What Causes Bowling Ball to Crack and How to Fix Cracked ball?

No one throws around their bowling ball to crack it intentionally, do they? Most of the time when you see a crack on your bowling ball, you can’t even remember what caused that. One thing is inevitable bowling balls crack, no matter how strong they are. If you think your bowling ball’s coverstock is super durable it is less likely to crack, but if you mishandle it or don’t store it properly, damage can occur. Here in this article, you will find the answers to what causes bowling balls to crack and what can be done to prevent and fix that. So stay tuned to know the unknown.

Bowling Ball Crack Causes

A bowling ball can crack due to several reasons. Let me point out a few of the reasons.

1. Wrongfully stored

Indeed, bowling balls are sturdy. But they need to be stored properly in the right place. One of the most common reasons why bowling balls crack is because of hot temperatures and high humidity. It is always recommended by bowling ball manufacturers to store the ball in a protective bag and keep it in a cool, dry place.

As many of you know, bowling balls have three different layers of materials. And any of that (or all of them) can react to a sudden change in temperature and humidity. Can you recall the scientific fact that materials expand when there is high heat and humidity? Yes? Then good. When slight expansion like this takes place those layers of materials can expand and contract at different rates, causing your bowling balls to crack.

2. Air Exposure

Leaving your bowling ball in a cool dry place doesn’t mean it has to be in a place where the wind is blowing. Prolonged exposure to the air weakens your bowling ball slowly. The curing process of a bowling ball can continue even after it is cured in the factory and moved to retail shops. This is why new bowling balls are never exposed to the outside environment. So when you buy a new bowling ball keep it insulated from the air. Keep the ball in a paper box, or a bowling bag, or at least in a Ziploc bag or a garbage bag, and wrap it tightly to prevent it from cracking.

3. Not rotating stored bowling ball

This might sound new to many of you, but you need to rotate your bowling ball when it is stored for a long time. If you have some bowling balls that you don’t use regularly, but would like to keep in your arsenal for a long time, you need to add extra care to them. Well, earth has gravity, right? When a ball is placed on a shelf, the bottom part gets the most pressure. So what is the solution to the gravity issue? Should you take it to Mars? Of course, not. Just simply rotate your bowling equipment from time to time to change and shift the pressure point. Just rotating the ball a quarter turn every week will do the trick as it will shift the pressure and prevent your ball’s coverstock from cracking.

4. Getting hit by heavy objects

It is important to make sure there is no heavy object nearby that might fall on the ball and crack or break it. If you suddenly drop your bowling ball from a high shelf or from your hand and it hits the hard ground, it may crack. Similarly, if the ball suddenly rolls down at a high speed and hit a hard surface, i.e.- a wall, instead of pins, your bowling ball will surely crack. And worst case scenario? It may even burst open if the force or speed is high. 

5. Wrong drilling process

Mishandling during drilling holes into the bowling balls is another common reason bowling balls crack. My local pro shop operators say, they always get customers with cracked bowling balls who decided to drill the holes at home. Hence, I will strongly advise you to let a professional handle the situation.

6. Not following the cleaning instruction

When you clean your bowling ball, you need hot water. But how hot should it be? If it is cold weather, do not dunk your ball in a bucket full of extremely hot water. If it is a hot humid day, you still shouldn’t use boiling water to clean your bowling ball. Just use the hot tap water which is almost lukewarm, and then place your ball in it. The sudden contact with extremely hot water will definitely crack your bowling ball.

How to fix a cracked bowling ball?

Can you fix a cracked bowling ball? Is there any way that can be done? The answer is yes, but there a few matter that needs checking before you decide to fix the crack. Here, you will be able to know the actions you should take once it happens.

Let’s say, the bowling ball has a very small crack right between the two finger holes or at any part of the coverstock. Now, do you throw it away and buy a new ball or do you think it can still be saved? Well, that depends on how serious the bowling ball’s crack is. If it is a huge and deep crack you are more likely to throw it away or repurpose it. However, if it is a small chip or crack there’s still hope for your bowling ball.

Bowling balls with small chips, cracks, or slight scrapes are the easiest ones to fix because they are cosmetic. Because the crack is minor, most of the time it doesn’t impact the bowling ball’s performance. To fix such a small crack this is what you should do—

Mild Crack

First, you gotta sand the entire ball’s surface with sandpaper. When the ball is being sanded, make sure the surface is wet the whole time. Don’t dry-sand your ball. If you see the crack disappear after the sanding process, just apply polish to refinish your bowling ball’s surface.

Moderate Crack

What if the crack is still visible after sanding and re-polishing? Well, don’t lose hope. Small cracks are often repaired with a bowling ball repair kit. Instead of using the kit, you can just get yourself some sealants, sandpapers, and ball polish, and get to work. Some cracks will need sealing. This is when you need the sealant to thoroughly and completely seal the crack. Make sure to apply the sealant first, set it aside to dry, and then sand down the ball. Note that, sometimes it can take up to 3 days for the sealant to dry. However, that depends on the type of sealant.

Just like the cosmetic damage repair, apply a bowling ball polish after you sand it down. Keep in mind that you have to be extra careful around the area of the crack. Don’t put too much pressure around the crack, do it gently. Once the bowling ball polish is completely dry, this is when the ball will be ready to use. After the crack repair is done, let your ball rest for a few days before you use it for a match or practice again. Once the ball is fully repaired, all you gotta do is store it properly so that no further damage occurs.

Severe Crack

If your bowling ball has a big deep crack that looks like it’s spreading all the way around the ball, no need to waste money by fixing it. Eventually, you will have to throw away the ball. If you’re having a hard time understanding whether it is a unfixable crack or not, take your bowling ball to a pro shop and allow them to examine it and give their verdict. If they say, the ball can be fixed and you can use it again like before, go ahead, and get the ball fixed. The pro shop operator will also let you know if the bowling ball is beyond repair. This is when you are gonna have to buy another bowling ball.

Conclusion

The abovementioned reasons are why your bowling ball may have cracked recently. So how do you prevent your ball from cracking? Try to avoid mishandling and accidents as much as possible. No need to lose hope as soon as you see a crack on the surface of your bowling ball. If it can be saved, well, great news for you! If it is beyond repair, sorry mate, time to get a new bowling ball. Your bowling ball’s performance is your main priority. So do what you gotta do to keep that consistent. So, good luck with your future endeavors and keep on bowling, my fellow bowlers!  I will see you all later!