Bowling balls are not something you just buy once and use once. Bowling balls are indispensable for any bowler, but they’re not cheap. It requires regular maintenance to achieve optimal performance. But How Do you feel when your favorite bowling ball is broken or partially cracked? It is obviously not feeling good for you. So here, we will discuss what can cause cracks in a bowling ball and how can they be prevented?
6 Main Reasons Why do Bowling Balls Crack
- Humidity is one of the reasons behind bowling ball crack. Too much humidity or too little humidity both can cause cracks. But there is no reliable proof behind this. Keeping the ball at safe and optimum temperature can prolong your ball’s life. Maintaining 40-50% humidity at the storage area is the best for your bowling ball.
- Many pro bowlers think that not rotating ball for a long time can cause cracks. Rotate your ball at least once a week. Leaving it in the same position for a long time causes too much stress at one point.
- The temperature could play a big role in cracking the ball. Too much heat or too much cold could trigger cracking. So you should not put bowling balls in places like the trunk of a car or garage where temperature changes drastically.
- A manufacturing flaw is one of the leading causes of bowling ball cracking. Bowling ball has three parts: the core, the filler and the coverstock. Many of my friends have complained that their ball’s coverstock is thinner than other balls, which could lead to crack on the ball.
- Gravity could cause cracks too. The effect of gravity should not be overlooked. The most common cause of bowling ball coverstocks failing is gravity. If you store your ball on a flat surface like the floor, the earth’s gravity is pulling the dense core through just one square inch of the cover. The core is dense like a rock, while the coverstock has elasticity. When you put the ball for a long time in a static position, the constant pressure of the core going on and the coverstock trying to hold it back can cause the coverstock to fail.
- Another reason for cracking the ball is the drilling hole being too close to the pin. Make sure that the pin is at least one inch away from any hole. If you need to put the pin near a hole, try to put it in the center of a hole.
3 Effective Tips to Avoid Bowling Ball Crack
There are a few easy tricks to keep cracks away from your favorite bowling ball.
- Get a plastic bag, put the ball in it and seal it up very tight and put a little twist tie on it and ensure that there is no air in it. Because bowling balls are made of different substances, as they contract and expand the resin evaporates, and it ultimately leads to cracking of the ball.
- When buying a ball, make sure you are getting quality products. Check for flaws. It is better to stick with the well-known brand.
- You should store your ball at temperatures below 125 degrees Fahrenheit. But again, see your manufacturer’s recommendations in their warranty policy.
Can You use Cracked Bowling Ball?
It depends on material used in bowling ball. If you use branded bowling ball, you can repair and use your bowling ball. If your ball is not repair worthy, you can recycle it in many ways.
Can You Fix a cracked Bowling Ball?
In case your ball is cracked somehow, don’t be sad. There are multiple ways to fix a cracked ball. First, find out if your ball is still under warranty or not. If your ball is under warranty, you don’t have to be worried. The ball manufacturer will replace your ball or repair it without any cost if it goes with their warranty policy. If your ball doesn’t have a warranty, you can repair the ball at your own cost. It is not a difficult task, but it is little time-consuming.
How to fix the cracked ball ( Step by step Guideline)
You can repair the ball if the crack does not go around the whole ball. It’s very simple. Before starting the repair process Let’s see what kind of tools you may need to repair it.
Lets see how to fix the the cracked ball.
- Clean Ball around the crack
Ok, let’s start. First, clean the ball around the crack. If you find something in the crack, do clean that with a little toothpick or tissue paper or something like that. Then use rubbing alcohol to get the grease off. Grab an old toothbrush and use that in the groove and make sure all debris is removed. Now that the ball is cleaned up, we have to repair the crack.
- Run tap across the ball
Take some masking tape and run the tape around the crack in both sides across the ball, but you have to be careful that the crack is not covered by tape.
- Mix Glues at a proportionate rate
Grab some glues. Mix 50% of each glue with the others. The glues you need are I have listed all the glues which you need. You have to use the mixing within four minutes of mixing it up. Otherwise, it will dry up.
- Fill with mixed glues into the crack
Take the mixed glue and fill it into the crack. Push it down with your finger. Make sure you are wearing rubber gloves. Fill it as deep as you can go. Rub the surface smooth with your finger.
- Peel the Tape off slowly
We are nearly done…Put the ball in the storage cup. Sit back and wait for 24 hours to let the glue dry. Then peel the tape off slowly and check your ball and make sure there is no more crack.
- Make smooth the ball’s surface
But we are not done yet. You have more work to do. The ball’s surface is not as smooth as fresh ones. Run your finger over the seam and see if there are some raised portions over the seam. Take a razor blade and start scraping it all the way around till you get it smooth and flush to the surface.
If you want more smoothness, you can use a sanding pad or some fine-grit sandpaper such as 1000 grit or more. Grab one of those and scuff up along that line. Then use rubbing alcohol to polish it. Or you can use ball polishers. That’s it! Now your ball is like a fresh one.
Yes, cold weather is also one of the reasons for cracking bowling ball. When the temperature goes down drastically, the bowling ball core expands more quickly than its cover. As a result, it creates more pressure and can cause a crack.
In conclusion
Don’t get too worried about getting cracks on your ball. Just follow the tips and your ball should be safe. In case your ball is cracked, you can simply follow the repair guideline. You can keep playing with it until a new ball is coming. If you want a video tutorial, here is for you. But if your bowling ball crack is deep, don’t try any repairing hack at home. Go to any professional bowling store to repair or exchange your ball.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
