Bowling is one of the most popular sports in the U.S. and many other parts of the world. It’s a sport that people of all ages and genders can enjoy. The best part about bowling is that you don’t have to have much experience to play.
It’s easy to get started, but to be good at it, you’ll need to know some basics and the techniques that go with it. This blog will give guide you on bowling ball sizes – Bowling ball Dimensions and explain how the right size can help you play better and enjoy the game to the fullest.
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How to Choose Bowling Ball Size?
Continue reading this part to learn how to choose the right size bowling ball.
The Perfect Weight
Bowlers’ ideal bowling ball weights vary. A good general rule is to pick a ball that is 10% of your body weight (up to 16 pounds); thus, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should generally choose an 8-pound ball. Some folks, however, may prefer a lighter or heavier bowling ball. If you can’t lift or swing a bowling ball comfortably, it’s almost probably too heavy for you to regularly bowl with. To improve your consistency, consider getting a lighter-weight ball.
In case you use a too-light ball, it’s important to choose a ball heavy enough for your particular style. Male adults often choose balls in the 14 to 16-pound range, while female adults typically choose a lighter 10- to 14-pound ball. Young bowlers should choose a 6- to the 14-pound ball.
If you’re recovering from surgery or have a physical condition that makes throwing around a ball that’s 10 percent of your body weight, go ahead and use a slightly lighter ball. The point is to feel comfortable while you practice.
Thumb Fit
Start with the first knuckle of your pointer finger against the inside of the thumbhole. As you press gently down, slide your hand in and out while ensuring that the opposite edge remains parallel to the bow’s surface. If not, adjust accordingly.
Material
Your ability level mostly determines the finest bowling ball material for you – and this is where the amount of money you’re willing to spend comes into play. A cheap polyester or plastic cover is ideal if you’re just starting off.
These materials are less expensive than their counterparts and are also softer, making them easier to hold for newbies who may be nervous about getting a chance to try their hand at bowling for the first time.
Apart from meeting the needs of beginners, these less expensive solutions are also a terrific method for those of us who aren’t precisely wealthy but still want to participate in this enjoyable pastime. Generally, polyester or plastic coverings are a good option for beginners if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on your interest.
When you’re going for the hook of a ball in your next game, we recommend investing in the reactive-resin bowling ball. It provides more friction between the lane and the brand, which allows you to throw a hook at an easier time that lasts longer than that of urethane balls.
This is also considered a more professional option than urethane balls for intermediate and advanced tourneys, so you know it’s easy on the pocket. Well worth its weight!
Bowling Ball Size Chart – Dimensions
| Spans | X-Small | Small | Medium | Large | X-Large |
| Middle Finger | 2-1/2″ | 2-13/16″ | 2-15/16″ | 3-7/16″ | 3-1/2″ |
| Ring Finger | 2-5/8″ | 2-15/16″ | 3-1/16″ | 3-9/16″ | 3-5/8″ |
| Hole Sizes: | |||||
| Middle Finger | 5/8″ | 3/4″ | 13/16″ | 7/8″ | 15/16″ |
| Ring Finger | 5/8″ | 11/16″ | 3/4″ | 27/32″ | 7/8″ |
| Thumb | 23/32″ | 13/16″ | 27/32″ | 1″ | 1-1/64″ |
When Should You Change the Size of Your Bowling Ball?
If you are a serious bowler and you’re constantly wondering if you should change your ball weight, the answer is that yes, you should! Over time, you will notice a difference in how the ball reacts to your body. Also, some laws govern the game of bowling that state you can’t continue bowling with a ball you’ve used past a certain amount of games.
So, when you’re starting to get closer to that number, it’s time to get a new ball! It’s also important to note that your ball weight will change over time. If you are out of practice for a long time, the ball might feel a little lighter. But that’s okay. You need to adjust to it!
Using too-heavy balls can cause injury while using lighter ones will prevent you from gaining the desired results.
Having a balanced approach and knowing the right situations to apply the strategy will help you know when to increase or decrease a few pounds.
Reading more:
- How Much Do Professional Bowlers Make?
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- What To Do With Old Bowling Balls? – 9 Useful Ways For You
How Big Are Bowling Balls?
Candlepin Bowling Balls
When it comes to candlepin bowling, you use a smaller ball than in regular bowling games. It is shaped like a real sphere and is the tiniest of all the traditional bowling balls; no finger holes are punched into it.
Candlepin bowling balls are a specific type of bowling ball used exclusively for candlepin bowling; a traditional game style made popular in the 19th century. One advantage of using this type of ball is that one can easily grip, release, and roll it. Candlepin balls have materials such as wood, plastic, or rubber mixed into them to determine their weight and shape. These balls come in various colors, including red and blue.
However, candlepin bowling balls have an average diameter of 11cm (4.5 inches) with a circumference of 35.92 cm (14.14 inches). As a result, it weighs around 1 kg (2.2 to 2.4 pounds) in total.
Five-Pin Bowling Balls
Duckpin bowling is a more advanced type of bowling that is quite popular, even though it is nearly identical to candlepin bowling, apart from the name and the lack of finger holes drilled into the ball.
Even though no finger holes were drilled into the ball, it was easier to use thanks to the perfect fit in the player’s hand. In addition, its coverstock is thicker and more durable, yet it is still heavy enough for a good roll down the lanes.
Five-pin (or duckpin bowling balls) have an average diameter of 12.1 to 12.7 cm (4.75 to 5 inches) and a circumference of 37.9 to 39.9 cm (14.92 to 15.71 inches). As a result, it is 1.5 to 1.7 kg (3.3 to 3.75 lbs) heavy in total.
Ten-Pin Bowling Balls
A ten-pin bowling ball has three strategically drilled finger holes. In general, the ring finger, middle finger, and thumb are placed through these pockets as the ball is carried. It can also come in a variety of bowling ball sizes and weights depending on where you plan to use it and how strong your fingers are gripping.
A typical bowling ball has three vital components: the core, the coverstock, and the finish. The core is considered to be the heaviest part of the ball, while the coverstock is responsible for how the track reacts to your bowl. The coverstock comes in many varieties: reactive resin, plastic resin, pro-active resin, particleboard, and urethane.
Ten-pin bowling needs strategy because the sort of material chosen on both the surface and the core has a considerable impact on your performance, making it the most sophisticated of the three games.
Furthermore, ten-pin bowling balls offer more customization. Ten-pin bowling also uses a regulatory system called the USBC (United States Bowling Congress).
The bowling ball utilized in ten-pin bowling has a thickness of 68.58 cm or 27 inches and an average diameter of 21.83 cm or 8.595 inches. As a result, it is between 4.54 and 7.26 pounds heavy in total.
Conclusion
This blog post has given you the knowledge to make the correct decision when choosing a bowling ball. Whether you only want to learn about the bowling ball sizes or if you want to learn how to know if your bowling ball is the correct weight, we hope that this article has been able to help you out.
So what are you waiting for? Grab yourself a new bowling ball and start practicing. If you have any other questions or concerns, please comment below. Thank you for reading; we’re always delighted anytime one of our articles can provide important knowledge on this topic!
Reading more:
- How to make bowling shoe covers in a few easy steps
- What Basic Equipment Is Needed For Bowling? Bowling Essentials
- Basic Skills In Bowling – A Detailed Guideline For Beginners
- How To Hold A Bowling Ball Like An Expert?
References
1. The bowling ball is 16 cm or 6.3 inches in diameter and weighs about 2.85 kg or 6.3 lb. There are also special balls for beginners, measuring 14 cm (5.5 inches) in diameter and weighing 1.9 kg (4.2 lb), often with two finger holes.
The source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_ball
2. Bowling Ball – Ten-Pin Dimensions & Drawings
