Here's the delema:

I have thrown 15 pound balls with decent success and comfortability, but I have this spare ball that weighs 14 pounds and I notice a big difference in my game. The ball just feels lighter, like I can barely notice it but at the same time it's there. It seems I can really relax my body, which free's up the rest of my game. So my question is, should I lower my weight? I'm tempted but I'm concerned I could lose the carry power of 15 pounders as a result. I also want to know what are the disadvantages of switching to a lower weight.

Also I can release that ball cleanly much more consistently consistently with my current game. I measured the finger pitches and found out they were 0 for the middle and 1/4 forward for the ring in comparison forward 1/8M and forward 1/4R respectively for my strike balls. So should I get more reverse pitch to help me with my release being more consistent?

I'll talk to the weight. Studies referenced on here in the past have stated that there is a marginal difference in ball carry when dropping from 16 to 15# balls. But, there is a measurable difference between 15 and 14#.

The main concern when dropping weight is the fact, as you say, it feels lighter. And, a bowler has a tendency to use more muscle with the lighter weight. Which, of course, a bowler shouldn't do.

Forward finger pitches make the ball stay on your fingers longer, if that means the ball is going up in the air after you release it, then you have too much forward pitch, if the ball goes straight down after the release, then you don't have enough.

There is a good article about this on Ron Clifton's page. [bowl4fun.com] It's # 14, titled- What weight ball... Also, how the ball feels and comes off the hand may be influenced by the thumb pitch. Many bowlers have too much reverse and this can make the ball seem heavier. Finger pitch is variable depending in part on the flexibility of your fingers.

well my MoRich is 14.5 and for me had better carry & pin action than my old 16lb Cell....and i just had the thumb pitch changer on the ntense from 1/8th reverse & 1/4 lateral left to 5/8 reverse & 0 lateral and its a night ant day difference....my thumb used to get hung and now the ball rolls off my hand so nice, and my flare rings are about 1/8th inch apart and there are 7 rings where with the old layout it looked as if i had just one sloppy large ring..... the ball reacts so much better now and i just have way more control....so maybe a mid to low 14 will help you...

Thanks again guys,

I have to ask is there any other way to test what is one's perfect ball weight beside the cup test ron suggested? Especially in relation to armswing and timing?

The reason I ask is because I'm having a hard time adjusting to the tips coach jim made about my timing in the video thread and the 14 lb really help but I don't want to make that choice just yet.

Also I feel most of the time my release point is in front of me, would that suggest the ball sticking to my thumb and I should get more reverse pitch? The delema is if I put enough tape the ball feels lighter but the thumb doesn't comeout before my fingers and if I put little tape, the thumb comes out much earlier but I have to squeeze. How do I solve this problem?

Lastly if I was looking to lay the ball on the lane with my release, should I get more reverse finger pitch?

Describe, what is giving you problems? The weight of the ball shouldn't matter in any way to what I told you to do.



It sounds like you are squeezing the ball all the time, the tape is just making the ball hang because you are squeezing/bending the thumb.

Squeezing is a sign of the ball not fitting properly, either the hole is too big, too much reverse pitch causing the thumb to slip and you to grip when you start the swing, or too much bevel making the thumb to round to grip the skin at the base of your thumb.



Possibly, I would need a close up slow motion shot of your release to see it though. Get the thumb fixed first so you don't have to squeeze the ball. This most likely will take several plug and re-drills of the thumb to get your hand used to not squeezing/bending in the hole.

reverse pitch helped me, but thats me....cause i was releasing late....and it helped me get a proper release!!! cause now the ball does what i want it to, before it wouldn't id have to play down and in...what i did was had them put in a slug and it was drilled 3 different ways and didnt require the ball to be filled everytime a wanted a change...id rather spend 30 in slugs to figure thumb pitch cause when i get my black pearl ill know the proper drill for me..... cause the thumb sticking was a big prob i had till i messed with the thumb pitch and finally got it perfect!!! good luck

Well I tried your tip of getting the ball in motion sooner like you said. The initial drop causes no problems, although it was uncomfortable at first. Same goes for the backswing.

Anyway, by the time the ball reaches the top of the swing and on its way down, my elbow collapses and bends greatly, destroying my swing to the point I feel I push the ball forward. It's hard to describe but the best way I can say is my swing feels like a V than a U if you get what I'm saying.

Also my feet feel out of place like they're not in sync with the rest of my body as a result.



I have been told by my local driller I squeeze a tiny bit. Is that bad?

I have zero thumb pitch on one of my balls and I think 1/8 reverse on the other. Since you advocate forward pitch, what would be a good place to start?

You might be too jerky with the swing, the start of the swing should be rounded, more so than just letting the ball drop, you don't want the ball to [censored] your elbow straight, you want the ball to be put in motion in a C shape more so than a V shape. UP then out then down, not out to the point where your elbow locks, just to where your elbow gets to the front of your armpit.



Well it's not good.



I am not an advocate of any pitch, I am an advocate of not squeezing/bending the thumb in the hole, forward pitch is used to help the ball hang onto your hand instead of the other way around. People with long thumbs tend to not need as much or any forward pitch to hang onto the ball. People with short thumbs like myself may need 1/2 inch or more forward.

Keep going forward with the thumb pitch in increments under supervision of a coach or your ball driller until you hang up in the thumb, make sure the reason you are hanging up is not because you are squeezing. If you do go forward with the thumb pitch and squeeze with the thumb you will throw the ball through the ceiling, so be careful.