Don't Plug And Re-Drill Your Bowling Ball
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Originally Posted: 3/1/2013; Updated: 7/18/2021With so much information emerging and available today about bowling ball drilling layouts, many bowlers believe if they are not getting the ball reaction they envision, they should default to plugging and re-drilling their bowling ball equipment and changing layouts.
Although changing the layout will influence ball motion by choosing either a stronger layout or a weaker one compared to the present layout, the first step instead should be to resurface the bowling ball coverstock.
Following a simple guideline to alert you when to modify your bowling ball coverstock will be helpful in protecting your investment in your equipment and to restore the reaction you seek.
Since it is recommended to follow a simple schedule of getting your
bowling ball coverstock maintained by your local pro shop professional, it makes sense to keep your ball surfaces prepared in such a manner that best matches with the local lane conditions you frequently face.
Plugging and re-drilling your
bowling ball will not change the fact that you still must maintain the ball surface to get optimum reaction efficiency based on the procedure you select. Your first choice should be to alter the surface texture of your equipment to restore ball reaction capabilities.
This simple chart works nicely in alerting you when to perform coverstock surface maintenance:
1. Re-polish shiny bowling balls; scuff (using chosen grit Abralon pads) your dull bowling balls after ten games (10) of bowling...
2. Scuff and re-polish shiny bowling balls after 30 games (30) of bowling...
3. Full resurface is needed and finger inserts should be replaced after 60 games (60) of bowling...
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the next interval of 60 games of bowling (60)...
5. To reduce oil absorption, clean your ball coverstock with a ball cleaner after each use.
6. If there is a visible track on your ball ask your pro shop to refinish the ball to remove the track and restore the ball to its original factory finish.
Although there are multiple methods and resurfacing mediums, using a variety of
ball care tools available in today's market, you have options in preparing the coverstock surfaces of your bowling balls, all of which will yield a different result.
Coverstock maintenance services are certainly available for modest fees at pro shops everywhere. You can maintain your bowling ball surface relatively inexpensively and restore reaction capabilities without plugging and re-drilling your equipment.
Some bowlers choose to do routine surface maintenance themselves following their bowling sessions so their equipment is ready to go the next time they bowl. For example, you can use fine grit pads such as 2000 or 4000 grit to smooth the ball surface with a mild texture which will enhance ball skid length. You can alter the ball surface by using a low grit pad such as 500 or 1000 grit pads which produce a quick reaction on the lane surface and decrease ball skid length.
Some procedures call for layering grit pads to fine tune the skid control of given bowling balls, which works nicely to restore ball reaction capabilities, but also to create a reaction which matches well with local lane conditions.
Coverstock maintenance is your fail-safe step before changing drilling layouts. Consult with your local pro shop professional to plan and implement routine ball surface maintenance procedures.
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