I’m 34 and a PBA member, and going down to 14 is probably the best decision I’ve made in my bowling life. I see virtually no difference upon pin impact, and the light weight in my hand has made control and accuracy MUCH better. Plus it helps with my back swing since I don’t have a high back swing to begin with. I’m not surprised in the least that several pros on tour are dropping to 14.
I like a 12 lbs plastic for the 10 pin and the 2-10 split. I can throw it like a rocket strait for the 10 and the 12 lbs ball bounces between 2-10 easily. If its a 6-8 split I use the weakest resin ball. Plastic dont handle the line up good. 14 lbs is my strike ball.
I just dropped down to 13 lbs. I’ve been using 14 lbs for years. First 3 games with the lighter ball I averaged 180+. Seconds set I shot 692. Been bowling great with it ever since. My average is 202 and 204 with it. I’m 67 now and to be truthful it’s more fun bowling again.
@mikeprice4388, I just started bowling again after a 35+ year break due to injuries and two back surgeries and decided to drop down to a 14lb ball instead of the 15lb & 16lb balls I used to bowl with and within the first two weeks of switching, I bowled a new personal best game and league series of 263, and a 691 (229, 232, & 230), so I’m glad I made the change. A couple weeks later during a practice session I threw another new game high of 280, and between two games, I threw 12 strikes in a row, so I’m hopeful that I can still reach my goal of getting at least one 300 game in the near future. I turned 68 two days ago. My other goal is to reach a 200+ average in league games, as my highest average so far in league games has been 187, so you’re ahead of me there. I need to get better at always getting my spares. I did manage to pick up a 6, 7, 10 spare today while bowling with my Son on Father’s Day. Keep on rolling that bowling ball as long as you can! It’s good to know that so many people our age are still bowling, and doing it as well as you are.
I'm 56 and have gone from 16 to 15 now considering 14. Promising snippet for me was the light hit @ 11:25, you still had enough to carry the 5 pin. Great video.
Thanks for the ball weight comparison video. I have plenty of speed and revrate at 15lbs at my current age and physical condition. I may ball down to 14lbs in a few years when I get into my 60s.
Going through the years and the military I had to drop to a 14lb myself. I have not had any issues with it . I have love the weight and have done well with it. Thank You for the information with the difference. Keep it coming.
I'm 68 and switched to 14 a few years ago because I was simply leaving way too many 10 pins. The very first event after changing I won (Grand Senior Australian Open) and it was 12 games before I left a 10 pin. You do leave more 7's and 4's but there easy to pick up and your able to get it back from the dry. As the lanes get wetter I go up in weight as I did when I won in Malaysia. Your actually to strong and young to be bowling 14's. I only bowl maybe a dozen times a year and still able to average 215 and a local event 231. So the lighter ball is great as you get older.
I think it’s more important to match weight up with your body, I’m 22 and use a 14 because I weigh around 145 and I injured my wrist and had to take a month off of bowling before I could come back. After healing I can reliably throw 14 without hurting my wrist but 15 and 16 are out of the question for me unless I just want to make it harder to bowl comfortably.
@@SeaJackson Overall I agree. We see the value in finding the right layout for our game, but don't spend any time matching weight to bowler. Maybe most (male) bowlers should be 15, but people like me who are thin-wristed weaklings might benefit from 14. Real big dudes might benefit from 16. Whatever is most comfortable is probably most likely to give the best combo of power + accuracy.
This is the info and video I needed. After taking about 7 years off, I started to get back into it. I’m 51 now, but 7+ years ago, I was throwing 15lbs np with sn average of 198. Starting to throw again, I immediately noticed by the third game, my right wrist/hand started to get sore. I’m sure it has a little to do with the/my grip changing over the years, that the ball isn’t perfect for my fingers anymore, but the stress from the weight on my wrist was definitely noticeable. I have larger hands with thinner wrists, so that doesn’t help. I’ve been looking at getting a new ball and getting a 14lb one instead of a 15lb. I heard all the horror stories of the 10 pin/wont carry, but in the end, if I can practice and learn how to throw the lighter weighted ball, I will feel better, bowl better and not be in pain the next day. Thank you for the informative video!
I went to 14lbs 6 years ago and have never thought about going back. I feel I can control it quite a bit better as a one-handed, no-thumb bowler Btw BrunsNick - THANK YOU got my NU Blue and Black Widow 2.0 hybrid and LOVE THEM. The Black Widow is a bad, bad man - I felt like I could see it digging into the oil and looking for some pins to hurt
@@johnholladay9769Good luck John! I wish I could post a video, b/c I had my son video a shot I took last weekend with it. Despite not having huge speed (14.5-15mph at the pins), you can see the ball flare through the oil, dig in, pick up, turn and head for the head pin like it has a score to settle. And the continuation through the pins clearly showed it was ready to do some damage! The ball needs to see oil though. I bowled in the same house a week before on a beat-up house shot and for my skill-level (190-200 avg throwing one-hand, no-thumb), the ball was uncontrollable; there was nothing I could do to keep it to the right of the headpin. So be careful out there and have fun! 😉
@tonyneuman1500 I gotcha! I'm a 190 avg bowler on our Tues night league play, but yeah my issue has been certain night the oil pattern changes and it's very heavy in my line. I def needed a more aggressive ball to drive though it and have that back end break to barrel through the pins. Hoping I can get it this weekend and get some practice with it before Tues night. Thanks for the insight!
Use the weight that optimizes your game and makes you hit flush most consistently. A 12lb hitting dead flush is still better than a 16lb missing the headpin right or going through the nose. Too light and you'll muscle your swing which leads to inconsistency. Too heavy, and you'll have trouble producing good ball roll and wont be able to take advantage of the oil.
I used to use 15 but as I got older I made the switch to 14 lb before I injured myself. I figured if I am going to bowl as a senior I might as well make the switch early and just get used to it. I do see a difference between 14 and 15 with the same ball. For me a 15 is earlier and smoother while a 14 tends to be longer and sharper. But these are subtle differences. My all time high series and high games and most strikes in a row were all done with 14 lbs.
I dropped to 14 last league I was bowling and it made a huge difference in overall endurance and enjoyment. Faster revs for sure as well as just being able to perform better for longer. I was worried about it carrying as much as 15 or I wanted it to and had no issues.
I switched from 15 to 14 as an experiment. First 14 pounder was a Nova. 8, 700 series in a row and I will not be switching back anytime soon. Feels like the 14 hit so much harder. And 2 years before I was laughing at the guy with the 14 pound ball 😂. More control more speed and more accuracy wild.
I have 14 and 15 lb equipment, moved up in weight after I started bowling. Definitely agree with not being able to feel the ball as well when moving back down in weight, especially with asym cores in the ball. My 15 feels a lot heavier than the 14 but it's just the weight distribution being different.
I think it all comes down to consistency. If by the end of your session you are muscling it too much, or your fingers have swollen to the point of pain or a compromised fit, then I think it's clear that going down to a 14 from the start could be wise. Especially if the cores are the same. Not to mention, if you only have enough budget or room in your bag for a few balls then a lighter ball that gives you the ability to more easily dial in ball speed based on lane conditions could be beneficial.....aaaaaaaaand I just talked myself into it.
I had to go down to 14 from 16 pounds about a year ago due to developing arthritis in my hands. Thought I was going to leave pocket 8-10 splits all day. But technology has gotten really good with this new equipment. 14 hits really good, to my surprise.
I have a fairly low rev rate, about 225-250rpm. I dropped from 15lb to 14lb in the summer of 2019. I checked my stats and my pocket carry percentage in a house shot league in 2018-2019 was 71%. So far this year it's exactly the same, 71%. Looking at what pins I leave, I haven't really seen a change in 10 pins or 4 pins, it's just been more 7 pins and fewer 9 pins. Throwing 14 has helped me improve my release -- even though I am still not getting a lot on it, it's a little higher rev rate than before, but also I'm able to keep my hand in a better position throughout the swing. This helps med stay behind it longer and not come around it early. (I actually tend to be too up the back of it at times now!) That's improved my accuracy and consistency, and it's letting me get a better ball motion on sport shots in particular.
The only real issue I have had in my short experience with 14s is when I have to get inside 4th arrow. The half pocket hits never carried well due to the lack of continuation through the pins. My first 300 was with a 14 pound Black Rhino playing around 7-8 at the arrows. I figure that lower rev rates will see a more defined difference than someone with rev rates more than 350-400. But even with my rev rate, I did not see much of a difference at the pins until I had to play deeper inside.
Had to switch to 14lb after experiencing to much back and wrist issues. I can bowl again! The only thing about 14lb is the specs can differ quite a lot from the 15lb depending on the brand.
I tried going from 15 to 14 and what I noticed the carry might be slightly better over all with the 15 but the biggest difference is for me was speed control. It is harder to control the speed and be consistant with the lighter ball.
Hello! Interesting video! Could you make a video with 14lbs vs 13lbs? It would be cool to see how much difference it would be with different shape of the cores! I mean, nobody seems to do 14lbs vs 13lbs comparisons, either it is like 14lbs vs 10 or 11lbs or something that ridiculous differences. But what I mean is that 13lbs lies much more close to it's 14lbs counterpart and its original core shape. Thank you for your videos!
I normally do 15 lbs but to me after seeing this video, I don't think it's not much of a big difference, except for personal issues like arthritis. I also bought my NU Blue Hammer yesterday at 15 lbs and I'm planning on drilling it like my Purple Hammer and my Black Widow Pink Urethane to compare them. I can't wait to get it.
Hey Nick! Idea for your channel. Since you have the ability to make such high quality videos that showcase SPECTO data. I think it would be fabulous if you did a video on the different types of ball motion and how experienced players describe them. And when each motion is a good strategy. That is something that took me a few years before I began to understand. And something I struggled to understand in bowling ball reviews online when reviewers would talk over my head explaining what their ball is doing. Like when all of the TH-cam reviewers describe a ball motion as "smooth" what does that mean? I figure with your experience and your access of SPECTO, you'd be the best on TH-cam at educating new bowlers on this. The different types of ball motion I can think of that it took me a long time to understand. "Smooth" "Early" "Late" "Quick" "Clean" "Continuous" "Angular" And whatever ones you can think of. And whatever other ones you can think of to educate your viewers on better understanding what bowling balls do. 15large until I die, homey. 😎
Just started using a 14 lb. Arctic Vibe as a game 2/3 ball and have been loving it. So much so I'm looking for a new game 1 / heavy oil ball in 14 lb. For me.. I have more speed, rev rate, and most importantly... control! Plus, I don't feel as much difference now throwing my 12 lb spare ball. 40YO F, 193 league average. If you are thinking about dropping down don't hesitate!
60 year old woman. Averaged 200+ for nearly a couple decades, in many different centers. Got back into bowling about 3 years ago and tried a 14lbs. I don't have the fancy tracking tools you do. What I was hoping would happen is that I could pick up some ball speed. The shot at my house is standing 35, aiming 15 at arrows and 10 at range finders with a highly polished ball. But my ball speed is low, probably due partially to having to travel so far through, out and back through the oil on this pattern. With the 14 I did NOT pick up any ball speed. Carry seemed about the same to less then what I was hoping. I also found an issue with ball control. As he said the weight at the bottom of the swing is light and targetting is not as good for m e. So far, sticking with my 15.
I am 55 and due to age and injury, I had to drop down to 15 lb. a few years ago. Then last year I bought a KR Strikeforce Clear Rose (which only comes in 14.5 lb.) and that became my new #1 strike ball. FYI: I am rev dominant (400+) but lost 7 mph on my ball speed (from 19 to 12). Because of that, I throw an arsenal of plastic balls. A few months ago however, I was switching to my back-up strike ball (a Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot) and it felt like it weighed 30 lbs. (amazingly how much that extra 1/2 lb. felt when you were already fatigued). I injured my shoulder on a throw and it has been bothering my since. I just started moving my arsenal to 14 lb. equipment because I would rather go DOWN a half pound when I switch, then hurt myself more going up.
this year at the age of 29 i dropped to 14lb, after having a year off bowling due to a wrist issue, this was the only thing that's kept me bowling. trying to come back to bowling with my 15lb gear almost made me give up the sport permanently, but i'm glad to say i'm still managing along!
It turns out that you *don't* really get more deflection from a lighter ball unless you throw it as slowly as the heavier ball. Because it's lighter, most bowlers can and will throw it a tad faster. Energy transferred to the pins comes from the square of its velocity, so upping the speed has a bigger effect than upping the mass. The scientific data are in the excellent book, "Bowling Beyond the Basics: What's Really Happening on the Lanes, and What You Can Do about It" by James Freeman and Ron Hatfield. I've been league bowling since 1964, and believed the deflection myth until I dropped down to 15 pounds a couple of years ago after reading this book. Great video, Nick.
@@brunsnick Online they were saying 2mph. But I don't think that is accurate from what I have seen. I seems like there are other factors that make speed better than weight.
I throw 14 and 15. I like the 14lbs. It's easier to throw and scatters pins better. I leave more 7 pins however ( right hander) and I occasionally overthrow the ball or pull it. The 15lb balls are better when there's more juice on the lane for me. I have had success with both but all my 300s have come using 15lbs. I'm 70 years old.
Started back bowling after 10 years and several surgeries. Remembered when I switched from 16 to 15 how much lighter it felt and how much it helped my back, etc, so I decided to see if I could drop to 14 and take some more strain off, while not losing any power. Well, 14 was definitely easier on me, No doubt. But I was getting frustrated with not carrying. I thought it was just me, being 10 years older and physically not as strong. But I only had 2 14lbs balls, and one night just neither of them would work. Still had plenty of 15lb balls, had 2 with me. Frustrated, I pulled an old one out and just started striking, carrying everything I hadn't been. Chalked it up to just a different shot shape, but for the rest of the season I'd start off the with 14, and when I got tired of leaving the entire back row over 2 games, I'd switch to the 15 and carry. Finally just gave the 14's to my son and drilled a couple of new 15's and now I'm slowly getting back to what I averaged a decade ago. Is it a scientific test? No, but I switched back and forth enough to satisfy my own doubts that the 15 carried better. At least for me. I would love to use the 14, but I love striking more often better, lol.
Of course I wrote that, then based on these results I tried my 14lb Gold Label this past week and threw the first 7 en route to a 268, lol.. Maybe I'll give it another shot.
I used 16 from the time i could pick it up. Im not young anymore and had a few back injuries and gave up bowling aroung 2001. Got back into it last year and just started at 14 to prevent possible issues. I have no problems with using a lower weight.
I ran these kinetic energy calculations which show that if you throw a 15 lb ball at 15 mph, you'd have to throw the 14 lb ball just over 15.5 mph to impart the same 152.96 Joules of energy to the pins. 15 lb ball at 15 mph = 152.96 J 14 lb ball at 15 mph = 142.77 J 14 lb ball at 15.5 mph = 152.45 J But ball deflection angle isn't just a matter of kinetic energy. The book, "Bowling Beyond the Basics" does a deep dive on all the math. After doing all these energy calculations because I couldn't find a copy of the book (my wife was former USBC Silver-Certified head coach for Women's Bowling bowling at Southern University and gave copies of the book to all her athletes). So I hit TH-cam and discovered the subject well-covered, with reference to the book, on The Art of Bowling channel at: th-cam.com/video/_gPEOcPUak4/w-d-xo.html. Check that out for a complete answer to the deflection question.
If you noticed, while you were trying to max your revs out, you lost a lot of ball speed while throwing the 15lbs. You gained ball gained RPMs with the 14lbs while still maintaining your ball speed.
I hope people take this video with a large grain of salt. I moved to 14 lb balls only starting with my last 2 balls. I am 56 and, frankly, my arm needed a break by game 3. I guess if you are throwing 18 miles an hour, it might make a difference. But I am consistently in the 14 mile an hour range and do not have any issues with 14lb.
Went to a 14 about 10 years ago and have no regrets. Much easier to control through multiple games. I can be consistent across sets, which beats put any perceived advantage over the 15 I used to have
99% of people that are using those light balls,do so because they are reactive balls that hook by themselves and you have to chunk it hard to get it down the lane before it hit the dry section and jumps to other side of the lane,and with todays short oil and staggered oil patters,the dry some times starts around 25 feet..lane is 60 feet..throw too slow and you never hit a pin..ball ends up in gutter on other side..I still use 16lb..hard rubber balls..ACE,RIPLEY and others and hook the ball myself instead of self hooking reactive balls.
I’m trying to go to 14 now. Almost 50. Pitching from 9 until the end of high school. Then playing college tennis until my thirties and bowling 3 night a week from 30 until now has taken a toll on my wrist. Going into my third week with 14 and trying to throw slower is hard. 15 lb I was about 15 mph not off my hand but the league shot speed. With 14 I’m close to 17. Finally Thursday night I got it down to 15 maybe 6 out of 10 shots. I use to throw 15 over 16 mph and it took me a couple years to get my speed down. Definitely feels better on my wrist tho. My three leagues I averaged about 225. Couple low 7s 4 650-675s and two bad nights. One 600 even and a 580. Just getting use to the speed and I’ll think I’ll be alright.
Try slowing down with your legs too, move up on the approach and take some smaller steps to get the speed down. If it can’t slow down, it can’t strike consistently. 👍🏻
I went from 15 to 14 a few years ago and after a short adjustment period my average is a few pins higher with 14. I do create a lot of entry angle and have more than enough rev rate to carry 7's. Sometimes the really light shots won't carry the 10. All in all 14 allows me to throw more games at the same speed than 15.
I have been bowling over 50 years and have always bowled with a 16 lb ball I tried a 15 lb ball but I was constantly leaving the 5 and it just didn’t feel right for me. Still throwing 16 pound ball not getting very many strikes I guess this is about as good as it’s to get average down to 153 I still love bowling. 78 years old and still in decent shape.
Made the change last summer due to elbow issues. I do overthrow 14 at times and leave some 10’s and 7’s like in the video. Overall feels good after time. Elbow issues are minimal now.
I am 73. I exercise a lot including some weight lifting. I am not a real big guy. I'm 5-7 and 165. Two years a go I asked several people if changing from 15 to 14 pounds caused a reduction in carry especially 10 pins. They told me they did not see any difference. I went out and spent $230 to get a new14# Phase III Storm. A year later I sold it for $90. I could not carry the 10 pin or the 7 pin as often with it. I average 205 with my 15 pounders.
I think the readings are lower the sooner you get into the friction. I noticed that when using Specto too. My RPMs were much higher if I was playing the middle of the lane. I have no idea where the readings are taken, but i'm assuming it's further down the lane.
what I want to see is a 14lbs vs 13lbs since most manufacturers use different weight block shape going 13lbs below. Want to see if the change is significant.
I will stick with 15.5 while being much older now. Sacrifice speed but less deflection and still maintain control if your delivery stays in balance rhythm. If I had to bowl a long string of games often, I definitely consider dropping the weight down or the later games will suffer scoring loss. More speed is necessary as lane conditions break down.
I have not bowled and almost twenty years because I could not walk. I can walk again. I started Bowling this year. My old ball I bought 1997 and was a 16 pound ball. Just bought my first new ball since 1997 and got the tracker archetype. Went from 16lb original Columbia purple beast to 14 lb archetype. Bowled three games with it & they made some adjustments on the drilling. Not throwing it any faster. I was hoping to. 10 pin spares gonna be a concern. 3rd game was a 224. Side note last game with old ball was a 245. Main reason I went with a 14 pound ball was less fatigue on my arm, wrist and hand. I am in my mid 60's & Do have some physical limitations
There is a 70 year old lady on a Sunday night mixed league that I sub on, who carried a 202 average with a 12 lb ball. I wish I could throw as consistent as her. There are so many factors involved in bowling that the ball weight comes in at the low end I think. I use the 16 lb because I over throw the lighter balls.
I agree that a heavier ball at the same speed will give more energy. But what if you can;t throw it at the same speed and control as a lower speed. I think that is what the video is getting at. I see a alot of women and older people trying to though heavy balls. Maybe they would do better with lighter. The specs between 14 and 15 are almost the same
I went to 3 bowling clinics over the years and all of them said to me that I don't need to throw a 16# bowling ball, go to a 15# ball because that is what they do. So, for about 4 months I only threw 15# balls instead my 16# bowling balls. I did ok, but after my bowling average dropped 10 pins under my 16# average, I got mad and went back to my 16# bowling balls.The main reason was, I was leaving too many 7 pins and when I went back to my 16# balls, I got more strikes. All of my high games, high series and my 7 300s were shot with my 16# bowling balls. Just about 3 weeks ago, I bought another 15# ball to test it against my 16#. The 15# bowling balls are stronger now then they were 20 years ago, but I still get better carry with my 16# balls. For me, with the 16# balls I have less chance on pulling the ball or over throwing it like I see you did in the video. With my 15 # bowling balls, my highest game was around 260 + and series about 670. When my 16# hits the pocket and I get a strike, I would tell my bowler friends that my 16# bowling ball exploded in the pocket like 16# of dynamite. A lot of 279s, some 280s, 289s, 290s, 297,two 298 and a few of my 299 were hit with 16# bowling balls and my high series are in the 760 + Great video on the difference between a 14# to a15#, but you have the speed and the revs that you can make a old beat up oily house ball hit good,lol. For me, my ball has the speed as a slow turtle and the revs rate of a beach ball,lol. Thanks again for your info my friend.
The whole thing with bowling ball weight is like trying to do 50 pushups to impress your friends. I switched to 12 and 13 pound balls to get better control and less strain on my body. I was practicing at my local lanes when a father/son bowled next to us. The were using 10# house balls and were out bowling us by 40 pins. It's just like golf clubs. A bunch of marketing hype. Just bowl with what feels right for you so you don't have to spend 3 days letting your body heal, not to mention your checkbook.
Ironically, opposed to many others here, I’m quite young. However, I’m very lanky, tall and thin, and it’s very noticeable around my wrists. I have very thin wrists that just don’t handle the heavy weight as well. I control my 13 pound spare ball much better than my 15 pound strike ball. This video and all the comments are convincing me to try something at 14, I believe the lost pound should help me get a little more control, and more importantly put less strain on my wrist.
THE RG and DIFF numbers on thr 14 and 15 may be the same but there is a higher RG and Lower Diff on most 16 pound versions of the same ball. Id love to see a video of 15 vs 16
As a relatively new serious bowler (league) starting a few years ago, I started with 13 but was disappointed with the carry. I tried 15lb but like others have stated when I went to 14lb, I felt I had better control, feel, etc. I haven't look back since.
I bowl with 15's and 14's. I go to my 14's when the lanes are dry or I need to throw a shot down and in. I can keep my mechanics the same going from a 15 to a 14 but with the 14 I throw it about 1MPH faster. Have some of my highest sets and my first 300 with a 14 so... it can definitely get the job done. only issue I have is that I have the tendency to over power the 14 sometimes after the caffeine really kicks in
I believe the rg values are higher on 14 . So the break point will be a little later on balls drilled exactly the same. Also I throw both . When carry down is present seems 14 deflects and i carry better with 15 but with 14 which i throw better on fresh backends 14 is money. Just my take .
I never contemplated switching down to 14#, when I switched from 16# to 15#, I didn't notice any difference, I also didn't over think the issue! I still had to finally give up the sport at 50ish because of shoulder issues!
I have a 14 and 15 I alternate depending how the lanes are and if i need to put more heat on the ball in a lighter oiled lane I'll use the 14 to keep it from breaking to early. My spare ball is a 13.
Most of my arsenal is #14, however, I’m still able to use #15 without any issues. There are also times when I’ll drop from 15 to 14 in the middle of league or a tournament.
Hey Nick, what is up with your grip? Do you bowl with the ring finger in up to the second knuckle and only fingertip on your middle finger? That's very unique. Curious what prompted that choice. Does it help you get more rev out of the ball, or is it related to an injury of some kind? Not trying to be too personal, but if it is related to rev, I am getting back into bowling after 30 years, and trying to figure out ways to get my rev back. My natural release right now only gets me about 200 RPM and sometimes I am tempted to go two-handed or no thumb, but I would have to go with a much lighter ball. If that grip style helps you get more rev, I would love more info on that! I've never had a fingertip grip until just recently, and I've been experiencing some pain in my ring finger because of it. Thanks for the comparison by the way! I'm actually moving down to 14 myself. I'm 47 and haven't bowled in 30 years.
That is indeed an unusual grip style. It's called the _Sarge Easter_ grip and is used almost exclusively by people with hand or wrist injuries or issues that result in either conventional or fingertip grips causing pain and/or swelling, especially during long tournaments. Nick has a whole wideo all about his journey through the different grip styles and why he's permanently sticking with the Sarge Easter. Your assessment was correct in that it combines a conventional ring finger drilling with a fingertip drilling for the middle finger. It would be wise to get your current fit double checked, particularly your pitches, before changing grip types as it may only require a relatively simple adjustment.
Sarge Easter Grip - welcome to the channel, be sure to subscribe! th-cam.com/video/Ax8H7MisJms/w-d-xo.htmlsi=1cgH_YN8l4198NzG th-cam.com/video/dAbFCPtqD-8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JXJ6Qx5Ym5zbyIDK
Nick, I went bowling with my brother yesterday and he said my ball speed was too slow at 10-11 mph (this morning a link to this video was in my email inbox). Perhaps my actual ball speed is a few mph faster if measure at the foul line because I believe specto measures ball speed at this point. Also, I'm playing inside more to compensate for the slower ball speed. There is more down lane hook, so my ball speed is measured even slower because the ball is traveling farther over the same front to back distance (I hope you understand what I mean). Still, dropping ball weight from 15 to 14 lbs. makes sense. What would be helpful is if you had someone else do the demo in a video like this. Your ball speed is between 17-18 mph. Having someone whose ball speed is significantly lower than yours will probably be more indicative of the type of bowler who probably needs to drop ball weight. Seeing how their equipment at different ball weights responds and hits is likely to be more informative. Thanks.
I’m 60 and been throwing 16lbs for 40 years. I have been seriously thinking about Dropping down in weight but I still Average 215+ and I worry about if my average drops it may mess with my psyche
It's weird. A majority of my 300 games were bowled with a 16lb Angular One and Motiv GT1. However, all of my 800 series have come with 15lb Storm Virtual Gravity Nano, Ebonite Magic, and Storm IQ pearl
I use to throw 16 but had to drop down from a terrible bicep injury last December. I'm using 14 now on the advice of a friend. I haven't seen a change in revs or speed and my average has dropped. I think it's just my release. I used to average 210 when I used 16, now I'm in the 180's.
You should be able to give it more speed and revs, otherwise the drop in weight won’t be as effective. Maybe the bicep injury is preventing this and your overall game.
I found no difference. But I do keep two 15 lb bowling balls in my rotation. I only pull it out if I can get my mind right mentally if I am throwing it hard or fast. That extra pound forces me to slow down.
I would like to see what the difference would be if you rolled each ball five or six consecutive times rather than alternating between the two weights each time.
What about this... as a rev dominant bowler I sometimes need a little more speed to stay in the pocket. What about having a 14 lb ball in the arsenal for just a tad more ball speed when for example the lanes are dry?
The best time to switch to a 14 lbs or lighter is when your getting older and becoming less active. You might lose some weight or gain some fat. Or have muscle and bone problems. If you want to stay a healthy bowler up the your golden years, exercise and stay active.
Nick, I bought a Hitter and love it. Pin is 1 oclock position and mb in thumb. I bowl on a wet dry house shot. I am going to get a Hammer 2.0 hybrid tomorrow and am debating on how to drill it. Should I copy the drill patern that the Hitter has or try something different?
Didn't get 2.0 hybrid today. Getting it tomorrow. Going to drill it the same as Hitter. I'm hoping the results are that when I move in deep and the Hitter cant recover enough the 2.0 will.@@brunsnick
i've seen this video made by a few different people so far but you all did the same thing. you bowled strike shots. a few weeks back i was trying to decide if i should switch back to 15's from 14's so i did a 5 game practise session switching back and forth. the 14pound Duo didn't explode the pins as hard as the 15pound hyped hybrid. it sounded like a heavier impact, the pins moved a lot further and by extension if it wasn't a good shot it still knocked more pins over. but it left more awkward spares to make, more splits, with less pins, further apart. so if your not a human thro-bot that's where i think most people will notice a difference. the bad shots. when a 15 pound misses the pocket it still has more energy to disperse somewhere. maybe that's in the area of 1 extra pin on average per first ball. but that'd add up.
I have thrown both 15 and 14 and can tell a huge difference I can almost throw the 14 half way down the lane cause it's just lighter to me I don't think I'll ever move from 15lbs
I use 15 but my urethane balls are 16. I had a small injury when i tried 16 (my fault) but 16 has made my swing more stable and more relaxed. You lose some revs, but you gain some hit and less deflection.
I guess it depends on what ur comfortable with. I can throw a heavier ball, but my proshop guy said if im more comfortable with 13 to just stick with it
With bowling being such a simple game of consistency I believe a robot would be best to test a ball. Consistent revs ball speed and release point could easily point out differences in the balls.
Just curious I watch a lot of your videos what is the reason you have your finger holes off set and are they both drilled finger tip? John DeHaven Limerick Pennsylvania
Another thing to consider about a lighter ball is age. I went to a heavier ball for a year or so, and saw no difference, but now, just a few years later, I've got arthritis in that hand. If I'd kept to a lighter ball, probably wouldn't have happened.
Thanks for the video. I was wonder if a test could be done to see the difference between 16 and 15. As I get older I may have to change from 16 to 15. With today’s cores is there much of a difference between these two weights performance wise?
How can the average league bowler figure out rev rate? Our lanes show speed (mine is averaged at 13.5 mph) but I have no idea how to find out my rev rate
Might be better to do a comparison on two fresh lanes, with a game or series on each, 15 lb on one lane, 14 lb on the other. Would that provide a better comparison than switching back and forth?
I'd like to see a video with a direct ball down move compared to a ball over move. For example move over to a weaker cored solid from a stronger cored solid and staying in the same spot. What would that do?
I will probably go back down to a 14 with my next ball and light bulb core. Probably will get the Rhino Magenta/Purple/Navy. I bowled my first 300 with a 14lb light bulb (purple Brunswick power blitz) back when I was 16.
I’m 34 and a PBA member, and going down to 14 is probably the best decision I’ve made in my bowling life. I see virtually no difference upon pin impact, and the light weight in my hand has made control and accuracy MUCH better. Plus it helps with my back swing since I don’t have a high back swing to begin with. I’m not surprised in the least that several pros on tour are dropping to 14.
Just turned 60, right shoulder shot, I'm going to 14
ARE you on lane talk ?
I went to 14 nearly 20 years ago.. never looked back
I like a 12 lbs plastic for the 10 pin and the 2-10 split. I can throw it like a rocket strait for the 10 and the 12 lbs ball bounces between 2-10 easily. If its a 6-8 split I use the weakest resin ball. Plastic dont handle the line up good. 14 lbs is my strike ball.
Changed to 14 recently and there is virtually zero difference in hitting power.
I just dropped down to 13 lbs. I’ve been using 14 lbs for years. First 3 games with the lighter ball I averaged 180+. Seconds set I shot 692. Been bowling great with it ever since. My average is 202 and 204 with it. I’m 67 now and to be truthful it’s more fun bowling again.
Awesome Mike!
@mikeprice4388, I just started bowling again after a 35+ year break due to injuries and two back surgeries and decided to drop down to a 14lb ball instead of the 15lb & 16lb balls I used to bowl with and within the first two weeks of switching, I bowled a new personal best game and league series of 263, and a 691 (229, 232, & 230), so I’m glad I made the change. A couple weeks later during a practice session I threw another new game high of 280, and between two games, I threw 12 strikes in a row, so I’m hopeful that I can still reach my goal of getting at least one 300 game in the near future. I turned 68 two days ago. My other goal is to reach a 200+ average in league games, as my highest average so far in league games has been 187, so you’re ahead of me there. I need to get better at always getting my spares. I did manage to pick up a 6, 7, 10 spare today while bowling with my Son on Father’s Day.
Keep on rolling that bowling ball as long as you can! It’s good to know that so many people our age are still bowling, and doing it as well as you are.
I'm 56 and have gone from 16 to 15 now considering 14. Promising snippet for me was the light hit @ 11:25, you still had enough to carry the 5 pin. Great video.
I literally switched to a 14 recently just to cut down on the extra strain and I love it. Really looking forward to what you find here.
Right: you didn't switch to get more power or pin action because lighter balls don't offer that.
Thanks for the ball weight comparison video. I have plenty of speed and revrate at 15lbs at my current age and physical condition. I may ball down to 14lbs in a few years when I get into my 60s.
Going through the years and the military I had to drop to a 14lb myself. I have not had any issues with it . I have love the weight and have done well with it. Thank You for the information with the difference. Keep it coming.
I'm 68 and switched to 14 a few years ago because I was simply leaving way too many 10 pins. The very first event after changing I won (Grand Senior Australian Open) and it was 12 games before I left a 10 pin. You do leave more 7's and 4's but there easy to pick up and your able to get it back from the dry. As the lanes get wetter I go up in weight as I did when I won in Malaysia.
Your actually to strong and young to be bowling 14's. I only bowl maybe a dozen times a year and still able to average 215 and a local event 231. So the lighter ball is great as you get older.
Good advice!
I think it’s more important to match weight up with your body, I’m 22 and use a 14 because I weigh around 145 and I injured my wrist and had to take a month off of bowling before I could come back. After healing I can reliably throw 14 without hurting my wrist but 15 and 16 are out of the question for me unless I just want to make it harder to bowl comfortably.
@@SeaJackson Overall I agree. We see the value in finding the right layout for our game, but don't spend any time matching weight to bowler. Maybe most (male) bowlers should be 15, but people like me who are thin-wristed weaklings might benefit from 14. Real big dudes might benefit from 16. Whatever is most comfortable is probably most likely to give the best combo of power + accuracy.
You’re never “too young” Marshall Holman won a tournament with a 14 lbs. ball because of injury. And some people just are more comfortable with it.
This is the info and video I needed. After taking about 7 years off, I started to get back into it. I’m 51 now, but 7+ years ago, I was throwing 15lbs np with sn average of 198. Starting to throw again, I immediately noticed by the third game, my right wrist/hand started to get sore. I’m sure it has a little to do with the/my grip changing over the years, that the ball isn’t perfect for my fingers anymore, but the stress from the weight on my wrist was definitely noticeable. I have larger hands with thinner wrists, so that doesn’t help. I’ve been looking at getting a new ball and getting a 14lb one instead of a 15lb. I heard all the horror stories of the 10 pin/wont carry, but in the end, if I can practice and learn how to throw the lighter weighted ball, I will feel better, bowl better and not be in pain the next day. Thank you for the informative video!
I went to 14lbs 6 years ago and have never thought about going back. I feel I can control it quite a bit better as a one-handed, no-thumb bowler
Btw BrunsNick - THANK YOU got my NU Blue and Black Widow 2.0 hybrid and LOVE THEM. The Black Widow is a bad, bad man - I felt like I could see it digging into the oil and looking for some pins to hurt
That’s awesome. 2 very different and kickass balls. 👍🏻
I bought a black widow 2.0 back in may as my first ball and loved it. My next ball was a purple hammer just recently
I just ordered the 2.0 Hybrid yesterday, hoping the hype is there. I went witht he 15 tho, i tend to use a 14 or 15 depending lane conditions.
@@johnholladay9769Good luck John! I wish I could post a video, b/c I had my son video a shot I took last weekend with it. Despite not having huge speed (14.5-15mph at the pins), you can see the ball flare through the oil, dig in, pick up, turn and head for the head pin like it has a score to settle. And the continuation through the pins clearly showed it was ready to do some damage! The ball needs to see oil though. I bowled in the same house a week before on a beat-up house shot and for my skill-level (190-200 avg throwing one-hand, no-thumb), the ball was uncontrollable; there was nothing I could do to keep it to the right of the headpin. So be careful out there and have fun! 😉
@tonyneuman1500 I gotcha! I'm a 190 avg bowler on our Tues night league play, but yeah my issue has been certain night the oil pattern changes and it's very heavy in my line. I def needed a more aggressive ball to drive though it and have that back end break to barrel through the pins. Hoping I can get it this weekend and get some practice with it before Tues night. Thanks for the insight!
Use the weight that optimizes your game and makes you hit flush most consistently.
A 12lb hitting dead flush is still better than a 16lb missing the headpin right or going through the nose.
Too light and you'll muscle your swing which leads to inconsistency.
Too heavy, and you'll have trouble producing good ball roll and wont be able to take advantage of the oil.
I used to use 15 but as I got older I made the switch to 14 lb before I injured myself.
I figured if I am going to bowl as a senior I might as well make the switch early and just get used to it.
I do see a difference between 14 and 15 with the same ball. For me a 15 is earlier and smoother while a 14 tends to be longer and sharper.
But these are subtle differences. My all time high series and high games and most strikes in a row were all done with 14 lbs.
I dropped to 14 last league I was bowling and it made a huge difference in overall endurance and enjoyment. Faster revs for sure as well as just being able to perform better for longer. I was worried about it carrying as much as 15 or I wanted it to and had no issues.
I switched from 15 to 14 as an experiment. First 14 pounder was a Nova. 8, 700 series in a row and I will not be switching back anytime soon. Feels like the 14 hit so much harder. And 2 years before I was laughing at the guy with the 14 pound ball 😂. More control more speed and more accuracy wild.
215 average to a 221 if anyone was wondering
2 full years with the 14 pounders
Yep! If you have any semblance of hand, you’ll see no difference on pin action overall w a 14.
I have 14 and 15 lb equipment, moved up in weight after I started bowling. Definitely agree with not being able to feel the ball as well when moving back down in weight, especially with asym cores in the ball. My 15 feels a lot heavier than the 14 but it's just the weight distribution being different.
I think it all comes down to consistency. If by the end of your session you are muscling it too much, or your fingers have swollen to the point of pain or a compromised fit, then I think it's clear that going down to a 14 from the start could be wise. Especially if the cores are the same. Not to mention, if you only have enough budget or room in your bag for a few balls then a lighter ball that gives you the ability to more easily dial in ball speed based on lane conditions could be beneficial.....aaaaaaaaand I just talked myself into it.
I had to go down to 14 from 16 pounds about a year ago due to developing arthritis in my hands.
Thought I was going to leave pocket 8-10 splits all day.
But technology has gotten really good with this new equipment.
14 hits really good, to my surprise.
@@XenoGuru and sometimes, especially with some spares, us mortals could use a little more deflection.
@@skizilla I know I do, especially because I also bowl "American 9 pin."
You don't want a ball that punches too much in that game. 🤣
I have a fairly low rev rate, about 225-250rpm. I dropped from 15lb to 14lb in the summer of 2019. I checked my stats and my pocket carry percentage in a house shot league in 2018-2019 was 71%. So far this year it's exactly the same, 71%. Looking at what pins I leave, I haven't really seen a change in 10 pins or 4 pins, it's just been more 7 pins and fewer 9 pins. Throwing 14 has helped me improve my release -- even though I am still not getting a lot on it, it's a little higher rev rate than before, but also I'm able to keep my hand in a better position throughout the swing. This helps med stay behind it longer and not come around it early. (I actually tend to be too up the back of it at times now!) That's improved my accuracy and consistency, and it's letting me get a better ball motion on sport shots in particular.
That’s great info thank you!
The only real issue I have had in my short experience with 14s is when I have to get inside 4th arrow. The half pocket hits never carried well due to the lack of continuation through the pins. My first 300 was with a 14 pound Black Rhino playing around 7-8 at the arrows. I figure that lower rev rates will see a more defined difference than someone with rev rates more than 350-400. But even with my rev rate, I did not see much of a difference at the pins until I had to play deeper inside.
If that's the case change balls.
Had to switch to 14lb after experiencing to much back and wrist issues. I can bowl again! The only thing about 14lb is the specs can differ quite a lot from the 15lb depending on the brand.
Not our brands though right 😉
@@brunsnick :) Most consistent spec wise for 16-14 that I've seen is definitely Brunswick brands.
I tried going from 15 to 14 and what I noticed the carry might be slightly better over all with the 15 but the biggest difference is for me was speed control. It is harder to control the speed and be consistant with the lighter ball.
Takes time, maybe slower steps to control it. I had issues with it flying through the release point.
Hello! Interesting video! Could you make a video with 14lbs vs 13lbs? It would be cool to see how much difference it would be with different shape of the cores! I mean, nobody seems to do 14lbs vs 13lbs comparisons, either it is like 14lbs vs 10 or 11lbs or something that ridiculous differences. But what I mean is that 13lbs lies much more close to it's 14lbs counterpart and its original core shape. Thank you for your videos!
I normally do 15 lbs but to me after seeing this video, I don't think it's not much of a big difference, except for personal issues like arthritis. I also bought my NU Blue Hammer yesterday at 15 lbs and I'm planning on drilling it like my Purple Hammer and my Black Widow Pink Urethane to compare them. I can't wait to get it.
Hey Nick!
Idea for your channel. Since you have the ability to make such high quality videos that showcase SPECTO data. I think it would be fabulous if you did a video on the different types of ball motion and how experienced players describe them. And when each motion is a good strategy. That is something that took me a few years before I began to understand. And something I struggled to understand in bowling ball reviews online when reviewers would talk over my head explaining what their ball is doing. Like when all of the TH-cam reviewers describe a ball motion as "smooth" what does that mean? I figure with your experience and your access of SPECTO, you'd be the best on TH-cam at educating new bowlers on this.
The different types of ball motion I can think of that it took me a long time to understand.
"Smooth"
"Early"
"Late"
"Quick"
"Clean"
"Continuous"
"Angular"
And whatever ones you can think of.
And whatever other ones you can think of to educate your viewers on better understanding what bowling balls do.
15large until I die, homey. 😎
Thanks! Great ideas.
Just started using a 14 lb. Arctic Vibe as a game 2/3 ball and have been loving it. So much so I'm looking for a new game 1 / heavy oil ball in 14 lb.
For me.. I have more speed, rev rate, and most importantly... control! Plus, I don't feel as much difference now throwing my 12 lb spare ball.
40YO F, 193 league average.
If you are thinking about dropping down don't hesitate!
60 year old woman. Averaged 200+ for nearly a couple decades, in many different centers. Got back into bowling about 3 years ago and tried a 14lbs. I don't have the fancy tracking tools you do. What I was hoping would happen is that I could pick up some ball speed. The shot at my house is standing 35, aiming 15 at arrows and 10 at range finders with a highly polished ball. But my ball speed is low, probably due partially to having to travel so far through, out and back through the oil on this pattern. With the 14 I did NOT pick up any ball speed. Carry seemed about the same to less then what I was hoping. I also found an issue with ball control. As he said the weight at the bottom of the swing is light and targetting is not as good for m e. So far, sticking with my 15.
I am 55 and due to age and injury, I had to drop down to 15 lb. a few years ago. Then last year I bought a KR Strikeforce Clear Rose (which only comes in 14.5 lb.) and that became my new #1 strike ball. FYI: I am rev dominant (400+) but lost 7 mph on my ball speed (from 19 to 12). Because of that, I throw an arsenal of plastic balls.
A few months ago however, I was switching to my back-up strike ball (a Pyramid Pathogen Blue Dot) and it felt like it weighed 30 lbs. (amazingly how much that extra 1/2 lb. felt when you were already fatigued). I injured my shoulder on a throw and it has been bothering my since. I just started moving my arsenal to 14 lb. equipment because I would rather go DOWN a half pound when I switch, then hurt myself more going up.
this year at the age of 29 i dropped to 14lb, after having a year off bowling due to a wrist issue, this was the only thing that's kept me bowling.
trying to come back to bowling with my 15lb gear almost made me give up the sport permanently, but i'm glad to say i'm still managing along!
I have been having wrist pain and not bowled in 4 years. Switching to 14 and 2 handed to try and take pressure off to try and bowl again.
It turns out that you *don't* really get more deflection from a lighter ball unless you throw it as slowly as the heavier ball. Because it's lighter, most bowlers can and will throw it a tad faster. Energy transferred to the pins comes from the square of its velocity, so upping the speed has a bigger effect than upping the mass. The scientific data are in the excellent book, "Bowling Beyond the Basics: What's Really Happening on the Lanes, and What You Can Do about It" by James Freeman and Ron Hatfield. I've been league bowling since 1964, and believed the deflection myth until I dropped down to 15 pounds a couple of years ago after reading this book. Great video, Nick.
How much faster would a 14lb need to be thrown to equate to 15lb ball?
@@brunsnick Online they were saying 2mph. But I don't think that is accurate from what I have seen. I seems like there are other factors that make speed better than weight.
I throw 14 and 15. I like the 14lbs. It's easier to throw and scatters pins better. I leave more 7 pins however ( right hander) and I occasionally overthrow the ball or pull it. The 15lb balls are better when there's more juice on the lane for me. I have had success with both but all my 300s have come using 15lbs. I'm 70 years old.
Started back bowling after 10 years and several surgeries. Remembered when I switched from 16 to 15 how much lighter it felt and how much it helped my back, etc, so I decided to see if I could drop to 14 and take some more strain off, while not losing any power.
Well, 14 was definitely easier on me, No doubt. But I was getting frustrated with not carrying. I thought it was just me, being 10 years older and physically not as strong.
But I only had 2 14lbs balls, and one night just neither of them would work. Still had plenty of 15lb balls, had 2 with me. Frustrated, I pulled an old one out and just started striking, carrying everything I hadn't been. Chalked it up to just a different shot shape, but for the rest of the season I'd start off the with 14, and when I got tired of leaving the entire back row over 2 games, I'd switch to the 15 and carry.
Finally just gave the 14's to my son and drilled a couple of new 15's and now I'm slowly getting back to what I averaged a decade ago.
Is it a scientific test? No, but I switched back and forth enough to satisfy my own doubts that the 15 carried better. At least for me. I would love to use the 14, but I love striking more often better, lol.
Of course I wrote that, then based on these results I tried my 14lb Gold Label this past week and threw the first 7 en route to a 268, lol.. Maybe I'll give it another shot.
terrific video idea. switching from 15 to 14 was a great move for me.
I used 16 from the time i could pick it up. Im not young anymore and had a few back injuries and gave up bowling aroung 2001. Got back into it last year and just started at 14 to prevent possible issues. I have no problems with using a lower weight.
I ran these kinetic energy calculations which show that if you throw a 15 lb ball at 15 mph, you'd have to throw the 14 lb ball just over 15.5 mph to impart the same 152.96 Joules of energy to the pins.
15 lb ball at 15 mph = 152.96 J
14 lb ball at 15 mph = 142.77 J
14 lb ball at 15.5 mph = 152.45 J
But ball deflection angle isn't just a matter of kinetic energy. The book, "Bowling Beyond the Basics" does a deep dive on all the math. After doing all these energy calculations because I couldn't find a copy of the book (my wife was former USBC Silver-Certified head coach for Women's Bowling bowling at Southern University and gave copies of the book to all her athletes). So I hit TH-cam and discovered the subject well-covered, with reference to the book, on The Art of Bowling channel at:
th-cam.com/video/_gPEOcPUak4/w-d-xo.html.
Check that out for a complete answer to the deflection question.
If you noticed, while you were trying to max your revs out, you lost a lot of ball speed while throwing the 15lbs. You gained ball gained RPMs with the 14lbs while still maintaining your ball speed.
Makes sense. Full effort the lighter ball goes .3mph faster.
I hope people take this video with a large grain of salt. I moved to 14 lb balls only starting with my last 2 balls. I am 56 and, frankly, my arm needed a break by game 3. I guess if you are throwing 18 miles an hour, it might make a difference. But I am consistently in the 14 mile an hour range and do not have any issues with 14lb.
Went to a 14 about 10 years ago and have no regrets. Much easier to control through multiple games. I can be consistent across sets, which beats put any perceived advantage over the 15 I used to have
99% of people that are using those light balls,do so because they are reactive balls that hook by themselves and you have to chunk it hard to get it down the lane before it hit the dry section and jumps to other side of the lane,and with todays short oil and staggered oil patters,the dry some times starts around 25 feet..lane is 60 feet..throw too slow and you never hit a pin..ball ends up in gutter on other side..I still use 16lb..hard rubber balls..ACE,RIPLEY and others and hook the ball myself instead of self hooking reactive balls.
I’m trying to go to 14 now. Almost 50. Pitching from 9 until the end of high school. Then playing college tennis until my thirties and bowling 3 night a week from 30 until now has taken a toll on my wrist. Going into my third week with 14 and trying to throw slower is hard. 15 lb I was about 15 mph not off my hand but the league shot speed. With 14 I’m close to 17. Finally Thursday night I got it down to 15 maybe 6 out of 10 shots. I use to throw 15 over 16 mph and it took me a couple years to get my speed down. Definitely feels better on my wrist tho. My three leagues I averaged about 225. Couple low 7s 4 650-675s and two bad nights. One 600 even and a 580. Just getting use to the speed and I’ll think I’ll be alright.
Try slowing down with your legs too, move up on the approach and take some smaller steps to get the speed down. If it can’t slow down, it can’t strike consistently. 👍🏻
I went from 15 to 14 a few years ago and after a short adjustment period my average is a few pins higher with 14. I do create a lot of entry angle and have more than enough rev rate to carry 7's. Sometimes the really light shots won't carry the 10. All in all 14 allows me to throw more games at the same speed than 15.
I have been bowling over 50 years and have always bowled with a 16 lb ball I tried a 15 lb ball but I was constantly leaving the 5 and it just didn’t feel right for me. Still throwing 16 pound ball not getting very many strikes I guess this is about as good as it’s to get average down to 153 I still love bowling. 78 years old and still in decent shape.
I never really notice the slight difference in weight between my 16lb ball and my two 15lb balls.
Made the change last summer due to elbow issues. I do overthrow 14 at times and leave some 10’s and 7’s like in the video. Overall feels good after time. Elbow issues are minimal now.
15lb is better for when balls go on sale, always a lot of stock for 15lbs on sale.
I am 73. I exercise a lot including some weight lifting. I am not a real big guy. I'm 5-7 and 165. Two years a go I asked several people if changing from 15 to 14 pounds caused a reduction in carry especially 10 pins. They told me they did not see any difference. I went out and spent $230 to get a new14# Phase III Storm. A year later I sold it for $90. I could not carry the 10 pin or the 7 pin as often with it. I average 205 with my 15 pounders.
I think the readings are lower the sooner you get into the friction. I noticed that when using Specto too.
My RPMs were much higher if I was playing the middle of the lane.
I have no idea where the readings are taken, but i'm assuming it's further down the lane.
what I want to see is a 14lbs vs 13lbs since most manufacturers use different weight block shape going 13lbs below. Want to see if the change is significant.
That’s a good idea. Will have to find another brand since most of the high end Radicals are only 14-16.
@@brunsnick How about 15 vs. 14 vs. 13 with a Black Widow, Envy Tour, or Hazmat? I'm about to reinvent my arsenal...
When I used to bowl 30 years ago nobody made a 14, everything was 15 or 16 and some models were 16 only.
Hmmm strange.
@@brunsnickI bought a Roto Grip Grenade, black urethane, circa 1989, the pro shop told me it was 16 only.
@@onemoremisfit may have been the only one left that they had?
@@brunsnick No, I ordered it and asked for a 15, they said it was only available in 16. I had to have one because it looked so cool.
@onemoremisfit was that the clear ball? If so I get it.
I will stick with 15.5 while being much older now. Sacrifice speed but less deflection and still maintain control if your delivery stays in balance rhythm. If I had to bowl a long string of games often, I definitely consider dropping the weight down or the later games will suffer scoring loss. More speed is necessary as lane conditions break down.
I have not bowled and almost twenty years because I could not walk. I can walk again. I started Bowling this year. My old ball I bought 1997 and was a 16 pound ball. Just bought my first new ball since 1997 and got the tracker archetype. Went from 16lb original Columbia purple beast to 14 lb archetype. Bowled three games with it & they made some adjustments on the drilling. Not throwing it any faster. I was hoping to. 10 pin spares gonna be a concern. 3rd game was a 224. Side note last game with old ball was a 245. Main reason I went with a 14 pound ball was less fatigue on my arm, wrist and hand. I am in my mid 60's & Do have some physical limitations
Great video Really enjoyed it but I am already at 14 lb and have been forever
There is a 70 year old lady on a Sunday night mixed league that I sub on, who carried a 202 average with a 12 lb ball. I wish I could throw as consistent as her. There are so many factors involved in bowling that the ball weight comes in at the low end I think. I use the 16 lb because I over throw the lighter balls.
I wish I could bowl all day
What’s stopping ya?
@@brunsnick 1 day my friend! Thanks for the video
I went from a 12lb brunswick pearl to 15lb brunswick quantum bias, that ball is amazing
I’m currently using a 14 pound Sasquatch. I’m two hand two finger (not by choice by injury) and have been wanting to go up in weight for years.
Screwed up my shoulder and elbow a little while back and decided to give 14lb a try, thinking I was gonna lose lots of carry. Not so!
I agree that a heavier ball at the same speed will give more energy. But what if you can;t throw it at the same speed and control as a lower speed. I think that is what the video is getting at. I see a alot of women and older people trying to though heavy balls. Maybe they would do better with lighter. The specs between 14 and 15 are almost the same
All depends on the RG and diff because both are different and make the ball react differently
They are the same differentials.
I went to 3 bowling clinics over the years and all of them said to me that I don't need to throw a 16# bowling ball, go to a 15# ball because that is what they do. So, for about 4 months I only threw 15# balls instead my 16# bowling balls. I did ok, but after my bowling average dropped 10 pins under my 16# average, I got mad and went back to my 16# bowling balls.The main reason was, I was leaving too many 7 pins and when I went back to my 16# balls, I got more strikes. All of my high games, high series and my 7 300s were shot with my 16# bowling balls.
Just about 3 weeks ago, I bought another 15# ball to test it against my 16#. The 15# bowling balls are stronger now then they were 20 years ago, but I still get better carry with my 16# balls. For me, with the 16# balls I have less chance on pulling the ball or over throwing it like I see you did in the video. With my 15 # bowling balls, my highest game was around 260 + and series about 670. When my 16# hits the pocket and I get a strike, I would tell my bowler friends that my 16# bowling ball exploded in the pocket like 16# of dynamite. A lot of 279s, some 280s, 289s, 290s, 297,two 298 and a few of my 299 were hit with 16# bowling balls and my high series are in the 760 +
Great video on the difference between a 14# to a15#, but you have the speed and the revs that you can make a old beat up oily house ball hit good,lol. For me, my ball has the speed as a slow turtle and the revs rate of a beach ball,lol. Thanks again for your info my friend.
The whole thing with bowling ball weight is like trying to do 50 pushups to impress your friends. I switched to 12 and 13 pound balls to get better control and less strain on my body. I was practicing at my local lanes when a father/son bowled next to us. The were using 10# house balls and were out bowling us by 40 pins. It's just like golf clubs. A bunch of marketing hype. Just bowl with what feels right for you so you don't have to spend 3 days letting your body heal, not to mention your checkbook.
I think 16 is best for me because it keeps me slower and keeps me better timed. Also I like having the higher RG, lower Diff that the 16s offer.
Ironically, opposed to many others here, I’m quite young. However, I’m very lanky, tall and thin, and it’s very noticeable around my wrists. I have very thin wrists that just don’t handle the heavy weight as well. I control my 13 pound spare ball much better than my 15 pound strike ball. This video and all the comments are convincing me to try something at 14, I believe the lost pound should help me get a little more control, and more importantly put less strain on my wrist.
THE RG and DIFF numbers on thr 14 and 15 may be the same but there is a higher RG and Lower Diff on most 16 pound versions of the same ball.
Id love to see a video of 15 vs 16
As a relatively new serious bowler (league) starting a few years ago, I started with 13 but was disappointed with the carry. I tried 15lb but like others have stated when I went to 14lb, I felt I had better control, feel, etc. I haven't look back since.
I bowl with 15's and 14's. I go to my 14's when the lanes are dry or I need to throw a shot down and in. I can keep my mechanics the same going from a 15 to a 14 but with the 14 I throw it about 1MPH faster. Have some of my highest sets and my first 300 with a 14 so... it can definitely get the job done. only issue I have is that I have the tendency to over power the 14 sometimes after the caffeine really kicks in
Nick.. when I broke my back I had to go to a 13 lb ball.. it still smashes as long as you hit the angle to the pocket
Nick maybe so 10 shots with the 15lb then do 10 shots with the 14lb. That way you can get comfortable with each.
I believe the rg values are higher on 14 . So the break point will be a little later on balls drilled exactly the same. Also I throw both . When carry down is present seems 14 deflects and i carry better with 15 but with 14 which i throw better on fresh backends 14 is money. Just my take .
i always pick the 9 or 10 because usually they're the only ones i find that fit my fingers.
I never contemplated switching down to 14#, when I switched from 16# to 15#, I didn't notice any difference, I also didn't over think the issue!
I still had to finally give up the sport at 50ish because of shoulder issues!
I have a 14 and 15 I alternate depending how the lanes are and if i need to put more heat on the ball in a lighter oiled lane I'll use the 14 to keep it from breaking to early. My spare ball is a 13.
Most of my arsenal is #14, however, I’m still able to use #15 without any issues. There are also times when I’ll drop from 15 to 14 in the middle of league or a tournament.
Hey Nick, what is up with your grip? Do you bowl with the ring finger in up to the second knuckle and only fingertip on your middle finger? That's very unique. Curious what prompted that choice. Does it help you get more rev out of the ball, or is it related to an injury of some kind? Not trying to be too personal, but if it is related to rev, I am getting back into bowling after 30 years, and trying to figure out ways to get my rev back. My natural release right now only gets me about 200 RPM and sometimes I am tempted to go two-handed or no thumb, but I would have to go with a much lighter ball. If that grip style helps you get more rev, I would love more info on that! I've never had a fingertip grip until just recently, and I've been experiencing some pain in my ring finger because of it. Thanks for the comparison by the way! I'm actually moving down to 14 myself. I'm 47 and haven't bowled in 30 years.
That is indeed an unusual grip style. It's called the _Sarge Easter_ grip and is used almost exclusively by people with hand or wrist injuries or issues that result in either conventional or fingertip grips causing pain and/or swelling, especially during long tournaments. Nick has a whole wideo all about his journey through the different grip styles and why he's permanently sticking with the Sarge Easter. Your assessment was correct in that it combines a conventional ring finger drilling with a fingertip drilling for the middle finger.
It would be wise to get your current fit double checked, particularly your pitches, before changing grip types as it may only require a relatively simple adjustment.
Sarge Easter Grip - welcome to the channel, be sure to subscribe!
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Nick, I went bowling with my brother yesterday and he said my ball speed was too slow at 10-11 mph (this morning a link to this video was in my email inbox). Perhaps my actual ball speed is a few mph faster if measure at the foul line because I believe specto measures ball speed at this point. Also, I'm playing inside more to compensate for the slower ball speed. There is more down lane hook, so my ball speed is measured even slower because the ball is traveling farther over the same front to back distance (I hope you understand what I mean). Still, dropping ball weight from 15 to 14 lbs. makes sense. What would be helpful is if you had someone else do the demo in a video like this. Your ball speed is between 17-18 mph. Having someone whose ball speed is significantly lower than yours will probably be more indicative of the type of bowler who probably needs to drop ball weight. Seeing how their equipment at different ball weights responds and hits is likely to be more informative. Thanks.
I’m 60 and been throwing 16lbs for 40 years. I have been seriously thinking about Dropping down in weight but I still Average 215+ and I worry about if my average drops it may mess with my psyche
It's weird. A majority of my 300 games were bowled with a 16lb Angular One and Motiv GT1. However, all of my 800 series have come with 15lb Storm Virtual Gravity Nano, Ebonite Magic, and Storm IQ pearl
I use to throw 16 but had to drop down from a terrible bicep injury last December. I'm using 14 now on the advice of a friend. I haven't seen a change in revs or speed and my average has dropped. I think it's just my release. I used to average 210 when I used 16, now I'm in the 180's.
You should be able to give it more speed and revs, otherwise the drop in weight won’t be as effective. Maybe the bicep injury is preventing this and your overall game.
I found no difference. But I do keep two 15 lb bowling balls in my rotation. I only pull it out if I can get my mind right mentally if I am throwing it hard or fast. That extra pound forces me to slow down.
I would like to see what the difference would be if you rolled each ball five or six consecutive times rather than alternating between the two weights each time.
At 64 years old, I dropped down to a 14 lb ball and rolled my first 300 Dec 2022
Congrats!
What about this... as a rev dominant bowler I sometimes need a little more speed to stay in the pocket. What about having a 14 lb ball in the arsenal for just a tad more ball speed when for example the lanes are dry?
It could work, but may throw your timing off like it did me if you don’t use it often.
The best time to switch to a 14 lbs or lighter is when your getting older and becoming less active. You might lose some weight or gain some fat. Or have muscle and bone problems.
If you want to stay a healthy bowler up the your golden years, exercise and stay active.
Nick, I bought a Hitter and love it. Pin is 1 oclock position and mb in thumb. I bowl on a wet dry house shot. I am going to get a Hammer 2.0 hybrid tomorrow and am debating on how to drill it. Should I copy the drill patern that the Hitter has or try something different?
If drilled the same the BW should be cleaner and more dramatic on the backend. A good ball to switch to when Hitter is too smooth.
Didn't get 2.0 hybrid today. Getting it tomorrow. Going to drill it the same as Hitter. I'm hoping the results are that when I move in deep and the Hitter cant recover enough the 2.0 will.@@brunsnick
i've seen this video made by a few different people so far but you all did the same thing. you bowled strike shots. a few weeks back i was trying to decide if i should switch back to 15's from 14's so i did a 5 game practise session switching back and forth. the 14pound Duo didn't explode the pins as hard as the 15pound hyped hybrid. it sounded like a heavier impact, the pins moved a lot further and by extension if it wasn't a good shot it still knocked more pins over. but it left more awkward spares to make, more splits, with less pins, further apart.
so if your not a human thro-bot that's where i think most people will notice a difference. the bad shots. when a 15 pound misses the pocket it still has more energy to disperse somewhere. maybe that's in the area of 1 extra pin on average per first ball. but that'd add up.
I have thrown both 15 and 14 and can tell a huge difference I can almost throw the 14 half way down the lane cause it's just lighter to me I don't think I'll ever move from 15lbs
that 10 pins standing on business 😤
This would be a great use for the robot.
Excellent video. Just gained a new sub.
I use 15 but my urethane balls are 16. I had a small injury when i tried 16 (my fault) but 16 has made my swing more stable and more relaxed. You lose some revs, but you gain some hit and less deflection.
And with Purple Hammer you get a little more flare potential.
@@brunsnick YES, due to twice the Diff. I made a video about that too :)
I guess it depends on what ur comfortable with. I can throw a heavier ball, but my proshop guy said if im more comfortable with 13 to just stick with it
With bowling being such a simple game of consistency I believe a robot would be best to test a ball. Consistent revs ball speed and release point could easily point out differences in the balls.
I made the switch from 16 to 14. I noticed i have more control and better rotation by dropping weight.
Have a friend 65yrs old striking with a 13lbs. Mark Williams did it with 12 lbs.
I have been using 14lb for the last 6 yrs, carry 215 average, with multiple 300s and 800s,
Just curious I watch a lot of your videos what is the reason you have your finger holes off set and are they both drilled finger tip?
John DeHaven
Limerick Pennsylvania
Sarge Easter Grip vids 👍🏻
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Another thing to consider about a lighter ball is age. I went to a heavier ball for a year or so, and saw no difference, but now, just a few years later, I've got arthritis in that hand. If I'd kept to a lighter ball, probably wouldn't have happened.
Absolutely true.
Thanks for the video. I was wonder if a test could be done to see the difference between 16 and 15. As I get older I may have to change from 16 to 15. With today’s cores is there much of a difference between these two weights performance wise?
Sometimes yes there is a performance difference. Typically a little less differential in 16s.
Thanks
How can the average league bowler figure out rev rate? Our lanes show speed (mine is averaged at 13.5 mph) but I have no idea how to find out my rev rate
If you’re savvy with math and film your release in slo motion with a piece of white tape over the fingers, you can figure out the RPMs.
@@brunsnickgot it, thanks!
Might be better to do a comparison on two fresh lanes, with a game or series on each, 15 lb on one lane, 14 lb on the other. Would that provide a better comparison than switching back and forth?
I'm moving up to 15 I have added 2 16 pound balls and I myself have noticed alot better carry mainly since I throw slower I get way better carry
I'd like to see a video with a direct ball down move compared to a ball over move. For example move over to a weaker cored solid from a stronger cored solid and staying in the same spot. What would that do?
I will probably go back down to a 14 with my next ball and light bulb core. Probably will get the Rhino Magenta/Purple/Navy. I bowled my first 300 with a 14lb light bulb (purple Brunswick power blitz) back when I was 16.
Feel like the 15 was a little more forgiving upon entry. Looked like the 14 need to be dead nuts to get the pins moving right.