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Author Topic: 15lb vs. 16lb  (Read 3470 times)

prmtme13

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15lb vs. 16lb
« on: June 11, 2014, 06:15:34 PM »
I have been thinking about going back to 16lbs. I threw 16lb for 20 years, but have been using 15lbs for the last 7. I have noticed that I seem to be hitting up on the ball more now than I ever ( and lofting it ) and seems like my carry has gone down some. I know that I am a better bowler now than I was 7 years ago, but back them I was averaging in the 230's and now low 220's.
 I know that it is still good but I have been wondering if going back to 16lbs could make a little difference. I know that for high rev players their isn't that much of a difference in the 2 weights when it comes to carry. I am a medium  rev player so I was wondering if it does make a little difference. What is everybody's thought on this?
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J_Mac

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2014, 06:20:09 PM »
Vaguely related... I'll explain after you respond.

How frequently have you adjusted your fit over the last 25+ years?

Ken De Beasto

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2014, 06:49:43 PM »
I believe 16 obviously hits harder but like most bowlers I kno just says 15 is more than enuff to shred the rack, but then again there's belmo throwing 14 hard as a mofo at the rack and works fine for him. Sean rash is a high rev player he's throwing a 16lb rock down the lane his carry is good too. So I guess anything around that is good nuff as long u hit the pocket at the perfect angle. My lil rookie two cents :)

amyers2002

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2014, 08:23:22 PM »
Within that 14 to 16 weight I'm not sure it makes much difference it's where you put them. Not what your hitting them with. :)

St. Croix

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2014, 09:23:59 PM »
About 2 years ago, I went back to a 16 pound ball for an entire season more as an experiment than anything else. I had not thrown that weight for 3 or 4 years at the time. My average was about the same with about the same carry. I noticed a few more aches and pains in my forearm after each series, so I went back to 15 pounds. For me, the extra weight was not worth it.
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prmtme13

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2014, 09:26:32 PM »
I have my grip checked every couple of years. I have had a few changes over the years, from pitch changes to span changes
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tommyboy74

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2014, 09:45:19 PM »
I believe 16 obviously hits harder but like most bowlers I kno just says 15 is more than enuff to shred the rack, but then again there's belmo throwing 14 hard as a mofo at the rack and works fine for him. Sean rash is a high rev player he's throwing a 16lb rock down the lane his carry is good too. So I guess anything around that is good nuff as long u hit the pocket at the perfect angle. My lil rookie two cents :)

Belmo throws 14?  According to his bio, he throws 15.
http://www.stormbowling.com/athlete/national/jbelmonte
« Last Edit: June 11, 2014, 11:41:24 PM by tommyboy74 »
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Eddie M

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2014, 10:13:44 PM »
Back when balls couldn't gain much more than a few degrees of entry angle, weight mattered.  Not anymore.  Put a ball into the pocket at the optimal entry angle, and it's going to strike (hopefully) regardless of weight.  Throw whatever weight you are most comfortable with.
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xrayjay

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2014, 10:18:20 PM »
Belmo 14? Dang...
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avabob

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2014, 10:32:44 PM »
This debate comes up quite often.  The big reason that there is no disadvantage in hitting power with 15 lb balls is because the modern release can achieve more revs which compensates for lower weight.  I get 50 more RPM and a mile and a half more ball speed with 15 which together trumps the weightdrop. 

Ken De Beasto

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2014, 12:18:35 AM »
oh iono, a belmo fan told me he heard on like xtra frame on 1 of those squads that he throws 14s which is why he has explosive speed but iono dont really follow him but i do know rhino page came back from a injury and he threw 14s for the pba league crap and randy pederson said his carry was not good with 14lbs

avabob

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2014, 10:01:32 AM »
As with anything else their are laws of diminishing returns. Most people carry as good or better dropping from 16 due to the increase in rev rate they can achieve.  Drop another pound, and you probably don't pick up as many more revs as you did from the first weight decrease.  If you are already getting 500 rpm then even a drop to 14 wont change much. 
« Last Edit: June 13, 2014, 10:54:20 AM by avabob »

trash heap

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Re: 15lb vs. 16lb
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2014, 11:22:58 AM »
avabob,

Thanks for the information. It is going into my library of bowling topics. Very well stated.
 
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