Expert: - 8/28/2008

Question
 Just bought a bowling ball, a Brunswick "Axis", #feg7760.
w/bag for $3 at a flea market. Is there a simple way to determine if the finger hole sizes and positions are right for me? Also, (sorry about this compound question) does the
number stamped on the ball tell me anything about weight?
And lastly, the best around-the-house solution for cleaning
and sanitizing the ball. Thanks.

Answer
Teddy,
You've purchased a ball originally sold by a mass merchant. Chances are good the grip would not fit any one. The guidelines used are more than 30 years old and were poor at that time.

A correctly fit ball hangs in your hand. The type of ball you purchased is typically generated by a retailer whose perception is they sell an inexpensive commodity.

Hundreds of thousands of bowling balls like yours sit in basements, closets or landfills because the retailers have no clue whatsoever that putting holes into a bowling ball is NOT a slam dunk process that minimum wage, untrained, employees can accomplish. Happily, when naive, uninformed people purchase a bowling ball in that manner, it hurts, is ineffective and often begins to instill a resentment for the company selling the products. Thus, you benefit from the product not being used and resold for pennies.

As the fit is more important than the ball, your, in essence, FREE ball affords you an opportunity to get a good fit. Seek out an accomplished ball fitter and driller (ask your friends that bowl, or staff at your bowling center, or check out ibpsia.com for a good pro shop in your area. Get the ball plugged and redrilled for yourself and benefit from a balanced, modern fit and drill to assist in your becoming a better bowler.

Ball weight can be checked at the pro shop or a household scale should be able to get you in the neighborhood of the weight. No resale ball has the weight engraved on it, like the house balls.

Clean the ball up with isopropyl alcohol, an inexpensive household solvent and sanitizing agent. Thanks for your questions.