A Discussion on Surface Preparation and Maintenance

Welcome back to the Round Table! One of the most important aspects of your bowling ball is the part that contacts the lane, so we have a few great questions addressing surface preparation and maintenance of your equipment. We have four of the most knowledgeable coaches in the world to help us out. Keep in mind, using other than the manufacturer’s recommended products and practices might negate the warranty on your ball.

Editor’s note: The format of The Round Table column consists of posing technical questions submitted by readers to several top bowling coaches and educators and having them respond in “round-robin” style.

I’ve heard everything from baking my bowling balls to putting them in the dishwasher to just wiping them with alcohol. What is the best way to get the oil out of them and how often should I do it?

Hank  Boomershine

At Storm Products, we recommend a routine maintenance schedule for your bowling balls. It consists of wiping your ball off after each shot with a microfiber towel to an aggressive resurfacing every 60 games.

As for the removal of oil from a bowling ball, there are a few methods we have seen with positive results. First and foremost is simply cleaning your ball with a manufacturer recommended cleaner after each session of bowling. This will pull the oil off the surface of the ball and prevent absorption deeper into the coverstock.

For balls that have been neglected over time and become saturated with oil, there are a few methods that have seen variable degrees of success. For those players who do not have access to an oil extraction machine, I would recommend a good hot tap water bath in a 5 gallon bucket with some ball cleaner added to the mixture. You can leave it in the bucket for about 30 minutes. This method will remove most of the oil near the surface and restore some performance.

The final and best way to extract oil from a ball is with an oil extraction machine like a Revivor or Rejuvenator. The key to these machines is that they are temperature regulated and heat the ball to a safe temperature to remove the oil from the ball. They should be closely monitored through this process to ensure the temperature maintains a safe level. You should NEVER put a bowling ball in your oven at home.

Michelle Mullen

Use a ball cleaner every time you finish bowling. They are tested to be safe and effective on ...