend to take bowling seriously, then you should look into getting a custom-made ball.
The difference your personal grip will make for your weight limit will help your score a great deal.
We’ve talked about how to know if you are using a ball that is too heavy and if you are using a ball that is too light, but when do you know that you have found a ball that is just right?
The goal of any serious bowler is to find a ball weight that can be your go-to ball, one that gives you a great amount of reaction, control, and predictability as you use it throughout the night.
Most importantly, the ball needs to be at a weight that doesn’t physically wear you down as you progress with games.
As we mentioned before, heavy bowling balls decrease your stamina throughout the night and tire out your muscles quicker, resulting in a loss of speed, control, and aim.
You also want to avoid a light ball as well so you can score a higher number of points per game, resulting in the need for a middle-ground ball.
The ideal weight for your ball should provide enough weight that you are able to generate a good amount of force with it while preserving your speed and stamina as you bowl through the night.
You want a ball that keeps you at a level of comfort and doesn’t strain your muscles and joints as you use it for an extended period of time, whether it is one night of practice or throughout a whole season.
House bowling balls are a great way to narrow down your zone of comfort without spending too much money.
Just remember that there is a notable difference between house ball weights and personalized ball weights.
Bowling balls vary depending on the type of game you’re playing.
Ten Pin Bowling- is widely known, and it’s what you think about when someone mentions bowling.
Ten Pin balls are typically performance or non-performance balls with 3 finger holes.
Duck Pin Bowling- is slightly different in pin shape/size and ball than the Ten Pin bowling specifications.
Duck Pin bowling balls weigh between 3lbs 6oz and 3lbs 12oz and it’s fingerless, with no holes.
The Candlepin bowling balls are a smaller ball, has no holes, and has a max weight of 2lbs 7oz.
So now that you know how to recognize the different ways your body can respond to weight types, how do you go about finding your ideal weight?
Or, you could just use a method that helps you locate the proper weight for your bowling ball and work up from there, stopping at your body’s comfort level.
However, just to be safe, you may want to read the method most bowlers use to find their starting weight.
The process of finding the right starting weight for you in bowling really comes down to a simple math equation.
You take your body weight in pounds and divide it by eleven, rounding to the nearest whole number.
Once you have your starting number, it is usually a good idea to even start a few pounds lighter than that number and work your way up to heavier weights based on your body.
In order to find your starting weight, you take 150 and divide it by 11, getting an answer of 13.63.
Since we are rounding to the nearest whole number, the starting weight of your ball would be fourteen, but you should start with a 13 or 12 and work your way up to a 14 over the course of practice to make sure it is the right fit for you.
So now that we’ve discussed why the right weight in your bowling ball is important, how to recognize that you need to change your bowling ball weight and how to find the ideal weight for you to use when bowling, we hope you take these skills out into the bowling world and put them in to practice.
Be patient as you experiment with different weights.
As you get stronger, your bowling weight may change and grow heavier, or you might reach an equilibrium of weight.
How do you know what size bowling ball to get?
The 10 percent rule of thumb states a bowler should bowl with a bowling ball that’s 10% of their body’s weight.
If you are 140 lbs, you should bowl with a 14 pound ball.
How do you know if your ball is too heavy?
How do you know if your ball is too heavy?
The weight of the ball should be evenly distributed in your hand.
Your arm should be comfortably extended when you bowl.
If you have to reach or strain to throw the ball, it is probably too heavy.
If you find yourself clutching the ball tightly or tensing up when you swing, the weight of the ball may be too much for you.
If your back, arm or shoulder starts to hurt after bowling a few games, the ball is likely too heavy.
By the fitting of the finger holes and weight.
Choosing a bowling ball from the alley is convenient for new bowlers who haven’t purchased a customized ball.
Unlike customized balls, house balls are not drilled for your specific hand span and finger sizes.
So when choosing a bowling ball at the alley, it’s important to choose a ball that allow your fingers to comfortably enter and pulled out of the holes effortlessly and maintain a secure grip.
In addition, the bowling ball should be the ideal comfortable weight (not too heavy and not too light)
What Fingers Do You Use to Bowl
Having a strong, consistent speed will help you generate more force at the point of pin impact, gaining you better results in your scoring.
It is also important to remember throughout this process that you need to listen to your body.
Overextending your limits as you work to find your bowling ball weight can lead to strains, tears, sprains, and other related injuries.
Don’t be afraid to take it easy and enjoy the process of finding your ideal bowling ball weight.
Kira started Bowling for Beginners to teach new bowlers the game and help them improve their skills.
Kira started Bowling for Beginners to teach new bowlers the game and help them improve their skills.