Author Topic: I need some help please (Read 1206 times)

STBCrushEm · « **on:** December 04, 2010, 05:36:42 AM »

I was thinking of going down to 14s Has anyone here had any luck with dropping down to 14lbs? Thanks

Juggernaut · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2010, 02:16:41 PM »

You're going to get a mixed bag of answers to this question.

I dropped down to 14lbs once because I hurt my wrist. Bowled an entire season that way and never noticed any drop in my average.

Went back to 15lbs the next year, primarily because it is easier to find good used 15lb balls, but didn't notice any change in average then either.

I am now back down to 14lbs by choice. I figured if there was no difference in my average, then there was little to no benefit from the 15lb balls, and since the 14lb balls were physically easier to throw, I dropped back down.

My current average is around 210. The ONLY difference I can tell is on poorly thrown shots that hit light. Other than that, the 14's seem to carry everything the 15's do.
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HAMMERDOWN103 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2010, 03:05:06 PM »

My dad switched from 16 down to 14. I had tried 14s and he re-drilled one and loved it so he took mine. He only throws 14s now and went from a 202-203 average last winter to a current 215 after 11 weeks. Easier for him to throw and he can go faster and with more revs when he needs to ....
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utopia6 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2010, 03:20:28 PM »

Im 6' 5", 30 years old, so a pretty big guy who could easily throw 16lb. I throw a mixed bag of 14 and 15 lb. I throw it pretty fast with a good amount of revs. With a speed of 18-20 mph, you might think there would be deflection with a 14lb, but I've never found that to be true. The balls these days have so much continuation, that I never see it. My 15lb stuff is for medium to heavy oil. I use the 14lb stuff for drier, broken down conditions so I can increase my speed even more. If I need to dial it up, thats the way for me. I have a 14lb urethane avalanche and dark star, and have blown away the competition in sport tournaments with shorter patterns. When I tell them they are 14lb, they can't believe it because there is still that mind set that 14lb equipment couldn't possibly carry the way mine do. Not the case in my experience. Find a cheap used ball and see for yourself. I have a 14lb Total Inferno im selling for $25 shipped, and 14lb Revolver im selling for $40 shipped.

STBCrushEm · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2010, 07:41:07 PM »

Thanks everyone that replied

STBCrushEm · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2010, 11:51:50 AM »

Steven · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2010, 12:11:22 PM »

quote:
You're going to get a mixed bag of answers to this question.

+1

My doubles partner dropped from 16# to 14# after a long bout with elbow tendonitis. He was a solid 230 THS hack at 16# -- a good solid bowler.

The bottom line was that at 14#, his game suffered big time. He's more of a medium rev tweener type bowler who throws 17-18 mph, and his carry noticeably went down hill. If his release was perfect, then no issues. Otherwise, I saw him leave more 7's, 10's and 8-10's last year than I saw him leave in the previous 5 years.

He went back to his 16# equipment toward the end of league (he was completely healed at that point), and his game recovered to his old level.

I think for players who throw with more revs and can create the right angle of entry, 14# might do the trick. For straighter players who are more speed dominant, 16# will provide better carry.

98custom · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2010, 07:48:36 AM »

quote:
quote:
You're going to get a mixed bag of answers to this question.

+1

My doubles partner dropped from 16# to 14# after a long bout with elbow tendonitis. He was a solid 230 THS hack at 16# -- a good solid bowler.

The bottom line was that at 14#, his game suffered big time. He's more of a medium rev tweener type bowler who throws 17-18 mph, and his carry noticeably went down hill. If his release was perfect, then no issues. Otherwise, I saw him leave more 7's, 10's and 8-10's last year than I saw him leave in the previous 5 years.

He went back to his 16# equipment toward the end of league (he was completely healed at that point), and his game recovered to his old level.

I think for players who throw with more revs and can create the right angle of entry, 14# might do the trick. For straighter players who are more speed dominant, 16# will provide better carry.

Steven - I'm curious, was this bowler you're talking about using the same or similar equipment (same drill, surface)? I'm wondering if the equipment he chose to drill when switching weights may have exaggerated the difference in carry.
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Mike

Steven · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:12:06 PM »

He bought three new balls:

1) Track Kinetic
2) Columbia Perfect Rival
3) Brunswick Twisted Fury

The three balls covered the range of strength (core, cover, drill) he had in his older 16# arsenal.

It wasn't an issue of the 14# equipment being weaker. That was never considered to be a potential problem. For his style of play, the 2# weight difference was the answer for reduced carry.

As was said earlier, you're going to get a range of opinions on this. The best I can recommend is that you pick up a relatively cheap 14# ball on closeout and experiment yourself. That's the only way you'll know for sure.

Dave-bestbowlingproshops · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:26:46 PM »

2# is pretty extreme. Just curious but why didn't he drop to 15# instead? I can see his game suffering dramatically with a 2# change.

quote:
He bought three new balls:

1) Track Kinetic
2) Columbia Perfect Rival
3) Brunswick Twisted Fury

The three balls covered the range of strength (core, cover, drill) he had in his older 16# arsenal.

It wasn't an issue of the 14# equipment being weaker. That was never considered to be a potential problem. For his style of play, the 2# weight difference was the answer for reduced carry.

As was said earlier, you're going to get a range of opinions on this. The best I can recommend is that you pick up a relatively cheap 14# ball on closeout and experiment yourself. That's the only way you'll know for sure.

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Track Staff
Turbo Staff

Steven · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2010, 01:06:13 PM »

quote:
2# is pretty extreme. Just curious but why didn't he drop to 15# instead? I can see his game suffering dramatically with a 2# change.

He was recovering from an extreme case of Elbow tendonitis. He had to completely stop bowling and had been in physical therapy for over two years. When starting up again, he felt a 1# drop to 15# wouldn't make enough difference for relief, so he went to 14#.

He's comfortable throwing 16# again, so he never gave 15# a try. I'm at 15# and have never experimented with a drop to 14#, so I can't provide any personal experience.

But at least going from 16# to 14#, I observed a huge difference in his game.

qstick777 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2010, 01:59:02 PM »

I'm going on my 7th year of bowling. I started at 15, after 6-8 months I had some elbow and wrist issues and moved to 14.

Towards the end of last year (last 6 weeks or so) I switched back to 15lb. I did notice a little difference in carry. For me I carried more non-pocket hits for strikes, and those that didn't strike I left more non-corner single pins (more 4s, 8s, 9s, etc instead of 7 or 10s).

I won't pretend to have any scientific evidence to back up those claims, other than I raised my average 1 pin each of those final weeks. Of course, I could have probably done the same if I spent more time practicing my corner pin spares!

It probably also helps that the heavier ball takes a little off of my speed and gets me a little more matched with my lower rev rate. I think it also helps to keep me a little closer on my timing.

STBCrushEm · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2010, 03:50:09 PM »

Thank you to everyone. This helps me alot. I this web site is the best.

abrown · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2010, 04:00:59 PM »

i have went back and forth between 14 and 15 for years battling shoulder issues and while my average doesnt change i score better witha 14 all my honor scores have been with 14

Author Topic: I need some help please (Read 1206 times)

STBCrushEm

I need some help please

Juggernaut

Re: I need some help please

HAMMERDOWN103

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utopia6

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STBCrushEm

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STBCrushEm

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Steven

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98custom

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Steven

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Dave-bestbowlingproshops

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Steven

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qstick777

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STBCrushEm

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abrown

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