Expert: Chip Aki - 7/31/2007

Question
Hello,
I've had several debates with friends concerning using "old" bowling balls vs. new ones.  Besides my plastic ball for spare shooting, I typically have 2 or 3 other balls with me for various lane conditions (oily, medium, dry).  These balls range in age from 1 year to 4+ years old.  My friends tell me that I should not use balls more than a year old because they will have lost their carrying power and I will be tapped much more often than if I were to use newer equipment.  Even when I explain that I clean my balls after each use with ball cleaner and resurface after 50 or 60 games they tell me that this doesn't matter.  They even suggest that I bake my balls in an oven for short periods or soak them in hot water to remove the oil, but I'm not much of a believer in this.  Their argument boils down to this:  Newer balls will always carry much better than older balls and once a ball has been resurfaced 2 or 3 times it's time to get a new ball.

What has been your experience?  Would you suggest acquiring new balls every year or so for better performance?  I not only bowl in league, I also bowl in various tournaments throughout the year and do fairly well, but I wonder if having new balls, along with working on improving my skills, would increase my chances of finishing higher or even winning

Answer
This has been around as long as the first resin ball has been around.  I still have a 5 year old ball that I use and do not have any problems striking with it.  If you clean the regularly, you should be fine.  I am not a big fan of introducing heat of anykind when cleaning the ball.  Ebonite has a product called Hook Again that works great.
Like with other things, if you believe it is a problem, it will be.  If you dont notice any loss of carry, dont worry about it.

Good luck,
Chip