How to Clean a Bowling Ball
The number of bowling balls being manufactured and sold has been increasing over the past few years. There are various categories of bowling balls that are out today and all of them need to be maintained properly so that the ball lasts much longer and does not compromise on efficiency. You know need to know how to clean your bowling ball when after you have thrown a few games the ball’s reaction is quite inconsistent or it starts to look quite unlike what it used to when you first bought it. The only reason these things happen is that you have not taken care of your bowling ball so here are some methods on how to get the best out of your bowling ball for a long time.
- The first step is to know exactly what kind of bowling ball you own. Many of the high performance balls available today have different coverstocks. They could be made of hard plastic, pearl or a reactive resin. Each of the different coverstocks has a different characteristic and you need to consider them while you clean your bowling ball. To maintain your ball’s highest performance you need to clean it after every 6 to 9 games at least that you have used it. If it is a spare ball made of plastic you need to clean it more often.
- When your bowling ball travels down the bowling lane its coverstock absorbs the oil on the lane. Usually, a coverstock made of reactive resin absorbs oil much faster than a coverstock made of pearl. The plastic coverstock absorbs little oil to none at all. You will notice how much olive oil has been absorbed by looking at the oil track that your bowling ball will leave behind. Once the oil has been absorbed it can seep in and hamper the bowling ball’s hook potential. This could cause a reaction that is inconsistent from the ball.
- To clean the bowling ball properly you will require a terrycloth towel that is oil free or a towel that is 100% plush cotton. You will also require a good cleaner made specifically for bowling balls, that contains chemicals approved by the AMC. You might also need some polish. To clean the bowling ball, you just have to spray on the cleaner on to the ball and then wipe it small circular motion while firmly pressing down till all the cleaner has dried up. Repeat this process till you have cleaned up the entire bowling ball surface.
- After cleaning the ball will be in much better shape that is closer to what the ball was originally. This will probably also restore the hook to your ball that you might have thought was lost. You could also try out new polishes and some factory finishes that will help alter the ball’s surface and you might get a better reaction than you were earlier.
- There is another less expensive way of cleaning your bowling ball that is washing the ball at home. While washing make sure the holes in the ball are cleaned and no water seeps into the holes of the ball. You can use tape on the holes to seal them. The water that you are using should be warm but not too hot. Add some detergent to the water and let the ball soak for a while. Then use a soft cloth to clean the ball. The track area should be cleaned properly while cleaning the ball. This might affect your game if you do not clean it well. When the washing is completed, drain out the water and add in some fresh cold water. Use a soft cloth to clean the ball with the fresh water thoroughly and once done let the ball dry for a while. You can also buy a ball stand to let the balls dry when you are done cleaning them. Be careful that the water is not too hot and that you do not let it soak longer than 20 minutes as the ball might get damaged by warping. Keep drying the ball occasionally with a fresh towel and then remove the tapes when dry.
- There are various automatic ball cleaners also available these days. But try to avoid using this facility as the machine adds polish to the ball and this will make the ball skid on the lane. This is why cleaning the ball manually is the best option.
- While cleaning the ball you can also use some alcohol to clean the ball so as to remove the residue from its surface. There is usually a lot of oil deposited on the ball from the lane which alcohol will help remove. However, you should only wipe the ball with alcohol and not soak it. If you soak it, the ball will lose its paint. The right amount of alcohol should also be used while cleaning the ball or it might have a serious effect on the ball and damage it.
Few things to keep in mind is that if the ball is placed in water that is really hot and then the material that keeps it together is removed, the ball will become brittle and the resin will be hardened. This will make the ball useless and it will have to be discarded. There are various products you can use while you maintaining your ball. There is a Power House Management Kit which can be used to clean the ball.
There are also Abralon Sanding Pads that will help to maintain your prize ten pin bowling ball. Also available is a Power house Hook Again Treatment Kit which will help maintain the ball’s hook and even improve it. There is also the Powerhouse Oil saver which is a bag to save the oil in the ball. Just remember that your bowling ball is like your car. Just like a car has a schedule for maintenance that is recommended by the manufacturer your bowling ball too has a maintenance requirement so it performs to the optimum capability.