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Author Topic: Anybody use 14lb?  (Read 2629 times)

johns811

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Anybody use 14lb?
« on: September 25, 2008, 06:48:36 AM »
Hi, I've thrown 16lb since I was 15, Last year I started using some 15lb but still mostly 16. I hurt my shoulder the last couple weeks of the season and it appears I haven't regained much strength but I'm working on that. 15lb seems heavy to me right now that I was thinking of trying 14lb. I was wondering who had positive experiences going to 14lb. My timing is also way off right now so I was hoping it would help me get back on track.

Edited on 9/25/2008 2:49 PM
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mumzie

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2008, 12:10:44 PM »
I dropped two years ago - I wouldn't be bowling any longer if I hadn't - shoulder and wrist problems.
I spoke with Chris Warren about it before I changed - his comment:
 
quote:
Less pain, higher RG - why wouldn't you switch?


I did, and have had carry issues since. Of course, I had them for about a year prior to switching, too! So it's not the ball weight.

I like 14# - I don't have a tendency to drop the ball, and when I have to have a little more speed, I can generally find it. Also - my shoulder is doing much better.

Since I've changed my ball roll (again), I don't see carry issues like I was having - so it wasn't the weight of the ball - just the idiot behind the ball.
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Gunny

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #17 on: September 26, 2008, 03:31:54 PM »
quote:
Less pain, higher RG - why wouldn't you switch?


thats one of the things i needed...higher RG.  and the less pain was fantastic.  most stuff coming out now is low to mid rg, and i cant seem to match up with it.  but most 14lbers i looked at the RG is alot higher than the 15s & 16s.
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Juggernaut

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2008, 11:57:46 PM »
A few years ago, I hurt my wrist and went down to 14's.  Used them for two seasons and then went back up to 15's.

  My average never dropped when I went down in weight, and didn't raise when I went back up.  I would have to say that, over an extended period of time, whatever raw power you lose by going down to 14lb is made up for by other factors, which for me were increased accuracy ( so the carry rate didn't suffer ) and repeatability ( because I didn't fatigue as fast).

  Only reason I went back up to 15's was because, at that time, I had several NIB 15's I had bought up cheaply and knew I couldn't get my investment back out of them, so I used them myself.
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DukeHarding

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2008, 05:18:25 PM »
I threw 14 after tearing my bicep tendon.
I didn't bowl well with it, and dropped to 13# for a year.
Problem with the lighter balls, especially 13#, for myself being a lefty, I can't play inside, when the lanes are hooking.

I've decided to go back to 15# and am in transition...Timing is different from 13# to 14# to 15#. I found with 13# I didn't feel the ball on my hand in the downswing.

I have a tendency to hit lighter equipment harder.

15# does carry a lot better than 13#,not a whole lot better than 14#, if you are lower ball speed.

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Gunny

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2008, 05:25:01 PM »
the 14s rule!  coming from a guy who threw mainly 16lbers.  carry hasnt suffered at all.  playing deep angles, i havent pinged alot of 10s or 9s or 8s or 7s, now i did go 7-10 in the hole, than another 7-10 in the hole, than 8 in a row than another 7-10!  but i was playin 5th arrow with a breakpoint around 8.  and at that angle 15s & 16s would've left the 7-10s.  when i first started throwing 14s i was afraid i would leave alot of crap i shouldnt of had.  but that is not the case, been rolling 14s and have changed my whole arsenal to 14.

and i love high RG balls, they fit my game, and most 14s have a higher RG than their counterpart.  but like i said, take the plunge and you wont be disappointed!  i promise!

Edited on 10/2/2008 10:16 PM
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DON DRAPER

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #21 on: October 02, 2008, 05:56:02 PM »
i have my doubts about the carry of a 14lb. ball. i realize that there are exceptions to every rule and there may be times where a 14lb. ball might carry better than a heavier ball. but, by and large 15 and 16lb. balls carry better. on the pba national tour over 70% of the players use 15lb. equipment. there are still many who use 16lb. equipment------walter ray williams, jr., norm duke, parker bohn III, brian voss, chris barnes, robert smith, to name some. there are few who use 14lb. equipment at this level. if you are bowling on oily lanes a heavier ball will carry better. if you are bowling on lanes that have brand new pins you will carry better with a heavier ball. obviously a medical condition and/or age will prove a 14lb. ball to be the best bet but on the whole i think a 15lb. ball will carry better than a 14lb. ball.
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Gunny

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2008, 06:03:48 PM »
here's a vid of a 14 played deep...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8zT21K8cK4

no issues with carry thus far.  but will keep you posted as tournaments are due up and will see how it goes there.
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psaunders300

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Re: Anybody use 14lb?
« Reply #23 on: October 03, 2008, 07:54:40 AM »
Several years ago I hurt my elbow when I was throwing 16 lb equipment.  So I had some therapy and a series of cortisone injections and took the summer off from playing all sports (softball, tennis, bowling, etc.) but nothing seemed to help.  After my third cortisone injection did not work, my doctor wanted to do exploratory surgery on my elbow to see what was going on, but he warned me that there was a big risk that the surgery could cause more harm...

I decided to not have the surgery and stopped all sports except bowling and tried 14 lb equipment and viola no more pain!  I threw 14 lbs for a year and half and have since moved up to 15 lb equipment and have not had any problems since.  I have found that 14 lb. balls will carry about as well.  The only thing I noticed was a tendency to throw with too much speed at times.  My average did not suffer and I actually learned to loosen my arm swing and get more revs on the ball, so it was a good thing for me.
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