Using Bowling Ball Grit Pads

bowlingball.com, Originally Posted: 6/6/2014; Updated: 10/18/2022

If you are not an experienced league or tournament bowler or one who frequents the local pro shop, then it is important to know there are simple things you can do to care for your bowling ball surfaces.
Not everyone owns a high speed ball spinner like the ones used in pro shops. Most bowlers who care for their own bowling ball surfaces use grit pads of varying textures to prepare the surfaces of their equipment.
By doing so, the ball surfaces are keep clean of oil absorbing into the pores of the balls and kept clear of a build-up of nicks and small scratches on the ball surfaces.
In order to keep the ball surfaces prepared so get you a consistent ball motion where you compete most frequently, you can screen your ball surfaces yourself with a very small investment in grit pads, ball cleaner, and polish.
You can use a technique to clean and texture your ball surfaces by hand simply enough. Just acquire inexpensive grit pads, cleaner, and polish and do the work at home or at the center upon completion of bowling.
Get acquainted with the various grit pads available at pro shops or online.
Here is a simple list of six grit pads textures below itemized from producing the earliest roll up to the latest breakpoint down the lane:
1. 180 Abralon pad...this pad produces a highly textured surface for maximum gripping power.
2. 360 Abralon pad...slightly less texture producing pad but very good on extremely oiled lane surfaces.
3. 500 Abralon pad...a step closer to a smoother ball finish with sufficient gripping power.
4. 1000 Abralon pad...produces sufficient amount of gripping power on most lane conditions.
5. 2000 Abralon pad....produces a medium grit texture providing good skid with back end bite.
6. 4000 Abralon pad...the finest texture of all pads and extends bowling ball skid length.
There are intermediate scuffing pads available in hardware stores or perhaps online which fill in between these grit pad ranges.

If you find yourself in need of tweaking your ball surfaces between the ranges of grit pads listed above, then merely add intermediate pads to your tool kit.
As example, there are scuff pads with textures of 400 grit, 600, 800, 1200, 1500, and 2500 grit which fit nicely between the ones listed.
The smoother the ball surface, the longer the ball skid. The rougher the texture, the quicker ball reaction you will get on the lane surface.
Use of a ball cleaner is advised before using the grit pads to clean dirt, lane oil, or other scuff marks on your ball surfaces.
After using pads, you can use polish to further extend ball skid on dry or medium dry lanes, if needed.
Polish will give the bowling ball a more skid/snap reaction than the same texture with no polish.
High speed screening on a ball spinner with grit pads will generally produce a smoother and shinier finish than by hand. If you use pads by hand, try to use consistent pressure on the pads and work the entire ball surface as evenly as possible.
Experimentation is advised to get the best results for your game.