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Author Topic: Cracking Issues...  (Read 1943 times)

Shermster

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Cracking Issues...
« on: March 08, 2010, 04:00:15 AM »
I've been bowling for 3 years and my collection consists of 10 balls. Out of the 10 that I have, 7 all have cracks around the bridge. Some minor, some more severe.

What could be the possible issue here? I keep my balls indoor, I've never dropped any of them. I'm a high tracker and I don't loft the ball. I've never had the ball track over my bridge before either. This is quite frustrating and annoying. Quite sad even when my most prized rocks have cracks. I've had 2 balls crack so bad, the ring finger hole collapsed and I can't even put my ring finger in the insert.
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mw11x300

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Re: Cracking Issues...
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2010, 01:03:24 PM »
Industry standard is a 1/4 inch bridge with lateral finger pitches totaling 3//4 or more apart.  For example, using a 1/4" bridge the middle finger pitch might be 3/8 left and the ring finger 3/8 right.  As long as the holes are a normal depth of 2 inches or less there is no issue with them running together at the bottom.  It sounds to me like the issue in this case is a lack of bevel.  Many drillers just glue in grips, but this will usually lead to cracking of the bridge.  Your driller should always hit the finger holes with a bevel sander to knock the edge off.
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Shermster

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Re: Cracking Issues...
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2010, 02:01:34 PM »
My driller said it might be my release causing this, but I don't believe so. There is no way I release the ball ON the bridge. I release the ball at the bottom of my swing around the 6 o'clock position and I turn up to 3 o'clock.
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charlest

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Re: Cracking Issues...
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2010, 02:11:19 PM »
quote:
My driller said it might be my release causing this, but I don''t believe so. There is no way I release the ball ON the bridge. I release the ball at the bottom of my swing around the 6 o''clock position and I turn up to 3 o''clock.


Not real likely. We''ve all pounded bridges unmercifully. Resin is HARD.

If 7 out your 10 personal balls cracked and you keep them as stated, away from extremes of humidity AND temperature, I''d say either
a) the distributor from who your pro shop got them does not store them correctly, or
b) your driller is not taking the normal precautions with drilling your balls. Things like,
1) sharp drill bits at all times.
2) the ball''s temperature should be equalized with the drilling room (pretty extreme). You really want the cover, filler and core to be at the same temp, and humidity, i.e. stabilized, to prevent expansion & compression problems.
3) bevel all holes after drilling,
4) keep pin at least 1/2", preferably 1" from all holes.
5) use a minimum (2 drops) of glue to glue in inserts.
6) drill slowly.
7) Minimum 1/4 wide bridge.
8) finger holes should not meet at the bottom (this is another one that''s pretty theoretical. I changed pitches a short while back and my finger holes have been meeting at the bottom for 9 months now. Not one has cracked there. In fact, none have cracked anywhere. And I have more than 10 balls.
I think there are more but I can''t think of them right now.
--------------------
"None are so blind as those who will not see."

Edited on 3/8/2010 3:13 PM
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."

slashrr69

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Re: Cracking Issues...
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2010, 02:41:30 PM »
check and see how much glue is used when putting in the grips(if grips are used).. most shops quickly put the grips in and really should take alittle extra time doing so.. if a lot of glue is used(doesn't take much) and it is up at the tops of the finger holes.. this will cause the ball cover around the finger holes to become brittle(hairline cracks).. the glue when applied should be put down as far as you can get it.. and like I said it doesn't take alot to hold the grips, a dot on each side(front or back if you prefer)..

if grips are not used talk to your driller about when the last time he had his drill bits sharpened?? also remember to round down the tops of any hole that is put into a ball..
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Shermster

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Re: Cracking Issues...
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2010, 11:14:06 AM »
quote:
check and see how much glue is used when putting in the grips(if grips are used).. most shops quickly put the grips in and really should take alittle extra time doing so.. if a lot of glue is used(doesn't take much) and it is up at the tops of the finger holes.. this will cause the ball cover around the finger holes to become brittle(hairline cracks).. the glue when applied should be put down as far as you can get it.. and like I said it doesn't take alot to hold the grips, a dot on each side(front or back if you prefer)..

if grips are not used talk to your driller about when the last time he had his drill bits sharpened?? also remember to round down the tops of any hole that is put into a ball..


This sounds like a possible cause. Glue being too near the top of the finger holes, instead of being further down.
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