Sorry this is a tad long, bear with me.

I suffered a fall while running a road race this summer that led to me displacing a few bones in my wrist, which caused me to be "casted" for a couple weeks, and out of commission bowling wise for almost two months.  My wrist was weak as a noodle for a while, but now is back to pre-fall strength (I pass the cupped wrist test again, etc.).  However, my bowling is just not there.  My speed is down a mph or two, my rev rate is down by about 25%, and my accuracy has been sub-par at best.  This trend has been running for longer than I've liked, and I continue to get a dull ache in my wrist the day after bowling more than a three game set.

A few years ago, I had toyed around with dropping to 14 lbs.  So much so, that I picked up a TI Messenger blem from Beans (7" pin and all) and had it punched up.  At that point, my speed and rev rate increased dramatically, but I was leaving all sorts of 10 pins and 8 pins (and had been bowling better with my 15 lbs stuff) so I left well enough alone, and sold the ball to a teammate who was moving from 13 to 14 (ironically enough).  (Of course, as fate would have it, I used it once during league this year and shot 279).

Alas, now I'm considering the switch again.  I assume this would help keep my mangled wrist healthy, and allow for an increase in my currently below average speed and revs.  I also have a torn labrum (those of you who pitch, don't overthrow on the side) which doesn't bother me currently (at the tender age of 21) while bowling, but is something I always consider.

The main worry is not price, availability, or ego, but clearly pin carry.  Now, looking at the weight, a dropoff from 16 to 14 (using 16 for comparison sake) is only about a 12-13% drop in mass.  Accounting for the increase in speed, this will  likely offset some of the mass loss when considering momentum transferred to the head pin (SIDE NOTE:  People, E does not equal MC^2 when it comes to bowling balls.  I've seen a few persons claim speed has a more direct affect because of it's quadratic effect, but MC^2 is considering the theory of relativity-- not applicable to objects the size of bowling balls which travel at oh-- 1/1x10^7 the speed of light.)  Obviously deflection and pin action are more complicated results of transfer of energy.  It is here I'm not sure if a 14 lb ball would be a drawback-- and here's where I need some empirical evidence.

My questions are as follows:

Has anyone made this switch (15 to 14, not 16 to 15-- I already made that drop in high school ) that can attest to the change in carry characteristics, as well as how much the increased speed and angle offset this decrease in drive?

Are there any "serious" bowlers who use 14 lbs. that are reading this (or do people know of someone who does)? (By serious, I don't mean Joe Househack who averages 220 by spraying the lane-- I typically keep myself constrained to sport leagues, PBA shots, tournaments on tougher patterns, etc.)  I know a few years ago, the breakdown was like 65% 15 lbs., 30% 16 lbs., and 5% 14 lbs. on the pro tour.  Has that changed?

Now, of course, I'm not looking at joining the pro tour or anything (which would require both talent and money-- both of which are sorely lacking), but during grad school (after my college eligibility has been exhausted), I'll probably do a scratch tournament here or there on the weekend.  I don't stress about my league scores as much, but am not sure how this change could affect my potential success (and sadly, enjoyment) in a tournament setup.  Hence I come to you, BR.  Enlighten me.

EDIT:  Because I can't add to 100.

Edited on 12/31/2007 6:42 PM