Happened to me on the third game of a ball I bought!!
It just didn't come back and when I told the girl about it she went into the back and said she didn't see it.
I let her know this was impossible and she went back again. Of course I knew at this point it probably wasn't going to be good.
Finally it popped out and had belt scars all over it. Somehow, miraculously, it didn't hit my track or flare area at all! The bowling place was the union of college and no way they're replacing anything as their signs everywhere point out.
The marks also wore down as I bowled and cleaned the ball. Tracks "Clean And Dull" got rid of them 100%.
So I got lucky.
Also, last year my last game after the league banquet, my last ball even, the ball came back with a chip in it, right of the grip. So once again no damage to anywhere important. It's not a bad chip and will probably be gone with a sanding, but I'm not concerned.
Edited on 9/13/2006 11:36 AM