Do Bowling Balls Go Bad or Wear Out- 10 Early Signs!

Everything has an end. Like any object on this earth, bowling balls are not indestructible. As a matter of fact, they wear out or go bad with time and use. Once you buy a bowling ball, you are responsible for its longevity. The more you will care for it, the longer it will last. Despite caring for the ball to the fullest, your bowling ball will eventually lose its peak performance. So how can you tell when it’s time to change your bowling ball? Here I will present you all the 10 signs that indicate your bowling ball has gone bad or worn out. So stay tuned to find out!

10 Signs that say your bowling ball has gone bad or worn out— 

 1. Bowling ball left unused for too long

Like food and ingredients, bowling balls have expiration dates. When a bowling ball is manufactured, it can last anywhere between 5 to 10 years. With proper ball maintenance, you can expect it to last longer. If you ever purchase a bowling ball that has been on the shelf for too long, it might not react the same way all the reviews say it would. You can experience something similar if you left a bowling ball packed and wrapped for too long and didn’t use it for a while. Due to being left alone, and unused, the quality of the bowling ball’s core degrades. And, that’s a clear sign of your bowling ball going bad. 

2. Chips and Cracks

It’s normal to get small chips every now and then when you use a bowling ball frequently. With every use, the coverstock will have more chips and sometimes you can even come across cracks that are visible. Know this, some cracks are easy to fix if they are not too deep. However, if the cracks are deep to the core, there is a high chance your ball will bust open during your next games.

Your ball can get these chips and cracks gradually or it can happen during a single game or ball throw. I once rolled a urethane ball down the lane that burst open after it hit the pins. To be mentioned, it was my first game, and I was on the third frame. Of course, that was a poorly manufactured ball. Yet, you should be aware of these problems. It’s always wise to carry a backup bowling ball to prevent mishaps like these, and never ignore any major or minor chips and cracks as they are clear signs of your ball wearing out.

3. Too High or Too Low Temperature

Proper ball storage is so important! Most bowlers aren’t aware of this enough when they buy a bowling ball. You probably wipe your bowling ball after every roll, but that isn’t enough care. To properly care for your bowling ball, you need proper storage. And to ensure that, you should always store your ball in a cool place, but not cold. If you live in a hot, humid area, try to store the ball in a room that is often air-conditioned, especially on hot summer days.

Similarly, if you live in an extremely cold place, try to store the ball in a room that has a heater in it. Never leave your bowling ball in the car’s trunk. If you repetitively leave your ball in too cold or hot car trunks, your ball will eventually crack.

4. Moisture

Moisture is just as deadly as high temperature. No, you won’t have fungus growing in your bowling ball due to moisture. But what will happen is, it will weaker the sturdiness of the ball’s cover and core. Most of the time, the high moisture makes the core expand in size and damages it internally as well as externally. Similarly, if your atmosphere lacks moisture and is too dry, your bowling ball will contract which will result in cracked coverstock. So imbalance of moisture is another sign of bad or worn-out balls.

5. Pressure

If you’re a seasonal or occasional bowler and don’t use them every day, then this shouldn’t be your problem. Due to inactivity, a certain area gets more pressure than the other, all thanks to gravity. If you have not rotated your bowling ball that is stored in the ball rack for too long, it’s time you do.

The longer you will leave it untouched, the higher the pressure will rise. One more thing— never place anything heavy over a bowling ball. Even if it is lighter than the ball’s weight. If you have a ball that is literally under pressure, consider it has gone bad. 

6. Air

You may have not thought about it, but leaving your ball in direct exposure to air is just as damaging. If you store the ball right outside an open window or directly under a fan, you will make the ball change its dynamics. Consider your ball gone if it has been contacted with air for too long instead of being inside a box or a Ziploc bag.

7. Faster Lane Burn-ups

Have you ever noticed your ball burning up the lane too fast? Oops! Your ball has dead. RIP. When your bowling lane starts to burn up before your ball does, it’s time you changed your bowling ball. Another sign that tells you to change your ball is when you notice the oil pattern come up earlier than usual and there is unnecessary movement at the front lane. 

8. Coverstock being too dull

A clear and the most visual sign of your bowling ball wearing out when you see it has gone too dull. Bowling balls pick up oil and dirt from the lane, that’s normal. The general rule of thumb is to give it a basic cleaning after every game. Some bowlers love to give their balls a quick wipe every time they throw the ball down the lane. The dirtier the ball gets, the harder it is to see a good reaction from your bowling ball.

You may get it clean from time to time, and can still see the shine go away. If it is a sanded bowling ball, you will see it lose its matte finish. When you no longer can resurface your bowling ball and the color of the coverstock has faded or got erased, it’s high time you changed your worn-out bowling ball. 

9. Change in ball reaction

Sometimes you won’t get any visual confirmation of your ball wearing out. You will be able to tell by observing its reaction to the lane. A little change in its usual reaction will probably make you think that you are hitting the ball wrong. So you will try different angles and that won’t still fix the problem. This is how your ball is telling you its time has come to an end. So you should just move with a new bowling ball.

10. Loss of hook

When your bowling ball hooks, it causes the ball to move in a certain direction. The more you play with your ball, the more the outer shell encounters damage. It can happen slowly or fast, based on the quality of your ball coverstock. When the coverstock quality is completely gone, it reduces the friction that you need on the lane. This results in terrible hooks which makes the bowling ball less usable.

Conclusion

Bowling balls go bad or wear out either by use and time or by improper storage. When you reach the point where routine surface maintenance isn’t helping anymore, it’s time to let go of the bowling ball. Thankfully, new-generation bowling balls are super versatile, thanks to the material composition and the manufacturing process. So don’t start worrying about your bowling ball wearing out as soon as you make a purchase. Learn proper ball maintenance. Keep having fun with it and never stop bowling. Good luck, my dear friends!