win a ball from Bowling.com

Author Topic: how often shouls I?  (Read 2115 times)

chitown

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5876
how often shouls I?
« on: October 15, 2005, 08:56:13 AM »
How often do you polish a ball?  I clean my equipment after each 3 game set. The balls that I have polish on I throw a coat on each time after cleaning.  Is that ok or am I just wasting the polish?  Should I do it once a month or what?
--------------------
TAKE A RIDE ON THE TRACK EXPRESS!
THE REVOLUTION!
RIDE THE LIGHTNING!

 

charlest

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24523
Re: how often shouls I?
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2005, 09:15:26 PM »
quote:
How often do you polish a ball?  I clean my equipment after each 3 game set. The balls that I have polish on I throw a coat on each time after cleaning.  Is that ok or am I just wasting the polish?  Should I do it once a month or what?
--------------------
TAKE A RIDE ON THE TRACK EXPRESS!
THE REVOLUTION!
RIDE THE LIGHTNING!


I think it's a waste of time and money and your adding polish every time is probably making it a little more "skiddy" than the original finish. Basically, you're changing the surface even if it's by a little.

Depending on the condition of the lane surface, how worn it actually is, which will be reflected in how much it scratches the ball's surface and how quickly the original polish is wearing, all that should be the judge as to how ofen you SHOULD polish the ball, as opposed to clean it.

An old very worn wood surface may cause a ball to need polish every 15 games. A new very good condition synthetic surface may cause a ball to need polishing maybe only every 50 or more games.

I'd estimate a light polishing may be useful every 15-25 games and a good polishing, maybe every 25-50 games, DEPENDING totally on the ball's wear.

Bowling, and all things applicable to bowling are, as always, about 95% common sense and about 5% bowling sense.


--------------------
Bowling: Wish I could help me as much as I seem to help others ...
Life ... is what you make of it. No, really!


Edited on 10/19/2005 9:49 AM
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

tekneek

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5657
Re: how often shouls I?
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2005, 12:41:28 PM »
Charlest has given you the best advice, I repolish mine after 21 games or so, depending on how burnt the set down spot on the ball is, how bad it appears to be tracking out and more for the look I'm getting either mostly not enough cornering or angularity.
Steve
Leading Edge Pro Shop
Radical Bowling Technologies Advisory Staff
brinkley2223@yahoo.com
512-755-2947

ambi1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 769
Re: how often shouls I?
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2005, 12:55:37 AM »
yup ... too much polishing.

The center I'm bowling in is putting out lighter oil now, and my pearls tend to get dull in about 3 to 4 months.  That would be about 96 to 128 games.
--------------------


DARK BEER IT IS THEN!


DARK BEER IT IS THEN!

Doc Hollywood

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1177
Re: how often shouls I?
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2005, 08:08:31 AM »
Look at the objective evidence of the reaction.

If the ball's reaction isn't what you expect then change it.  Most of the time depending on the lane condition, oil pattern and a bowlers rev rate this can make a difference.

I polish mine about every 12-15 games.  Clean every 3 games.  But I don't usually bowl on a resh condition.

YMMV
--------------------
Doc
Owner and Inventor of
DOC'S MAGIC BOWLING BALL ELIXIR
For more information click on the link below
http://home.comcast.net/~docsmagic/
or message me at:
http://Doc65@aol.com

dizzyfugu

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7605
Re: how often shouls I?
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2005, 08:20:38 AM »
Since I did not have the opportunity but a pro shop visit, it took me 1 1/2 years to get a polish on my oldest ball... personally, I'd suggest to polish a ball when you can see a track and/or the polish is simply worn down. Noticeable loss of recation is also an indicator, although that's not easy because ball reaction changes only gradually over time.
I would not do it too often - it is like cooking a steak. Too much, and it is done.

Additionally, there is the option to sand the ball beforehand to get rid of scratches and the uppermost coverstock layer. If you treat the ball well (keep it clean etc.), this should not be necessary more often than once a year. Maybe even less. A polish to get a high gloss ball back to box condition could be done more often, but I do not think that it is needed more than 2-3 times a year, even with heavy ball use.
--------------------

DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X": http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe
DizzyFugu ~ Reporting from Germany