I have recently noticed a definite loss of reaction in my Ebonite no limit. I bought the ball just before the summer and only drilled it up at the start of the fall season. Even though it is typically the first ball out of my bag, I rarely end up throwing it more than a game or two or some weeks not at all based on the lanes that night. So I know there isn't THAT many games on it. over the summer I had "copied" the food dehydrator oil extraction devices of a couple of bowlers...i used it today on the no limit but no oil came out to the surface---which doesn't suprise me because I don't put many games on my balls---I almost never practice, and because I work nights, I am only able to bowl one league a week. I would like to know what would cause a loss of reaction on a ball with not many games....and suggestions on how to best restore some of the reaction?

 

 The only ball I can think of that I had that I truly lost reaction from before was one of my 2 visionary midnight scorchers--this was a few years back---on that ball I ended up trying the dishwasher method(the only time I ever needed to do that) and that helped quite a bit. A teamate of mine suggested hook again...he said he used that and it worked good for him.  I am still quite suprised that as few games as I log during any given week/month that I would end up dealing with this subject---anyways, any suggestions would be helpful.

 

Thanx,

 

Brad

When someone posts a query like you did, bcw1969, my response is usually:

 

1. Could the lane oil pattern have changed or some open bowling removed some of the head oil this week?

 

2. Otherwise, even after 30 -40 games many of the newer coverstocks absorb oil like a sponge. It could just need an oil extraction.

 

3, Have you kept the surface fresh?  Most balls need a surface refreshing (not resurfacing) every 25 games or so.

 

It could be any one of these or a combination of them.

 

Give n you believe you don't have that many games on this ball, but you never know how fast any given coverstock absorbs oil, PLUS it depend son other local factors: where you play, how much oil you play in, rev rate, ball speed, what surface i son the ball (dull ball can absorb oil quicker, but polished pearls still absorb), etc. It could still need an oil extraction, IF that is the problem. The other 2 factors also come into play.

 

 

My understanding is that everything charlest said is something you should try - it is good advice.  If you are bowling on lanes with burned out heads, then it will expend its energy too quickly and act like it has lost reaction.  If it really has lost reaction, resurfacing or even using the Hook Again might work.  I had an Ebonite ball about 5 years ago that had lost its backend and Hook Again this did bring the backend back to life. 

 

If any of these things do not work, it might just be a dead ball.  For a while, there were some issues with Ebonite ball death, and I think this ball might have come out at around that time.  I am not sure if this ball is one that was prone to "ball death," and I am not even sure if Ebonite ball death really was a problem or not.  I do know, however, that it was discussed quite a bit on this forum in past years.  If oil extraction and/or resurfacing does not work for you, that might be the answer. 

Hit it with some of those new Adrenaline Wipes to "wake it up." They really do work at immediately increasing hook; however, they also increase the oil absorption rate. As such, either sooner or later you'll need an oil extraction service.