Abralon Pad by Hand

[Blomer]

Hello All,

At the ball demo the guy used some Arbalon pads to get some shine off the balls. I believed he used 1000 grit when shooting on TPS. In the past, I would add some surface to my equipment using 400 grit sand paper. Someone ne showed me how to do it and worked well, no sure if it's the right thing to do. Anyhow, I got some Arbalon pads in the mail. I have no,spinner so plan on doing by hand. Any tips? Can you over use them? Any information would be g ally appreciated.

[got_a_300]

I have no,spinner so plan on doing by hand. Any tips? Can you over use them?

Yes you can use them by hand but it will be harder to do than it would be using a ball spinner.

Tips: yes try to keep the pad(s) damp when using them as it will make them last a lot longer
they will eventually wear out but using them damp helps keep them in good shape and using
them dry clogs them up faster.

I use a spray bottle with water in it I just spray the pad and ball but I have a ball spinner so if
doing it by hand I guess just keep the pad sprayed down and rub hard I also use a dry towel
to wipe off the ball after sanding it down.

Now as for over using them I'm not sure what you mean by that but you will wear the pad out
before you will wear the cover off of the ball if that is what you mean.

[Blomer]

Thanks. I rolled a f w games today, cosmic:(. Wa struggling getting the ball to love and I used the pad on it and bam, it took off. Glad I got these. What I mean if it could over use the pads by damaging the ball?

[LOUVIT]

So if you pad the ball how long does it last? Is it just to get the ball to hook for the night? Sorry, still learning..lol

[Jessiewoodard57]

it really depends on how often you bowl and the lane conditions. The ball will naturally lane shine over a period of time again conditions will dictate how soon the ball will need some more rejuvenating

[Aslan]

I used to use them by hand before each series on whichever balls I wanted to keep at a certain surface. So, if I wanted to throw 1-3 balls that night and wanted them at 1000 abralon, I would surface them by hand before the series. And I would do that each night.

It's important to keep in mind that once you start bowling, you can't legally use them. There is a "gray area" regarding when you first take a ball out of your bag...before you ever throw it...usually people won't complain. But once you throw a ball, that's the surface you're stuck with for that night of league play. You can't surface between games or shots. Some people do...but eventually they will get called out for it.

[Blomer]

During a game, can you surface a ball that you have not used yet?

[bowl1820]

During a game, can you surface a ball that you have not used yet?

Nope, once competition starts your locked in.




18/2 When may I alter the surface of my bowling ball?
a. Cleaning – Cleaners approved for use any time may be utilized before, during or after
certified competition; cleaners approved for only before and after competition may only be
used during these times. The use of a ball spinner is prohibited during competition.
b. Sanding – You are permitted to sand the surface of your bowling balls prior to certified
competition; however, the use of abrasives is strictly prohibited once the first ball is thrown
in the competition.
c. Polishing – You are permitted to polish the surface of your bowling ball prior to certified
competition. However, once tournament or league play begins, the use of a ball spinner is
strictly prohibited.

[Aslan]

During a game, can you surface a ball that you have not used yet?

Bowl1820 hit the nail on the head. Technically illegal. Thats why I'd sand 2-3 balls prior to starting...if I ended up using just one ball...oh well...but if I needed another ball...I wouldn't have to break any rules.

[Blomer]

One more question, after warming up, you see you need to add surface, can you? Since you didn't throw the first ball in the first frame?

Thanks for all he info! Much appreciated!

[bowl1820]

One more question, after warming up, you see you need to add surface, can you? Since you didn't throw the first ball in the first frame?

Thanks for all he info! Much appreciated!


You can sand your ball during practice, as long as no one has thrown a ball for score.

Competition begins when ANYONE in the league or tournament rolls a ball for score, not just you. so if say you are on lanes 19-20 and the teams on lanes 1-2 get started rolling for score while your still in warmup, you can't sand your ball.

[Blomer]

Great info. Thank you!

[Aslan]

You can sand your ball during practice, as long as no one has thrown a ball for score.

Competition begins when ANYONE in the league or tournament rolls a ball for score, not just you. so if say you are on lanes 19-20 and the teams on lanes 1-2 get started rolling for score while your still in warmup, you can't sand your ball.

Although, realistically, even a stickler for the rules like me would not enforce the rule that way. It's reasonable that a person, after practice is going to need to make a surface correction...the fact that the team on lane 7-8 immediately jumps up and bowls shouldn't have anything to do with it. Bowl1820 is right that the rule is written that way...but outside of the pros...or high-end money tournaments...I can't see anyone being a stickler like that.

I believe the spirit of the rule is to keep people from making constant surface changes every frame and altering the pattern in an unacceptable way....not to make people come to league night early just so they can decide on a surface change.

Has anyone even seen this rule ever enforced on league night?

[bowl1820]

Has anyone even seen this rule ever enforced on league night?

Given that the majority of league bowlers don't adjust their ball surface before league starts (or even know they can). It's unlikely that anybody outside of some major competition has ever seen that rule enforced.

But you need to be aware of it, So that your not surprised when that one time in a thousand someone makes a issue of it.

It's like cleaning your ball off with nail polish remover (acetone) while bowling, everybody will over look it all season. Then that last night your shooting it out for 1st or 2nd place, somebody cleans their ball and the team gets knocked out of first because of it.

[JaxBowlingGuy]

Nope, once competition starts your locked in.




18/2 When may I alter the surface of my bowling ball?
a. Cleaning – Cleaners approved for use any time may be utilized before, during or after
certified competition; cleaners approved for only before and after competition may only be
used during these times. The use of a ball spinner is prohibited during competition.
b. Sanding – You are permitted to sand the surface of your bowling balls prior to certified
competition; however, the use of abrasives is strictly prohibited once the first ball is thrown
in the competition.
c. Polishing – You are permitted to polish the surface of your bowling ball prior to certified
competition. However, once tournament or league play begins, the use of a ball spinner is
strictly prohibited.

For (C) you can use a polish machine during play though.

[bowl1820]

For (C) you can use a polish machine during play though.

Nope you can't use that either. They changed the rule on that a back in 2014-15

2014-15 Rule Changes
USBC Rule 18 – Bowling Ball – Altering Surface
The use of polishing machines during competition will be prohibited.

[JaxBowlingGuy]

Interesting

[classygranny]

I'm so glad Bowl1820 is here to keep us on the straight and narrow. I always know he will be there with the latest rules when needed. I, for one, really appreciate that! Thx Bowl!

[bowlndance]

How long should you apply the pad to the ball surface

[bowl1820]

How long should you apply the pad to the ball surface

There's no one answer, It would all depend on the type of surface your after. Like when done on a spinner, you might do 15sec. for one grit and 30 sec. for the next or just the opposite.

Done by hand your having to make sure you do the whole ball and do it fairly evenly, not so much worrying about doing this grit for XX amount of time.

[fokai73]

if you plan on bowling for a long time, I suggest you invest in a spinner. Wasn't there a thread where bowlers buy more than one ball a year? Well, if you buy a spinner and learn to use it, you can save yourself money - you can make one ball into two or three balls in one. I started out doing things by hand. But, when I gained access to a spinner 15 years ago through the shop, it made a world of difference.

Using the pad by hand is fine, but to get a consistent surface, it's best with a spinner. Also, 1000 grit pad isn't going to be a 1000 grit, variance in pressure applied can change that and the normal pad wear and tear.

I have a 1/2 hp and 1/3 hp spinners and both are good. But for personal home use, 1/3 is just perfectly fine. It's good you're thinking about surface adjustments, you'll be ahead of the game in no time.

[Tony]

I have seen fairly often guys polishing or using a pad on the ball before the league starts but have not seen anyone make an attempt to do it once the first game starts, I doubt it would go unnoticed. I think someone would mention it to them pretty quickly and if they continued after warned they would probably not overlook it.