I've been lurking this forum for a few weeks, and finally decided to make an account.

I've been bowling once or twice a week for the past few months and my parents let me get myself a bowling ball for Christmas.

I'm a 23 year old male, 5'7", and about 116 pounds. So yeah, I'm a pretty slim fella.

The pro-shop by my house recommended several ball choices for my first ball and I ended up getting a 14 pound 900 Global Link based on their suggestion. Previously I just bowled straight with a 12 pound house ball. I've had my new ball for about a week and have been trying to learn to throw with some hook. I've been having a decent amount of success but I'm wondering if the weight of the ball is preventing me from throwing with any kind of consistency. It feels a bit heavier than I'd like and I'm having trouble telling if it's because of my body size, or my technique, or a combination of both.

Also I bowl right handed and if I'm looking at my thumb in front of my face, the right edge seems to be rubbing a bit raw. I wish I had the resources to post a video but I don't really have access to a video cameras right now.

Any advice that can be offered on ball weight would be appreciated. I can't really return my ball now, but I was thinking it might not hurt to get a lighter ball and work my way up or something like that. Noobie here, so advice is appreciated.

the more you practice with it the lighter the ball will start to feel, im somewhat bigger than u 5'10" 195 but when i started with my 16 lb it felt heavy im almost 40 now and feel i could throw 20lbs , your a young goy. your strength will build, next practice session throw a house 16lb 4 1 game then switch to your ball ,, let me know how it goes. good luck lm. ps. in a year i bet you are throwing a 15 or even a 16.

Welcome to the site bchinfoon.

As Larry stated, the more you bowl with the ball the more you will get used to the weight. Somebody's body size really doesn't have much to do with the ball weight once they learn proper technique. I've seen females around your size using 16s.

Technique is probably your main culprit to getting the ball to hook. You don't know the proper fundamentals and are trying too hard and doing too much work to try to hook the ball. This could also be the issue with your thumb. It's also harder to hook a ball if its not drilled with a relaxed finger-tip span.

I will disagree with Larry about using the 16 lb house ball for a game the next time out. It's not drilled to fit you, or really anyone and could do more harm than good. Just keep using your Link and gradually you will get used to the weight.

You have introduced a big change to your game with a custom fit ball. This is a good thing. But you are bound to be inconsistent with such a change. I don't think the weight is the problem.

I agree with Infernocal that your issues probably come from technique. Using a house ball often creates bad habits because of poor fit. Unfortunately, those habits don't disappear when you get your own ball. When you try to hook the ball, the ball will tend to come off the thumb on the right like that and create a bruise or callus.

Erin

im sorry i wasn,t clear. i meant to throw the 16 lb ball not seriously try to bowl with it 4 1 game, like swinging a baseball bat under water.

The problem with using a house 16lb ball is that most of them are drilled to fit gorillas not 120lb humans. But I understand your idea.

Erin

thanks atochabsh us cat people need 2 stick together

There could always be a fit issue as well, an improperly fitted ball will feel a lot heavier then a properly fitted one.

bchinfoon, add tape to your thumb hole until the ball holds on to you instead of you having to hold on to the ball.

it seems like you have to grip the ball pretty hard right now - that's why the ball feels heavy and that's why you get rubbing on the thumb (because you're still gripping the ball, as the thumb is coming out).

Also, try to swing the ball without force - the ball will feel virtually weightless then. There are a lot of threads here that talk about this. Look around.

Oh and.. don't be concerned if you got the right ball or not. 14lbs is perfect for you. With proper technique, you could even go higher. My sister is the same weight as you and throws a 14lbs without a problem.

Welcome bchinfoon. Like Luksa said, try adding a piece of black tape to the nail side of your thumb hole. It will help hold your ball on your thumb while still letting the ball slide off at release.

Sounds like your thumb is bending inside the hole while you are swinging the ball.