1. Is it advisable (or ever necessary) to use an "OK during competition" ball cleaner between shots/games during league?
Definitely. Sometimes belt marks and other dirt from the machine area get on balls and I, for one, won't let that crap stay on the ball I'm throwing, especially if it's on or near the track. I have enough other things to worry about.
I have seen / heard of some people doing a quick wipe of the ball with an approved "during" cleaner in every frame to keep the tackiness on the ball. To my mind, that is rather extreme, besides all the questions and stares you'd get from every other player on the pair.
2. If the answer to the question above is "NO", are "OK during competition" ball cleaners even worth owning? Would it just be better to use a stronger cleaner (such as Clean and Dull) after competition only?
Cleaning it after bowling is not going to help you during bowling.
Actually the cleaner I use during bowling is the same cleaner I use after bowling, LMB International Extreme Performance cleaner. There is nothing better at the lanes, where using extremely strong cleaners like C&D and Hook-it, is all but impossible because of the precautions required while using them. They're best used at home. Plus I have never gotten dirt off my ball with those two strong cleaners that LMB hasn't also removed.
3. Assuming proper usage, can any bowling ball company's cleaner have an unforeseen (damaging) effect on the coverstock of a ball made by another company - such as covers that employ chemical friction?
Thanks.
While I suppose it is possible, I have yet to come across any ball cleaner, approved by the USBC/ABC and designed for cleaning bowling balls, to have a deleterious effect on any bowling ball.
