Bowling Ball Durability: How Long Do They Last?

Are you prepared to purchase a bowling ball? Are you concerned about the longevity of your new ball, even with proper care and maintenance?

While a few frames won’t pose much of a problem for the coverstock of your bowling ball, repeated use without proper coverstock maintenance is a bad idea.

Professional bowlers understand the importance of maintaining both the strike ball and the spare ball, and you should know as well! If you’re repeatedly using the same ball, it’s a good idea to clean it and remove potential problems such as excess oil, dirt, and dust.

This bowling ball lifespan guide has been created to help you get more out of your bowling ball. Using common cleaning agents like rubbing alcohol, Simple Green, and a microfiber towel, you can extend the life of your ball for countless games.

No matter where you are in your bowling journey, one thing is for sure – you need to know how long bowling balls last.

How Long Does A Bowling Ball Last? Bowling Ball Life Expectancy

To answer the simple question, the average bowling ball has a 5 – 10 years lifespan. However, it also depends on how well you maintain and care for the bowling ball. If a bowler regularly maintains and thoroughly cleans their bowling ball, it may last for more than 15 years.

As a result of cleaning and maintenance, the damage to the bowling ball has been minimized. As a result of removing all cracks and scratches from the bowling ball’s surface, refurbishing the ball may also increase its longevity.

A well-maintained bowling ball will remain consistent for up to 300 games without degrading. The customer should always maintain the bowling ball’s ideal temperature to prevent the surface or coverstock from drying out.

In addition, they should bleed the bowling ball of any oil or dirt trapped within its coverstock by utilizing various immersion techniques.

 They could also attempt to resurface the bowling ball, which would improve its appearance and provide a blank slate for the user to work with.

Bowlers should store their bowling balls in a well-protected environment, far from extremely hot or cold temperatures, to extend the longevity of their bowling balls. Therefore, the reactive surface of the bowling ball will not be compromised by not being stored at room temperature. If the bowling ball is not correctly maintained, it will not last more than a few years.

As You will irreparably damage both the surface and core of the bowling ball, it will no longer be capable of producing consistent and accurate shots. Therefore, it is essential to refurbish, maintain, and polish the bowling ball regularly.

A bowler’s next thought will determine if the bowling ball has exceeded its expiration date. Drag your finger across the bowling ball’s surface to determine if it has reached its final state.

If you detect excessive grease and oil beyond the point of repair, you should consider purchasing a new bowling ball.

It may remove some oil from the bowling ball, but it will damage the ball’s core. Due to the oil trapped on the bowling ball’s surface, the user will also notice that there is less friction.

This will render the bowling ball unpredictable and reduce the user’s ability to hook and flare. The bowling ball would be difficult to grip and could easily slip out of your hands if its surface were slippery. A bowler would want to avoid sustaining such a severe injury.

How Long Do Bowling Balls Last?

Bowling balls last anywhere from a few hours to a week or more, depending on the bowling ball type and how often you use it.

Some bowling balls may last for several hundred rounds, while others may only last for a few dozen games. It is essential to keep your bowling balls clean and properly inflated to ensure they last as long as possible.

How Long Do New Bowling Balls Last?

New bowling balls typically last around 6 to 12 hours before they lose their shape.

Bowling balls can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of weeks, depending on how often the ball is used and how well it is taken care of.

Be sure to store your balls in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

Check Also: How to Sell Used Bowling Balls

How Long Does a Plastic Ball’s Surface Last?

Even though plastic bowling balls do not absorb oil like their reactive counterparts, they degrade differently over time.

Typically, the core configurations of less expensive plastic balls have shorter service lives. If you hear a hollow sound or rattling when the ball strikes the pins, the ball’s core has likely separated. In addition, cracking is expected near the finger holes of older plastic balls.

A high-quality plastic ball can last between 5 and 10 years, depending on maintenance and throwing habits.

How Long Do Resin Bowling Balls Last?

Resin bowling balls tend to last around 10 to 12 hours, but they can last up to 2 or 3 days if you use them sparingly.

Resin bowling balls generally last a few dozen games, but they can last up to 100 games if they’re correctly maintained.

Balls used frequently will wear down faster, so it’s important to rotate your stock. You can also add oil to the ball when you first get it and keep it in a calm and dark place.

How Long Do Polyester Bowling Balls Last?

Polyester bowling balls typically last for around 6 to 12 games before losing their effectiveness.

Bowling balls will generally last for a few dozen games before they lose their effectiveness.

It is essential to replace them regularly to maintain the best possible performance. Polyester balls are less likely to wear down than resin or urethane balls, but they tend to lose their elasticity over time.

How Long Do Urethane Bowling Balls Last?

Urethane bowling balls tend to last around 8 to 12 hours before losing their shape.

Typically, a bowling ball will last around 250-300 games, depending on the type of ball and how it is used. However, some balls may last up to 400 games or more.

It is essential to take care of your ball by cleaning it regularly and storing it properly to last as long as possible.

How Do You Extend the Life of Your Bowling Balls?

It all comes down to the problems you’re trying to solve. We recommend the same kind of regular maintenance for older bowling balls for new bowling balls.

However, you’ll have to be much more careful with an older ball. Considering rebuffing the coverstock back to the factory finish and having it completely resurfaced if the coverstock is showing signs of wear.

To get the most out of your ball, seek advice from a local pro shop owner, and clean it after each use.

Should You Have a Local Pro Shop Clean Your Reactive Ball, or Should You Do it Yourself?

If you want to keep a reactive resin bowling ball in good condition for years, you must clean it after each shot and game. Proper care during use is essential for extending the life of the item.

There are, however, maintenance concerns for everything from finger inserts to coverstocks that may warrant contacting a pro shop. Personal maintenance of a reactive ball is possible.

Nevertheless, calling in a professional is sometimes preferable, particularly if you lack the equipment they use to rejuvenate bowling balls for countless others in the community.

What Happens When a Bowling Ball Is Dead?

The performance of a dead bowling ball will be noticeably worse, and the user will get different results. The death of a bowling ball can be caused by various factors, including a lack of maintenance, intense use over a long period, or the fact that it has reached its expiration date and can no longer perform well on a bowling lane.

Bowling balls are not an exception to the adage that “all good things must end”; this is a fundamental principle of life.

A user can always attempt to prolong the effectiveness of the bowling ball by performing routine maintenance. Nonetheless, it will perish one day or another.

In addition to cracking, a bowling ball may cause splinter injuries when used. Additionally, the bowling ball’s surface may become slick and challenging to grip.

Slipping out of a user’s hands could result in a bizarre accident and cause severe injury. It may also deviate from its intended path if it lacks sufficient grip and slips out of the bowler’s fingers while being thrown down the lane. Consequently, the bowling ball is highly unpredictable and inconsistent when used.

The scratches and grease on the coverstock of the body of a broken or dead bowling ball make it look bad.

This makes the bowling ball look destructive and less effective on the bowling lane. Because of this, it is very wrong and hard to use.

When the coverstock of a bowling ball is damaged, it can’t stick to the lane’s surface. Which eventually makes the bowling balls less responsive.

This gives the user a bowling ball that is less likely to hook and flare as there isn’t much friction between the bowling ball and the lane.

Because the bowling ball has less friction and a lot of oil inside it, it doesn’t react well to the lane and has less back-end reactivity. So, the bowling ball can’t save energy and can’t match the way a user plays.

FAQs About How Long Do Bowling Ball Last

How often should most bowling balls be cleaned?

Most bowling ball makers and most expert bowlers worldwide say that you should clean your ball well about every six games.

That doesn’t include cleaning your bowling ball with a microfiber towel after every shot and putting it away correctly between games.

 Every six games, you should do a full cleanse, and in between, you should use regular maintenance techniques.

Do bowling balls lose efficiency over time?

A high-quality item should also last a long time. Over time, a good thing can help you get a lot of traction. If you take good care of it, a ball that lasts five to ten years is a sign that it is reliable and effective.

How do you know when your bowling ball needs to be changed?

Even good hits have corner pins that get stuck. But if you are making good hits and they still stand, it could be that your ball is not going fast enough or at the right angle to get into the hole.

There are changes in lanes.

Both don’t happen too fast or too late to your shots.

How good are old bowling balls?

If you make them well, old reactive balls can be very reliable. You could also use a more senior bowling ball with a pattern that is just a little wider than the PBA Cheetah pattern, especially if the lane conditions require you to bowl outside of the usual way.

How old can a bowling ball get?

A sadder feeling can come from an old bowling ball you bought a long time ago and has spent your whole life there as a service asset. Sometimes it can feel like sacrilege for a bowler to throw away a bowling ball that has lost its signature taste because it has been damaged or has just gotten old.

Final Thoughts

Your new bowling ball’s ability to react needs to be worked on. Your return on investment will be much lower than if you don’t take steps to reduce oil absorption and environmental risks like extreme cold.

 Talk to people at local pro shops, keep your ball safe in the lanes, and clean it often to ensure it lasts as long as you paid for it.