I was just finishing the regimen of giving each ball in my arsenal a little clean-up.  Something I do after each time I bowl.  Even if I simply use a ball to warm up with before switching to my "go-to" piece, that ball receives the exact same treatment as the one that was used extensively throughout the shift.  A combo of Simple Green, lane cleaner, and water.  Spray a little on a course rag or towel, and quickly wipe away the excess with a paper towel, and voila!  My point is, and this horse has been beaten to death a number of times, how many of you actually claim to lose ball reaction over the course of ownership of a ball?  Now mind you, I used a Total Chaos, one of the original balls that claimed to have a pronounced loss in reaction over time, for almost three years without skipping a beat.  In fact, my 2001-2002 league average of nearly 228 is still my highest cumulative yearly average to date(nearly 233 this year, but, the year's not over).  I've talked to a number of tech guys within some of the bigger ball companies and they all agree, hesitantly, that this will help keep a ball the "freshest" for the entire period of ownership.  Some companies boldly suggest complete avoidance of this activity on websites.  This is said publicly, while privately, I'm told that the reason that the ball companies do this is to reduce liability for the idiots that use toxic solvents on a rag and leave the rag on the ball for a prolonged perion of time and wonder why there's a flat spot on the ball!  The only "exception" to this rule is my Au79, due to it's self-rejuvenating coverstock theory.  I made the mistake of cleaning this ball like all of the rest and the ball was Jekyll & Hyde.  Now, after about 20 or so games back on the ball, it's back to it's old self.  Anyone else have a thought on coverstock maintenance?  Let's hear them!
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Pain is weakness leaving the body.

Brunswick Midwest Region Test Staff Member

Edited on 3/5/2005 10:57 PM