Imagine buying a brand-new high-quality bowling ball for your bowling career, and it ends up showing signs of cracking and chips due to some reason. Dealing with this situation can be frustrating if you do not know what to do precisely.
At this point, you might be wondering what can cause bowling balls to crack and how do I repair my cracked bowling ball. If that is the case, you are in the right place because that is what I am here to tell you.
This article will talk about bowling ball durability, how it can get cracked, playing with a cracked bowling ball, and how you can repair a cracked bowling ball. So, make sure you read this article until the end if you want to get your bowling ball repaired without replacing it right away.
Bowling Ball Durability
Bowling balls are made to withstand the constant throws and impact of the bowling lane and the pins, so they are durable for overall usage.
If a bowling ball is well-maintained, it can last more than 5-10 years, depending upon the bowling ball’s quality and the price it came for. But, of course, it also depends upon the company manufacturing the bowling balls as well. When we talk about durability, there are a few different levels of durability in bowling balls. These levels depend upon exactly what kind of coverstock we have for our bowling ball.
Plastic bowling balls are less durable than urethane bowling balls most of the time. And other coverstock materials, including reactive resin and particle, are also less stable than urethane bowling balls. So, if you get the right bowling ball for yourself, you will not have to worry a lot about durability and cracks anyway. But there is still a possibility that your bowling ball might show signs of cracking.
What makes bowling balls crack?
Bowling balls can undoubtedly crack, not very often, but they do. Even the most durable bowling balls might sometimes end up cracking. And there are several reasons tied to bowling balls cracking. So, let us look at some of the significant ways and reasons bowling balls can break.
Extreme Temperatures
Like all materials, bowling balls are also susceptible to extreme temperatures. If you place your bowling ball in an extremely hot or cold environment, the expansion or contraction might lead to the bowling ball getting cracks on its surface.
Bad Throwing
Mishandling is another reason for the breaking and cracking of a bowling ball. Instead of properly throwing the bowling ball as it is designed to be thrown, you might be throwing it too high or just dropping it anywhere accidentally; these kinds of things can cause cracks to introduce.
End of Lifespan of the Bowling Ball
Bowling balls are not supposed to survive a lifetime. They come with a lifespan of 5-10 years, and even if you have taken good care of a bowling ball, it is possible that after the 10-year mark, it will start showing signs of deterioration that you will not be able to deal with.
Humidity
Humidity and moisture are both very impactful factors on a bowling ball. If you expose your bowling ball to excessive amounts of water, it will absorb the water and end up becoming unusable and crack. Unfortunately, these cracks can be challenging to fix even, so steer clear of humidity when you have a bowling ball with you.
Can You Play with a Cracked Bowling Ball?
I have encountered this question a lot, can you play with a cracked bowling ball; Well, not really. Yes, it is possible but not at all would it be suggestable to play under such circumstances. Cracked bowling balls will not allow you to take control of the movement of the bowling ball. So whether you are going for a straight shot or a hook, you will not get the results you had been hoping for at the end.
Not only would the experience be bad, but also it would be damaging for the bowling lane. In addition, the cracks might thud on the bowling lane surface and cause problems for the lane. So, it is highly suggested that you immediately stop playing with a bowling ball if it has cracks and replace it until the damages are dealt with and are not harmful anymore.
Is There a Way to Fix Cracked Bowling Balls?
Cracked bowling balls are not unrepairable. If you end up cracking your bowling ball, do not think it is the end of the bowling ball you loved and enjoyed playing with. Fixing bowling balls with cracks is a practice that has become more popular with time, but in reality, it depends upon the extent of the cracking on a bowling ball.
If there are some minor chips on your bowling ball, then fixing and repairing it would be a piece of cake, honestly. You might even be able to do it at your home on your own. Just like that, if the cracks are visible and intermediatory, you can still fix the bowling ball, but it will require more tools and better techniques to bring it to a position of normality.
However, if the cracks are too big and do not seem fixable, you should not try repairing the ball. You would end up spending a lot of time and money on the ball, and instead of doing that, what you can do is spend a good amount of money, buy a new bowling ball, replace the old one, and take better care of the new bowling ball, so it does not crack.
How to repair a bowling ball
I do not know how to fix a cracked bowling ball. Well, lucky for you, I have made a detailed guide for you to understand the fundamental way of fixing and repairing a crack bowling ball, so you do not face difficulty when you are doing so. So let us take a look at this process thoroughly.
Gathering Equipment
Whenever you do a DIY project, the first thing you should do is gather the equipment needed for a project. But, of course, that also goes for repairing a bowling ball as well.
Well, there are not many tools that are needed for this repair job, but still, let us look at all the equipment you are going to need to fix your cracked bowling ball.
- Bowling Ball
- Bowling Ball Cup
- Sealant
- Sanding Paper
- Polish
Using Sealant
A sealant is a liquid material, usually consisting of plastic resin, that can be applied to the cracks in a bowling ball and used to fill those cracks. However, it is not used on its own.
Sealants usually come in bowling repair kits, and they are accompanied by accelerators that are supposed to help the bowling ball cracks seal and become dormant.
Mix the sealant and accelerator and apply the mixture onto the cracked surface. In a short while, you are going to start seeing the fantastic results of the application.
Sanding the Bowling Ball
Now that the sealant mixture has been applied, we will deal with the chips on the bowling ball surface. To deal with this problem, first, you will place the bowling ball on the bowling ball cup so it can be properly fixed without moving around or losing its shape.
Then we will take the sanding paper and use it to sand the surface of the bowling ball. Keep sanding until the bowling ball has an even surface and has got rid of all the chips.
It is now time for you to use a piece of cloth to wipe the bowling ball and get rid of any grit or dust that might exist on the surface of the bowling ball, and you are set for the final step.
Polishing the Bowling Ball
The final but one of the essential steps to maintain the shine and the color of the bowling ball is polishing the bowling ball. Of course, you can keep the bowling ball on the cup if you want to.
Take your polish spray and make sure you cover all the sides of the bowling ball effectively and that you spray on every inch of the bowling ball. Keep it in a cool and dry place, and it will be restored to new when it is dry. Have a great time playing with this ball.
Here is a list of the best-selling bowling ball polishers.
Conclusion
Cracked bowling balls can be pretty heartbreaking, especially if the bowling ball that cracked was one of your favorites, but there are ways you can fix these bowling balls, so do not be so worried. Instead, make sure you utilize the tips and guidelines that we have provided you with so that you can make sure your cracked bowling ball is perfectly restored and can be thrown on the bowling lane again in no time. I hope you have a great bowling career ahead of you, and you bowl many strikes and spares with your lucky bowling ball.
