Can Cleaning Your Bowling Ball Help?

One of the most important techniques in bowling is the ability to make the ball hook in a consistent and controllable manner. Bowlers claim the "hookability" of a new ball is more pronounced and predictable. Over time, however, a ball loses some of its hook. It hooks earlier and weaker, when most bowlers prefer a powerful later hook, closer to the pins. This phenomenon has become known as dead ball syndrome. Cleaning a ball of residual oil picked up from the surface of the bowling lane is one approach to dealing with the problem. However, recent research indicates oil is not the only factor affecting hook with some balls.

  1. Oil

    • All bowling centers oil the surface of the lanes. Bowling lanes may be oiled in a manner to be more friendly to unskilled beginners, or they may be oiled for fast, sharp techniques of experienced bowlers. Any bowling ball picks up lane oil which in turn affects its frictional properties and degrades the efficiency and accuracy of its hook.

    Commercial Cleaners

    • Many commercially available spray-on bowling ball cleaners remove lane oil. Some bowlers use common isopropyl alcohol to wipe down the ball. A bowling ball should never be totally immersed or soaked in alcohol, however.

    Dishwashers

    • Another way to clean a bowling ball is a quick trip through the dishwasher. Use any detergent effective on oil and grease and be sure to select the short cycle so the ball will not be damaged by heat. In the absence of a dishwasher, a bucket of warm soapy water can be used, instead. Soak the ball for no longer than 20 minutes then wipe it down with a soft dry cloth.

    Automatic Cleaners

    • Most bowling centers have automatic ball cleaners for both rental and customer's balls. However, these may not be desirable in all cases. In addition to cleaning the ball, most automatic cleaners apply a wax finish which may cause the ball to skid more at the initial touchdown. Some bowlers use skid to their advantage but many wish to avoid it and get a cleaner roll. Consider whether you want the wax job before using an automatic cleaner.

    Plasticizers

    • The introduction of balls with reactive resin coverstocks in the 1990s added another aspect to the dead ball syndrome. These hi-tech balls exhibit very favorable hook techniques. Yet, like the older polyester and polyurethane balls, the hook usually diminishes. This was initially assumed to be a result solely of oil accumulation. Recent research shows the plasticizer in reactive resin balls migrates to the surface and exudes from the coverstock over time. This accumulation degrades hook properties. Plasticizer accumulation on the coverstock of reactive resin balls does not respond to the usual cleaning methods. However, most bowling pro shops market services to clean reactive resin balls with special techniques and cleaners.