Yes, it will make the ball go longer.  And it is legal to use during competition.  That doesn't make sense, but it's the rule.  --  JohnP

northface,

Why?  All the good bowlers (200+ avg.) I know love the machine.

Cav

Does your pro bowling center have a pro shop?  At least you'll have options there.  Our ball machine uses a solid "compound wheel" that leaves the "wax" all over some balls. Unless you want to clog the pores of the ball, and really kill it, let the shop do it for virtually the same price.

All polishes/compounds are not created equally, and the "one size fits all" approach makes zero sense to me with today's equipment and a variety of bowling styles.

After all the talk in this thread and in many others like it over the past 10 years or so, I'd have to say

1. The wax polishing compound that used to be standard in all Lustre King polishing machines has probably been changed over to wax-free and silicone-free polishing compounds. (Note: Probably does not mean that ALL of them have been changed!)

2. I'd still be wary of putting a ball into a Lustre King unless you're sure that either previous users or you yourself  have not had their balls waxed in that machine.

3. I'd still much rather polish my own bowling balls with a bowling ball specific polish.

4. If necessary, even most waxed balls should be able to be cured by a deep sanding, probably in the grit range of 180 - 320/360 grit, and then resurfaced to whatever the user needs. The wax and silicone can only get just so deep into the "pores" of the resin crevices.

Thats awesome Smash! Talk about low maintenance costs to maintain the machine!