Bowling For Dummies
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Not sure how to choose the right house ball for you from the numerous racks at your local bowling center? Follow these tips, and you’ll find a suitable bowling ball in no time:

  • Stick to the 10-percent guideline. A bowling ball should weigh 10 percent of your body weight (up to 16 pounds), which means you really shouldn’t be grabbing, say, an 8-pound ball if you weigh 150 pounds. You want some weight to the ball, but it shouldn’t be so heavy that it’s uncomfortable.

    If you’ve had arm surgery or you have a physical condition that makes hefting around a ball that’s 10 percent of your body weight a bit awkward, go ahead and use a slightly lighter ball. Remember that the goal is to feel comfortable with what you’re throwing.

  • Make sure the finger holes fit just right. The finger holes shouldn’t be too small or too big. If they don’t fit just right, that can throw off your entire game.

  • Don’t stretch your hand. You should have enough room between your hand and the ball to fit a pencil beneath your palm. If it lightly touches both your palm and the ball, then you know that you’re not overstretching your hand or gripping the ball too tightly.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

A.J. Forrest is a former ranked amateur bowler and was a bowling coach at the high school and college levels for more than a decade. As a professional writer, Lisa Iannucci has had articles published in USA Weekend, Shape, Parenting, the Los Angeles Times Travel Section, and many more.

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