Maybe a layout or surface change is all you need instead of a new ball...

[Hammer]

Sometimes when our bowling balls are not working the way we want we sometimes think maybe a new ball will work for us. Maybe the layout isn't right for the oil patterns you bowl on. Or it could be that all you need is to fiddle with a surface change to get the ball to work better. If it is a new ball and everything like the layout and surface is okay sometimes you need to get some games on the ball before it starts working right. An example is when I got my Blue Hammer. I went to my pro shop in our house that sold me the Blue and did the layout and was asking about a surface change from the OOB 4000 Abralon to maybe 3000 Abralon to give it more bite because it didn't seem to make a good enough break to the pocket. The pro shop guy that did my ball setup told me to put more games on it before I did anything to it. So I took his advice and wouldn't you know it, he was right. The ball started to grip better and make a better move to the pocket. So I never did do the surface change. So dealing with bowling balls can be confusing. There are times when all you need is to do a little tweaking to get a better roll to the pocket for some strikes.

[Perrin]

taking that thought one step further if you love the ball reaction freshly drilled be aware that the reaction will change as you bowl with it unless you are willing to spend the $ to get it 're-juvenated' every 100 games or so which is for me every month in a half or so.

I ran into this recently with my new Misfit. got used to the new reaction then it started slowing going away. I thankfully was able to just put it through the dishwasher instead of taking it to the proshop to get most of the reaction back. not quite all of it but most.

[ecub]

Here are the things I've tried with my bowling balls.
- Powerhouse Hook Again chamber, using Powerhouse Hook again compound as well as cat litter.
- Hot water bath
- Dishwasher - F'd up my ball using the hottest water setting. I didn't know. Cracked my ball in half. I never did it again.
- Bowling ball resurface using my own Innovative Ball spinner.
- Oil extraction using my own Innovative Rejuvinator oven

I found that oil extraction actually provides the BEST reaction. I have my own ball spinner (Innovative) as well as my own Rejuvinator oven (Innovative). Resurfacing with a ball spinner at the same grit was the 2nd best. I never found any noticeable changes with a hot water bath or Powerhouse Hook again chamber. Now, keep in mind. I ALWAYS wipe my bowling ball after each frame with a microfiber towel and I ALWAYS clean all the bowling balls after each night with Powerhouse Clean N Dull.

[Perrin]

I use the dishwasher on the lowest setting.

plain hot water bath didn't do much.

In the past I have had the pro-shop bake the ball to remove the oil and that worked well also.(not my misfit)

and yes I do wipe the ball and I clean it a couple times a week.