quick question (probably dumb too)

[boatman37]

So if the lanes are on the drier side and my ball is reacting hard does it make sense to not wipe the ball before every shot or still wipe it?

[Ryster]

Personally, I do not think it makes any difference. It is more important to maintain your typical pre-shot routine. If that means wiping the ball before every shot then just keep doing it. Any oil that is on the surface from the previous shot will have mostly "soaked" in to the cover anyway by the time your next turn comes up in league (unless you are using polyester or urethane.)

I experimented with adding the wiping of the ball to my routine at one point during my bowling "career", but ultimately found no value to it.

[J Anderson]

So if the lanes are on the drier side and my ball is reacting hard does it make sense to not wipe the ball before every shot or still wipe it?

I started wiping the ball off before every shot decades ago. This wasn’t for any of the current reasons given by bowling experts. It was to keep from permanently staining any more shirts because I would (and probably still do) rest the ball against my stomach while getting my feet in position.
I think you probably should keep wiping. You want to keep things the same in terms of routines and habits, at least the good ones, from week to week.

[RobLV1]

You're right! Please try to stop over-thinking everything, and just knock the pins down.

[Timmyb]

You're right! Please try to stop over-thinking everything, and just knock the pins down.

We need a button on here to "like" a post....

[boatman37]

Kind of what I was thinking. I have read alot about how you need to wipe the ball before every frame but by the time I go back up there isn't anything left to wipe off. I do clean them with cleaner before I leave every night.

I see many people in my league that wipe theirs every shot but seems the higher average guys don't wipe theirs at all. I can't use my right arm at all so it is harder for me to clean mine at the return but I can do it, just takes longer. I had been trying to wipe it every frame but started wondering how important it was and if it really made a difference.

[J Anderson]

Kind of what I was thinking. I have read alot about how you need to wipe the ball before every frame but by the time I go back up there isn't anything left to wipe off. I do clean them with cleaner before I leave every night.

I see many people in my league that wipe theirs every shot but seems the higher average guys don't wipe theirs at all. I can't use my right arm at all so it is harder for me to clean mine at the return but I can do it, just takes longer. I had been trying to wipe it every frame but started wondering how important it was and if it really made a difference.

If there’s nothing on the surface there’s no point in wiping it off. Wiping it off would only make sense for you when you’re practicing by yourself. There would still be oil left on the surface to wipe, unless they stick you on a lane that’s toast, ad it would keep you from the frantic practice pace which some bowlers fall into.

[RobLV1]

So many of the beliefs that bowlers have are a result of things they learned decades ago. Back in the days before reactive resin balls, friction was a very precious commodity and bowlers did everything they could to get every little bit that they could find. Today, the amount of oil that's used on synthetic lanes is so small, and the amount left on the ball is even smaller, that wiping it off, or not wiping it off makes no noticeable difference in ball reaction. The only reason that I can see for wiping the oil off of the ball is, as J Anderson said, to keep from soiling the front of your shirt.

[Timmyb]

The only reason that I can see for wiping the oil off of the ball is, as J Anderson said, to keep from soiling the front of your shirt.

.....as most of us pick up the ball, cradle it between our arm and torso (hopefully covered with a shirt), and then wipe the ball off.....

2.5 years ago, after my left shoulder surgery, I lost the ability to just freely pick up the ball and spin it on a towel. I had to cradle the ball in one arm and wipe the ball off with the other hand. My shirts have never been the same.....

[boatman37]

.....as most of us pick up the ball, cradle it between our arm and torso (hopefully covered with a shirt), and then wipe the ball off.....

2.5 years ago, after my left shoulder surgery, I lost the ability to just freely pick up the ball and spin it on a towel. I had to cradle the ball in one arm and wipe the ball off with the other hand. My shirts have never been the same.....

I pinch my towel between my right arm and stomach then set the ball on the towel (on my right hand) and rotate it with my left. So the ball never really touches my shirt

[boomer]

hopefully covered with a shirt


speak for yourself! LOL

[J Daisy]

I have personally only wiped down each of my bowling balls a few times, just if I happen to actually see or feel oil on it. Should I start a routine of wiping them down more frequently, like every 10th frame or something? Would it make a difference?

[J Anderson]

I have personally only wiped down each of my bowling balls a few times, just if I happen to actually see or feel oil on it. Should I start a routine of wiping them down more frequently, like every 10th frame or something? Would it make a difference?

There is a school of thought that says you should wipe reactive resin balls after every shot to minimize the amount of oil absorbed. The idea is that this wiping combined with cleaning the ball before leaving the alley when finished with your bowling will delay the ball from becoming saturated with oil. In most leagues, especially the more social ones, there is so much time between frames that most of the oil will have soaked in before you can wipe it off. The only difference that anyone can guaranty is that you will be less likely to get lane oil on your clothing if you wipe the ball off every time you pick it up.

[J Daisy]

There is a school of thought that says you should wipe reactive resin balls after every shot to minimize the amount of oil absorbed. The idea is that this wiping combined with cleaning the ball before leaving the alley when finished with your bowling will delay the ball from becoming saturated with oil. In most leagues, especially the more social ones, there is so much time between frames that most of the oil will have soaked in before you can wipe it off. The only difference that anyone can guaranty is that you will be less likely to get lane oil on your clothing if you wipe the ball off every time you pick it up.

Interesting. Thanks.

[Aslan]

1) One of my two "de-merits" (or whatever those warnings are you get from Bowl1820 when you're "bad") was for criticizing a post for being dumb...so I couldn't say that even if it were true. And, ironically, that was a post about the advantages of one bowling towel over another.

2) The short answer is "no".

3) Most of the use of the towel is to wipe off dirt, grime, dust...stufff the ball picks up other than oil...which gets absorbed in modern balls.

4) Longer answer...even IF you intended to leave some oil on the ball to make up for drier lanes...you wouldn't necessarily want to leave it on your track.

Most of "towel usage" or lack there of is nothing more than routine and good ball maintenance. Guys who make money at this stuff used to use towels and pads and cleaners and solvents to cheat and give themselves an edge...but that has been phased out with multiple rule changes over the years from eliminating "soaking" up until more recent changes banning use of cleaners during game play. I know, for me, I feel 'weird' if I forget my towel. I've bought many a towel at the pro shop...for way too much money...even though I have a stack of them in my garage....just because I hate bowling without one. But, do they "do" anything? Probably not. And certainly nothing more than I could do by just concentrating a little more or fixing any number of the flaws in my game.

As I 'think' Rob would agree with me on...if the lanes are telling you that you have a ball that is too strong for the lane conditions...you need to move inside or use a different ball. There are other "adjustments" (speed, release, etc...)...but I wouldn't recommend those unless you have exhausted moving inside and ball changes.