Do bowling balls expire?

Asked by: Barbara Johnson

It depends on so many factors, from the number and frequency of uses, to its maintenance schedule, and even the climate where you live and the temperatures it’s exposed to. With proper maintenance, you should get at least 5-10 years out of a quality bowling ball.

Are old bowling balls any good?

Sometimes older reactive balls are very dependable reacting pieces of equipment. If you encounter lane conditions which require you to play an outside line such as the PBA Cheetah pattern normally provides, resurfacing an older bowling ball just might match up well to that pattern.

How can you tell how old a bowling ball is?

Before I stopped bowling back in 1996, the first digit of a bowling ball’s serial number was the way of identifying what year it was made (e.g., 5B112345).

How do you know if a bowling ball is good?

So if you're a player that is on the slower speeds you probably want to be looking at a ball a little shinier.

How often should you rejuvenate your bowling ball?

We recommend that you have your reactive ball professionally resurfaced at least once per season or every 60 games. A resurface can make your reactive ball look and perform like it is brand new again!

Can I bowl with an old bowling ball?

You probably may have a bowling ball that's beat up and lost performance too so we're gonna show you the process that you're going to use for putting that bowling ball back.

What do I do with old bowling balls?

Call your local bowling alley or pro shop and ask them how you can donate the ball. Many, if not most, bowling centers and pro shop operators will happily take a bowling ball off your hands, and get it into the hands of someone who is in need.

Can a bowling ball lose its hook?

If you see your bowling ball begin to lose its hook potential compared to when you first began using the ball, it might just be in need of a resurface job to restore the reactivity you had grown accustomed to seeing.

What do the number on bowling balls mean?

Mass distribution numbers describe the distribution of mass in the bowling ball. High RG numbers indicate that the balls mass is distributed more towards the cover (cover heavy) which promotes length through the heads of the bowling lane.

How do you clean an old bowling ball?

One cleaner very simple to use are these wipes. They come in a nice pre-packaged pouch unseal the pouch. Take out the wipe. All you have to do spread all the way around very simple.

How do you refresh a bowling ball?

Another way to bring the performance of the bowling ball back this is a really really big deal especially if you've neglected your bowling ball especially. If you have a bowling ball that's older.

Should I sand my bowling ball?

So clean will extend the life of your bowling ball and lubricate the bowling ball both this is good to keep the dust down and to keep the bowling ball at its peak.

Should you remove the oil from a bowling ball?

Definitely.

Should I bake my bowling ball?

Doing so could cause cracks, or actually damage the resin surface. To reduce the risk of damage, it’s best not to ever let your ball exceed ~140°F or ~60°C. Heating the ball too quickly can increase the risk of damage even if the temperature doesn’t exceed 140°F.

Can you microwave a bowling ball?

This has Mythbusters written all over it! They can microwave a ball. Put a ball in the oven at 200 degrees. Put a ball in the oven at 150 degrees.