Expert: - 10/30/2010

Question
Can you tell me if today's 13# bowling balls have a generic core or the as advertised core. Someone told me 13# and below are of a generic core nature to save in mfg costs? Why I don't know but the prices are same as the heavier weights. Which manaufacturers follow these guidelines. I would like to go down in weight is the reason for my question.

Answer
Id,
I wouldn't call what you might find in a light performance ball generic so much as typical pancake weightblock (in some, like in a plastic ball). The core doesn't save in cost so much as weight contributing to the total mass of the ball. The advertised core (some in excess of 7 pounds)  can NOT be employed inside a light ball, it wouldn't be light with a 7 pound inner core and outer core and the weight of the coverstock.

Manufacturers deal with core effect differently. Brunswick produces product sheets which picture and identify the values found in all balls made in a particular model. Columbia used to. Most don't dirty the water with incidental "facts" that might lose a sale.

When purchasing a high end ball, most people assume that (because of the significant price difference from high end to entry level) a 10 to 13 pounder is going to provide significant bang for their buck. When in actuality, the player rolling a light ball, usually rolls so slow that performance coverstock is the primary cause of the balls effect. I have seen entry level performance balls roll just as well as the expensive line in the same (light) weight.

The intention/design is to provide effect. Significantly less is needed to influence a 10 pound ball than a 15 pounder, especially when the lighter ball is traveling slower. Thanks for the question. Good bowling.