Best bowling ball polishers according to redditors

Try using some ball seesaw bags to pad them...

https://www.amazon.com/Brunswick-56-B10506000-Supreme-See-Saw-Assorted/dp/B01HF9V5MK/ref=sr_1_3?crid=OBFHAYQH3KAV&keywords=bowling+ball+see+saw+bag&qid=1562255664&s=gateway&sprefix=bowling+ball+see%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-3

I'll give you 2:

Between sets I use Neo-Tac Hook-It. Stuff works amazingly well but you can't use it during USBC play. You can use it before or after USBC play. Make sure you use a paper towel with this stuff and throw the paper towel away after each use. I've left a regular towel with this stuff on it and it will eat through some plastics.

During USBC play I use That Purple Stuff. Does a pretty good job of getting the most gunk off my ball but isn't as good as Hook-it.

> 4.) A length of cloth to do the bowling-ball polish move (v. important)

It's actually called a See Saw cloth. You can use it to clean the ball and it protects it in your bag.

See Saw

> What's the best way to clean them?

A spray cleaner like this or this would work for a basic clean up, but the balls may need a full detox and resurface at a pro shop depending on their condition. With 30 balls, I'd probably just clean them up with a spray cleaner and let the future owners have the resurface done when they plug and re-drill them. (See below)

> Anything I should check for besides cracks?

Cracks and big divots in the surface of the ball are the big ones. Minor scrapes and scratches can be worked out at the pro shop when the new owner has the ball plugged and re-drilled.

> I think they may have custom finger holes. Anything I can do about that?

If any of the balls get sold (depending on age/condition, many of them may not be worth the hassle), the new owner would need to take the balls to a local pro shop and have them fill in the holes (known as plugging) and then redrill to their hand's measurements. Nothing for you to do about that.

> I notice a lot of these balls have another hole besides the three finger holes. What is the purpose of it?

You're referring to a balance hole/weight hole. You can read more about them here.

> What's the best way to sell? eBay? Craigslist? Bowling forum?

Like anything else, take lots of pictures and try to be as detailed as possible about the specifics (brand, model, etc.) Many of the balls may not be worth anything, so it could be a diminishing rate of return. I think you can post for sale items here as long as you don't spam the boards. Might be worth checking with the mods to be sure. Craigslist would be another good option. Ebay also.

I'd love to see pictures of what you've got just out of curiosity.

I used wet/dry 3m sandpaper in stages of grit: 220, 320, 400, 800, 1000. Each sanded by hand wet. I then dampened an Abralon 4000 grit pad and did a final resurfacing. I would have liked to use a 2000 and 3000 grit abralon, but I didn't have one. Finally, I used this ball cleaner and polish which added a nice shine to it. I am impressed with how well it came out and reacts on the lane. By hand, it took about 2 hours total.

I turned a 2500 grit/matte finish surface into a 4000 grit/polished surface.

So rubbing alcohol is a decent cleaner, people have been using it for a long time. The only thing is that it is not designed as a de-greaser and has a bit of trouble picking up the oil. It would be better than no cleaning at all but IMO not quite as good as a specific bowling cleaner.

My recommendation would be tac up

> Thanks for the reply! The bowlingball.com scale helps a lot when comparing different manufacturers.

Pleasure! And yes, it does. I've found it's pretty dang accurate so it's helpful for comparing apples to oranges (or C300 to Roto Grip, but you get the point haha)

EDIT I'd go with 15# if I were you. No real reason to be throwing 16# unless you just throw everything else 25mph or something lol

> Would you recommend going with a symmetric core?

Yes, I would definitely recommend a symmetric core for your first ball. It won't be as flashy as an asym, but will also be a bit easier to control and work well as a ball to build around as you expand your arsenal.

> I have looked at the Storm Rocket Ship and am considering that one but will definitely talk to the pro shop next time I go. I have a friend who has the Storm Code Black which I tossed a few times and liked; do you think that would be harder to control due to its core?

I actually had a chance to throw the Rocket Ship, Code Black, and a bunch of other stuff at a Storm/RG demo day last week (write-up is here). The RS would be a fantastic ball to get - I'd also take a look at the new Motiv Chronic Paranoia (releases today, IIRC) and the Ebonite GB2 MVP. The Code Black is an awesome ball as well, but it's a bit more specialized - it definitely has a much more violent reaction due to the polished pearl reactive coverstock and asymmetric core.

> Regarding the finish on the balls and how long they will last: I have read people saying they have had a ball "die" and stop hooking after several games. Any tips on a type of ball that would be less prone to this, or does it just require proper cleaning?

Usually it's more like several hundred games, but yeah proper maintenance is key. This is the maintenance schedule that I follow for all of my reactive gear:

• every shot: wipe off with some sort of towel (I personally use a leather pad like this one, but a microfiber shop towel works too if you want to save a few $$$).
  
  
• after every bowling session: clean everything with a specifically made bowling ball cleaner. I personally use That Purple Stuff, which is on the pricey side but works better than anything else I've used. Tack-Up is another great option.
  
  
• Every (40ish for sanded gear, 60ish for shiny) games: resurface on a ball spinner. This helps to keep fresh coverstock in contact with the lane, leading to a better ball reaction. Also, sanded balls get an effect called "Lane Shine", where the sanded texture essentially wears off after repeated use.
  
  
• Every 75ish games or as needed: have my PSO run the ball through his Jayhawk Detox machine. This is an ultrasonic deep-cleaner machine that does a great job of extracting oil. Brings a ball back to truly like-new performance levels.
  
  Doing this, I have several hundred games on a few balls in my bag (Ebonite GB2 MVP, Track Paradox Pearl, Motiv Graffiti Tag) and they're still going strong with no signs of quitting. :)
  
  > Without knowing much about cover stocks in general, to me it seems like a ball with a polished coat like the Code Black would be easier to clean the oil off than the matte ones, but I have been unable to find anything on that.
  
  No, not really. If you use a dedicated ball cleaner, this isn't something to worry about.
  
  > When shooting spares I usually get a house ball and chuck it straight at the pin. I was planning on picking up a T-Zone or Ice Storm to carry as my own spare ball for more consistency and so I could have a proper fit.
  
  YES absolutely. 100% recommend this for anybody.
  
  > Would you recommend getting the same drill dimensions and weight as my strike ball? I usually throw a lighter house ball because due to the finger placement on house balls I don't have as much control over the heavy ones.
  
  Same weight, same drilling measurements, same everything. The fit & weight should be identical across everything in your bag.
  
  > Also is plastic the way to go just to pick up straight shots or would it be worth investing in something like the Pitch Black or BTU which could posisbly be more versatile? From what I have read so far, plastic should hook less but can slide where urethane will have a nicer roll but may hook down lane.
  
  Your assessment of plastic vs urethane is correct, and honestly comes down to personal preference. I generally recommend plastic for most bowlers.
  
  :)

I don't really know what the hell that machine does. It's not "polishing" the ball in the sense that we'd do it on a spinner with polishing compound (very fine abrasive/polish). This is stolen from something I wrote earlier today on a different post:

"Storm has a resurface guide here that says:

1500-grit Polished Factory Finish

• 500-grit pad – Sand firmly for 30 seconds on all four sides.
  
• 1000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 20 seconds on all four sides.
  
• 2000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 20 seconds on all four sides.
  
• 4000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 20 seconds on all four sides.
  
• Storm® Step Two™ – Polish lightly for 15 seconds on each side.
  
  I only see the Step 2 sold by the quart, unfortunately, but that gives you an idea of what you're looking for. I got a small bottle of polish thrown in when I bought my ball spinner, and I don't currently throw any polished reactive gear, so I can't chime in. "
  
  As far as home use, you can also buy Reacta Shine which the reviews indicate you can use with a microfiber towel at home. If I didn't already have a spinner, I'd consider keeping a bottle around for 10-game touchups and having the PSO knock the surface down and repolish for me every once in a while.
  
  Also, keep in mind that you can't use either of those products during USBC competition (needs to be before your first ball or after your last) since they alter the surface of the ball.
  
  edit to add: it's bothering me that I can't figure out what that machine does. I'm going to make a thread.

I use the Monster Tac cleaner. Here it is on Amazon It works great for me, gets the job done. Only $8.99. Then I use a microfiber towel to rub it off.

These things are awesome - Ebonite/Powerhouse Adrenalin Steroid Wipes. Don't use them in a confined space though, or with the ball on a ball spinner. Just use by hand.

Ok roughly the first thing you need to purchase is bowling shoes. They don’t have to be expensive ones. You can get a pair like the ones I still use on amazon for less than $40 KR StrikeForce Orange/Black.

• I would recommend next to get a microfiber towel or shammy You can use this to wipe off your ball after every shot which will preserve it. Then I would recommend a resin gripsack and bowling cleaner. You can actually get these in a set on amazon as well. bowlingball.com Bowling Basics Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0171UXHHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UvRPCbKKXGJ71
  
  
• For a beginning bowling ball that would teach you how to hook I will agree with people who say the Hustle Ink. It is one of the best balls for its price on the market. I actually just got one drilled and I have higher end stuff. With proper form this ball because of how much energy it retains hooks a fair amount on the backend and is really enjoyable to throw.
  
  
• Also another thing joining a league will really help your game. You don’t have to join a competitive one if you don’t want there are a lot of just for fun leagues and most of them at centers give you a card that you can use for discounts on bowling games and food and drink 5-10% discount but it’s a life saver with the reduced practice rate. -idk if your center does it mine does yours might not but it can’t hurt to ask.