Does using arbalon pads regularly kill the ball?

[Timmyb]

All in all, this is one terrifying thread... from the idea that many bowlers still don't understand that too much surface will cause a ball to cease hooking to the idea that there is anything sacred about the OOB finish!

I do try to keep my Black Widow near the OOB condition. That said, I'm not using the same equipment that Hammer uses, so there's no conceivable way it's the same. I've experimented with different grits to come up with what I think works best for my game. My IQ nano gets 4000, and then I polish it because I've seen this ball burn up in a hurry. Your "OOB" condition is pretty much gone after 3 games, anyway.

[fokai73]

if bowlers can spend $200 on a new ball, why not spend $200 on a ball spinner? I"m not sure how much spinners are these days, but I bought mines for less than $200 a decade or so ago.

We all need to start somewhere. Talking to your PSO, getting in forums like this to ask questions, and trial and error are ways to learn ball surface adjustments. Other sites have knowledgable people who can answer ball surface questions, just like another site to better understand dual angle layouts for example.

There is truly an advantage for those who know this craft.

[KYDave]

Yes and yes some more.

I keep the ball OOB for the first time bowling. If it did what I wanted/expected it to do I used to leave it alone and put it back to spec on the next freshening up. Part of it was I was afraid changing it would only be a negative if I liked it as is. Also partly trying to line up a time with my PSO and the 1hr round trip to change the surface back if the surface change wasn't what I wanted and would be stuck with it until I could.

I got a ball spinner about a month ago and now i experiment all the time with surface changes, or just to freshen up. My only hold back is it is a little spooky going below 500 grit for me in fear of going too hard on it and making it out of round. Usually if the resurface step calls for 360 grit I just use 500 instead. I know that isn't perfect, but it is what I am comfortable with, atleast for now.

[bigt_45]

I sure hope abralon doesn't kill my ball, I lightly scuff it with 1000 every 20 games or so just to get a little more traction.

[StormTex]

I only use an abralon (1000) on my Storm Mix urethane to get it to hook more using it on lanes when they get really dry, orig purchased as a 10pin ball which worked great OOB finish but now have a polyester ball for that so decided to repurpose the mix for a dry lane strike ball,
working really well for me at 1000 scuffed.

[chip82901]

This happened to me last night. Started the night out throwing a Storm Street Fight, decent look, bad carry (clean 188). Decided to switch to a Storm Phaze (still great length, little more backend motion). Worked great (213). Fill ball I through a Storm Phaze II as the outsides were getting eaten away by the down and in guys. Got it a hair wider than I intended but it came back and left a 9 pin. Thought I had a decent look. Hit my intended target first frame to start the 3rd game and the ball didn't even think about hooking. Left a 2-10. I knew what happened, the ball burned itself up. I ended up going and grabbing a Pitch Blue to finish out the night up the edge and threw 5 of the last 6 for 211.