Help with surface changes and polish....

[bubba809]

I posted this in another thread and figured it would be better if I just started a new one for my question. I have had the most success in bowling when I use a polish on my ball. No matter what the drill pattern or surface change, I get the best results with a polish on the ball. I do realize it is 100% based on MY style and MY way I throw the ball.

Here is the funny thing though...I have two balls I've been messing with lately. A Jet Black Taboo and an Optimus. I have started from the top, 4000 then shine. Ball wasn't breaking soon enough. Just 4000. Ball still was traveling too far the lane and I was forced to play a down and in shot (which I hate). 2000 w/ shine...still didn't bite soon enough. Then I tried 1000 grit with a deep shine...BINGO. More of a "rounded" controlled arc but the highest scores by far FOR MY STYLE.

My question, is this a bad thing?? Is this ruining the high performance that the ball is supposed to allow or generate? I know people will say hey, as long as your getting the scores....I just feel with my style I HAVE to have that early skid a shine provides and I have to have that low grit to begin an earlier roll. Yes, it sounds odd but a need skid then an early roll to be successful. I am not definitely not as consistent with a higher grit surface, again, for my particular style.

Any thought or comments on this as it's been driving me crazy?

Thanks

[Amyers]

There is nothing odd about this. A common surface is to take the ball to 500 then 1000 then add polish or 500/2000 and add polish. You generally want some deeper groves in the ball when applying surface to the ball. otherwise the polish just fills the grooves and you end up with no surface at all. Something I have worked with is also using the above and very lightly hitting the ball by hand or on a spinner for a few seconds with a 2000 pad to just nock a little of the polish back off.

Most of the balls you see listed even is it says 3000 polish doesn't mean they hit it with a 3000 pad then polish it. There are steps they go through to get there.

Bowl1820 has posted some great tables for different surfacing on bowling balls and how to apply them that you can search.

[Shaneshu87]

no i definitely dont think your crazy, but here is the question how are you sanding your surface? all at once or are you building up to that 4000 surface? example: 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000. if not then you are not getting a true 4000 grit surface. me personally i am looking for the same type of reaction but i like the asymmetrical shape better than the big banana hook, my Black widow pearl i have sanded to 3000 with a great polish for when the boards start drying up, my assassin i left OOB, an my legend is only scuffed with a 3000 grit to give it an earlier roll but still maintain that skid through the fronts and giving it a smoother break off the point.

[bubba809]

No, I always start by going 500, 1000..that way you get that deep surface. Just seems like when I start going to 4000 it blows past the break point. I may try that 500/2000 then polish. Haven't tried that yet, skipping the 1000. And I have my only 300 with the Black Widow Pearl. The sad part is I am not sure what the exact surface was at the time, but i know it was polished.

[Shaneshu87]

usually what i notice is the more surface area you have (3000,4000) typically give you most skid and a more aggressive back end, but with these new covers it only takes 1000 grit to achieve the same type of reaction which is why my assassin is OOB and my Legend is just scuffed. my pearl i have had since it rolled out of the factory lol i love this ball and have most of my high games with it including 3 non-sanctioned 300's. this will be the year of the Legend and i'm already Baby Ruthing that 300 in the preseason!