Resurface and Re-Contour Your Bowling Ball Gripping Holes

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 11/8/2014; Updated: 8/11/2022

Sometimes you need to get a new feel for your bowling ball. When your ball begins to lose it reaction capabilities, it is likely time to resurface and re-contour your bowling ball gripping holes.

It is surprising how many bowlers ignore the fact that their gripping holes will feel differently over time compared to when the ball was first drilled.

As a general rule, when the time comes to refresh or resurface the coverstock of your bowling ball to restore the surface texture which works best for you, it is also a good idea to also re-contour the gripping holes and make sure you have the right amount of bevel on the top edges of each gripping hole.

When gripping holes feel loose or sloppy and no longer feel snug and form fitted to your fingers, either reshaping the holes or re-beveling the edges of the hole can help restore the feel you like.

If you use finger inserts, it is wise to change them for new ones and bevel the edges, if needed, to attain the feel you seek so you can make effective deliveries.

When you resurface your bowling ball at the pro shop, not only does the coverstocks show fewer nicks or scratches, the surface can be textured to perfectly match with your local lane conditions.

Change the inserts, or reshape the holes if you do not use inserts, to ensure you get the proper fit and feel when gripping your bowling ball.

It is impossible to achieve the identical feel when gripping your ball over and over as your bowling ball ages but it is possible to get very close to a consistent feel when gripping the ball if you do the maintenance necessary to protect you ball surface and to shape the gripping holes or inserts to best suit your hand.


One key in good shotmaking is to have a consistent grip on your ball so your hand does not squeeze or drop the ball unexpectedly. Poor fitting gripping holes can be a problem is you let the situation get away from you.

Get to the pro shop to have your ball checked for a proper fit and for the coverstock to be refreshed on a routine basis.

Resurface and re-contour your bowling ball gripping holes regularly as part of your ball maintenance schedule. Your pro shop professional can help you plan ahead to make sure you get the most out of your bowling ball.