A new ball fit to tour hand will feel lighter than the same weight in a house ball.

Rule of thumb is that when going to your first custom drilled ball, go 1-2 lbs heavier than you use with a house ball.

Once you have a "real" ball, drilled for your hand, with finger and thumb inserts, you will find that you can handle at least 2-3 lbs heavier without a problem. I would not go lighter than 12 lbs if I were you. Anything lighter than that and you just don't get the pin reaction you need to throw strikes consistently. I see fairly small women at our center throwing 14 lb balls, so you should be able to handle 12 with the right grips, etc. If you can't, I would experiment with throwing 2-handed.

9 is very light ... the lighter the ball the more of a disadvantage in terms of weight of the ball in relation to the weight of the pins (ie the ball just bouncing off the pins instead of driving through them). When you get something custom fitted to your hand it is much easier to control the weight because the holes are snug. Without knowing your limitations it is hard to recommend a weight though. I started with a 15lb ball when I was in college after using 12-14 lb house balls. Use 15lb today. It was heavy at first but I got use to it. My friend who just got his first ball ever got a 12lb ball and I would consider that on the very light end but having a light ball is better than not having one at all :)

Are you looking to hook the ball? Or just trying to master the straight throw?

Also investing in some shoes will pay for themselves if you go bowling often enough.

Nobody can answer this for you. Your height and weight doesn't factor strength. Are you a buff guy? Do you get tired easily while bowling? A sixteen lb ball is great for people who can throw it.

If you can muscle a 16 lb ball without any fatigue then keep it up. Otherwise go 15 or 14. But no lower than 14

A rule of thumb some people use is 10% body weight.

So I'd suggest a 17.8 pound ball.

16? I don't think everyone weighs 160 lbs. Personally, I use a 21 lb ball.

I found the ball at a thrift store so I didn’t choose the weight haha.

I’m 6’10” and 370ish lbs. and plenty strong. Been using a 16 lb ball since I was 12.

When I went to the pro-shop to get my first new ball in 20 years and asked for a 16 lb ball my PSO guy looked at me and said “If you want a 16 lb ball, I’m more than happy to drill it for you, but in my opinion, if the guys who throw these balls for a living all use 15s then no one really needs a 16.”

So I dropped down to 15 and I have no regrets.

Basically, it’s fine either way, do what you want to do. 15 might tire you out slower than a 16.

When I bought my 2nd ball at 16, I went 16 lbs because more weight means hitting the pins harder. I was wrong, but that was the thought process 😂

I throw a 14 lbs even though everyone says I should throw 15. I am carrying 220 avg so who cares what other people say

There isn't any discernable difference in pin carry between 14, 15, and 16lb. I started out at 16, went to 15 for years and am in process of switching the arsenal to 14lb. I think I'm more accurate with 14 now because when I do need to throw my older 15s in tournaments it does seem more difficult to hit my spot. But, that could be because I'm already struggling to the point that I'm 4 balls deep into the bag and it was not going well to begin with, plus my older balls don't have the interchangeable thumb or fresh finger inserts.

If you can handle 16 there isn't anything inherently wrong with it.

There's reasons to stay within the same weight and reasons to use varied weights.

Biggest ones are the Specs of the ball for high level bowlers who know what the differences in RG and diff do to the balls reaction. Most balls are made to be optimized at the 15lb weight. There are pro bowlers who use the same ball in different weights 14-16lbs to get a desired reaction at a specific point of the lane with that ball in the same tournament and some in the same pair using each respectively. Sometimes the difference in weight causes the ball to roll out earlier, read early, or hook more in the backend all between the same ball just at different weights.

If you get a 16lb ball that reads early and is strong it might use all its energy before it hits and you're left with lazy reactions. Or a 16lb ball that reacts stronger in the backend leaving you lots of 10s. There's lots if science for an amateur to have to think about when they wont see the benefits. And the pin action at 15 vs 16 has been tested over and over again with a very marginal difference

Now why stay at the same weight. 15lb lighter ball vs a 16 gives you more ability to control the ball and have a consistent feel between balls in your hand through release. The less variables you introduce to your game from the moment it's in your palm to release the better. Thats a big reason the interchangeable thumbs are big so people have the same feel in your thumb from ball to ball

Either way you go it's better to stay at the same weight whether you pick 15 or 16. But in reality if you dont care or feel it, do you :-)

If you’re not having problems with 15 you won’t with 16, and it will crush the pins.

I've stuck to 15lb balls although started off with a 16lb polyurethane ball 27 years ago. I usually purchase 3-4 balls a year although have a ball spinner, polishes, pads etc. plus also an Innovative Revivor Bowling Ball Oven, admittedly an expensive item to own for personal use, I ordered brand new a couple of years ago; it is great for oil extraction (two balls at a time) and does wonders to bowling balls and I'm able to make them last so much longer. I play around 35 games non-stop over two lanes, every Friday in a little over three hours; could play 100 or more but time is precious.

Weight will really depend on what you are comfortable with. Going up 1-2 lb from a house ball is normal, 3 is the recommended limit initially but you can work up higher. If you're throwing a 12 lb now I'd go to a 15 lb. It's a good weight and most bowlers dont see much of a difference between a 15 & 16 lb ball.

i would get a 15lbs bowling ball

You can just do a weight test with some house balls. With your arm at your side, and forearm parallel to the floor (90 degree elbow), get the heaviest ball weight you can hold up for 30 seconds. But if you can go all the way up to 16lb, I would still highly recommend getting a15. With modern bowling ball technology 15lb and 16lb both have the best specs, and that extra pound of force isn't really needed.

As for balls, brunswick rhino/twist, storm tropical surge, rotogrip hustle ink, columbia300 beast are all good choices for a first ball.

I wouldn’t get a 16 if you throw a 12 normally I would get a 14 or a 15 at most

15 all the way.

Well it depends, because a grown adult male who doesn't have any injuries or issues in your hands/arms, should be throwing a 14 lb ball at least.

I’m 5’10” 140lb and throw a 14lb. You’re stronger than you think when the ball is fot to your hand

Get the 14#. With proper fit they will feel fine.

Oh, I just went through this a week ago. Check out this post where I ask the same thing and get a lot of good feedback.

I always used 10 and 12 pound house balls and was nervous about spending $200 on a 15 pound ball I might not be able to use. It is the opposite. You actually don't need a lot of strength to roll the ball once you learn how to do it right. If anything, do a 14 pound ball, but I really think you can do 15.

🤚🏽 ✋🏽

If you're buying a ball you need to get fitted by the pro shop specialist. That person can advise you regarding weight, and other things as well.

Simple rule of thumb is take whatever weight you normally bowl with and add 2-3 pounds. When a ball is drilled for your hand it makes a world of difference.

I wouldn’t recommend it most bowling balls are very hard and would more than likely not digest well. Storm Spectre would be a good option since it’s softer than most other balls.

Maybe he smelled a Storm ball and got hungry?

Just don't be lazy and use the microwave. They deserve to be grilled over a direct flame.

General rule when bowling on deciding ball weight is that the ball should be 10% of your body weight up to 160lbs. If your heavier than 160lbs then I say go with the weight that feels the most comfortable.

It depends on your body. The heaviest ball you can throw comfortably without fatigue is probably the right size.

I'm 180 lb male and I throw a 15lb ball. My 120 lb girlfriend started with 13lb and moved up to 14 after a while.

The heavier the ball, the better it will hit the pins.

The lowest weight bowling ball with a weight block is 12 lbs. think of the weight block as the motor of a bowling ball and the cover stock as the tires. The tires give the ball traction while the motor helps the ball turn and hook. A 10 lbs reactive resin bowling ball only has the tires and no motor. All of this is moot if you just plan on throwing the ball straight. Just get a plastic 10 lbs ball if that is intention.

Ten-pound bowling balls do not generally have the proper fillers or core that you would find the ball is designed to have. The Twist series are low-end reactive balls, and even with them I would recommend at least twelve pounds.

Chances are when you have a properly drilled ball you will go up in weight from ten pounds anyway. A proper fit makes a heavier ball feel like a lighter house ball.

I'm a beginner with 164lbs weight, what weight of bowling ball for me?

Assuming you don’t have any medical conditions that would inhibit you, most adults should be able to throw at least 14lbs with a custom fit ball. 15 is the most common for adults.

As for ball, I’d recommend something smooth like an !Q Tour or Venom Shock. Nothing wrong with Rhino or something in the Hustle line if you want to keep it cheap. If you can get a used ball for $20, I’d even recommend that so you can make sure you’re comfortable with the weights and how they drill it for you before buying your own. Get it redrilled to fit your hand though.

house balls will make you think they are harder to hold on to because they are - the holes don't fit your fingers, the ball has probably not been cleaned in 5 years and so it's covered in oil. You spend more energy just trying to clutch the ball.

If you go to the pro shop and get a proper fitting you should be able to handle much more weight and it will feel better doing it.

Try inserts in the finger holes. It is much easier to control the ball. I have a 14lb Rhino, and i love it.

If you can handle 14lbs definitely do that. Otherwise it doesn't really matter since you're a beginner and you'll be mostly working on the basics anyways