Bowling balls vary in a weight range beginning at 6 lbs for the kids up to 16 lbs as the maximum allowed weight.
Ten pin bowling ball weight.
From 12 lbs to 14 lbs is the most popular choice of women and seniors while 15 lbs has surpassed 16 lbs as the popular choice among men bowlers.
The objective is to knock down all ten pins on the first roll of the ball a strike or failing that on the second roll a spare.
Knowing when you need to change your bowling ball weight is key to elevating your game and gaining consistent predictable bowling.
Use a ball that is too heavy for you and you run the risk of injury or loss of stamina.
The lightest weight you can usually find at most bowling alleys is six pounds.
Candlepin bowling balls have a weight of between 2 lb 4 oz 1 0 kg and 2 lb 7 oz 1 1 kg and a diameter of 4 5 in 11 cm much smaller than the 8 5 in 22 cm balls in ten pin bowling and even smaller than the 5 0 in 13 cm balls in duckpin bowling.
Updated january 26 2019.
The maximum legal weight of a bowling ball is 16 pounds or 7 27 kilograms.
Men usually need a bowling ball weighing 14 to 16 pounds.
As for the average adult female 12 pounds is the most popular weight for an avid bowler who hits the lanes at least one time a week.
Ten pin bowling is a type of bowling in which a bowler rolls a bowling ball down a wood or synthetic lane toward ten pins positioned in an equilateral triangle at the far end of the lane.
The pins weigh between 3 lb 6 oz and 3 lb 10 oz.
The usual range for an average adult male is 13 to 16 pounds but there s always variance based upon upper body strength pre existing injuries age and overall physical condition.
Professionals generally use balls that are between 13 and 15 pounds.
A 7 year old would need a 7 pound ball and a 12 year old might use a ball weighing 12 pounds.
If a 17 pound ball was allowed plenty of those who currently use 16 pounders would move up to 17.
That s a significant 10 pound range and you can choose a ball anywhere within its limits.
Since the average weight of the pins is 2 8 pounds you would have higher chances of hitting them all at a go using a heavy bowling ball.
For that reason a lot of bowlers use 16 pound bowling balls whether they should or not.
Use a ball that is too light and you decrease your pin impact and potential scores.
Some of that comes from a bowler s ego.
The diagram to the right indicates the pin numbering system that is commonly used.
For children ages 6 to 14 parents can use their unique age to find a corresponding weight for example.
The heaviest legal bowling ball weighs 16 pounds.
It makes more sense to have at least the weight of all the pins combined 28 pounds.