Expert: Susie Minshew - 3/16/2010

Question
Is it true that if I leave my bowling ball in the car, the heat can crack the ball?

Answer
Drastic changes in temperature can definitely affect your ball. I have heard of balls that cracked when left in the trunk of a car. That can happen with high heat or intense cold. I have also heard of balls that cracked when left inside a closet in the house. I have heard of balls that were fine on Wednesday night and when taken out of the bag on Thursday, had cracked. Go figure.

Probably the safest thing you can do is keep your equipment in the house. If you must keep it in the garage, at least have them on an inside wall. I'm sure you can find information on the manufacturer's website about ball storage. Talk to your pro shop expert as well.

If it were my equipment, I would have it in the house. I would clean it after every use. I would use cleaner and polish liberally. They don't last very long anyway so I would do whatever I needed to do make them last as long as possible.

Susie