Understanding Ball Pin and Top Weights

[GMChambers]

Hello,
I have been an amateur bowler for years. Have been using a Black Diamond urethane ball for years and found it just not cutting it anymore. Upon ball shopping I have discovered figuring out which ball to buy is like college physics these days. I figured I would ask for your input on this pin in/out and top weight decision.

First I am a stroker, tend to average between 19-20 mph ball speed, use a traditional or "conventional" (i believe its called) right handed grip pattern. Have had a few local pro shop gurus check out my oil pattern on my current ball, because it seems like in order to purchase most balls you need to know what pin you want and what top weight you need. For someone like me that will never make the PBA tour, is this a big deal? I have been told by these two pro shop guys I should go with a zero top weight and a 2-4" pin out based on my style. Are these numbers something I should be overly concerned with? I have seen on some other bowling websites there is a sweet spot for most bowlers to use a pin 0-3 and top weight of 1-3 set-up.

Would greatly appreciate any input you can give me.

[thirtyclean]

You cannot go wrong asking for a 2 - 3 inch pin with between a top weight of 2.5 - 3 ounces. That would give your driller a bunch of options when drilling.

[GMChambers]

Thanks thirtyclean... greatly appreciate the advice 

[LuckyLefty]

O top weight proposed from a pro shop....Never.

This is a great post.....

Regards,

Luckylefty

[GMChambers]

Lefty not sure I understand your post what do you mean? I was told by a pro shop owner that I needed very little if any top weight based on how I throw my ball. If this does not sound accurate please explain I'm trying to learn all of this.

Thanks,

[kidlost2000]

Top weight is added by the manufacture so when you put holes in the bowling ball the weight that is removed will keep the ball in legal weight with USBC rules. If a bowling ball had zero topweight there is a real good chance after drilled it could be illegal.

The way you throw the ball has nothing to do with top weight. Any first quality bowling ball you get will be between 2 to 4 ozs of top weight typically. Maybe you miss understood the proshops or maybe since not ordering from them they decided to be D#CKS and send you on a wild goose chase. IF so, I would not use them.


http://www.jayhawkbowling.com/Pro_s_Corner/Balancing___Weig/balance.html

[GMChambers]

I must have misunderstood them... I think I will go with the set up mentioned above, Im sure it will work for what I need. Thanks for the input!

[Gizmo823]

Yeah, should be 0ish top weight AFTER drilling, not before. 

[Dogtown]

I noticed you said you use a conventional grip (non finger tip).  So do you throw the ball straight? 

As far as top weight and pin distance:  Without getting into a lot of detail, TW and pin distance are relative..... and there not.  Most ball drillers like a ball with a 3" pin and around 3 oz of TW.  This allows for the most flexibility. 

I would question anyone who says you need to drill a ball with "X" amount of TW.  Believe it or not, those few ounces don't affect the ball characteristics that much, if any (especially with todays covers and cores).  Buy a ball that matches up to what you want it to do.  The drilling should complement your style or fine tune what the ball will do.

[Aloarjr810]

Not really about top weights and such but....

A Fireside Chat about Drilling