NO-1-UNO
07-06-2007, 09:20 AM
"Today's high powered equipment is made for big hook and lots of punch on the pins. But ever notice that after a certain amount of time, the ball doesn't hook as much, or hit as hard? Usually, this is the result of oil being soaked into the bowling ball. Today's resin and proactive bowling balls "track out" much more quickly the equipment of the past. There are steps you can take to lengthen the lifespan of your bowling ball.
Be mindful of how your ball reacts on a consistent basis. When you see the reaction slipping, it may be time to get it resurfaced by a pro shop professional. This will take much of the oil that has been soaked into the ball over extended use and restore some of the factory finish that it had when it first came out of the box. The frequency you do this is solely dependent on how much you use the ball, but a good baseline number is every 45-50 games or so. It will differ with each bowling ball, as not all balls are made the same.
If you use finger inserts, make sure they are replaced when they start to wear down. When they wear down, they change the way you release the ball, which will in turn affect how your ball rolls down the lane. Again, this is dependent on how much you bowl, so change the inserts as needed. If you start feeling more play inside the holes, take it to your pro shop operator, and he can get you replacements.
It's always a good idea to keep rubbing alcohol in your bag of tricks for cleaning purposes. Some clean their equipment after every session to keep the oil from soaking all the way in the ball, some use it to get rid of grease marks that sometimes end up on bowling balls. Acetone is not a legal substance for equipment, so do not use it while you are bowling, or your ball could get disqualified. The American Bowling Congress has a list of chemicals cleared for use in competition.
A new bowling ball is a lot like a new car. If you change the oil and fluids at the proper times, your car will last you for years. Same goes for a bowling ball, proper maintenance will prolong the life of your equipment.
Till next time,
George Freeman"
Be mindful of how your ball reacts on a consistent basis. When you see the reaction slipping, it may be time to get it resurfaced by a pro shop professional. This will take much of the oil that has been soaked into the ball over extended use and restore some of the factory finish that it had when it first came out of the box. The frequency you do this is solely dependent on how much you use the ball, but a good baseline number is every 45-50 games or so. It will differ with each bowling ball, as not all balls are made the same.
If you use finger inserts, make sure they are replaced when they start to wear down. When they wear down, they change the way you release the ball, which will in turn affect how your ball rolls down the lane. Again, this is dependent on how much you bowl, so change the inserts as needed. If you start feeling more play inside the holes, take it to your pro shop operator, and he can get you replacements.
It's always a good idea to keep rubbing alcohol in your bag of tricks for cleaning purposes. Some clean their equipment after every session to keep the oil from soaking all the way in the ball, some use it to get rid of grease marks that sometimes end up on bowling balls. Acetone is not a legal substance for equipment, so do not use it while you are bowling, or your ball could get disqualified. The American Bowling Congress has a list of chemicals cleared for use in competition.
A new bowling ball is a lot like a new car. If you change the oil and fluids at the proper times, your car will last you for years. Same goes for a bowling ball, proper maintenance will prolong the life of your equipment.
Till next time,
George Freeman"