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Author Topic: Should I try a 15lb ball???  (Read 1272 times)

beeker

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Should I try a 15lb ball???
« on: January 25, 2004, 07:30:45 PM »
Right now all my equipment is 16lb except my plastic spare ball which is a 14lb.  I am looking at buying 2 more balls from Visionary and a few people have told me to try 15lb.  They said a 15lb won't give up any carry and its easier to get down the lane.  I talked to the highest average(215+)bowlers in the mens league I bowl in and they all use 15lb equipment.  I never felt my 16lb equipment was too heavy for me but I guess 1lb lighter would make it easier to throw it harder and loft it further when I need to.  What do you guys think?
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beeker

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2004, 11:56:43 AM »
I sometimes throw my 16lb equipment too hard so maybe I should stick with 16lb.  The only reason I am considering dropping is because a few guys said I should try it.  The main problem I am running into lately is keeping the ball in the pocket when the lanes start dry out.  I keep moving left and playing deeper but there are times when more ball speed is really what I need.  I thought if I had a 15lb ball maybe I could increase ball speed while still having good accuracy.
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Ernie McCracken

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2004, 12:00:24 PM »
I went to a light 15 pound ball a few years ago and raised my average by about 10 sticks.  Not saying that it wll do the same for you, but it did make a huge difference in my game.  I feel that I have more control over my shots now.
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omegabowler

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2004, 12:29:11 PM »
I the last 2 years I have gone from 16 to 15 to 14 back to 15.

I never lost one pin of carry with any weight. get what is comfortable.
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"deserves got nothing to do with it."
-- William Munny
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"deserves got nothing to do with it."
-- William Munny

TheBowlingKid25

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2004, 12:37:17 PM »
So why dont you get just one 15# so that when the lanes dry out u can launch it down and in really fast. And the other one you get, get 16# so you can play normal shots with it.
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15 years and still going strong! 15 years old that is! DA DA DAAAAAA!! UP UP AND AWAY! TO THE BAT CAVE ROBIN!The names Warrior Princess, Xena..Warrior Princess
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O

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2004, 12:56:59 PM »
I throw the ball very hard, and I switched from 16 to 15 about 2 years ago.  Switching down improved my carry significantly.  Some bowlers with speed and lots of revs carry better with 15, because they get more necessary deflection at the pins than they do with 16 lbs.
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mrfjmt

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2004, 12:58:01 PM »
For a while, I had a combination of 16# and 15# equipment.  It didn't seem to make much of a difference, and sometimes the weight difference was too great to feel comfortable adapting to.  And whenever I'd leave a flat 10 with a 16# ball, I'd say to myself "heck, I can do that with a 15# ball.."  So, at the beginning of this winter league season, I decided to go all 15# full time.  I'm happy I made the switch.  Another bonus with throwing 15# equipment is the resale factor.  It's been much easier to unload no longer needed used balls that are 15# than 16#.

The standard rule of thumb still applies, though.  If you're comfortable throwing 16# and are happy with the results, stay with it.  There's no reason to change ball weight if you're having success with what you're using now.
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beeker

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Re: Should I try a 15lb ball???
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2004, 05:12:57 PM »
Thanks everyone for your responses.  I just got off the phone with Visionary.  The person I spoke with said that 80% of bowlers on the tour nowadays are using 15# equipment.  He said some are even using lighter.  The reason for the lighter equipment is because the balls have much stronger covers now than they did 15 years ago when 16# was the most popular weight.  He said the extra weight was necessary back then but nowadays it can actually cause more harm than good for someone who turns the ball.  Because the equipment is so strong the extra weight can cause the ball to drive too hard and leave a lot of stone 4 and 9 pins.  Which is one of the problems I have been having.  He said the lighter weight will give better deflection.  

Anyway, everything he said made sense to me so I ordered a Burgundy Gryphon (for soaked synthetic house) and G-3 Gryphon (for all wood house) in 15#.  Once I get them in and test them out I will post my results.
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