Expert: - 2/25/2009

Question
I'm a 116 pd, 5"1 50ish (youthful)female bowler.  I recently purchased a WD 13pd ball. My question is: Is there a test I can do to definitively know if the ball is too heavy?  I was advised to go as heavy as possible and was recommended this weight.  I've been struggling with timing, etc for months and it's hard to know if it's just my beginner status or possibly the weight?  Any suggestions?  
Thanks!

Answer
Alexandra,
If you're a beginner, timing, not gripping, more weight pulling you around, is all part of it.

When standing upright with the ball at your side, if the ball just hangs in your hand, you've got a good fit. If not, the fit issue should be addressed immediately. It may feel like the weight, but the need to grip makes a 10 pound ball feel like twenty if enough energy is needed to hold onto it.

Bowling is about balance. Pushing the ball out to far and chasing it in your swing, is a newbie problem it sounds like you're experiencing. Be more conservative with your pushaway (don't push out to far), hinge the ball into your swing, try to minimize the muscle needed to hold/control it (keep the ball close to your body, elbow under your shoulder, ball in front of arm pit) in your set-up. Let the ball do more of the work.

Good luck and thanks for the question.