• Average adult male usually bowls with a: 14-16 lb. ball
  
• Average adult female usually bowls with a: 10-14 lb. ball
  
• Juniors: 1lb. of weight per year of child's age, i.e. 8 yrs old = 8-lb. ball
  
• Buy the heaviest ball that you can comfortably use while maintaining a proper speed. Heavier balls don't always knock down more pins. The impact of the bowling ball thrown would be speed times the mass. Ex: You would be better off with a 14 pound ball thrown 16 mph than a 16 pound ball thrown at 13 mph.
  
• Be cautious of exceptions in size and physical ability; If you are larger/heavier than average, go up in weight; If you are smaller or have limiting physical features, stay lower in ball weight
  

Shopping by composition

Polyester and plastic ball

• Recommended for beginners and entry-level players
• Rolls straight with almost no hook
• Great for spare shooting
• Ideal if you roll a straight ball and just want a ball that fits the same every time

Urethane balls (Performance: Low)

• Recommended for bowlers looking to improve their game
• Rolls with a smoother arching reaction
• Great for seniors or younger bowlers that want to hook the ball but don't have much ball speed
• Urethane will go through the pins much better than plastic, i.e., ball must hit the 1,3,5,9 in order to strike. Plastic will deflect more leaving the 5 pin more often.
• Can easily be sanded or polished depending on ball speed and lane conditions

Resin, Reactive, and Particle balls (Performance: Medium-High)

• Yield similar benefits as urethane balls, but offer a sharper hook with more carrying power
• Allows bowler to achieve a sharper entry angle
• Offer greatest strike potential of any bowling ball type
• 100% of professional bowlers use this type of bowling ball. Note: 94% use a plastic ball for shooting spares.

Drilling the finger holes

• Bowling balls need to be drilled unless otherwise specified
• Be sure to take your bowling ball to a qualified professional when getting it drilled
• Professional drilling allows you to customize the placement and size of the finger holes
• You can find out where to get a ball drilled by going to our Pro Shop Locator, here you will be able to find pro shops in your area.
• Stay away from part time pro shops that are only open a few hours a week
• We do offer a basic drilling service for balls, but we still recommend going to a professional pro shop for that perfect fit.