I don't play league or tournies but why does everyone complain when they strike? A strikes a strike so if you can keep put 1 after another who cares how the sound was
@Lefishn well the leagues I play in if u get a Brooklyn, people literally want to take it away from you. They consider it pure luck, and a cheap strike
That was something I had to learn when throwing 14#: the numbers will most likely be higher. I had to use stronger layouts to get the desired reaction. And that dude behind you was doing som serious chucking!
Started last October. Was throwing a 14lb Dark Code at 18.5mph, 158 avg. Switched to a 16lb Exotic Gem and slowed down to 16.5mph. I feel like the weight helps my swing stay in line with my target and reduces the variance in rev rate. Avg has been steadily increasing, 190 now, hoping to hit 200 by December. 600s every week for the last month or so. A lot of my average increasing has to do with building better muscle memory and technique, but I really do feel like the heavier ball helps me. (Two hands)
Hey Mike! I moved to 14 pounds a couple of years ago. I'm 71, but ultra competitive and I saw no loss of power or decrease in my average of around 220. I only dropped down in weight because of a knee issue. But GREAT video showing the difference between a 14 and 15lb. Thanks Jim
Just got my first ball. Got a 14 just cos I’m in the skinnier side. I used my friends 15 and it just felt like a little too much for me. Literally going to my pro shop rn to pick up from drilling and get some games in 💪🏻
I was throwing 15lb for a few years but I had wrist injuries off and on. Some days were good and others weren't. Finally made the change to 14lb about 2 years ago and it made a night and day difference for me. Way more control, no more strains, more revs and ball speed.
After an 18 year layoff, I came back to 15 lbs. I quickly realized that at 65 years old, my hand release was very inconsistent. Dropping down to 14 made me more consistent, a little faster and a higher rev rate. The hitting power for me is much greater at the lower weight.
Totally agree i have bowled 14lb for 8 years now, game average is not that much different, but i realise the pace has to be so more consistent, slow and you are in trouble but at least at 70 i can still bowl
That's why I'm here I grew up in a bowling alley, my Mom was a Wpba bowler in the 70's and 80's, I threw a 16lb ball for years but haven't bowled in many years, I went back to the 16lb ball bowled a few games and at my age and all the aches and wears and tears on my body sort took the fun out of it, I think dropping to a 14 will probably be bast for my worn out shoulder wrist and elbow,, lol... Plus i think when your not dealing with the weight it allows you to focus on finesse. We will see. Happy Bowling!
I just started bowling again been 20 years. I can actually walk again after major surgeries. 8 weeks into it bought a 14 lb ball ( been throwing a 16 lb ball) was hoping I would get more speed on it. But seems I am actually according to the speed radar the lane provides been throwing it slower. Slightly different drill but was probably needed. This ball hooks to much for me on the dry lane conditions & 10 pin spare something I was pretty good at is almost impossible now for me. This is just 4 games of practice with it. Hopefully I adjust & get some more speed on it.
I've been using 14's for some time now & love it. Plus I gotta say packing 14's for airline travel makes things so much easier to make the 50lbs weight. And you can pack some other light stuff in a bag attachment and still make the weight limit. 👍
I recently just stepped up to 15lbs from 14lbs and definitely notice i can get more revs and about 1-2mph faster sometimes with my 14lb ball, BUT 15lbs does for sure carry more and i get a lot of breaks throwing a heavier weight.. great video and explanation, there is a difference for sure and in the near future i always look at RG and DIF and i will continue to switch between 14-15lbs depending on numbers and cover.
I dropped from 15lbs to 14lbs due to a shoulder injury. I was always hesitant on it, mainly afraid of half pocket hits, but I am truly grateful I made the change. I haven't seen too much change in carry. Probably cause to my lower rev/medium speed side release. As you have alluded to, I tend to check out the core number disparity from 14 to 15 to make my arsenal as top to bottom as I can. Great video! Can't wait for more!
I've been throwing 15 but I'm a pretty small person and I almost feel like the ball is controlling me. I was already considering my next ball to be the TNT Infused and was going to go with 14 lb to see if I like that more
Bowled 15lb forever. Over the years, I found myself tiring out, especially in longer tournaments. I switched down to a 14lb and love it. I have a lot more control then I did before.
I'm slower speed, especially for my age, so the 14lb suits me well most of the time with the higher RGs they tend to have. That said, balls like the Zen which don't really differentiate too much, if at all, between the 3 main weights can also look great as well. I'm on my 2nd Zen. I also get great reaction out of the IQ and Hyroad cores. Just have to throw them at the correct time.
I really appreciate you explaining the 14 pound advantages..As someone who has multiple wrist surgeries and who is beginning to get up in age,I now know I can drop down without losing the power I like..That's the strength of my game..Power..So more energy is gold..Thank you
I definitely saw a difference in motion between the two bowling balls. The 15 pounder read the lane sooner and made a more arcing motion to the pocket, whereas the 14 pounder went longer and moved off the friction as if Superman or Goku kicked it left.
I’ve always thrown 14 pounds, and the few times I have thrown 15 pounds I felt out of whack. When I threw a 15 pound ball, I had a hard time controlling my speed. With a 14 pound ball, I found it easier to adjust my speed. I am a rev dominant player, so I always try to watch my ball speed. I can’t see a scenario where I move to 15 pounds. With speed, hand placement, and different release angles I think having a 14 pound bal is more beneficial
I am also Rev dominant and also throw 14lbs from beginning of my bowling life. I lost speed tho from bowling one handed two finger no thumb into one handed with thumb. Went from 14.7mph to 13-12.8mph. Try to speed up my feet but still couldn't hit me reg ball speed.
@@NoSkilljutsu I am the opposite. I started off as a one hander, but moved to two hands (one hand with no thumb). My ball speed went up because I wasn’t worried about making sure my thumb came out in time. But even when I do have to speed up or slow down my ball speed, it’s easier compared to a 15 pound ball. I feel like with a 15 pound ball I almost have to throw my arm out in order to each a certain speed.
MIKE,,, IF you haven't done so already, I would love to see you Show the difference between the mass bias close to the thumb and the mass bias away from it. I have an idea, But would love to hear your explanation and see some results. Thanks Jim
Back in the day if you were a guy you had to throw 16 or you got talked about or teased. I switched to 14 ten years ago and my average and durability went up and I haven’t looked back.
as a 60 year old woman coming back into bowling I had been using a 15 for decades (ave. 200 -+). But the center I'm in has a low oil volume and most of my equipment was rolling out or not "making the corner" into the pocket if I moved in. My ball speed was fairly slow. So I tried a 14lb ball hoping to gain ball speed. Didn't happen. In fact the 14 felt so light that my release and targetting was very inconsistent. Went back to 15 and polished the snot out of it.
I usually play 15 lbs. but when I ordered my Gem I went down to 14 lbs. So far I'm liking it. It's pretty strong with the pin up layout and almost too strong for league play but maybe someday I'll bowl in a tournament with more oil. Thanks for the video.
I moved from 15 to 14 and just that made a big difference in comfort and endurance as well as performance on the lane too. I got more carry and all because of that too which is really nice.
Switched to a 14 after about a year because the 15 was just shredding my wrist and my previous shoulder injury just refused to cooperate, and after one night with the 14, I feel so much better physically, and I can tell I’m getting much more control with that 1 lb difference. I plan to hopefully get back to 15 at some point because I do like the pin carry and power it adds, but the 14 at present, is exactly what the doctor ordered
I throw 15, but my spare ball and my dry lane emergency hustles are 14. I love it. Since they're dry lane balls I need the extra MPH it gives me on top of by the time the lanes are getting dry enough to throw a hustle I'm pretty tired.
Started at 14 lbs 30 yrs ago. Quickly (next ball) moved up to 15. After 10 years moved to 16 but left my spare at 15. I quit bowling for 10 yrs and started back using my 15lb stuff Virtual Energy and Nexus. I've realized that to avoid injury and help get myself back to where I used to be that starting at 14 is better. This vid just helped confirmed this.
I started bowling 4 and half months ago with a 14lb ball (weight recommended by the PSO after he watched me bowl with a house ball and had me hold the 14lb ball in palm of my hand, with elbow at 90º for a few seconds). More recently, I bowled occasionally with a 15lb ball that a friend gave me and I found that comfortable. I was planning on switching to 15lbs, but after watching this video and reading a lot of the comments, I'm undecided.
I have thrown 15 and 14. I find 15 is earlier and straighter and the 14 lb version, even if the numbers are almost exact, still is longer and whippier. 14 lb will have more down lane shape than 15.
Throw what you feel comfortable with and can manipulate the most consistent. I've thrown 12-16. I'm currently at 14 and that responds the best with my Rev Rate and speed and my body is comfortable with it. The heavier the weight, the better shape you need to be in. Again, test the weight and decide for yourself.
A topic I would like to see covered is around the release. Just saw some old mo Monday video where he said “lift set bowling back 40 years. Turn the ball” My dad was a coach 20 years ago. He always told me “lift, turn, follow through” So the parts of the release around just letting it come off your fingers versus lifting. I don’t understand how someone could be a bowler that goes up the back without lifting because you don’t really turn. So hearing that made me question everything.
I’d say bowl with whatever’s comfortable for you, there’s no need to possibly injure yourself by going to heavy. If you don’t have the wrist strength then bowling with a 15 or 16 is basically the same as ego lifting. I’m 21 and skinny but have built a little wrist strength over these first 10 months of bowling and 14 is too perfect to go up in weight for me.
I am a 230 lbs athletic guy and changed my arsenal to 14 lbs like 5 years ago. My wrist hurts way less and the added revs and speed I am able to generate have helped me increase my average. Nobody believes me when I say I throw 14 lbs.
16lbs is the best imo. Once u build hand and arm strength the 16lbs feels so much better off the hand and the ball gets down lane better. It hits alot harder too. 5'7" 155lbs so I don't want to hear about size of person matters. One hander high Rev, 14-15mph when I 1st started using it. After 3-4 weeks 16-16.5 mph. I can chuck the 15lbs 17-18mph but super inconsistent as I see with most high speed bowlers. My average went from 192 to 213 after switch.
The older you get the lighter the ball are better because you don't have the strength to throw the heavier ball. I'm 58. In my much younger days I used to throw 16 lbs. Now I'm throwing a 15 lbs. ball.
That Lefty in the back seemed to be doing great! For me 14lbs seem to deflect the pins at the lanes I bowl at, vs 15lbs that finishes and more carry.. more splits 14lbs or 15lbs single pin spares again though for me.. Unique bowler Lefty index&middle fingers only, no thumb, reverse spin
I just recently went from 14lbs to 15lbs because with a 15lb ball you'll get more pin action and a 15lb ball wont deflect as much. I ordered a 15lb Storm Virtual Energy Blackout and i'm really loving this ball
I started bowling with a 12 # when I picked it back up after 35 years...as I improved I went to 14 # then won a 15 # in a raffle...and was using it. The 15 started tearing up my shoulder too much so I went back to 14# until I get stronger...but I might never go back up as I get older...rather happy at the 14 # weight and not hurting myself.
I've actually been thinking about the switch, which is wierd how this came up on my algorithm, but thanks for the info.. something I will definitely be thinking about
I am 6'1", 220lbs, 17mph/400 rev....... I threw 15lbs forever and about 5 years ago I was bowling in a sweeper when I pulled/injured my bicep muscle in my throwing arm... Had to take about 3 months off for it to fully heal and when I was rehabbing from injury I started throwing a 13lb, then 14lb and worked my way back to 15lb... I noticed when I was throwing the 14lb I was carrying much more than I ever have with the 15lb. Since then I made the switch to 14lb and never looked back. I think my speed and revs fit better with the 14lb giving me more outward/side carry/deflection than with the 15lb.
This was a nice explanation. I didn’t know some that info. Nice. And Ben throwing 14lb for years. But I don’t have the speed or rev rate nor the shot you guys need gals on pba tour do. Doesn’t stop me from trying to create it.
I haven’t been in a league since 2018 and my average dropped from 165 to 135 with the 15# balls. I am hoping that the move to 14# will help my consistency and energy throughout league nights.
I had to switch to 14lbs quite a few years ago do to injury. The biggest difference I noticed and still notice is how the 14lbs go through the pins. I dont have near the rev rate i used to, so as it has decreased i am having a harder and harder time getting the ball through the pins correctly... especially with weaker balls
I have a 14lb trend and i have to rip on it extremely hard to get it to go through the pins right, even on extremely dry conditions. Its difficult to repeat shots with it. So it only comes out when there is play up the 5 or for practice.
I was used to 15 in my teens. Then went 16 for awhile. After technically "died" in an accident i dropped to 14 though lost +50% of my touch & joint movement. But it was heavy 14's back in to late 90's like 14.7-14.11 that retained my near straight ball energy. Right now i can throw anything from 12-16 but still prefer heavy 14's. Great weight to tackle most oil conditions for myself. Havn't bowled since Covid but did a charity event using my 14.7 & ended-up winning w/no practice. Seems i can now impart english to my ball after all these years. At least for myself it shows these heavy 14's to be the best of 2 World's.
I use to throw a Big Spread Finger tip curl with a 16 lb and a very similar hook as yours. NOW…Discharged from Army 100% medically and in a chair. But, that won’t slow me down…..I learned to wheelchair Ice Curl and within 1 year brought home the USA Nat’l Bronze Medal. I got my Master Scuba Diver Cert. After my chair. I’m still playing pool and I’m Still Bowling. With no step approach swing available, a standstill throw from my wheelchair requires a small, 14 lb ball no finger tip and closer to a conventional finger tip drilled ball. Not my previous 187 average…now a 121 and looking to improve. Unsure as to which brand and type is better. (Luckily found a dealer willing to help with different ball and drills.). Could still use Pro instruction. “Giving Up Is Never an Option.”
Age 58, switched to 15 from 16 in the 90's. Great move for my back and the rest of my body. Hadn't bowled in 10 years, started back last fall. Decided to try 14 to see if I got that same relief from losing that pound as from 16 to 15. Drilled 2 14lb balls. I did....but I found I was leaving a LOT of single pins. I left the entire back row every night for over a month. (I mean single pins, 7,8,9,10), on great pocket hits. One night, I just went to one of my old 15's (Hammer Jigsaw Trap) that was over 10 years old. Carried everything. Fluke, maybe? Kept starting off with the 14's, not carrying, switch to the 15 and carry came back. I have now given the 14's to my son and I'm throwing 15's again. I found that the 14 just did not carry well enough for me and the way I throw it.
For the RG to go from 2.47 to 2.54 ti sounds like Roto Grip changes the core to get the drop in weight but as a by product the RG increases. Not really an apples to apples comparison IMO. I throw 14 and my RG is the same as the 15lb variant. The diff was lower by .002. But what I noticed was the shape. More angular than 15lbs. I think the difference is that the ratio of the total weight of the ball vs the weight of the core is closer with 14lbs. Meaning the core carries more weight (pun) on how much the ball hooks in the hook phase. For example, the hammer gas mask core weighs 6lbs. So 6 divided by 15 = 4 or 40% of the balls total weight. 6 divided by 14 = 42.85%. So an extra 2.85% with 1lb total less weight (more rotation with 1lb less) gives the difference of more movement in the hook stage. I don't leave any more 10 pins but I do leave more 7's and 8's but they are easier to pick up. :)
I was throwing a 12 pound house ball and was told when you get a ball drilled to your fingers it'll feel 2 pounds lighter so go up on weight by 2. I'm not the most physically fit either so I think 14 has been pretty good for me so far, I can manage my arm through 3 to 4 games
When iv been useing the old school 16lb equipment like im talking black u dots wine u dot yellow dot bleeders red fab hammer urethane and rubber amf balls also a brunswick zone defender i believe i thrown ever one of them and i feel deadly constant hitting my target but the 16lbs is to hard on my body so i go to 14lbs and i feel incredibly inconsistent and i mainly bowl with a 14lb i also bowl 2 handed i need help on why i and get that feel like i would with a 16lb i usually throw 16lb for fun because i love bowling with old bowling balls
My question is more along the lines of which one is more forgiving if you miss your mark.. while yes there is a difference in revs and etc.. average bowlers need more forgiveness then rev rates
I'm going to be the first guy to compete with a 10! LOL. Just for kicks the other day, I tried a ten with the two finger method, and just started nailing strikes. 7 in a row, which is good for my second day back after 30 years away from bowling!
What people don't realize either, is that when you're bowling 9+ games back to back days for a tournament, that extra pound can make a huge difference on the body. Especially when getting older.
People really underestimate how dynamic modern bowling balls are. This isn't the 80s anymore and most of the hitting power doesn't just come from weight. For the vast majority of bowlers that have to think about dropping weight (like for health reasons), they're gonna be fine with the lower weight
Switched to 14 after breaking my pinky, best decision I've ever made probably lol - hyped solid has been straight money in league with a few 300/800s already
Do you think you can do a 14v15v16 video? I went up to 16 and noticed a pretty big difference in carry. Normally averaged between 225-230. Went up to 16 and averaged 238. Just wondering. Thanks.
The kinetic power difference between 15 & 14 pound balls is insignificant. The opportunity is the lighter weight ball possibly can be easier to roll. It might enable the bowler to more relaxed, less tendency to squeeze the ball, and pull the ball down from the top. With better biomechanics, the expectation the bowler with the lighter ball we be more accurate, release the ball with higher revs, and effortlessly generate more ball speed. All this should result in higher scores. Policy suggestion. THS one handed league bowler over 50, mandatory should select 14 pound ball. Tournament bowling with 8 game qualifying probably not a bad idea to throw 14 pound ball. Exception. A Two handed bowler that is young and has a phenomenal rev rate and high ball speed.
I actually went from a 16 pound down to a 15 pound which I use for a few years and now recently I have a 14 and a 13 and I feel no difference now it took me a while to get used to it. My IQ is the 13 pound ball and my 14 pound bowl is the tour dynamics my 15 pound ball and bowl. I don’t even remember what bullet is.
I have been slowing switching to 15 pounds i myself get better carry since my speed is on the slower side i tend to leave more 10 pins with 14 but when i use one of my 15 pounds i carry them could be im throwing it better or the heavier ball idk but it seems to help me a little
Michael, I am 70 years old and throw a 15 lb. ball. My speed is down to 13.8 to 14.2 mph. My question is will going to a 14lb. ball help me keep my speed above 14mph? Also I bowl on a house shot and throw a Track Stealth which I constantly have to deal with sucking oil and lane shine. What ball would be good for the heavy oil and not have the surface effected so much by the oil? Thanks and next time I'm in Columbus I will definitely be checking out your shop.
Thanks for your question! Most all dull balls will shine up just because of the interaction with the lane surface. All balls will want to get to the same surface as the lane. If you want balls effective for heavy oil, try some asymmetric pieces with stronger covers. As for the weight of the ball, 14lbs should help you throw it a bit faster than 15lbs!
@@mikemurphy8720most people do get higher ball speed when they use lighter balls, but not everyone does. I happen to throw every weight ball at the same speed. If your speed increases when dropping weight, your ball's kinetic energy will increase. If not, it will decrease with the lighter ball. However, you may find that your release and shot consistency improves with a lighter ball. That can be more important than energy at the pins.
That dude in the adjacent lane chunking that thing past the arrows before it even hit the lane 😆😆😆
😂😂
Gotta retain that energy lol
Ya how annoying. No idea what the F he is doing lifting it like that
I don't play league or tournies but why does everyone complain when they strike? A strikes a strike so if you can keep put 1 after another who cares how the sound was
@Lefishn well the leagues I play in if u get a Brooklyn, people literally want to take it away from you. They consider it pure luck, and a cheap strike
I moved to 14lbs from 15 and I feel more comfortable with the change.
That was something I had to learn when throwing 14#: the numbers will most likely be higher. I had to use stronger layouts to get the desired reaction.
And that dude behind you was doing som serious chucking!
Not to mention, you will likely throw the 14 faster than 15. So def needs a stronger layout.
the guy behing dont bother him self with the front reading the ball to fast 😂
Señor Loft in the background recently went from a 15# to a 4# ball. 😂
Started last October. Was throwing a 14lb Dark Code at 18.5mph, 158 avg. Switched to a 16lb Exotic Gem and slowed down to 16.5mph. I feel like the weight helps my swing stay in line with my target and reduces the variance in rev rate. Avg has been steadily increasing, 190 now, hoping to hit 200 by December. 600s every week for the last month or so. A lot of my average increasing has to do with building better muscle memory and technique, but I really do feel like the heavier ball helps me. (Two hands)
Hey Mike! I moved to 14 pounds a couple of years ago. I'm 71, but ultra competitive and I saw no loss of power or decrease in my average of around 220. I only dropped down in weight because of a knee issue. But GREAT video showing the difference between a 14 and 15lb. Thanks Jim
Just got my first ball. Got a 14 just cos I’m in the skinnier side. I used my friends 15 and it just felt like a little too much for me. Literally going to my pro shop rn to pick up from drilling and get some games in 💪🏻
I was throwing 15lb for a few years but I had wrist injuries off and on. Some days were good and others weren't. Finally made the change to 14lb about 2 years ago and it made a night and day difference for me. Way more control, no more strains, more revs and ball speed.
After an 18 year layoff, I came back to 15 lbs. I quickly realized that at 65 years old, my hand release was very inconsistent. Dropping down to 14 made me more consistent, a little faster and a higher rev rate. The hitting power for me is much greater at the lower weight.
Totally agree i have bowled 14lb for 8 years now, game average is not that much different, but i realise the pace has to be so more consistent, slow and you are in trouble but at least at 70 i can still bowl
That's why I'm here I grew up in a bowling alley, my Mom was a Wpba bowler in the 70's and 80's, I threw a 16lb ball for years but haven't bowled in many years, I went back to the 16lb ball bowled a few games and at my age and all the aches and wears and tears on my body sort took the fun out of it, I think dropping to a 14 will probably be bast for my worn out shoulder wrist and elbow,, lol... Plus i think when your not dealing with the weight it allows you to focus on finesse. We will see. Happy Bowling!
I just started bowling again been 20 years. I can actually walk again after major surgeries. 8 weeks into it bought a 14 lb ball ( been throwing a 16 lb ball) was hoping I would get more speed on it. But seems I am actually according to the speed radar the lane provides been throwing it slower. Slightly different drill but was probably needed. This ball hooks to much for me on the dry lane conditions & 10 pin spare something I was pretty good at is almost impossible now for me. This is just 4 games of practice with it. Hopefully I adjust & get some more speed on it.
I've been using 14's for some time now & love it. Plus I gotta say packing 14's for airline travel makes things so much easier to make the 50lbs weight. And you can pack some other light stuff in a bag attachment and still make the weight limit. 👍
I recently just stepped up to 15lbs from 14lbs and definitely notice i can get more revs and about 1-2mph faster sometimes with my 14lb ball, BUT 15lbs does for sure carry more and i get a lot of breaks throwing a heavier weight.. great video and explanation, there is a difference for sure and in the near future i always look at RG and DIF and i will continue to switch between 14-15lbs depending on numbers and cover.
I dropped from 15lbs to 14lbs due to a shoulder injury.
I was always hesitant on it, mainly afraid of half pocket hits, but I am truly grateful I made the change.
I haven't seen too much change in carry. Probably cause to my lower rev/medium speed side release.
As you have alluded to, I tend to check out the core number disparity from 14 to 15 to make my arsenal as top to bottom as I can.
Great video! Can't wait for more!
I've been throwing 15 but I'm a pretty small person and I almost feel like the ball is controlling me. I was already considering my next ball to be the TNT Infused and was going to go with 14 lb to see if I like that more
I am switching from 15 to 14 after tearing my rotator cuff for the second time. Thanks for the video. I feel better already :)
Bowled 15lb forever. Over the years, I found myself tiring out, especially in longer tournaments. I switched down to a 14lb and love it. I have a lot more control then I did before.
I'm slower speed, especially for my age, so the 14lb suits me well most of the time with the higher RGs they tend to have. That said, balls like the Zen which don't really differentiate too much, if at all, between the 3 main weights can also look great as well. I'm on my 2nd Zen. I also get great reaction out of the IQ and Hyroad cores. Just have to throw them at the correct time.
I really appreciate you explaining the 14 pound advantages..As someone who has multiple wrist surgeries and who is beginning to get up in age,I now know I can drop down without losing the power I like..That's the strength of my game..Power..So more energy is gold..Thank you
love your video,
informative
direct
yet entertaining
Love this series of ballspanations… keep them coming
I definitely saw a difference in motion between the two bowling balls. The 15 pounder read the lane sooner and made a more arcing motion to the pocket, whereas the 14 pounder went longer and moved off the friction as if Superman or Goku kicked it left.
I’ve always thrown 14 pounds, and the few times I have thrown 15 pounds I felt out of whack. When I threw a 15 pound ball, I had a hard time controlling my speed. With a 14 pound ball, I found it easier to adjust my speed. I am a rev dominant player, so I always try to watch my ball speed. I can’t see a scenario where I move to 15 pounds. With speed, hand placement, and different release angles I think having a 14 pound bal is more beneficial
I am also Rev dominant and also throw 14lbs from beginning of my bowling life. I lost speed tho from bowling one handed two finger no thumb into one handed with thumb. Went from 14.7mph to 13-12.8mph. Try to speed up my feet but still couldn't hit me reg ball speed.
@@NoSkilljutsu I am the opposite. I started off as a one hander, but moved to two hands (one hand with no thumb). My ball speed went up because I wasn’t worried about making sure my thumb came out in time. But even when I do have to speed up or slow down my ball speed, it’s easier compared to a 15 pound ball. I feel like with a 15 pound ball I almost have to throw my arm out in order to each a certain speed.
@@willieyoung7070 yeah the thumb be in the way lol. I would go back two fingers no thumb but my wrist would yell at me lol
MIKE,,, IF you haven't done so already, I would love to see you Show the difference between the mass bias close to the thumb and the mass bias away from it. I have an idea, But would love to hear your explanation and see some results. Thanks Jim
God bless everyone and have a wonderful day ❤ By grace through faith we are saved 🙏 Glory and praise be to the Lord
Pre ordered my 14lb at TV Monday. Stoked for the release.
Back in the day if you were a guy you had to throw 16 or you got talked about or teased. I switched to 14 ten years ago and my average and durability went up and I haven’t looked back.
as a 60 year old woman coming back into bowling I had been using a 15 for decades (ave. 200 -+). But the center I'm in has a low oil volume and most of my equipment was rolling out or not "making the corner" into the pocket if I moved in. My ball speed was fairly slow. So I tried a 14lb ball hoping to gain ball speed. Didn't happen. In fact the 14 felt so light that my release and targetting was very inconsistent. Went back to 15 and polished the snot out of it.
I usually play 15 lbs. but when I ordered my Gem I went down to 14 lbs. So far I'm liking it. It's pretty strong with the pin up layout and almost too strong for league play but maybe someday I'll bowl in a tournament with more oil. Thanks for the video.
Great explanation and great ball to use for the example.
Switched to 14 lbs three years ago 61 now and it was the best thing I ever did. Averaging 211 and it would be over 220 if I could pick all my 7 pins.
With that avg 7 pins should be minor
I moved from 15 to 14 and just that made a big difference in comfort and endurance as well as performance on the lane too. I got more carry and all because of that too which is really nice.
Switched to a 14 after about a year because the 15 was just shredding my wrist and my previous shoulder injury just refused to cooperate, and after one night with the 14, I feel so much better physically, and I can tell I’m getting much more control with that 1 lb difference. I plan to hopefully get back to 15 at some point because I do like the pin carry and power it adds, but the 14 at present, is exactly what the doctor ordered
I throw 15, but my spare ball and my dry lane emergency hustles are 14. I love it. Since they're dry lane balls I need the extra MPH it gives me on top of by the time the lanes are getting dry enough to throw a hustle I'm pretty tired.
That hoodie.........🔥🔥🔥🔥 the holiday drops looking 🔥
Nice video... Can you do a video on different hand positions and when you use them... Zones 1, 2, and 3?
Started at 14 lbs 30 yrs ago. Quickly (next ball) moved up to 15. After 10 years moved to 16 but left my spare at 15. I quit bowling for 10 yrs and started back using my 15lb stuff Virtual Energy and Nexus. I've realized that to avoid injury and help get myself back to where I used to be that starting at 14 is better. This vid just helped confirmed this.
I started bowling 4 and half months ago with a 14lb ball (weight recommended by the PSO after he watched me bowl with a house ball and had me hold the 14lb ball in palm of my hand, with elbow at 90º for a few seconds). More recently, I bowled occasionally with a 15lb ball that a friend gave me and I found that comfortable. I was planning on switching to 15lbs, but after watching this video and reading a lot of the comments, I'm undecided.
I have thrown 15 and 14.
I find 15 is earlier and straighter and the 14 lb version, even if the numbers are almost exact, still is longer and whippier.
14 lb will have more down lane shape than 15.
Throw what you feel comfortable with and can manipulate the most consistent. I've thrown 12-16. I'm currently at 14 and that responds the best with my Rev Rate and speed and my body is comfortable with it. The heavier the weight, the better shape you need to be in. Again, test the weight and decide for yourself.
A topic I would like to see covered is around the release. Just saw some old mo Monday video where he said “lift set bowling back 40 years. Turn the ball”
My dad was a coach 20 years ago. He always told me “lift, turn, follow through”
So the parts of the release around just letting it come off your fingers versus lifting. I don’t understand how someone could be a bowler that goes up the back without lifting because you don’t really turn.
So hearing that made me question everything.
I’d say bowl with whatever’s comfortable for you, there’s no need to possibly injure yourself by going to heavy. If you don’t have the wrist strength then bowling with a 15 or 16 is basically the same as ego lifting. I’m 21 and skinny but have built a little wrist strength over these first 10 months of bowling and 14 is too perfect to go up in weight for me.
I am a 230 lbs athletic guy and changed my arsenal to 14 lbs like 5 years ago. My wrist hurts way less and the added revs and speed I am able to generate have helped me increase my average. Nobody believes me when I say I throw 14 lbs.
Thank you for doing this video. In the future when there are big differences between the RG values like this, will you consider more videos like this?
If that’s what you guys want to see!
16lbs is the best imo. Once u build hand and arm strength the 16lbs feels so much better off the hand and the ball gets down lane better. It hits alot harder too. 5'7" 155lbs so I don't want to hear about size of person matters. One hander high Rev, 14-15mph when I 1st started using it. After 3-4 weeks 16-16.5 mph. I can chuck the 15lbs 17-18mph but super inconsistent as I see with most high speed bowlers. My average went from 192 to 213 after switch.
Loving the content. Just getting started.
The older you get the lighter the ball are better because you don't have the strength to throw the heavier ball. I'm 58. In my much younger days I used to throw 16 lbs. Now I'm throwing a 15 lbs. ball.
I hear ya. Threw 16 till 54 changed to 15 couldn't throw much better. Now at 56 I use 14 and carry better because I throw much better.
Great job , excellent explanation
That Lefty in the back seemed to be doing great!
For me 14lbs seem to deflect the pins at the lanes I bowl at, vs 15lbs that finishes and more carry.. more splits 14lbs or 15lbs single pin spares again though for me..
Unique bowler Lefty index&middle fingers only, no thumb, reverse spin
Cheers for this Michael I bowl with 15s at the moment and I also have a couple of 14s I am thinking of just going totally with 14s
Nice video Mikey. You have such a nice release. Can you do a video on how you release the ball?
i had to use a 13bl about 15 years ago cause of wrist problems and it work great had a 300 with it
I just recently went from 14lbs to 15lbs because with a 15lb ball you'll get more pin action and a 15lb ball wont deflect as much. I ordered a 15lb Storm Virtual Energy Blackout and i'm really loving this ball
I started bowling with a 12 # when I picked it back up after 35 years...as I improved I went to 14 # then won a 15 # in a raffle...and was using it. The 15 started tearing up my shoulder too much so I went back to 14# until I get stronger...but I might never go back up as I get older...rather happy at the 14 # weight and not hurting myself.
Are we gonna ignore the dude shot putting couple lanes over?
I've actually been thinking about the switch, which is wierd how this came up on my algorithm, but thanks for the info.. something I will definitely be thinking about
I am 6'1", 220lbs, 17mph/400 rev....... I threw 15lbs forever and about 5 years ago I was bowling in a sweeper when I pulled/injured my bicep muscle in my throwing arm... Had to take about 3 months off for it to fully heal and when I was rehabbing from injury I started throwing a 13lb, then 14lb and worked my way back to 15lb... I noticed when I was throwing the 14lb I was carrying much more than I ever have with the 15lb. Since then I made the switch to 14lb and never looked back. I think my speed and revs fit better with the 14lb giving me more outward/side carry/deflection than with the 15lb.
I have been thinking about going to 14 thanks for the video
Awesome video Mikey!!!!
This was a nice explanation. I didn’t know some that info. Nice. And Ben throwing 14lb for years. But I don’t have the speed or rev rate nor the shot you guys need gals on pba tour do. Doesn’t stop me from trying to create it.
I haven’t been in a league since 2018 and my average dropped from 165 to 135 with the 15# balls. I am hoping that the move to 14# will help my consistency and energy throughout league nights.
I would like to see an episode on a ball that is plugged and re-drilled to see if there is a difference. I expect the ball to be more forward rolling.
Biggest difference I see is the 5 different shirts lol. Great video!
I had to switch to 14lbs quite a few years ago do to injury. The biggest difference I noticed and still notice is how the 14lbs go through the pins. I dont have near the rev rate i used to, so as it has decreased i am having a harder and harder time getting the ball through the pins correctly... especially with weaker balls
I have a 14lb trend and i have to rip on it extremely hard to get it to go through the pins right, even on extremely dry conditions. Its difficult to repeat shots with it. So it only comes out when there is play up the 5 or for practice.
I was used to 15 in my teens. Then went 16 for awhile. After technically "died" in an accident i dropped to 14 though lost +50% of my touch & joint movement. But it was heavy 14's back in to late 90's like 14.7-14.11 that retained my near straight ball energy. Right now i can throw anything from 12-16 but still prefer heavy 14's. Great weight to tackle most oil conditions for myself. Havn't bowled since Covid but did a charity event using my 14.7 & ended-up winning w/no practice. Seems i can now impart english to my ball after all these years. At least for myself it shows these heavy 14's to be the best of 2 World's.
We have no idea which ball you are throwing as we watch this… great video
The dude, bowling in the background, he’s definitely got his loft game on point 🤪
I was a few lanes over. They were pretty toasty. Playing about 15 boards left of where I was a few days before that.
huuuge difference. wow. nice vid!
I use to throw a Big Spread Finger tip curl with a 16 lb and a very similar hook as yours. NOW…Discharged from Army 100% medically and in a chair. But, that won’t slow me down…..I learned to wheelchair Ice Curl and within 1 year brought home the USA Nat’l Bronze Medal. I got my Master Scuba Diver Cert. After my chair. I’m still playing pool and I’m Still Bowling. With no step approach swing available, a standstill throw from my wheelchair requires a small, 14 lb ball no finger tip and closer to a conventional finger tip drilled ball. Not my previous 187 average…now a 121 and looking to improve. Unsure as to which brand and type is better. (Luckily found a dealer willing to help with different ball and drills.). Could still use Pro instruction. “Giving Up Is Never an Option.”
I was feeling arthritic throwing 14 and went to 13 and haven’t seen a drop in scoring. No more aches, either.
Great video, I enjoyed you changing into 3 different outfits, lol
5!
Man I used to bowl at holiday lanes when I was a kid until I graduated high school many years ago
Age 58, switched to 15 from 16 in the 90's. Great move for my back and the rest of my body. Hadn't bowled in 10 years, started back last fall. Decided to try 14 to see if I got that same relief from losing that pound as from 16 to 15. Drilled 2 14lb balls.
I did....but I found I was leaving a LOT of single pins. I left the entire back row every night for over a month. (I mean single pins, 7,8,9,10), on great pocket hits.
One night, I just went to one of my old 15's (Hammer Jigsaw Trap) that was over 10 years old. Carried everything. Fluke, maybe? Kept starting off with the 14's, not carrying, switch to the 15 and carry came back.
I have now given the 14's to my son and I'm throwing 15's again. I found that the 14 just did not carry well enough for me and the way I throw it.
Thank you for the info. I’m currently transitioning from 15 to 14lbs
I currently throw a 16 pounder. Have been considering dropping to 15 for a little more control
I start with a 15lb ball on the fresh then transition to a 14lb when the lanes break down and when I get somewhat tired
That's a good idea. I throw 15 with my thumb in and 14 with my thumb out.
For the RG to go from 2.47 to 2.54 ti sounds like Roto Grip changes the core to get the drop in weight but as a by product the RG increases. Not really an apples to apples comparison IMO. I throw 14 and my RG is the same as the 15lb variant. The diff was lower by .002. But what I noticed was the shape. More angular than 15lbs.
I think the difference is that the ratio of the total weight of the ball vs the weight of the core is closer with 14lbs. Meaning the core carries more weight (pun) on how much the ball hooks in the hook phase. For example, the hammer gas mask core weighs 6lbs. So 6 divided by 15 = 4 or 40% of the balls total weight. 6 divided by 14 = 42.85%. So an extra 2.85% with 1lb total less weight (more rotation with 1lb less) gives the difference of more movement in the hook stage. I don't leave any more 10 pins but I do leave more 7's and 8's but they are easier to pick up. :)
In 2000 I threw a 13.7 pound Columbia Rage. Average 218 with 2 300's. One of them on my birthday !
I was throwing a 12 pound house ball and was told when you get a ball drilled to your fingers it'll feel 2 pounds lighter so go up on weight by 2. I'm not the most physically fit either so I think 14 has been pretty good for me so far, I can manage my arm through 3 to 4 games
It chops about 3oz only lol so 15 and 3 becomes 15 flat
Bring that level of detail to each ball review. Or add a URL for RH and Diff fundamentals.
thanks
When iv been useing the old school 16lb equipment like im talking black u dots wine u dot yellow dot bleeders red fab hammer urethane and rubber amf balls also a brunswick zone defender i believe i thrown ever one of them and i feel deadly constant hitting my target but the 16lbs is to hard on my body so i go to 14lbs and i feel incredibly inconsistent and i mainly bowl with a 14lb i also bowl 2 handed i need help on why i and get that feel like i would with a 16lb i usually throw 16lb for fun because i love bowling with old bowling balls
I just made the change. I've found myself more consistent, speed and revs are up and overall a good change.
At what rg would you say it starts to affect the reaction? Also in general would you consider one of the the other to carry better?
Great video. But I was distracted the whole time by the gentleman a few lanes over throwing the ball at the pins overhand
Ive seriously been contemplating a 14 to gain some control.
I switched from 14lbs to 15lbs and back to 14lbs years ago. My ball speed, rev rate, consistency and bowling endurance was 100% with a 14lb ball.
My question is more along the lines of which one is more forgiving if you miss your mark.. while yes there is a difference in revs and etc.. average bowlers need more forgiveness then rev rates
Forgiveness is all dependent on how your ball is matching up at your certain house!
I use 14 pound sometimes and notice that it improves my entry angle to the pocket.
I'm going to be the first guy to compete with a 10! LOL. Just for kicks the other day, I tried a ten with the two finger method, and just started nailing strikes. 7 in a row, which is good for my second day back after 30 years away from bowling!
What people don't realize either, is that when you're bowling 9+ games back to back days for a tournament, that extra pound can make a huge difference on the body. Especially when getting older.
People really underestimate how dynamic modern bowling balls are. This isn't the 80s anymore and most of the hitting power doesn't just come from weight. For the vast majority of bowlers that have to think about dropping weight (like for health reasons), they're gonna be fine with the lower weight
What do you and Chris recommend for a 2 hander throwing between 14 and 15 mph. I bowl on a lot of dry and inconsistent shots.
Switched to 14 after breaking my pinky, best decision I've ever made probably lol - hyped solid has been straight money in league with a few 300/800s already
I'm not very strong, so even 14 was a weight up. I could see it being useful going up further
Do you think you can do a 14v15v16 video? I went up to 16 and noticed a pretty big difference in carry. Normally averaged between 225-230. Went up to 16 and averaged 238. Just wondering. Thanks.
The kinetic power difference between 15 & 14 pound balls is insignificant.
The opportunity is the lighter weight ball possibly can be easier to roll. It might enable the bowler to more relaxed, less tendency to squeeze the ball, and pull the ball down from the top.
With better biomechanics, the expectation the bowler with the lighter ball we be more accurate, release the ball with higher revs, and effortlessly generate more ball speed. All this should result in higher scores.
Policy suggestion.
THS one handed league bowler over 50, mandatory should select 14 pound ball.
Tournament bowling with 8 game qualifying probably not a bad idea to throw 14 pound ball.
Exception.
A Two handed bowler that is young and has a phenomenal rev rate and high ball speed.
I actually went from a 16 pound down to a 15 pound which I use for a few years and now recently I have a 14 and a 13 and I feel no difference now it took me a while to get used to it. My IQ is the 13 pound ball and my 14 pound bowl is the tour dynamics my 15 pound ball and bowl. I don’t even remember what bullet is.
65 yrs old and just getting back into bowling. I feel 13lb is my sweet spot.
I have been slowing switching to 15 pounds i myself get better carry since my speed is on the slower side i tend to leave more 10 pins with 14 but when i use one of my 15 pounds i carry them could be im throwing it better or the heavier ball idk but it seems to help me a little
Michael, I am 70 years old and throw a 15 lb. ball. My speed is down to 13.8 to 14.2 mph. My question is will going to a 14lb. ball help me keep my speed above 14mph? Also I bowl on a house shot and throw a Track Stealth which I constantly have to deal with sucking oil and lane shine. What ball would be good for the heavy oil and not have the surface effected so much by the oil? Thanks and next time I'm in Columbus I will definitely be checking out your shop.
Thanks for your question! Most all dull balls will shine up just because of the interaction with the lane surface. All balls will want to get to the same surface as the lane. If you want balls effective for heavy oil, try some asymmetric pieces with stronger covers.
As for the weight of the ball, 14lbs should help you throw it a bit faster than 15lbs!
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.@@tvbowlingsupply
@@mikemurphy8720most people do get higher ball speed when they use lighter balls, but not everyone does. I happen to throw every weight ball at the same speed. If your speed increases when dropping weight, your ball's kinetic energy will increase. If not, it will decrease with the lighter ball. However, you may find that your release and shot consistency improves with a lighter ball. That can be more important than energy at the pins.