There’s no greater feeling than when you pick up a smooth, cool bowling ball, your eyes targeting 10 pins waiting for your speeding ball. That’s always the most exciting moment in bowling for me!
Bowling may not be for everybody, but for people like me and you, a bowling alley is our “happy place,” isn’t it? But that happiness can turn sour pretty quickly once you lose a few frames of bowling!
Even more frustrating is if you botch up knocking down the pins in both the first and second attempts in a single round! But what if I told you that your bowling skill or talent might only sometimes be to blame?
Yes, it’s possible your bowling ball just needs to be resurfaced. I’ll explain bowling ball resurfacing in the following few pages if you don’t know what that is. So, stick with me to the end because you’ll want to hear this, especially if you’re an avid bowler!
What Is Bowling Ball Resurfacing and What Does It Mean?
Bowling ball resurfacing is when you restore the sharp edges of the tiny pores dotting the ball’s surface.
Every bowling ball has pores invisible to the human eye. Over time, these microscopic pores get clogged with dirt, grime, and other tiny particles. As you can imagine, that will affect the performance of your bowling ball because it’s not in its best shape.
Why Do You Resurface a Bowling Ball?
People resurface a ball to return the bowling ball to its former glory. When a bowling ball is fresh from the factory, it’s in perfect condition, isn’t it? But, just like any other item you use often, your bowling ball will also be subjected to wear and tear.
Even if you clean it, debris will eventually lodge in the bowling ball’s pores. You see, a bowling ball’s microscopic pores create friction, enabling it to grip the lane more, speed it up, and make for a better hook.
But when the bowling ball rolls on the lane, its pores get stuffed with dirt and even the oil used to coat the lane.
By the way, if you’re wondering why there’s oil on the lane, it adds traction to a bowling ball as it starts rolling when it nears the end of the lane, so it’s necessary.
The only downside is that this oil that makes bowling complex is also one of the core debris clogging up the ball’s pores. When that happens, the bowling ball will move irregularly as it travels down the lane.
And if you don’t clean the ball, the result will be a dead ball, which is when a ball becomes inactive before it reaches where the pins are. None of us want that!
The solution to this is called bowling ball resurfacing. In this maintenance process, the ball is cleaned and sanded to rejuvenate its surface and offer better control and performance.
So, in a nutshell, bowling ball resurfacing helps remove dirt from the ball’s pores and restore its edges to create friction, grip the lane better, and lead to a more enjoyable experience!
Can You Resurface a Bowling Ball at Home?
Of course, you can! That’s what we are here to show you. It would be best if you did your own research because, while the steps I’ll show you here are tried and true, it’s still better to seek more resources that explain the process in better detail.
For example, ask your teammates for help or visit your local bowling shop for expert tips and advice. And don’t forget the YouTube videos showing tips, hacks, and do-it-yourself methods on bowling ball resurfacing too.
You’re on the right track as long as the information you get is from a trustworthy source. But before I show you how to resurface your bowling ball at home, remember that, though sanding is a simple process, it involves using abrasive materials to remove a thin layer of the bowling ball’s outer layer.
So, smoothening the ball’s surface also removes layers of the ball. Be mindful of this so you don’t go overboard and sand the bowling ball so much it becomes unusable!
How to Resurface a Bowling Ball at Home
You have two main options when you’re bowling ball resurfacing at home.
- The first is resurfacing your ball the old-fashioned way: by hand.
- The second will have you reaching for your wallet to purchase a bowling ball spinner.
The main difference is that the first method is slower but cheaper, and the second is faster and more efficient but more expensive.
That said, while the bowling ball resurfacing methods differ, the tools used for the process remain the same. So, let me tell you what you need to have and what you need to do to get your ball looking shiny again!
Tools You’ll Need
If you want to resurface a ball on your own, you will need the following tool to do it.
Bowling Ball Resurfacing and Cleaning Kit
Do you have a spinner? If you do, it makes everything easier because it guarantees even sanding over the entire bowling ball.
There’s little room for mistakes when you use a spinner, so I recommend it more than going the traditional route of cleaning by hand.
Abrasive Compound or Sanding Agent
You’re not limited to just one agent when sanding your bowling ball. You can use manual methods like sandpaper or micro-mesh pads.
But if you want faster results, utilize automatic methods like a ball spinner, resurfacing machine, or even the more advanced CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines programmed to follow specific sanding patterns for greater accuracy.
There are also hook-and-loop sanding discs; using them is a hybrid method because you can use them manually and automatically.
Water Bottle and Bowl
Resurfacing bowling balls at home can be messy because there will be a lot of dust as you work. Remember, you’re using abrasives to essentially file away uneven parts of a hard ball’s surface.
So, you must have water to keep rinsing the sanding agent, and the bowl must be large enough to allow you to do this. Do this because it washes away any dust lodged on the sanding pads and stops uneven grit from hindering you as you work.
As for the water bottle, you’ll squirt water on the bowling ball from the start to the end of the sanding process.
The water keeps the ball cool because sanding generates heat and friction. And just like with your abrasive agent, the water also washes away dust for a clean and uniform finish.
Polishers, Cleaners, Pads, and Towels
The sanding process is not the final stage of the bowling ball resurfacing because you still need to clean its surface to ensure no debris is in the pores and then polish it too.
When it comes to cleaning and polishing, it would be best to use a different pad or towel for the cleaning or polishing chemical. What I mean is, don’t mix the chemicals in the same pad, polisher, or towel. Why?
When you expose two foreign chemicals, they can likely react and damage the bowling ball you just resurfaced!
Method of Resurfacing
Now that your tools are ready, it’s time to get to work! Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: What You Want to Achieve with Resurfacing
The first thing you need to decide is what you aim to achieve with bowling ball resurfacing. Do you want a bowling ball that rolls better on the lane or more control over the ball?
I’m asking because that will determine the type of grit you use. I’ll go into more detail regarding this later on in the article.
Step 2: Position Your Ball on the Spinner
If you’re using a spinner for bowling ball resurfacing, position your ball on the spinner so that the finger holes are pointing up, i.e., the ball grip should be pointing up.
Next, sand the surface of the bowling ball. Most spinners offer different speeds, so set the spinner to work at the lowest speed.
Also, be mindful of the pressure you apply and your time on the bowling ball’s surface. Going back to what I said about grits, for lower grits, use more pressure on the ball, but only for short periods. For higher grits, use less pressure but for more extended periods.
Are you done sanding the top of the ball where the grip is? Great! Turn the ball over so the grip is facing down and the bottom is now facing up, then sand it too; this is rotating your ball 180 degrees. After that, reposition your ball again, this time at 90 degrees, to sand the sides.
Remember your water? Don’t forget to squirt some of it on the ball to limit dust and cool it from the heat friction generates as you sand it. So, by doing all this, you’ve effectively sanded the entire surface of the bowling ball.
Step 3: Clean the Bowling Ball
The last step is my favorite, and that’s when you apply the polish! I like it because it always looks like my bowling ball is brand new again when I’m done!
Before polishing, spray water on your bowling ball and clean it with a towel. Set the spinner to the highest speed when applying polish to your ball. Do this because that’s what guarantees a smooth and lovely finish!
What Type of Ball Movements Can You Get Through Resurfacing Your Ball?
Well, that depends on the type of grit you use and the sanding method you employ. Because as I mentioned earlier, low and high grits lead to different ball movements and control. You’ll need to do this before you start the bowling ball resurfacing.
Grit
The levels of grit are of great significance in bowling ball resurfacing. You’ll probably need different levels of it based on your resurfacing needs, so, in all likelihood, you’ll need to use more than a single sanding agent.
These are the grits (lower numbers indicate the higher grits).
Lower Grits, which are also coarse abrasives:
60, 80, 100, 120, 150, etc.
Intermediate Grits:
180, 220, 320, 400, 500, etc.
Finer Grits:
800, 1000, 1500, 2000, etc.
Using lower grits means your bowling ball will have more surface and, thus, roll better on the lane (particularly heavily oiled lanes).
Sanding agents with high grit numbers also have much finer abrasives, giving you a cleaner, smoother finish. Thus, using higher grits means your bowling ball will have less surface, giving you more control because the ball’s hook phase will be much longer.
There’s an argument about whether bowlers should use higher grits sequentially or skip a grit level on their way to using the highest grit level to achieve that perfect finish. What do I recommend?
Please don’t skip any grit level; use them in order because that will yield the best results. For example, if you’re using a pad of 1000 grit, use a 2000-grit pad next. Don’t just jump from 1000 grit to 4000 grit.
Technique
This might surprise you, but how you sand your bowling ball can determine how well you play.
If you sand your bowling ball using its original sanding pattern, it can travel on the lane longer and exert more force at the end. But sanding against the ball’s original pattern will have the bowling ball rolling early on the lane but with less force as it approaches the end.
That said, regardless of whether you sand along or against the ball’s initial pattern, it’s a great idea to set the ball on the spinner in a way the grip faces up, then you begin sanding.
How Many Times Can You Resurface a Bowling Ball?
There is no rule carved in stone for this. But most bowlers agree that once you resurface a ball and can’t see the manufacturer’s logo or serial number anymore because it’s been scratched off, that’s a sign to get a new one.
But if you’re a professional player, the rule is that your bowling ball shouldn’t have a circumference that exceeds 27.002 inches, nor should it fall below a circumference of 26.704 inches.
If you do your math correctly, your bowing ball should have a diameter between these figures: 8.595 inches and 8.5 inches.
How Much Does It Cost to Resurface a Bowling Ball?
Bowling ball resurfacing can cost you between $5 to $30. As you can see, it can be affordable, though the price is determined by the kind of service you seek.
A simple clean-up can have you spending around $5 or $10, and deeper resurfacing costs $30 or so because it utilizes the power and efficiency of a Haus machine.
How Long Does It Take to Resurface A Bowling Ball?
That depends on the method and abrasives you use for the bowling ball resurfacing. Let’s say you’re using a resurfacing kit that doesn’t have a spinner and a sanding gent with a lower or intermediate grit.
In that case, the bowling ball resurfacing will take longer than if you had used sanding agents with higher grits and a device like a spinner.
Likewise, purchasing professional bowling ball resurfacing services will be much faster because an expert handles it.
How Often Should I Resurface My Bowling Ball?
Again, there is no hard rule for this, but other bowlers and I agree you should resurface your ball after every 60 games. That’s the consensus.
I wager that after your sixtieth game, you might notice oddities in how your bowling ball handles; perhaps it will react differently to what you intend it to do.
Even if you clean it and ensure the ball is maintained correctly, you might notice the movement is off each time you throw the bowling ball. If this happens to your ball, I need not tell you it’s overdue for a bowling ball resurfacing session.
Final Thoughts
Even though your ball will still gradually keep deteriorating and there’s no way to keep it in perfect shape forever, bowling ball resurfacing will give it the boost it needs to live much longer. It’s one of the best ways to extend your bowling ball’s longevity.
Remember that perpetual bowling ball maintenance is at the top of the list of ways to extend its life. But you can’t escape the fact that, after many games, the ball’s pores will fill up with oil. Your only solution to this is bowling ball resurfacing.
Bowlers all agree this cleaning method is the most cost-effective way to keep your ball healthy and give you the best chance at beating your mates in that game we all love so much, bowling!