The Death of a Bowling Ball...

[The German Shepherd]

Hi everyone. I know I haven't posted here in awhile, so please forgive me. Life has just gotten in the way....

Some time ago, I won a Storm SYnc online from the Bowling Expo in Reno in 2013. I really REALLY liked this ball. I had it drilled 65 x 4.75 x 65 for length and strength. I have always been very serious about keeping my equipment clean and was no different with this ball (even though it was free, it was still a trusted member of my "kennel"). A few weeks ago, I noticed that the ball was no longer reacting like it had been. As a matter of fact, it had become useful for little but use as a spare ball/10 pin ball. I skuffed it down to 2000 (its OOB finish) with limited results. I cleaned it again and again, used Adrenalin ball wipes, heated it, Dawn Dishwashing soap cleanedit hot water and then finally had it professionally resurfaced and de-oiled. Nothing worked. The ball is just plain dead. <sigh>

This is the FIRST ball I have ever had to retire due to this kind of failure. Now I will need to find another ball to replace this in my line-up. Thinking about a Hyper Cell or something not quite so strong like the Reign On...

Jay

[Aslan]

Yeah...I've often wondered what the true life of a reactive resin ball is. Some people say they can use them, with proper maintenance, for 2 years...2 leagues a week...no problems. Other people claim it's like 100-200 games and they're dead. Made me super frustrated when I bought my first ball, Storm Frantic, and I immediately saw great results...then 3 weeks later it seemed to react like a House ball. If balls only last 150 games...bowling is going to be an expensive hobby!!

[dnhoffman]

You need a real de-oiling to rejuvenate the ball. It's not dead!

See here for DIY: http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/15710-DIY-Personal-Bowling-Ball-Oven

Or go to a pro shop with a revivor oven and pay them to do it.

[striker12]

i know what you mean the same thing happened to my Hell Raiser revenge i won on here it stopped working in dec 2012 and just in the past summer it cracked it was a great ball but for me to get the warranty on it it would cost me what a new bowling ball would be worth because $60 to ship to bowling boards $83 to shipping a new one to me and them $77 to get it drilled

[dpatrickv]

I havent ever had an issue with a reactive ball dying like that. I still have a black widow venom and a Brunswick wizard that are both 6-7 years old and still move like they did when new.

[bowl1820]

Hi everyone. I know I haven't posted here in awhile, so please forgive me. Life has just gotten in the way....................... I skuffed it down to 2000 (its OOB finish) with limited results.


Hi Jay been awhile,

Sounds like you did everything as far as cleaning goes.

The Storm Sync doesn't have a OOB of 2000, Its the 4000 Abralon surface:

4000-grit Factory Finish
1. 500-grit pad – Sand firmly for 30 seconds on all four sides.
2. 2000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 10 seconds on all four sides.
3. 4000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 5 seconds on all four sides.

It's important to have the base grits also. (but remember its hard to replicate a factory finish), so I'd redo the surface with the storm step here and recheck your reaction.

Also is it possible they have had a pattern change or changed oil brands? or if it's been real cold there it have a effect on the shot.

[MICHAEL]

Hey Jay,,, give that ball a little LOVE!! It will give back to you two fold!! This might sound strange, but let it sleep with you and the misses!! I gave this a try, and it worked!!

My wife didn't like it between us, but I could feel the love flowing form us to the ball! At one point I got tired of her complaining about ball getting more attention then HER!! I said quit your BALLING, and get to sleep!!

Next morning, I swear, that ball never looked BETTER, it had a GLOW!

Took it to the alley and it gave the love back!!!! Give it a try Jay,,,, Tell your wife Your balls need love too... keeping them close to you will pay off with great scores!!

I forget where I read this article, but the title was Give Your Bowling Balls some Love!

[Blacksox1]

Hi Jay been awhile,

Sounds like you did everything as far as cleaning goes.

The Storm Sync doesn't have a OOB of 2000, Its the 4000 Abralon surface:

4000-grit Factory Finish
1. 500-grit pad – Sand firmly for 30 seconds on all four sides.
2. 2000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 10 seconds on all four sides.
3. 4000-grit pad – Sand lightly for 5 seconds on all four sides.

It's important to have the base grits also. (but remember its hard to replicate a factory finish), so I'd redo the surface with the storm step here and recheck your reaction.

Also is it possible they have had a pattern change or changed oil brands? or if it's been real cold there it have a effect on the shot.

Great tip bowl1820. I will remember this if I have a bowling ball go dead. Only the finish may be different.

[Geneo2u]

i just got my hyper-cell, its 3 boards left and one target board left of my sync, at least before my sync died,

[MICHAEL]

i just got my hyper-cell, its 3 boards left and one target board left of my sync, at least before my sync died,

Geneo's sync,,, RIP!! (:(

[tccstudent]

Geneo's sync,,, RIP!! (:(
Is there gonna be a burial or a cremation
or are you just gonna throw it in a random dumpster

[Ptnomore]

I'm retiring a Wicked Siege this week. Been my favorite ball for 3 years now. I baked it and then re-surfaced it twice in the last 2 weeks. It just won't turn the corner any more. Coverstock seems to have hardened to the point where there's just no traction. I knew it wasn't looking good when a polished Nail could move to the pocket on a straight down/in where the Wicked would sail straight through. I'm replacing it with my first Motiv ball. Hoping to throw it for leagues on Friday. We'll see. The Wicked is the first ball I've had to retire due to ball death. I don't like it. Until now, I've resisted the notion that it could really happen.

[Mudpuppy]

180 games and done for me. My Ebonite is about to be retired. Especially now that I will start throwing the Melee. I will phase it out.

[Aslan]

180 games and done for me. My Ebonite is about to be retired. Especially now that I will start throwing the Melee. I will phase it out.

Jesus. At that rate, I'd go through 6-8 balls per year!!

My Frantic is "near" "semi"-retirement. More like the PBA50...it'll still get brought out when needed...but it's got over 300 games on it. Another 100-140 games and it'll be time to give it a little break.

I've seen some reaction loss from when it was brand new...but nothing too dramatic. I give it a bath once or twice a month though...and clean it with alcohol/cleaner after each use. Put it in the hot box a couple times. Had it polished once. The only thing I've noticed physically is it has some chips on it. Mostly little...but 1-2 are almost the size of small sunflower seeds...not too happy about that.

[sprocket]

My Strike Zone must have over 1000 games on it. It's still a beast.

[Perrin]

I run mine through a lite wash cycle of the dishwasher every few months(probably ~150 games)

have never had a ball 'die' other than the one where the core separated. my own fault for leaving it in the car in all temps.

[MICHAEL]

I run mine through a lite wash cycle of the dishwasher every few months(probably ~150 games)

have never had a ball 'die' other than the one where the core separated. my own fault for leaving it in the car in all temps.


do you use regular dishwashing soap along with the wash cycle. Is diswahser soap SAFE to use on a bowling ball?? This would be a MUCH easier way to do a couple balls at the same time!

[Perrin]

I don't use any soap at all. just the lite wash cycle with the heated dry and sanitize options turned off.

A friend of mine puts a couple drops of dawn in when he does his. seems about the same either way.


One note if you do this though.

If you don't take the ball out and dry it when the cycle finishes it can develop phasing
"Phasing is moisture being absorbed by the ball. Phasing means that the ball's surface is porous."

what that means is the ball will look like it has spots (like on the commercials for glasses that have spots and need Finish :))

The spots go away pretty quickly but I don't like them so I pull the ball out and dry it as soon as the cycle is done.

[Geneo2u]

Is there gonna be a burial or a cremation
or are you just gonna throw it in a random dumpster

I know a guy on my other league that takes his old stuff to the animal sanctuary, Apparently the bears love to play with them..

[vdubtx]

I got my First Blood last Feb/Mar and used almost exclusively rest of the year with likely 200+ games on it I would guess. Had it rejuvenated a couple weeks ago and resurfaced. Went through weeks where it just would get to the breakpoint and sit, not as much movement as I was used to with it. Happy to say that the thing is back. Will get it rejuvenated again at end of season just before going to Nationals and the State tournaments in May.

[Mudpuppy]

I always just leave my ball on a rack at the bowling alley when I retire it. Some open bowler will be like wow check this ball out, lol. My typical process is: 60 games resurface, 60 games (120 total) resurface, 60 games (180 total) resurface and then 60 more games before done. So sorry my initial 180 and done was wrong - should be 240 games and done. Typical season 1 league you bowl about 90 games. When I bowled 4 leagues I was buying balls quite often. Now with 1-1/2 leagues I get get a good couple few years out of a ball.

[Bunny]

I run mine through a lite wash cycle of the dishwasher every few months(probably ~150 games)

have never had a ball 'die' other than the one where the core separated. my own fault for leaving it in the car in all temps.


Do you cover the holes? :confused:

[Bunny]

I know a guy on my other league that takes his old stuff to the animal sanctuary, Apparently the bears love to play with them..


Ahhhh. That's so awesome! :)

[Bunny]

Hi everyone. I know I haven't posted here in awhile, so please forgive me. Life has just gotten in the way....

Some time ago, I won a Storm SYnc online from the Bowling Expo in Reno in 2013. I really REALLY liked this ball. I had it drilled 65 x 4.75 x 65 for length and strength. I have always been very serious about keeping my equipment clean and was no different with this ball (even though it was free, it was still a trusted member of my "kennel"). A few weeks ago, I noticed that the ball was no longer reacting like it had been. As a matter of fact, it had become useful for little but use as a spare ball/10 pin ball. I skuffed it down to 2000 (its OOB finish) with limited results. I cleaned it again and again, used Adrenalin ball wipes, heated it, Dawn Dishwashing soap cleanedit hot water and then finally had it professionally resurfaced and de-oiled. Nothing worked. The ball is just plain dead. <sigh>

This is the FIRST ball I have ever had to retire due to this kind of failure. Now I will need to find another ball to replace this in my line-up. Thinking about a Hyper Cell or something not quite so strong like the Reign On...

Jay

I've mentioned this before. I had a ex-pro and pro shop owner tell me that the IQ pearls just die. I asked him if it was the coverstock. He said, "Nope. It's the core or something." That's as far as the conversation went.

I also heard from another pro shop guy (who's married to a womens pro bowler on the PBA) that the Syncs were quote, "Crap."

I dunno?? It's just what I've heard.

[Bunny]

I got my First Blood last Feb/Mar and used almost exclusively rest of the year with likely 200+ games on it I would guess. Had it rejuvenated a couple weeks ago and resurfaced. Went through weeks where it just would get to the breakpoint and sit, not as much movement as I was used to with it. Happy to say that the thing is back. Will get it rejuvenated again at end of season just before going to Nationals and the State tournaments in May.

Sweet! Good Luck at Nationals!!