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How do you keep bowling balls from cracking?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 16, 2026

If you can keep your bowling ball's surface insulated from the air, you'll be in good shape to prevent it from cracking. The best way to do this is usually with a Ziploc bag or a garbage bag wrapped tight around it between uses. Keeping your bowling ball serviceable for years to come is not a difficult proposition.

What would cause a bowling ball to crack?

Cores and coverstocks are made to expand and contract as temperatures change. Extreme cold and extreme heat can make a bowling ball crack. Phasing is a chemical reaction that makes the bowling ball change colors as it adjusts from being cold to room temperature.

Can cracked bowling balls be fixed?

Cracks can be repaired with the help of a bowling ball repair kit—or you can buy sealant, sandpaper and polish on your own. Cracks have to be sealed thoroughly and completely set before you sand down the surface. This can take as long as three days, depending on the sealant.

What does adding polish to a bowling ball do?

Polishing. Polishing a bowling ball reduces skid and friction as the ball goes down the lane, allowing it to conserve energy. Balls that are too dull will hook early, using up energy that would otherwise be stored for the back-end reaction.

How do you condition a bowling ball?

Fill a bucket with hot water, enough to submerge the entire ball. Oil is lighter than water, so this method works to lift the oil out of the pores of your ball along with any dirt and grime which was packed in with it. For maximum effect, soak the ball for about 20 minutes.

16 related questions found

How do you rejuvenate a bowling ball at home?

In this method, you let your bowling ball sit in hot water, drawing the oil out of the cover stock.

  1. Fill a Bucket With Hot Water. A standard, no-frills bucket being filled halfway with hot water. ...
  2. Tape Over the Holes. ...
  3. Immerse the Bowling Ball. ...
  4. Wipe the Bowling Ball. ...
  5. Let the Bowling Ball Rest.

What is a good homemade bowling ball cleaner?

One of the most widely-accepted solutions for a homemade bowling ball cleaner requires equal parts Simple Green, isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and water. Just mix these three into a regular spray bottle and it makes for an effective, cheap cleaner.

Should I polish or sand my bowling ball?

You need to polish your ball if it starts to roll up early on the lane and you lose the ball reaction at the back end. Or in other words if the ball does not skid down the lane as far as you need and the ball's hook at the back end is not as aggressive as you need.

What kind of polish do you use for bowling balls?

You can quickly polish a bowling ball with a 4000 or 5000 grit base finish to produce up to a 5500 grit highly polished finish by hand. This product is also safe to use with a bowling ball spinner.

What does 4000 grit Abralon mean?

We have one ball at 1,000-grit Abralon and one ball at 4,000-grit Abralon. The higher the number, the finer the grit used on the surface of the ball, creating a smoother texture. The lower the number, the more coarse. We'll start with the 4,000-grit surface, which gives the bowler a moderately strong ball reaction.

What do you do with a broken bowling ball?

The only bowling balls that can be recycled are those that don't have cores and those with plastic outer shells. Due to environmental impacts and potential costs, balls with urethane and reactive resin cover stocks are often declined by recycling centers. Simply put, don't just throw your ball into a recycling bin.

Can you use regular sandpaper on bowling ball?

Re: Using 3M sandpaper on bowling balls.

To answer the question, there is no difference in results from fresh sandpaper to fresh Abralon, besides the cost. UNLESS you use it on a spinner with water flowing like I do.

How do you fix a cracked bowl?

How do you fix a crack in a ceramic bowl? Apply adhesive to the sides of the crack and press the pieces together. You can use either super glue or a 2-part epoxy. If you choose to use epoxy, make sure you mix both parts together according to the instruction on the packaging.

Does heat affect bowling balls?

Today, bowling balls are quite an investment and they can be easily damaged being taken from the sub-zero temperatures to the warmth of the bowling center. If, for some odd reason, you need to keep the ball in a colder area, be sure that you get to the lanes early enough to have the ball warm.

When should I polish my bowling ball?

Bowling balls require cleaning every six games and polishing every 15 to 18 games, especially if playing on oily lanes. Learn how to perform a quick and deep clean on your bowling ball and ways to polish and resurface it to give it the perfect bowling ball motion.

How do I keep my bowling ball shiny?

Apply a small amount of bowling ball polish to a hand polishing pad. Apply polish liberally until the surface of the ball is covered. Allow the polish to sit on the ball's surface for a few minutes before wiping clean with a microfiber towel.

Can you use rubbing compound on a bowling ball?

Re: Auto Polish Okay for Balls

I know they also make a rubbing compound - red lid and compound is red-brownish color. Either of these are fine for bowling balls.

What grit sandpaper should I use on my bowling ball?

Sanding pads are a required accessory to be competitive in bowling. They come in different grits ranging from 500 grit – 5000 grit. 500 Grit will take the most surface off a bowling ball, creating an earlier hook on the lane with less backend reaction. 5000 Grit will take the least amount of surface off a bowling ball.

How often should you resurface bowling ball?

As a general rule, you should resurface your bowling ball every 60 games. When it has been sanded so frequently that you can't see the logo any more, it's time to buy another ball.

What does a dull bowling ball do?

Dull Coverstock

Bowling balls with a dull finish hook early and have less backend reaction when they hit friction down lane. Dull coverstock bowling balls are typically used on higher volume patterns and are also known as aggressive/strong bowling balls.

Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean your bowling ball?

Who must have thought that a dish soap could be used for effectively cleaning a bowling ball? Well, you can make a homemade ball cleaner using Dawn Dish soap and mix it in with some hot water and use it to clean the bowling ball off the debris, oil, or stains it might have on it.

Will rubbing alcohol clean a bowling ball?

Clean a bowling ball's porous outer surface with rubbing alcohol to remove dirt, grease and grime contaminants. Wipe the ball down vigorously with an alcohol soaked towel or microfiber cloth as soon as possible after bowling. Do not soak the entire bowling ball in alcohol for any amount of time.

How do you get more hooks on a bowling ball?

A pronounced rotation of your bowling fingers from directly underneath or behind the bowling ball to a point about 3 hours on the clock dial ( 6 o'clock to 3 o' clock for right handed bowlers) occurring at the moment of release when your arm reaches a vertical position to the approach surface on the forward swing ...

Why does my bowling ball not hook anymore?

This is because side roll stores energy, which delays hook. However, if reaction is delayed too long, the ball will run out of time to hook. This is especially true if you are bowling on heavier oil. On oilier conditions, the ball naturally slides.