Bowling ball life span

[Storm269]

Is it true that bowling ball nowadays have a life span ? even those performance balls too ?
If it is so what is the average life span of a bowling ball ? one or maybe two years ? or roughly how many games ?
Are there ways to extend the life ?
If I stop bowling for a while...what will happen to the bowling ball ? will it just die off ?
Thanks

[dizzyfugu]

Everything is relative Einstein said, and it is the same about bowling balls. I cannot say if there is a general life span to a ball, but taking care of it should induce longevity.

Keep it clean. Wiping with a towel after each frame prevents oil and other, uglier things form being sucked up, which keeps up performance. Every now and then, clean the surface e.g. with a mild cleaner. If it is a sanded ball and loses performance, a 3M pad will scuff it back to life. If you see a visible track on a polished one, consider some new polish or a trip in a spinner. There are several surface care products available.

Another option ("big service") is a de-oiling procedure, which will restore performance. You can either have it done at a pro shop for a fee, or try it yourself at home, either in the oven at low temperature (oil etc. will ooze out. Wipe off, repeat several times and avoid temperature shocks or the ball might crack!), or put the ball in a bucket with warm/hot water, which might be the more carful option.

If anything else fails or it has caught major bruises which hamper performance, a ball can be resurfaced several times at the pro shop. But if this option is used up, the ball is finally "dead".

Additionally, taking care of your equipment will also keep up its life. Do not have balls bump around, e.g. in the back of your car (if you have one), and do not expose them to harsh temperature conditions or changes (e.g. leaving them over night in a winter car trunk, or keep them in hot summer sun).

That in mind, a ball will last quite a while.
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe


Edited on 1/25/2005 10:28 AM

[htotheizzo3561]

I believe that the number 1 problem as to why balls die is due to it being used. duh!  If you are a player with slow speed and little revs, the ball will last longer, meaning it will continue to hook and hit to the maximum amount it can.  Maybe 300 games or so. If you are a player like me with a high speed and a lot of revs, balls tend to die out quickly, like 100-150 games or so. After this point, the ball will still work, but not to the same degree as when it was new.  Cleaning and taking care of equipment will help lengthen the life, but will not ultimately save it.

[mumzie]

Bowling this Month had an article regarding this a few months ago. They talked about 4 stages of bowling ball life. I think they nailed it.

1st stage - brand new, hooks like you wanted originally, lasts around 50-100 games.
2nd stage - more predictable, more constant performer, lasts till around 150-300 games.
3rd stage - calmer, "well broken in", coverstock is tamer, but core still has power. Crankers tend to like this stage ball.
4th stage - good only for spare ball.

Now the numbers are approximate. Find the article, and read it. It has a lot of good info.
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-- Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can't - you are right.

[Brickguy221]

quote:1st stage - brand new, hooks like you wanted originally, lasts around 50-100 games.
2nd stage - more predictable, more constant performer, lasts till around 150-300 games.
3rd stage - calmer, "well broken in", coverstock is tamer, but core still has power. Crankers tend to like this stage ball.
4th stage - good only for spare ball.

 

This all depends on your style, and what type revs you have.
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[htotheizzo3561]

quote:

quote:1st stage - brand new, hooks like you wanted originally, lasts around 50-100 games.
2nd stage - more predictable, more constant performer, lasts till around 150-300 games.
3rd stage - calmer, "well broken in", coverstock is tamer, but core still has power. Crankers tend to like this stage ball.
4th stage - good only for spare ball.

 

This all depends on your style, and what type revs you have.

BINGO!!!!!

[mumzie]

Of course it does. It also depends on the coverstock - how long it will last compared to others. Duh.

What I found interesting was not the number of games for each stage, but the recognition of each stage.
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-- Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can't - you are right.