Expert: Chip Aki - 8/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: I recently purchased three bowling balls and had them drilled.  On our first trip to the bowling alley, one ball returned with a huge chunk missing at the thumb hole and was cracked 2/3 around the ball.  I was devastated and questioned the pro shop about what happened.  He said that the ball was too light (6lbs) and that I was bowling too hard for the ball.  I questioned about the finger holes being too close together, but he said that it was okay.  Two days later, my son and I returned to bowl and his ball came back cracked between the middle and ring finger holes.  After this one, I called the pro shop that did the drilling for us, and they informed me that since I didn't purchase the balls from them, they couldn't do anything for me.

Is this a problem with the drilling, bowling alley, our bowling techniques????  Please enlighten me.
Thanks.

ANSWER: 6 pound bowling balls do not handle things well.  That is why they are only used for the smaller youth bowlers.  Once significant ball speed can be produced, they will crack.
Drilling the holes too close together, and without seeing the ball I cant determine that, will increase the chances of the ball cracking at the bridge.(between the 2 finger holes)

Any defect issue with a bowling ball will need to be addressed by the original seller of the ball.

I would rarely sell 6 pound bowling balls as they will crack at some point.

Good luck,
Chip

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

QUESTION: Can the crack be fixed on my son's ball? And, would the ball still be usable.

Answer
If the ball is a 6 pound ball, the repair would not last long enough to make the cost worthwhile, but it should be able to be fixed.  The other option is to just use the ball as is for as long as possible.
The minimum weight for a ball I would purchase would be 8 pounds.  They do now have the issues with cracking like the 6 pound balls do.

Good luck,
Chip