How Often Should You Clean and Resurface Your Bowling Ball?

A bowling ball soaks up lane oil and its surface wears down every time you throw it. Over time it hooks less, skids longer and gets less predictable. The good news is that a little care keeps it reacting the way it did when it was new. Here's a simple schedule.

Every shot: wipe it

Wipe the ball with a clean towel or shammy before each shot to take off the oil it picked up on the last one. A shammy or microfiber towel is the cheapest thing you can do for your ball.

Every session: clean it

When you finish bowling, clean the ball with a ball cleaner made for bowling balls. Avoid household cleaners and harsh chemicals, which can damage the cover.

One rule to know: under USBC's dry towel rule, you can't use liquid cleaners or sanding pads on your ball during league or tournament play. Clean before and after, and use just a dry towel while you bowl.

Every 30 to 50 games: get the oil out

Even with regular cleaning, oil soaks into the cover over time. Storm recommends an oil extraction every 30 to 50 games, or whenever you notice the ball's motion dropping off. Our rejuvenation service pulls that oil out and helps bring back the reaction.

Every 60 to 80 games: resurface it

The surface wears smooth as you bowl, so the ball grips the lane less. Storm recommends a resurface every 60 to 80 games. We take the cover back to its factory finish, or to a different finish if you want the ball to read the lane earlier or later.

Signs your ball needs work

  • It doesn't hook as hard at the back end as it used to
  • It skids too long or the hook feels slow and lazy
  • You see dark, wet-looking oil rings in the track
  • The reaction changes from shot to shot

Store it right

Keep your ball at room temperature. Don't leave it in the car, especially in cold weather. Big temperature swings can crack a ball.

Let us handle it

We clean, rejuvenate and resurface bowling balls at our pro shop in Parkland, and we can do several balls at once. See our pro shop services, stop by, or call (253) 412-4251.

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