How to Sand a Urethane Bowling Ball

For experienced bowlers, the ability to hook a ball in a precise direction at a predictable point along the ball's path toward the pins is vital. Skill in setting up and rolling the hook is one part of it; using a ball that's properly surfaced to produce optimum spin and hook is another. Urethane bowling balls can accumulate oil and conditioners applied to the surface of bowling lanes. This degrades the ball's snap and hook performance. Sanding a ball in a home bowling ball spinner removes oil and restores the ball's "hookability."

Things You'll Need

  • Home bowling ball spinner
  • Sandpaper in grits of 180, 360, 500 or 1000
  • Spray bottle with water
  • Clean dry towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consult the ball spinner manufacturer's diagram that illustrates the six sides of a bowling ball. Position the ball in the spinner with side one facing up.

    • 2

      Select a grit of sandpaper appropriate to the ball condition. For a very oily ball, use 180 or 360 grit. Use 500 or 1000 grit for medium oil conditions.

    • 3

      Wet the selected sheet of sandpaper with water and press it against the bowling ball with the palm of your hand only. Keep your fingers and thumb away from the ball to avoid getting caught in the ball's finger or thumb holes.

    • 4

      Turn on the ball spinner at the low speed setting.

    • 5

      Move your hand slowly along the surface of the bowling ball in a downward direction toward the rim of the ball spinner's cup. Repeat the motion a number of times for five or 10 seconds each time, noting the total amount of time you spend on side one. Spray water on the ball to keep it lubricated while you sand.

    • 6

      Turn the ball spinner off. Dry the ball with a clean towel and look for any missed spots on side one.

    • 7

      Reposition the ball in the ball spinner with side two facing up. Repeat the sanding process for the same amount of time as side one.

    • 8

      Sand each side of the ball for the exact same amount of time until all six sides have been sanded.

    • 9

      Wipe the ball clean with a dry towel and look for any missed spots or inconsistencies in sanding.

    • 10

      Clean sanding residue out of the ball's finger holes, thumb hole and weight hole.