Expert: Chip Aki - 6/27/2006

Question
Thank for your time i do not know what compound they use to fix the. and Yes it still does have a slight tacky feeling to it. Someone told me that reactive shine from storm was a good product to use. It is a polished ball and like i said it has a tacky feeling but a slight one, but i do not belive it was the orginal finish. Is the anything i can use to put new life into this ball.

Thank you,
         Adam
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Followup To

Question -
I have a hammer sling blade and I love it to death. I have had the ball about 2 yrs and so far good until recently. One of my problems is that the ball acts if it is dead. In other words it’s not hooking like it should. A friend of mine told be to get a cleaner and polish for reactive balls to help it. But before I could even apply any cleaner/ polish we went bowling and my ball got ate up by the ball return. About 7 gashes around the whole ball. It has been plugged and resurfaced. But now the ball is pretty much totally dead. I mean a house ball was out hooking my hammer ball. Also when i have been throwing the ball lately sinic i have got it back it seems like it is alot lighter than it was. Please tell me is there anything I can do to salvage this ball. Or should I cut my losses and start with a new ball.

Thank your for your time ,
         Adam

Answer -
Does the ball still have the factory finish to it?  Does it still have a tacky feel to it?

When a ball is resurfaced, it really depends on what kind of compounds the shop uses to finish the ball with.  If there are sand lines in the ball, or it is duller than it used to be, the reaction will be different.  If the ball is polished with a wax type of compound, it can cover up the coverstock and the ball will not grab the lane as well.  If the ball still has a tacky feel to it, I would think that is not the case.

Nothing they would have done to it would have changed the weight of the ball.

If it is the same ball, it should react the same.

Have they changed the lane conditions any or are you bowling at a different center?

Good luck,
Chip

Answer
You could try the reactashine or any of the other bowling products that are available.  They may help some, but your pro shop should be able to take it back to the factory finish.  You might even try some 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper on it to help it grab the lane a bit more.

Good luck,
Chip