Clean Your New Bowling Ball Surface

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 10/3/2013; Updated: 2/15/2023

If you are a beginner bowler owning your first new bowling ball, there are some things to know about maintaining a clean ball surface. Keeping the surface of your bowling ball clean and wiping away lane conditioner from the coverstock prior to each delivery will help you gain a consistent ball reaction.
You can readily find ball surface cleaning agents available for purchase in your local pro shop. These cleaning agents come in small squeeze bottles and are ready to use after you complete bowling and can be easily stored in your new bowling bag.
Use a hand towel to apply pressure on the ball surface when using liquid ball cleaners. Just rub the cleaner onto the ball surface until you see the dirt, lane oil, or markings disappear. Keeping your ball surface void of dirt or lane oil. This will help you control the skid and rolling motion of your new ball.
Some liquid ball cleaners are cleared for use during USBC league competition. This means you can clean your ball between games as often as you wish when bowling in leagues.
Using a microfiber bowling towel is useful  between frames because these type of towels absorb up to seven times as much liquid as do conventional cloth towels and they are easy to wash and keep clean.
After bowling about 30 games, it is best to bring your ball back to the pro shop for routine surface maintenance. The pro shop professional will use a high speed ball spinner and select grit pads to screen and texture the ball surface to restore its reaction capabilities and to remove lane oil from the pores of the coverstock.
Another feature many pro shops offer is a machine which virtually bakes the oil from the coverstock pores of bowling balls. This bowling ball rejuvenating machine will clear saturated oil from the ball coverstock.

The ball can then be screened on the high-speed ball spinner to add any desired surface texture or grit finish followed by any final finishing techniques you desire.
Normally, this bake process is not needed nearly as frequently as is a general surface preparation provided by the ball spinners, pads, and cleaning and polishing agents.
After 60 to 80 games of use, your bowling ball should be resurfaced to clear any blemishes, scratches, or nicks on the surface developed from normal use. Your pro shop has the capability of resurfacing your ball and restoring a like-new finish to the coverstock.
With routine maintenance and cleaning your ball between sessions, you can prolong the life of your bowling ball and enjoy a consistent ball motion as you develop your skills and learn to bowl.