If you know anything about modern bowling balls, you know that they’re basically sponges.
No, not the kind of sponge that your spouse expects you to use every night after dinner. But modern bowling balls have very absorbent coverstocks and therefore, these coverstocks need to be maintained regularly in order to ensure they perform properly.
When you should resurface your bowling ball
Generally speaking, you want to resurface your bowling ball every 30 games. This ensures that your coverstock remains fresh and grabs the lane like it is designed to do.
You will know when it is time to resurface your ball because the ball will not hook as early as it once did. Your ball will begin to slide through the breakpoint, causing you to miss the pocket and start washing out.
The resurfacing process is not hard and does not take long. In can be done one of two ways — using a resurfacing machine or using very low grit sanding pads on the ball spinner.
When you should revive your ball (oil extraction)
Even those bowlers who clean their equipment after every use can’t prevent oil from seeping into the coverstock. That’s what the surface is designed to do.
Once the oil has been absorbed, it can prevent your coverstock from absorbing oil like it was intended to. This is when you need to get your ball revived.
The general recommendation is to get the oil extracted from your ball every 60 games. Doing this will keep the pores of your coverstock from being clogged with lane conditioner. Those pores are what make your bowling ball slow down so that it can begin the hook phase.
This process takes longer than resurfacing, so be sure to budget time for it.
When you should replace your bowling ball
Regular bowling ball maintenance prolongs the life of a bowling ball and gives you the most value for your purchase.
Eventually, regular ball maintenance will not restore performance to your ball. Or, your ball will become outdated and struggle to handle changes in lane conditioner and oil patterns.
Ball replacement should be considered if you have taken your ball to your local Bowling World pro shop operator and the regular ball maintenance hasn’t had the desired effect on your ball’s performance. The pro shop operator will assist you in making this decision.
The bowler should consider replacing their ball every one-to-two seasons. Bowling balls can sometimes last much longer and perform just as well, but that is generally a result of regular ball maintenance.
Factors impacting your ball maintenance schedule
First, the kind of oil pattern that you bowl on makes a difference. Heavy oil conditions might require earlier maintenance. Drier lane conditions might require less regular maintenance.
Where you play on the lane matters as well. If you are usually playing the drier part of the lane, your ball is seeing less lane conditioner and therefore will be absorbing less oil. If you’re playing the wetter part of the lane, which is usually the center, your ball is seeing more lane conditioner and will absorb more oil.
The surfaces that you use on your equipment also makes a difference. Equipment that is sanded, especially to lower grits, will absorb more oil because the pores are larger. Balls that are polished will absorb less oil, since the polish fills in the gaps and creates less friction with your coverstock.
Perhaps most important factor in your ball maintenance schedule is how often you clean your equipment. Bowlers who wipe off their ball in between shots with a towel or shammy and clean their equipment after each use will see more longevity out of their bowling balls. Bowlers must remember that the surfaces of most bowling balls are highly absorbent and not cleaning their equipment will prevent their ball from rolling properly.