What Do You Prefer: Heavy Bowling Ball or Light Bowling Ball?

Heavy Bowling Ball or Light Bowling Ball! Do you know your ideal bowling ball weight? According to the universal bowling ball calculator, your bowling ball should be 10% of your body weight, and then add 1 with that number. Voila! You have your correct ball weight! What do you prefer: Heavy bowling balls or light bowling balls? What if a bowler is more comfortable using a lighter bowling ball than the ideal weight?

Well, if you want, or if you have any restrictions due to any health condition, you can go a size (weight) up or down. But every bowler should be aware of what happens when a lighter or heavier bowling ball is used. Hence, this article. I will tell you everything you need to know about heavy and light bowling balls.

What is the Heaviest Bowling ball?

Heaviest Bowling ball= 16 lbs bowling ball

Most USBC and PBA professional bowlers use 16 lbs bowling balls. 16-pound bowling balls are considered the heaviest bowling ball. Bowling balls cannot be any heavier than 16 pounds, no matter how dense the material is. 

Is 16 lbs bowling ball too heavy?

Ask a kid or a preteen to carry a 16-pound ball. What do you think they will do? Yes, it is almost impossible to carry a heavier bowling ball let alone bowl with it. But ask an adult to carry that 16 lbs ball. If they are average bowlers with no physical restrictions, carrying a 16 lbs bowling ball is nothing impossible. 

To know whether a bowling ball is too heavy for you or not, you have to make a quick and easy calculation. Most of us know how much we weigh, don’t we? If you don’t, just stand on a weight scale and see the number that shows on the screen. Now, to find out the best ball weight for yourself, you have to calculate 10% of your weight and add 1 with that number. 

The USBC-approved universal bowling formula goes something like this: 

Standard bowling ball weight is = (10% of your body weight + 1). 

Let’s assume, you weigh 140 lbs. So 10% of your body weight will be 14. Now adding 1 with 14 will give you (14+1)= 15. So, a 15-pound bowling ball will be ideal for you. So what will be a heavier bowling ball for you? A 16-pound bowling ball. That would feel a bit too heavy. 

If you attempt to use that heavier 16 lbs bowling ball, you won’t to able to swing your ball with comfort and mess up your follow through every time you throw. Let’s not forget how damaging a heavier bowling ball can be for your hands and body. So, yes, a 16 lbs bowling ball is too heavy if that’s not the ideal weight for you. For people who are over 150 lbs, a 16 lbs bowling ball wouldn’t be a problem to bowl with. Always remember, a bowling ball should never feel too light or too heavy, it will have just the right amount of weight.

Is Heavy Bowling Ball Better: How Do You Measure?

According to the regulation of the United States Bowling Congress, the heaviest bowling ball stands at 16 pounds whereas the lightest bowling ball can be as light as 6 pounds. Based on how much a bowler weighs and how much physical strength the bowler has, any size can be the right fit. So if are you wondering whether a heavier bowling ball will be better in terms of performance or not, let me elaborate on a few things. 

Strikes: 

When a player bowls, their main target is to get as many strikes as possible because only strikes can ensure a high final score and a good average. When it comes to strikes, heavy bowling balls win. Why? Because the weight block of a heavier bowling ball carries a significant amount of kinetic power and the weight allows it to roll on the lane. The weight can store the energy quite intact. So even after providing enough lengths, a heavier bowling ball doesn’t lose its pin-hitting energy.

And thanks to that intact ‘extra energy’, you can achieve more strikes. A lighter bowling ball cannot do any of these besides serving the purpose of rolling straight. So your chances of getting strikes are a lot higher using a heavy ball compared to a lightweight bowling ball. 

Hooking Ability: 

If you’re already an advanced bowler, I am guessing you have already started with your hooking, haven’t you? After bowling for a while, it is normal to expect your bowling ball to hook more for a better average. And what kind of bowling ball can ensure that?

A heavy bowling ball! Most of the high hook potential bowling ball weighs more than 14 lbs. These bowling balls come with unique cores on the inside that make the magic happen on the lane. When you throw a heavy bowling ball, it makes a smooth or sharp angular motion at the breakpoint and hit the right pocket to knock all of the pins down. Lighter bowling balls tend to go straighter to hit the headpins on the face without making any hooking motion

Speed: 

If you’re a speed dominant bowler, you’ll immediately notice that a heavier bowling ball is a bit slow. Because a heavier bowling ball has more gravitational force, it imparts more energy. This makes the ball slow down a little. But don’t worry, this is actually why a heavier bowling ball ensures better shots for strikes.

Impact: 

Do you know how much a bulldozer weighs? A whopping 60,000-150,000 pounds! The hard solid buildings need that kind of weight for breaking down. Similarly, how much impact the bowling ball pins will face, depends on the bowling ball’s weight. The heavier the bowling ball, the higher the impact. Because lighter balls don’t have enough inertia, they cannot hit the pins with much impact. So, heavier bowling balls win this round. For hitting the pins like a bulldozer on a building. 

Control: 

In terms of controllability, lighter bowling balls win this round! Unfortunately, heavier bowling balls are hard to control. I believe you can recall you could control your straight balls better, couldn’t you? That’s because those were lighter bowling balls. So to be fully able to control a heavy ball, you have to learn to get used to its movement. This is why the standard bowling ball weight is paramount for optimum gameplay.

Ball Swing: 

Due to the weight, bowlers are more comfortable with their freehand swing with a heavy bowling ball. Heavy bowling balls allow you to have more pounds per square inch. That’s not the case with lighter bowling balls. If you know some basic physics, you will understand this clearly. With a heavier bowling ball, you don’t need to push the ball with your hand when it gets released. 

Deflection: 

Less deflection is one of the major advantages of heavy bowling balls that every bowler love. When these heavy balls go through the pins, they provide less deflection than any lightweight bowling balls. As a result, heavy bowling balls can significantly enhance your carry percentage which leads to better accuracy.

Comfortability: 

If you love to bowl with better comfort, you should go for a pound lighter bowling ball. Wrist strains and physical discomfort is more common with heavier bowling balls. So, naturally, you’re more prone to injure your wrist while playing with a heavier ball. When you injure your wrist, it pacts your rev rate and bowling speed. If you’re someone who always bowls with a heavy bowling ball, try to wear a wrist guard for adequate protection.

Tiredness/soreness: 

Bowling may look like it doesn’t require many physical activities. But that’s not the truth. It actually requires a lot of physical movement and warm-up exercises. Are you just getting started with a heavy bowling ball? Then let me warn you, you will be tired or sore after a few games. Because heavier balls need more energy to roll and throw around, bowlers need to put a lot more force onto the ball. 

So what do you think? Is a heavier ball better than a lighter bowling ball? What would you prefer? If you’re currently using a lightweight bowling ball because you’re a beginner, then stick to that for now. Once you think you’re ready for a heavy bowling ball, you will appreciate what it can do to improve your bowling score.

What is the lightest bowling ball?

Lightest Bowling Ball= 6 lbs bowling ball

Bowling balls can be as light as 6 pounds. Lighter bowling balls are usually used by kids who just want to have fun in the bowling alley while the adults are bowling with their correct weight bowling balls. Kids who are very new to bowling can learn the basic rules of bowling sport while playing with a 6-pound bowling ball. 

The lighter range of bowling balls is considered those that weigh between 6 to 10 pounds. Indeed, house balls can be anywhere between 6 to 16 pounds, but kids under the age of 9 should go for the lighter bowling balls. Preteens or teens can use bowling balls that weigh between 10 to 14 pounds based on their skills and strength. 

Is a 10 or less pound bowling ball too light?

If you ask a fully-grown adult, what would feel like very light bowling balls, they will immediately say that anything lighter than 10 pounds is way too light. But are they too light for a young bowler who is under the age of 10? Not at all. Due to their physical ability, a 10 or less pound ball is the perfect weight for them. 

So, yes, if an adult decides to play with a bowling ball that is too light for them, they won’t even be able to throw with enough force. On top of that, the bowling balls won’t react the way adults expect them to react. A lighter bowling ball will hardly have enough kinetic energy to knock down the pins. So with a lighter ball, an adult bowler will never see satisfactory strikes because they are not enough impactful. Lighter bowling balls cannot carry sufficient power, and have low speed and low hook potential. Plus, it is even illegal for grown-up bowlers to use lighter bowling balls during league games or tournaments.

FAQs Of What Do You Prefer: Heavy Bowling Ball or Light Bowling Ball! 

Does a heavier bowling ball roll faster?

• Contrary to what some might think, a heavier bowling ball actually rolls slower than a lighter one because it imparts more energy on the lane, which is why it tends to strike more pins​​.

How can I tell if my bowling ball is too heavy?

• If you’re unable to hold the ball in the palm of your bowling hand without your arms or hand shaking, it’s probably too heavy for you. Additionally, if the ball is dictating your body’s direction, it’s likely too heavy​​.

What is the lightest bowling ball one can use in competitions?

• For competition, the lightest bowling ball allowed is nine pounds, although balls as light as six pounds exist, primarily for use by children outside of competitive play​​.

Is it better to use a lighter or heavier bowling ball?

• The choice between a lighter and heavier bowling ball comes down to personal preference, desired play level, and experience. However, heavier balls generally offer more striking power and maintain their course through the pins better, leading to higher chances of knocking all the pins down​​​​.

What factors should I consider when deciding on the weight of a bowling ball?

• Consider your physical strength, skill level, and style of play. Players with greater physical strength or those seeking to maximize impact may prefer heavier balls, while beginners or those with less strength may find lighter balls easier to handle and control​​.

Conclusion

Ideally, you should choose a bowling ball that neither feels too heavy nor too light. Bowling ball weight that is standard for you, can either be on the lighter side or on the heavier side. But preference does matter. What a bowler is more comfortable with matters the most. I have pointed out the advantages of a heavy and a light bowling ball. So what do you prefer: a heavy bowling ball or a light bowling ball? Whatever you prefer, make sure you are consistent with your ball weight. Go for a pound lighter, if it feels a bit too heavy, and go for a pound heavier if the ball feels a bit too light. Good luck, my fellow bowlers!