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
What Is the Heaviest Bowling Ball?
What Is the Heaviest Bowling Ball?
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.
In the past, bowling balls were made from a wider variety of materials and could be much heavier.
It wasn’t uncommon to see 18 or 20-pound bowling balls being used by experienced players.
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.
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.
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.
Some are even able to bowl better with the lighter balls.
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.
Here are a few tips for determining whether your bowling ball is too heavy.
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.
Choose the heaviest ball that you can hold for a minute without straining.
Your Bowling Ball Is More Than 10% of Your Weight
Bowl Better With Brunswick – Choosing The Proper Ball WeightWatch this video on YouTube
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.
Alternatively, someone who weighs 90 pounds should use a ball that weighs 9 pounds.
This is just a general recommendation, so ultimately, you should go with whatever ball is comfortable for you to play with, whether it meets this requirement or not.
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.
Many professional bowling shops also offer customization services, so they can alter the ball to suit your needs better.
You Can’t Roll Your Bowling Ball Accurately
The main purpose of picking a bowling ball of a particular weight is to help you play better.
So, being able to roll your bowling ball accurately and efficiently should be your primary concern.
Heavier balls tend to roll better than lighter ones, so use the heaviest ball you can retain total control over.
If you can’t do that, it might be a sign that your current ball is too heavy.
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.
Heavy balls give you a smooth swing.
The heavier your bowling ball is, the more likely it is to knock down multiple pins.
Heavier balls have significant hooking potential, which makes them great for pickup up spares.
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.
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.
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.
When you are in the market for a new bowling ball, you must consider the weight.
Bowling balls come in different weights, but the heaviest weighs 16 pounds.
Currently, the 16 pounds is the heaviest bowling ball allowed in an official game.
In comparison, the lightest ball weighs 6 pounds.
However, it’s possible to find bowling balls weighing over 16 pounds.
In the old days, experienced bowlers used balls weighing 17 to 20 pounds.
Does the Weight of a Bowling Ball Matter?
Does the Weight of a Bowling Ball Matter?
Bowling ball weight matters a lot when it comes to maintaining control of the ball and the trajectory of your roll.
It’s easier for a heavier ball to keep rolling down the alley than a lighter one.
Similarly, heavier balls can generate a higher velocity and knock down the pins than lighter balls.
On the other hand, lighter balls are likely to swerve and bounce off from the pins.
Adult bowlers use balls in the range of 12 to 16 pounds.
A heavier ball improves your chances of hitting more pins.
Even if you were to hit 1 pin with your heavy ball, the weight, and speed of the ball will aid in knocking down adjacent pins, making it easier for you to hit more strikes and spares.
If the weight of a bowling ball matters, how do you know if it’s too heavy?
How to Know if the Bowling Ball is too Heavy
How to Know if the Bowling Ball is too Heavy
Choosing the right size (weight) of a bowling ball is a step closer to getting good bowling scores.
Here are some hints to help tell if your ball is too heavy.
The best strategy for choosing the weight of a bowling ball is to pay attention to your well-being and be sincere with yourself.
Test your physical abilities; if you can bowl a 16-pound ball repeatedly for several games without tiring or risking injuring yourself, then the weight is okay.
However, if you realize that you are struggling to finish a game when doing a 16-pound ball, consider downsizing one or a couple of pounds.
Choose a ball that is comfortable for you to throw consistently and make good scores.
Here is a good test of the perfect ball weight for you;
Hold the bowling ball in your hand for a minute or two.
If your hand starts shaking, the ball is too weighty for you.
Switch the ball with one that is a pound or two lighter and notice the difference.
From the test above, settle for a ball you can comfortably hold without straining for a minute or two.
3. Inability to roll the ball accurately
The correct size of a bowling ball is one that you can comfortably roll to generate enough force to knock down your pins and maintain the ball’s trajectory.
If you can’t roll the ball efficiently, it might signal that it’s too heavy for you.
If you are still unsure whether a ball is too heavy, visit a professional bowler’s shop for guidance.
The experts at the store will guide you on settling for the perfect ball size for your weight and ability.
Sometimes, the expert might customize your current ball to suit your needs.
Pros and Cons of Bowling with a Heavy Ball
Pros and Cons of Bowling with a Heavy Ball
Bowling with a weighty ball is not fit for everyone!
To help you make an informed decision, here are the pros and cons of bowling with a heavy ball;
A heavy ball offers you a smooth swing.
Heavy balls build up more momentum when rolling and end up knocking down the pins with more force than lighter balls.
A heavier bowling ball has a higher chance of knocking down multiple pins.
Heavier balls hook well than lighter ones, making the former ideal for picking up spares.
Bowling with a heavy ball can help you improve your bowling performance faster than bowlers using lighter balls.
If you aren’t careful, you can easily suffer injuries when bowling with a heavy ball than when you’re using a lighter ball.
You need physical strength to roll down the heavy ball.
You are likely to suffer from bone, and joint pains as heavy bowling balls lead to more wearing and tearing of your body.
What Size (Weight) of Ball Do Pro Bowlers Use?
Most professional bowlers subscribe to the general rule; the heavier the ball, the better.
This is because heavier balls keep their swings smooth and give them a powerful impact.
However, in recent times, professional bowlers have been moving from the 16 pounds ball to 14 and 15-pound bowling balls.
The 14 to 15-pound balls are less strenuous on the bowler’s back, shoulders, wrists, and legs.
With most bowling league seasons going for up to 30 weeks, little weight balls help to keep the players going.
Experienced bowlers can go for less weighty balls without sacrificing their playing abilities.
In some cases, some players bowl better with lighter balls than heavier ones.
Can I increase the weight of a bowling ball?
Yes, it is possible to increase the weight of a bowling ball.
However, you can only increase the static weight of a bowling ball with the help of weight bearings.
It’s worth mentioning that most pro shops do not approve of the addition of static weights to a bowling ball.
Similarly, top leagues also prohibit the use or addition of bowling balls with additional weights.
According to the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association), the heaviest bowling ball allowed is 16 pounds.
However, some bowlers are now going for less weighty balls and are still performing.
When choosing your bowling ball, choose the weight that works best for your body.
A bowling center often provides a variety of house balls, all with different gripping holes and bearing different weights.
Chances are those house balls will not fit your gripping fingers properly, nor will they be of a suitable weight.
That’s why serious bowlers often carry their own bowling balls around—balls that are tailor-made for them.
It is also worth knowing that custom-made balls that fit you better feel lighter and much easier to use than any house ball.
This is because with a house ball, you really can’t guarantee a good fit and hygiene.
Since everyone is different, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the entire bowling ball weight matter.
Some prefer heavier balls as they tend to generate more power.
They believe that a heavier ball results in more pin carry action and back-end violence, thus increasing the chances of a strike.
On the other hand, others would much rather go for a lighter-weight ball to conserve their power and last for a marathon session of bowling.
What is the Best Bowling Ball Weight?
What is the Best Bowling Ball Weight?
A child wouldn’t find a 16-pound ball comfortable, to say the least.
Similarly, an adult wouldn’t be able to maximize his results and fulfill his potential using a 6-pound ball.
Throwing heavy balls (15 to 16 pounds or heavier) for extended periods only to feel sore later will not do you any good.
Aside from the weight, bowling balls for kids are also easier to control since they are meant for beginners.
Adult bowlers who are in decent shape can choose a 13-pound ball and above.
Since they are physically fit, they can pick a bowling ball from any weight range, and it’s often just a question of which they’re most comfortable using.
They also need not shy away from using a full weight bowling ball.
After all, heavier balls have predictable movement, are easier to control, and tend to generate more power.
Senior citizens shouldn’t bowl with heavy balls because they should put as little strain on their body as possible.
Because of their decreased arm strength, a senior bowler is advised to use balls not weighing more than 13 pounds, so using a house bowling ball (which is often heavier than 13 pounds) might not be a good idea.
There are actually balls released specifically for aged bowlers.
If you are not sure, ask your local pro shop for recommendations on bowling ball options for seniors.
What’s the lightest and heaviest ball you can use?
The maximum ball weight that is allowed in professional competitions is 16 pounds.
Since the lightest bowling ball is 6 pounds, bowlers have a range of 10 pounds to determine the most suitable bowling ball weight.
Why use the right bowling ball weight?
If you can bowl with a heavy ball correctly for extended periods, you can benefit tremendously and see improvements in your game.
Heavier balls have more pin carry action and back-end violence, leading to more strikes.
Failure to identify the right bowling ball weight or using a heavier ball may also be detrimental to your well-being.
When you are uncomfortable with throwing a heavy ball, your form will suffer.
Lighter balls, as I mentioned earlier, maybe easier to control, but they don’t have the force and resistance to generate the appropriate pin carry action and thus, knock down all bowling pins.
A lighter ball restricts your ability and would be better reserved for spares.
What Ball Weight Do Professional Bowlers Use?
Previously, all professionals were unanimously in agreement that heavier balls performed better.
Thus, almost all used a 16-pound ball, which is the maximum weight permitted for competitions.
A 16-pound ball isn’t the go-to option anymore.
Reliable reports indicate that around 70% of adult male pros use 15-pound balls these days.
There are those who prefer balls weighing 14 pounds, too.
Meanwhile, female professionals, on average, resort to a ball weight of 14 pounds to get the job done.
Balls weighing 14 pounds have enough power, but are still considerably light.
When it comes to determining the best bowling ball weight for you, you are your best judge.
Pay attention to your body and learn how it responds when you bowl with balls of various weight ranges.
If it gets uncomfortable for you after a short time, consider using a lighter ball.
Bowling better requires you to find the ideal bowling ball weight, not the heaviest bowling ball.