A Bowling ball is your primary weapon in the fight against the pins. They have to be maintained regularly. This article will give you easy tips on keeping your bowling ball sharp at home.
If you've always had your balls maintained at a bowling pro shop by a professional who knows how to do it and you don't want to try anything new, that's fine. This is the best way to maintain your ball. But for all the other mortals who feel like they're jack-of-all-trades, we are here to give you easy and time-tested tips on maintaining your bowling balls at home.
Cleaning out the pores
Specialized stores have a sweatbox (also called an oven) in which the lane oil absorbed by a bowling ball gets evaporated from the pores of the ball, and a spinning machine (also called a spinner), which is used to prepare the surface.
Now, what could replace a sweatbox at home? An oven in which you bake your pizza? A dishwasher? Both of them are not suitable here.
A simple bucket full of hot water with a bit of oil detergent (you can find it at any store) works best. The ball will need to be dipped in a bucket, but it is crucial to ensure that water does not run into the holes. Don't stick with duct tape - the heat will leave the glue on the ball surface, which is very difficult to remove. Wine cork or filling the water almost to the holes will do the trick.
Keep the ball in the water for about 15 minutes, then take it out, wipe it, change the water, add the degreaser, and repeat the process. After giving your bowling ball a SPA procedure, allow the ball to cool down, and wipe it with a clean cloth using bowling ball cleaner.
Another good way to get the oil out is to leave the balls in the car on a warm day. You will be surprised by the result, and then all that remains is to clean the surface with the cleaner.
Resurfacing the ball
When the ball pores are clean, we can start preparing the ball's surface. You can find the surface specs of every ball on the manufacturer's website. Check that out before resurfacing. Experienced already know that 'Abralons' will be handy in this process. For the less experienced, helpful information - 360, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 roughness 'Abralon' pads are usually used for bowling balls (the higher the number, the finer the 'Abralon').
If the ball was used a lot, start with a 500-grit 'Abralon'.
Place the ball on a hard surface and scrub it about 25-30 times in circular motions. Then turn the ball over and repeat the same process with the other side of the ball. It is best to go around the ball from all sides with one 'Abralon,' then replace it with another, less rough one and repeat the previous action. After resurfacing the ball, it is best to clean it with a ball cleaner.
Keeping your ball fresh
Balls tend to soak the oil from the lane to perform its angular motion. To keep your ball in shape while bowling, wipe it between shots with a towel to remove any oil that is visible on the surface. After your bowling session, clean your ball with an approved ball cleaner. This will keep the ball surface fresh, giving it better traction on the lane.