Expert: - 7/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: hello my name is chip and i live in morrow Ohio i have had a black widow pearl for about 2 years now and when i first got it it would hook a lot and i got about six months into it and it stopped hooking the ball sometimes hooks normal and other times theres almost none it has been like this for about a year and a half I have been told that my hand span is to small would that cause the ball to change like that if not what could cause the ball to react like that

ANSWER: Chip,
Sounds like the ball may have absorbed oil. Does it feel slick/oily when you remove it from the bag? Do you clean it at the completion of play? Ever wipe it off during bowling? Get a little direct sunlight or focus a spot light on the ball, it should start to ooze oil fairly quickly if that's the problem. The local pro shop can remove it a couple different ways.

Different lane conditions can effect a ball differently. Your very smooth, very shiny ball may be reacting less because of the conditions you bowl on. Have thy changed? Anyone else having a similar problem to you?

Thanks for the question. Please let me know.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i had my ball for about three months before i had cleaned it regularly after i cleaned it for the first time it started to react differently and also im not get near the rev rates that i was it has slowed down to half the revs i used to get

Answer
Chip,
What did you clean it with? Have you had it sanded at any point? Was the ball cleaned with a cleaner/polish? The polish step is very important because it helps the ball conserve energy on the backend of the lane.

Changing the surface allows for a different look. If the surface has been changed from wear, it needs to be returned to the out of box finish. Does it contain some oil?

Thanks for the questions and follow up. I look forward to hearing back.