Last Saturday, I hit my primal rage with a 2000 grit pad (worn, but not too bad) and polished it again to refresh the surface. If I don't have a coat of polish on it, I throw 9 counts galore. I always polish four sides: center of grip up, center of grip down, center of grip facing me with thumb to the left, and center of grip facing me with thumb on the right. I did something different this time, however. I used more pressure on my cloth as I was polishing. I see a completely different reaction now. My rage is a lot more skid flip. The length I am getting is unbelievable. It doesn't look like it is reading the midlane anymore, and when it hooks, it is more of a flip than the hard arc it use to be. I threw it two games in a no tap tournament in a different house than I usually bowl in. The first set of lanes on a fresh shot, the ball was amazing. I finished with 9/10 of the last shots being natural strikes. The next pair, I couldn't find the pocket. I kept moving left, and the ball kept snapping hard. Then once I felt like I was left far enough, I would come in way too light or miss the head pin all together. In the tenth frame, I brought out my 811 c/t (4000 grit) and threw a perfect pocket shot on the line I felt like I should play. I had a great game with it on my third set of lanes also, with the ball reading the lane well and giving me miss room, although not too much miss room. On my home set of lanes, I tried to throw my rage for half of the first game. My rage still looked like it wasn't reading the midlane, and I didn't have any drive through the pocket. All my hits were light, and the strikes were sloppy. Switched to my 811 c/t, and once again, it read the lanes and had nice solid strikes. Opinions?

It always takes me 6-9 games to even like the ball when I polish it.  Some guys can polish it and strike away, I have to suffer and throw it slow for a few sets...then it gets down to business!

lilpossum1,

Yes, I would hazard a guess that you applied a little too much polish with a little too much pressure on too much of the ball. All those "littles" wind up with a lot of a very fine, very smooth finish, probably in the 6000+ range.

May I suggest this as a temporary fix before you try to re-polish?
Take a 4000 grit pad, dampen it well, and without a spinner, go over the ball gently to remove all of the gloss. Gently!! Don't press firmly. We used to call this "hazing" the ball; maybe some still do.

When you re-polish it, please try this: sand with a fresh 2000 grit pad (even 1500 is good). Re-polish 2 sides, using a quarter sized dollop of polish, spread it gently over the half of the ball with whatever applicator you use (I like the foam rubber side of used Abralon or Siaair abrasive pads.), then turn on the spinner and press firmly for 30 - 45 seconds, going from the top down the side and back up to the top. Spend more time on the side than the top, as it covers a larger surface. Then buff with terry cloth or micro-fiber towel. This is my procedure. It has worked for me for the past 10 years or so.

Quote from: billdozer on December 11, 2014, 11:09:29 AM

It always takes me 6-9 games to even like the ball when I polish it.  Some guys can polish it and strike away, I have to suffer and throw it slow for a few sets...then it gets down to business!

Bill,

You have higher ball peed, no?
Next time try applying the polish by hand instead of with the spinner. It won't shine so much and will have a little more surface. Your surface will probably be in the 3500 - 4500 grit range. That may save 6 - 9 games of not nearly as many strikes as you normally throw. (Either this or start your ball with a rough surface, like 750 or 1000 grit, as the underlying grit surface before polish.)

That's my pro shop guy!  Always been that way..I don't mind it too much.  As there is a high level of consistentcy, I know exactly when my sweet spot will be.  Plus if I need it for scorched lanes, I know that ball wont move

2 summers ago they did that to my Critical, games 7-9 244, 300, 300

I do what Charles do on polishing. I usually add surface then lightly add polish or take a T neat Pad and go over it. I do 4 sides or Six sides depends on the ball.