Millions of people around the world enjoy bowling so much. For some, it’s just for fun and is a way to spend an afternoon with friends or family. On the other hand, professional bowlers compete in leagues and tournaments all over the world.
Whatever your reason for bowling, choosing the right ball will ensure that you have a good time and enjoy your game more.
Bowling ball weight is probably the most common concern when choosing a bowling ball. This is mostly because weight can have a direct effect on your performance and overall experience.
The correlation between bowling ball weight and your overall performance is undeniable. While bowlers normally prefer a heavier bowling ball for increased hitting power, it is also important to choose the right one for your game.
Here is what you need to know about the average weight of bowling balls.
Average Bowling Ball Weight
As you know, bowling balls vary in weight depending on the bowler’s strength, age, and skill level.
There are far too many options available to choose from, but the average bowling ball weighs between six pounds and a hefty 16 pounds.
The lighter bowling balls are meant for kids. While veterans of the game usually prefer the heavier varieties.
In most cases, for an average male, a 12-16 pound ball is considered to be the right weight. For an average female, a 10-14 pound ball is ideal.
For children, the general guideline is to match your bowling ball weight with your kid’s age.
A good start is to use a ball one pound per their age. That is, an eight-year-old can use a ball that weighs approximately 8 pounds.
This will guarantee that the ball won’t be too heavy and will also allow them to grow into the ball and ultimately enjoy the sport without risking their safety.
Of course, keep in mind that as your child develops more control and strength you can start looking for larger balls to challenge them further.
You can also allow them to test the ball for themselves to see if they are comfortable most with lighter or heavier balls.
For adults, a general rule of thumb is that the bowling ball should weigh around 10% of your body weight, up to 160 pounds.
Your bowling ball should be in proportion to your body weight, which means you shouldn’t grab a super-heavy ball if you’re small nor should you be using a ridiculously light ball if you’re big.
Never choose a ball that is too heavy for you as this may cause wrist injuries and reduce your overall bowling performance. Likewise, choosing too light a ball will take away your pleasure and power in your game.
A heavier ball won’t make you a better bowler than a light one, regardless of how it makes you feel. Instead, the ball should feel comfortable enough, but not “light.”
Although the rule above does ring true most of the time, there may be certain circumstances under which one would want to stray away from this basic guideline.
For example, if you recently had an arm or back injury, it is best to avoid using a heavy ball for the time being as it could re-aggravate the injury.
Hefting around a ball that’s 10% of your body weight can be uneasy for you so go ahead and use a lighter-weight ball instead.
It’s important to choose a ball that feels right for you. Remember that your goal is to be comfortable and enjoy your time while bowling, not causing further injuries.
Final Words
Bowling is a lot more fun if you’re comfortable. That’s why choosing the right bowling ball is a decision that should not be made lightly.
There are many different factors to consider, such as your weight, strength, age, and skill level as well as current health conditions.
Regardless of whether you’re a league bowler or just want a good game with friends, choosing the right bowling ball is important.
Bowling balls have different weights because they are built for different people.
With this in mind, it’s crucial to get a bowling ball that is properly weighted, as doing otherwise will either make it difficult to control or worse, cause injury.
