How strong are you? Can you throw a 16 lb bowling ball across a lane and knock down pins with precision? How old are you? Well, if you're 6 years old, then you're probably not going to be chucking a 16 lb ball down an alley with very much precision. What you've probably heard before, is that you want your bowling ball to be the same or around 10% of your age up to 16 lbs. If you're 6 years old then you would want a 6-7lb ball, if you're 7 then you'd want a 7-9 lb ball and so on and so forth. But, is it really that simple to just match the weight with your age? Is your age the key factor? Is there even a key factor at all? Another method is to add one or two pounds to the weight of the house ball you normally use. A heavier ball drilled specifically to your hand will seem to weigh about the same as a house ball two pounds lighter. Even with these guidelines, you should never use a ball too heavy just because you feel you should. The real ideal ball weight is the heaviest ball you can comfortably throw.

It really isn't a big secret as to which weight of bowling ball to use. It really does depends on the user. If you're really strong you'd probably want a little heavier ball, one that ranges from 12-16 lbs. If you aren't that strong and you struggle with a heavy ball when throwing it down the lane, then I'd definitely suggest one that ranges from 6-11 lbs. Whichever the case may be, if the ball doesn't feel comfortable for you in anyway, then switch it to another one. If the finger holes are too loose, grab one with tighter finger holes. Getting the holes adjusted to your fingers specifically makes such a huge impact on whether a ball will feel right or not. A ball drilled specifically to your hand gives you more control and also significantly decreases the risk of injury.

You can go ahead and do all your research on why a heavier ball is better than a lighter ball or vice versa, but on what it really comes down to is how comfortable that bowling ball is for you, and only you know what bowling ball feels best in your hand. When you first hold (and release) a ball drilled to your hand, you might be afraid it doesn’t fit. This is because the house balls you’re used to don’t fit. With a little practice, your new ball will prove to be infinitely more comfortable and controllable than a pre-drilled house ball.

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