Expert: Russ King - 4/18/2007

Question
I have a number of storm bowling balls and after a while they all seem to crack
between the two finger holes.
I have just purchased the new Shift ball and this had no more than 15 games on it
and it has gone the same way as the previous ones.
This one was drilled in the USA and used in the USBC Competition in Reno
I have used a number of different pro shops over the years to drill my balls so it appears
the problem may not be with them
Is this a known problem with bowling balls from Storm?  

Answer
A REACTIVE RESIN BALL SHOULD BE STAMPED WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE!!!!!!
Most of my REACTIVE equipment has done this & many of my teammates have had this also.I have even put a shine on one & it cracked over night before I drilled it.All my COLUMBIA equipment cracked. WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM ANYMORE.Climate change,shining,age,sunlight & just drilling does this.You can try for the guarantee,maybe they will/maybe not.THERE ARE DESIGN PROBLEMS & A CURING PROBLEM.I went back to Urethanes.They come back in one piece every frame.
If you have a harder material for a weight block & a softer one for a shell & the ball goes thru different weather or other things so the shell expands/contracts over the harder weight block,the bridge is the weakest point & has to crack to hold the weight block.
FREEZING A BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE FRIDGE WILL GET THIS REACTION.REVERSED SHELL/CORE BUT GIVES YOU THE EFFECT.
AS FORE THE CURE,IT IS LIKE CEMENT. IF YOU DRY OUT A FRESHLY LAID SLAB RIGHT AWAY, IT GETS BRITTLE. THATS WHY YOU SEE PLASTIC OVER A CEMENT JOB.THIS ALLOWS FOR A SLOWER CURE & ENDS UP HARD AS NAILS.
AS THE BALL DRILLER DRILLS THE HOLES,THE DRILL BITS ADD A LOT OF FRICTION IN DRILLING.FRICTION ADDS HEAT & EXPANSION/CONTRACTION OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.ENDING UP WEAKENING THE CELL STRUCTURE & EVEN CHANGING IT.
I JUST BOWLED A 278,258,213 WITH A 17 YEAR OLD $25 URETHANE.
URETHANES STAY IN MY CONTROL WHERE REACTIVES REACT TO THE LANES WAY MORE.