Resin bowling balls roll differently than the urethane balls of yesterday. In fact, they hook and hit the pins harder than any bowling balls from the past. Today's bowling balls are high performance, but still a little extra can be added to enhance that performance. That can be achieved by shifting the weight in the ball. This weight can create an earlier roll or a later break.
There are six different weights that can be added in a bowling ball. There are top or bottom, finger or thumb, and side—either positive or negative. That makes six different weights that could be shifted and affect the way the ball rolls down the lane. These weights are considered positive, and three are negative weights.
First the positive weights—top, finger, and positive side.
Positive weights all have the same effect: more skid in the front part of the lane and a sharper break by the pins. There are limits to the amount of positive weights than can be used. Top weight is three ounces, finger weight is one ounce, and side weight also is one ounce. These weights are the maximum allowed after the ball is drilled.
Negative weights all have the same effect: early roll in the front part of the lane and an even arching break by the pins. Again, there are limits to the negative weights that can be used. Bottom weight is three ounces, thumb weight is one ounce, and negative side is one ounce. These weights are the maximum allowed after drilling.
Many combinations of weights can be used—finger and side, side and thumb, or top, finger, and side. Just discuss what combination of weights have been chosen with your ball driller so that your style of bowling, type of ball, and lane conditions all match up to reach your scoring potential.