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Author Topic: Why only up to 16lbs?  (Read 7154 times)

MrPerfect

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Why only up to 16lbs?
« on: July 09, 2010, 01:06:08 AM »
I've been having a problem with my ball speed lately and dreaming of throwing something heavier than 16lbs, and it got me thinking, can anyone explain to me why the heaviest bowling ball allowed is 16lbs?

I'm sure there will be some entertaining responses as well, but as long as someone has a real answer I don't really care...so have fun with it.
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sstaz

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2010, 09:18:58 AM »
this is what i found on Wikipedia but not sure if it true.

" The max limit allowed in tournament games or league games is 16, but balls of up to 20 pounds are available."

Edited on 7/9/2010 9:19 AM
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billy sewell

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2010, 09:33:08 AM »
where would you find these 20 pounders?
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charlest

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2010, 10:16:33 AM »
quote:
I''ve been having a problem with my ball speed lately and dreaming of throwing something heavier than 16lbs, and it got me thinking, can anyone explain to me why the heaviest bowling ball allowed is 16lbs?

I''m sure there will be some entertaining responses as well, but as long as someone has a real answer I don''t really care...so have fun with it.


I doubt if there''s any "entertaining" reason. It''s just the limit that was decided when they established the rules way back around 1900.

BUT since it''s in the ABC/USBC rules,  you can safely presume that the rule is only in effect during sanctioned competition. So whenever your bowling is not sanctioned you can use whatever weight you''d like. I have not heard of anyone making balls heavier than 16 lbs., except accidentally on a production line, and then only by a few ounces.

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Edited on 7/9/2010 10:17 AM
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Rolling The Rock

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2010, 11:34:11 AM »
That, and human pinsetters were in use. Maybe they only wanted to go up to 16.
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Spider Man

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2010, 12:13:03 PM »
quote:
All the pin setting equipment was designed to withstand the punishment of a 16lb bowling ball.  If you were to use 20lb balls, you would end up damaging the equipment and have ball return issues as well.




yeah, I dont think center owners want guys lofting 20lbs down the lanes.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2010, 05:11:52 PM »
When rubber balls were being used, anyone who could handle the weight wanted to throw 16lb balls as they had more mass and hit harder.

With the higher friction of modern equipment this mass is not needed as much.

Some practical limit had to be set and I presume they picked 16 as a good compromise.
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Juggernaut

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2010, 05:13:42 PM »
quote:
I used a 30 lb. ball once and there is absolutely no carry.  I left a lot of 9 pins.  The ball needs to deflect some as it's going through the pins.  30 lbs. was just too much.


??????

 If I ever threw a 30lb ball, it would be once as well.
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n00dlejester

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Re: Why only up to 16lbs?
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2010, 05:32:06 PM »
I heard a fable once about an LT-48 that was like 19 pounds.  Some guy bowled a ton of action games somewhere in NJ, I forget where.  Maybe it was NYC.  Well, it's only a fable so who cares.

But he soaked his L-48 in water and rubbing alcohol (I think) for so long, it actually retained the weight from the liquid.  So he was bowling action with this huge ball, kicking booty. Some guy was like, "How the effe do you carry so well with this?  Is it 20lbs?" He then proceeds to grab it off the rack and realize it's way heavy.  Mayhem ensues.
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