Use physics to help me bowl

[Straha]

So I bowl, and I just happened to be at an alley where they had clocked how fast I was throwing my bowling balls. There I found my average speed with a sixteen pound ball was 15 miles an hour, but when I used a twelve pound ball I could get it going at around 17 to 18 miles an hour.

So my question is: which ball should I use if I want to transmit the most power to the pins?

[Jaepheth]

Unit conversions:
16 lbs = 7.25 Kg
12 lbs = 5.44 Kg
15 mph = 6.7 m/s
17.5 mph = 7.82 m/s

Momentum(1) = 7.25 * 6.7 = 48.58
Momentum(2) = 5.44 * 7.82 = 42.54

You have more momentum with the heavier ball.
I don't think you have enough information to determine how much of each is transferred to the pins as, if I'm remembering my mechanics right, that'd be determined by the impulse. Since momentum is conserved it'd be helpful to know the speed of the ball before and after striking the pins.

Intuitively, I think the heavier ball is the better choice. It would provide more uniform transfer between the initial strike with the front pins and the rear pins, and since it's moving slower it has more time to transfer momentum to the pins. Someone please correct me if that is incorrect though.

[Jaepheth]

P.S.
The unit conversion is optional
This isn't including any rolling or spinning which, from my understanding, is the more important factor in achieving a strike.

[Darth Fanboy]

Are you skilled enough that you are throwing the ball the same way down the lane each time? Honest question, because the weight of the ball isn't going to help you much if you don't have your mechanics down.

[General Zod]

Are you skilled enough that you are throwing the ball the same way down the lane each time? Honest question, because the weight of the ball isn't going to help you much if you don't have your mechanics down.

Pretty much this. I found that lighter balls were more useful to me when bowling because they caused my wrist to tire less quickly and let me be more accurate. Once you get the spin down and you know where to throw the ball increasing your score is a lot easier than simply having something that hits harder.

[Straha]

Are you skilled enough that you are throwing the ball the same way down the lane each time? Honest question, because the weight of the ball isn't going to help you much if you don't have your mechanics down.

Partially. I don't have my own ball yet so I use straight balls at the lane. I'm good enough to throw it exactly where I want it about half the time, the other half I'm off sometimes by a little, sometimes by a lot. I'm getting better though, and my score is steadily improving and I'm putting in extra time between league nights to get practice in.

I didn't the weight of the ball would help much, if at all, but everything else being equal I'd definitely take the chance to get an extra pin or two over the course of the game even if it means switching from the weight I use now to one less hefty.

[Simon_Jester]

I'm betting that accuracy of shot placement matters a lot more than shot weight for this purpose; a small ball hitting the pins just so is going to be a much better score than a huge ball that misses by six inches.

So I'd go for the lighter ball, unless you're Hercules and it doesn't tire your wrist or reduce your accuracy to use the heavy one.

[madd0ct0r]

I always used to bowl with the lightest ball i could get my fingers into.

faster was often more accurate for me (less time for offspin to take effect?)

[UnderAGreySky]

I concur with the mad doctor. And also, aim for the little markers a third or fourth of the way down the lane and not the pins. Don't worry too much about the spin as a newbie; just use a straight-arm action. I scored a 118 in the third game of my life with these tips.

[Straha]

I concur with the mad doctor. And also, aim for the little markers a third or fourth of the way down the lane and not the pins. Don't worry too much about the spin as a newbie; just use a straight-arm action. I scored a 118 in the third game of my life with these tips.

Yeah, these are all things I've known and used for quite some time, resulting in a pretty respectable score.

I'm betting that accuracy of shot placement matters a lot more than shot weight for this purpose; a small ball hitting the pins just so is going to be a much better score than a huge ball that misses by six inches.

So I'd go for the lighter ball, unless you're Hercules and it doesn't tire your wrist or reduce your accuracy to use the heavy one.

There's no noticeable gain or loss of accuracy between the two. If anything I think I'd be more accurate with the heavier ball simply because I'm used to it and have been using it for months.

The other question is getting more pins when I miss the pocket and I feel like a heavier ball might be more useful there, but I'm not too sure.

[Gil Hamilton]

I tend to use a sixteen pound ball, but that's because I have no problem throwing one for extended periods of time. When you are bowling, placement mattered more than heft. If you catch the pocket, you're still likely to get a strike no matter what weight the ball is unless you threw an incredibly wimpy throw. Whatever ball lets you control it the best is the one you should choose, because you want to catch the pocket on your first throw at the right angle and a heavier ball isn't going to help you pick up a spare any better than a lighter one. A well placed 12 pound ball is EXACTLY as good as a well placed 16 pound ball. It's a myth that heavier balls let you carry corner pins better. Believe me, I have a long history of getting nine and a wobble and I've been using a sixteen pound ball since I was 16.

Moreover, a sixteen pound ball will wear you out alot quicker than a lighter ball. That shit can be hard on your shoulder and joints, particularly if you don't have polished throwing technique. While there is some machismo in using the heaviest ball, if you can strike with force with a 12 pound ball, use it. You'll be much better off three games.

That said, you don't want to go too light. You need some heft to your ball, or you really won't be effective. An eight pound ball is too light. If you miss the pocket, you want more heft in the ball simply because it will toss pins around better than a light ball. Heavier is better for making a maelstrom of pins, which by chance may let you get all ten anyway.

If you want to push your score up, the first step I've always heard is work on your footwork. Doing a correct four step and throwing the ball smoothly will make your score go up dramatically, I guarantee, simply because you will hit the head pin every time. Getting the right footwork to motor memory is key. Then practice hitting the pocket every time. Finally, the last thing you want to do is start practicing putting a bit of English on your first throw. The ideal way to hit the pocket is to have the ball come in slightly from the side and the best way to do that is to learn how to throw a curve ball. THAT takes some practice, and is something I've never mastered.