Expert: - 2/25/2008

Question
I haven't bowled in years and recently have started bowling again. My husband wants to buy me my own ball and he insists it be 14 pounds. I have used the house balls, every one from 8 to 12 pounds and I bowl the best with the lighter balls...the 8 or the 9 pound balls. Is there a "rule" as to how heavy one's ball should be? (He's not that great a bowler; just stubborn.)

Answer
Deborah,
We suggest 10 percent of your body weight as a starting point. But the 250 pound NFL linebackers can't get a 25 pound ball, so part of your choice is how athletic you are, too.

If the ball is fit properly, it will just hang from your hand so unless a physical problem exists the 10 percent suggestion is a good starting point.

Your experience with the house balls has created a standard or experience base you draw from. Unfortunately, the houseballs are not fit for you, so you've created a comfort zone with the lighter balls. You didn't say what weight your old ball was?

Keep in mind in a basic ball part of the effect (at the pins) is from the weight. Thanks for the question. Hope this helps. Bowl well.